Have the best girls’ getaway in Montréal

There’s nothing better to get the weekend rolling than brunch, and Montréal knows brunch. If you’re in Old Montreal, select from the sophisticated menu (tipples included) at Dandy on Saint-Jacques, or let the gabbing begin at Le Cartet, a beautiful space on McGill Avenue that serves punchy coffee, delicious mimosas and that serves its stack of pancakes with maple-cream cheese frosting, berry coulis and a sprinkle of crumbled Graham crackers. Whaaa? Yes. Choose from a hearty eggs-n-bacon selection at Fabergé (try the breakfast poutine!) or lovely Larrys in Mile End — and did we mention the gazillion options downtown? 

Oh, chocolate, how we love thee. One of the funnest things to do in Montréal is learn stuff — you really know a trip will stay with you forever when you return home with a new skill. Learn how to mix the perfect cocktail at Ateliers et Saveurs, how to throw pottery at Les Faiseurs, how to whittle wood at Les Affutés or how to make sweet chocolate creations at État de Choc, the city’s preeminent chocolate experts (and a stunning store to shop at too). If you're more the cookie type, a workshop at Café La Chouette is a great alternative: decorate your own cookies while sipping on a tasty beverage. You can imagine the tasting that happens at this sort of workshop, so make sure you show up hungry!

Take a look at that view of the St. Lawrence River and say aaaah. There are few viewpoints that will give you a better sense of the heart of Montréal than the one from the Bota Bota dry sauna, or the outdoor hot tub, particularly spectacular in winter. But that’s just one of Montréal’s many excellent spas; how about a rejuvenating soak in the beautiful water circuit of the nearby Scandinave Spa? Or an expert massage at Strøm Nordic Spa on Île-des-Sœurs, just a quick ride from downtown? Talk about getting another perspective on the city!

For a (raucous) good time, Le Serpent is a spirited restaurant that serves up its fantastic platefuls of Italian inspiration in the industrial chic area of Griffintown. A more elegant evening awaits at the tawny Marcus, in the Four Seasons, or a more muted level of luxury at Jaja, a handsome haven in Little Italy where French flavours and great wines rule. Think caj and yummy at the Plateau wine bar Buvette Chez Simone, where you can share a roast chicken with sides — or how about a British romp in the stunning BarGeorge? Set in a glorious heritage building, this pub serves up classics like beef Wellington as well as a sultry lobster risotto.

Last night go to your head? Restore with a morning in the lap of luxury at either Spa William Gray within the William Gray Hotel or Rainspa, at Hôtel Place d’Armes, both fabulous places to get pampered in Old Montréal — go for a body treatment, a facial or just an aesthetic refresh with a mani-pedi. If you prefer to explore the Plateau, Espace Nomad is a beautiful (and recently expanded) spot with a nice selection of body and beauty treatments. For a spot that can serve up your whole group with mani-pedis at once, look to the pretty-in-pink Candy Nail Bar on Plaza Saint-Hubert — from acrylics to gels, the choices are endless. The world is at your literal fingertips. 

Conveniently located right upstairs from the spa, Terrasse William Gray serves up fantastic group experiences both in winter (when you can eat under the snow in a heated bubble!) or summer. Another stellar Old Montréal terrasse in warm weather is Terrasse Nelligan, a Montréal must with fantastic sangria options. Park is easily among Montréal’s most renowned restaurants, and the ideal space for a girl hangout that lasts for hours. Order a special sashimi platter (and a round of sake cocktails). Feeling like something French? Grab a table by the window at Chez Lévêque, on tony Laurier Avenue Ouest in Outremont, for a délicieuse lunch experience.

Old Montréal may seem touristy in spots, but it’s also the go-to spot for locals and travellers alike to find incredible fashion by designers from here and beyond. Strewn among the knickknack stores are style havens like U&I (for good-looking winter coats and international designer ware), SSENSE Space (the brick-and-mortar home to the high-end e-fashion sensation), Le Cartel, Sarah Pacini/Philippe Dubuc, Denis Gagnon, John Fluevog and Espace Pépin (boho chic at its best). After you’ve looked at the clothes, head over the Maison Pépin a few doors down, packed with incredible homewares.

There are many, many places to clink glasses in Montréal, but we do love a drinkerie where the food is top-notch too. Old Montréal’s intimate Nhâu Bar serves pandan-infused cocktails as well as incredible bites like spicy popcorn tofu. Flyjin is another cool pit-stop filled with lively energy, flowing cocktails and reinvented Japanese cuisine. In Mile End, Kabinet serves up caviar and blinis alongside its primo cocktails. For some more casual glass-clinking head to Bar Cicchetti in Mile Ex, where the Italian-style tartines go great with the macerated wines. When you’re ready to turn the party up a notch, check out these shake-your-booty spots, or just chance it at New City Gas — there’s always fun happening under (or on) that roof!