The 400-year-old city of Montreal in Canada is a fun weekend destination for both families and couples. Whether it’s strolling through the classic French architecture of Old Montreal, walking to the modern vibe uptown, or enjoying the city’s multicultural cuisine, Montreal is the perfect weekend getaway! It offers the perfect mix of historic and modern architecture, with 18th-century buildings found among towering skyscrapers.
Last week I went to this beautiful island and was able to visit the area’s many historic sites and learn about Montreal’s European heritage. The Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montreal’s fine arts museum, was one of my favorite locations I visited. Art aficionados should definitely plan a visit to see the property’s enormous collection of sculptures, paintings, and illustrations. Another activity I highly recommend is visiting La Grande Roue de Montréal, a 60-meter-tall Ferris wheel built to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the city. It is found on the shore of the Saint Lawrence River in picturesque Old Montreal and offers a breathtaking view of the city in comfortable temperature-controlled cabins.
In Montreal, anyone hoping for a French meal will not be disappointed. Other cuisines available in this cosmopolitan metropolis include Indian, Moroccan, Mexican, and Japanese cuisines. Here are 3 of my favorite restaurants I visited last weekend:
- India ROsa
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Original photo by Anumeha Rajvanshi As an Indian, it is very hard to find Indian restaurants that serve authentic tasting food, but India Rosa did not disappoint. India Rosa is known for its colorful and creative cocktails with an Indian twist. The boho-chic décor is also stunning from the hanging metal chairs to the lively greenery. I ordered the Paneer Tikka, Malai Kofta, and the Saag Paneer, all of which were very delicious. The Garlic Naan was so soft and melted in my mouth. I was stuffed to the brim by the end but still wanted more. I highly recommend it if you’re fond of Indian food!
- Il focolaio
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Original photo by Anumeha Rajvanshi With 77 varieties of pizza, Il Focolaio is one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve visited. We dived right into the main course and tried the Portobello Pizza. The flavors from the mushrooms and the feta cheese blended so richly with each other without taking away from their distinct flavors. We also tried the San Francisco Calzoni which had a wide array of fresh vegetables including olives, eggplant, zucchini, green peppers, fresh tomatoes, Spanish onions, fresh garlic, and hot peppers. We ended our meal with Gâteau au Fromage Dulce de leche which was a mouth-watering creamy and smooth Dulce de leche cheesecake. This cozy restaurant had such a welcoming staff and homey vibe. I am already looking forward to the next time I get to visit Il Focolaio!
- LOV
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Original photo by Anumeha Rajvanshi LOV stands for Local, Organic, Vegan and manages to wow even the most die-hard meat lovers. The restaurant has a dreamy green aesthetic with the prettiest bar side seating. The starter was the best part of the meal with the perfect balance of crunch and softness. We ordered the dumpling which included Mushroom and vegetable fried dumplings served with a delicious almond butter kimchi sauce. For the main course, we had the King Fu Burger and Breaded Mushroom Burger which were very flavorful. The only downside was that it did take a good 40 minutes for our food to arrive so don’t come here if you’re looking for a quick meal. Overall, it is an amazing plant-based restaurant that everyone should definitely check out!
The vibrant city of Montreal is a mix of European charm and modern North American style. Montrealers love to treat themselves to a night out with a good meal. I can’t recommend a better city for your next weeklong vacation or weekend getaway!
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