Montreal Playbook
Perry keeps this list for friends, collaborators and visiting professionals. Think of it as your field guide to the city.
Diolo Traiteur
Senegalese caterer and restaurant known for hearty thieboudienne and grilled meats.
Chez Khady
Senegalese home cooking in a cozy, informal room.
Restaurant Akwaba
Ivorian menu with attiéké, grilled tilapia and peanut stews.
Hot Africa
Spicy stews, grilled meats and Nigerian specialties.
Le Bled
North African grill and shawarma with generous platters.
Marché Tropico-Leo
West African grocery and takeout: jollof rice, grilled chicken.
Le Petit Sénégalais
Modest room, serious mafé and grilled lamb.
Le goût des îles
Caribbean-Afro fusion: griot, fried plantains and rich sauces from Guadeloupe and Haiti.
La Banquise
The poutine stop. Fries, curds, gravy, open 24/7.
BeaverTails, Old Port
Fried-dough pastry with sweet toppings. Touristy and worth it.
Schwartz's Deli
The original Montreal smoked meat sandwich, since 1928.
St-Viateur Bagel
Hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels. Get a dozen sesame, warm.
Rockaberry
Big, rich, handmade cheesecakes. The dessert stop.
Orange Julep
Giant orange roadside stand and its creamy orange drink.
Old Port
Cobblestones, river views, shops and cafés along the St. Lawrence.
Notre-Dame Basilica
Gothic Revival with an interior that stops people mid-sentence.
Mount Royal Park
Olmsted's park. Walk up to the Kondiaronk lookout for the skyline.
Leonard Cohen Mural
A twenty-storey tribute on the side of a downtown tower.
Lachine Canal path
13.5 km of canal-side path past historic locks. Rent a Bixi.
Olympic Stadium
The '76 Olympic stadium and its leaning tower.
Biodôme
Walk through four ecosystems of the Americas under one roof.
Plateau Mont-Royal
Mural-covered alleys, boutiques, cafés and the classic outdoor staircases.
Underground City (RÉSO)
32 km of tunnels linking malls and metro stations. Winter's best friend.
Old Montréal walking tour
A 4K video walk through Old Montréal. Preview the route before you go.
Cirque du Soleil
Montréal's own circus troupe. Check what's playing in town.
La Grande Roue
Ferris wheel over the Old Port with river and skyline views.
Nuit Blanche
One all-night arts festival every winter. Installations, shows, hot chocolate.
Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
One of Canada's largest art museums, classical to contemporary.
Musée d'art contemporain
Contemporary Canadian and international work, now at Place Ville Marie.
OASIS Immersion
Canada's largest indoor immersive projection experience.