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Visiting Toronto and Montreal
Kalkino
Buttons Londres Registered User regular
Buttons Londres Registered User regular
I'm visiting Toronto and Montreal next week for 8 nights/9 days, from old London, to see family. I've got accommodation and flights sorted, with train trips between the two and to Niagara left to book. Visa requirements are not an issue either.
What I would like are suggestions for things to do in all of the above. I've done some reading and have some ideas, but would welcome local ideas. I like going out but probably won't be clubbing. I also enjoy museums, galleries and general historical stuff. Shopping or shows are not a big deal.
Also, any tips re, well, tipping, local customs etc
Thanks in advance
What I would like are suggestions for things to do in all of the above. I've done some reading and have some ideas, but would welcome local ideas. I like going out but probably won't be clubbing. I also enjoy museums, galleries and general historical stuff. Shopping or shows are not a big deal.
Also, any tips re, well, tipping, local customs etc
Thanks in advance
Freedom for the Northern Isles!
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If you're not driving the public transit systems are pretty different. Toronto's public transit is passable, but the trains only run along a few major streets, so everything else is buses. They also close up shop around 1:30am, so try not to get caught out. Montreal's trains cover more area, but there are still buses around. It's easy to navigate without knowing much French.
Last call in Toronto is 2am, in Montreal it's a bit later, I think around 3am? I don't drink, so whatever. Legal age is not like the US, so that shouldn't be a problem. It's 19 in Toronto, 18 in Montreal.
There are usually some local festivals or whatever going on in each city, so check your dates to see if there's anything you'd be interested in.
I'd personally suggest you check out Toronto's main, if small, Koreatown area, which is right downtown on Bloor St. between Bathurst St. and Christie St. If you haven't had good Korean food before then it's one of the best places to get it outside of Korea itself. My personal favourite place is Imonay. You can see it on google maps street view, it's right behind the godamn Coke truck. Their gamjatang (pork bone soup) is pretty much my all-time favourite food.
Oh, one more alcohol related item: in Ontario it is all government controlled, but more strictly than in the UK. Bars and restaurants can be licensed and sell whatever until 2am, but the only places you can buy alcohol otherwise are government run stores, called The Beer Store and LCBO (which sells spirits and wines and such), and because they're government run they have terrible hours. In Quebec you can buy alcohol at every local store and supermarket.
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I don't imagine I'll do a lot of drinking but I am keen to try the craft brew pubs, in both towns and the wine festival in Niagara
Korean food is the best!
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That said, the things I enjoyed the most in Montreal where probably the following:
Taking in the view from Mont Royal, the mountain by downtown Montreal from which the city has it's name. You can get a good view over the downtown and it is generally a pleasant place.
The olympic park, especially the botanical gardens. Depends on whether you like gardens and so I suppose, but their botanical gardens where great - especially their Chinese section I must say. Not sure how it is during this part of the year, obviously.
There are several museums, their archaeological museum was a bit lacklustre in my opinion - as a European I'm used to archaeological findings being several hundred years younger before they get all that interesting (although they had a rather nice exposition on the Etruscans, it felt somewhat backward to be looking at an exposition about some ancient europeans in Canada. Had hoped for more on the natives that lived in Canada before the colonization.)
There's also an art gallery that is supposed to be good, but since I am not a big art fan I did not visit.
If you like shopping, the underground shopping mall is good - it is large and has a lot of shops, especially clothing ones.
For food I liked the older parts of Montreal, quite close to the river. A few streets there that where rather quaint with a lot of restaurants to choose from. Also had some good food in Montreals Chinatown, which although rather small can be nice to have a quick look at - though not something to plan a day around.
The metro in Montreal was good for getting around, buy a pass for a few days and it should cover all your transportation needs. The pass also works for buses to my knowledge, but I did not need to travel with any other than the airport bus during my stay.
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The AGO and the ROM are both very cool for art and history museums.
You may want to stop into Kensington Market. It's a neat little neighbourhood with lots of cool independent shops where you can find your vintage clothes or whatever.
For bars, you may want to check out the Kind & Bathurst area (trendy), the Queen & Ossington area (slightly less trendy), the Wellsely and Church area (known as the gaybourhood) or the Bloor and Bathurst area (lots of bars.)
I'm quite fond of Sneaky Dee's, which is a neat little bar that has live music upstairs. It was more of a punk hang out when I was in university. I'm not really sure what the scene is like there now since I don't get over there very often.
If you get over to Ossington, check out my friend's restaurant. It's called Hawker Bar and servers some decent Singapore inspired food.
If you make it to Queen and University area check out the Korean Grill House. All you can eat Korean barbeque that you cool yourself in the grill on the table. It's super delicious and the prices are very reasonable.
For happy hour drinks try out Crocodile Rock. They have $4 drinks.
As for payments, a 15% gratuity is customary at bars & restaurants. Also, don't feel badly about putting down exact change. The loonies and twonies pile up in your pocket and weigh you down, otherwise.
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We went to Steam Whistle and Mill Street Pub over the summer - it was an interesting contrast if you're into beers and/or tours. If you can do just one, I'd recommend Steam Whistle; the beer is OK, but the tour was much better.
Other things we liked was the Allan Gardens, if you're into plants (weirdo).
I think I'll need to spend the weekend with my family, thanks though. I probably will have time to meet people during the week though, during the day-
I am interested in the pub tour idea, I've not had an opportunity to do that yet anywhere
I've had a good wander through Bathurst /Ronscavelles today, which has been good. Do you know any good bars with gardens in the centre city? I'll probably be about there mid week
So good!
Also apprently there's a movie.
Anyways if you intend to go for a drink while you're still here in Montreal and you like microbrewery I would suggest a place like Dieu du Ciel, or L'amère à boire!
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Thanks for the tips. I've headed back to the hotel as was a bit shattered, but I'll swing pat Dieu du Ciel tomorrow as it is near the hotel
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Sorry, didn't see this until today. With gardens? There are lots of patios if that's what you mean. I think the Green Room up at Bloor and Bathurst area is a cool spot. There's kind of a patio area. To get to it you need to go in this back ally and the patio is kind of behind everything. If you want to do some good people watching the Black Bull on Queen West is really good and they have Organic on tap. Try the perogies. If you want something a bit more upscale then the rooftop bar at The Thompson Hotel is pretty awesome. The drink price is rather pricey, though. If you want an awesome sports bar experience then check out Real Sports Bar down by the Air Canada Centre. It's pretty impressive. I don't get down there very often since Shoeless Joes on King and Duncan is a really nice sports pub and it's closer to my place.
Almost forgot about Jack Astors next to Dundas Square. Their patio is pretty awesome since it's a few stories up overlooking the square. Pretty fun hanging out there on a Saturday since there's always something happening in the square on the weekend.
Hope that I'm not too late getting this info to you.
Just in time! I may have a chance to use the information this weekend