Gifts and Ideas for Father’s Day, à la Montréal
This Father’s Day, go beyond the usual and celebrate Dad with something truly special. Treat him to unique Montréal-made gifts, savour incredible local meals together, enjoy a day outdoors, or give him the ultimate gift every parent secretly wants—some well-deserved alone time!
Spend quality time outdoors
Take in the sights and sounds of Montréal’s MURAL Festival all over town: Watch artists live-create incredible murals on the walls of the city this weekend, and revisit them all summer long. If the weather cooperates, pack a family-sized meal for a picnic in the park – lay out your blanket in a park near your house or ride bikes to Parc La Fontaine, Mount Royal Park or Parc Frédéric-Back near the TOHU circus complex.
If he’s got a green thumb, a visit to the Montréal Botanical Garden’s gorgeous outdoor gardens is sure to impress. For another memorable outdoor adventure, head to one of Montréal’s large nature parks, like Cap-Saint-Jacques and l’Île-de-la-Visitation. If he’s more the type to enjoy recreational gear and vehicles, you may want to check out Écorécréo at the Old Port, which offers fun activities such as pedal boating and quadricycles for the whole family to enjoy.
More exhilarating options are Rafting Montréal that takes boats into the heart of the Lachine rapids, MTL Zipline for a fly-by adventure, or Montreal Bungee for a swan dive off a platform. There’s also a number of escape rooms offered by the Échappe-Toi group, such as Find The Key, Vortex et Musi’Quiz, while Centre Pickle would be great for a workout. Finally, Super Aqua Club provides fun for the whole family, and is just a short drive from Montréal.
Serve up his favourite food and drink
Why not treat Dad to a feast from one of the city’s local restaurants serving farm-to-table food? If he’s a coffee connoisseur, order fresh Montréal-roasted beans from the best roasters and cafés in the city, like Saint-Henri micro-torréfacteur and Dispatch Coffee.
Pick up pastries to-go at one of Montréal’s best bakeries and pastry shops, including Boulangerie les 3 patapoufs and Cantine Panella. If he loves to cook, pick up some local ingredients at Montréal’s public markets, specialty grocers and fine food shops and, for other Québec-made items, the Signé Local website.
This Father’s Day, go beyond the usual and celebrate Dad with something truly special.
Set him up in style behind the bar
Level up Dad’s cocktail game with Monsieur Cocktail’s colourfully inventive mixer sets and drink recipes (both boozy and alcohol-free). Stop by the SAQ for a wide variety of locally-made spirits, including gin, vodka, rum and even pastis and eau-de-vie brandy to go with those mixers. Alambika is another great shop if you’re looking for glassware or bar accessories. If beer is where it’s at, bring him to some of Montréal’s microbreweries such Dieu du Ciel!, Birra, Memento, Siboire (Notre-Dame, Saint-Laurent), Brasseur de Montréal, or level up entirely with a guided tour of either Cirka Distilleries or Distillerie de Montréal.
Find him something cool to wear
New basics are always a good idea. Discover vibrant and playful clothing for dad at Pony. Find locally-designed T-shirts, button-ups, pants, jackets and more online at Montréal’s own Frank And Oak. For high-end casual, formal and business clothing, browse L’Uomo Montréal downtown or Clark Street Mercantile in the trendy Mile End neighbourhood. Give long-wearing, high-quality merino wool clothing and accessories and more from Montréal’s Bonnetier and atelier b, and search Quartz Co. for winter outerwear.
For sporty dads, buy Montréal-made athletics-wear online at Ionik Sport. If Dad is planning camping trips and hikes for the summer, shop online for outdoor clothing and gear (or grab a gift certificate) at Montréal-based La Cordée, Altitude Sports and cross-Canada co-op MEC. For more inspiration, check our complete Montréal gift guide.
Self-care is for dads too
Discover a wealth of locally-made artisanal soaps, body care, clothing, accessories, stationery, furniture and more at SOUK’s extensive database of Montréal artists and designers, or at Plaza Saint-Hubert’s boutique arloca, too. Try visiting a 100% local dépanneur at Toutes les choses parfaites in the up-and-coming Technopole Angus District, just east of Montréal’s downtown.
Give him the gift of getting away from it all with a therapeutic massage at one of Montréal’s best spas. Buy him a graphic novel, acclaimed literary fiction and more to relax in a comfortable chair with at Librairie Drawn & Quarterly and other great Montréal bookstores, or if music chills him out, get one of his favourite artist’s albums from your choice of Montréal’s best vinyl stores.
Give him a day off
Or maybe he just really needs some downtime on his own. If he loves art, give him a day pass (or even a yearly membership) to the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts or the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, where he can spend time with a blend of classic and contemporary art. If he’s a history buff, offer him a pass to his favourite Montréal museums. Alternatively, send him off to play golf in and around Montréal, whether on the island or within an hour’s drive. He could even go fishing without leaving the city with Fishing Old Montréal or even try to catch a wave on the St. Lawrence River!
No matter how you choose to celebrate, Montréal offers endless ways to make this Father’s Day unforgettable. The best gift of all is showing Dad just how much he means to you—so go ahead and plan something special, create new memories, and make this year one he’ll always remember.
Daniel Bromberg
As a proud native of Montreal, Daniel channels his education in history and his work as a tour guide, writer, and photographer to share his love affair with the city. His passions include the local street art scene, sipping an allongé at a local cafe, discovering new green alleys, biking, and reading at home.