'''Plateau''' is a district in Montreal.
Get in
The Plateau is centrally located just adjacent to the downtown core, so there are numerous ways to access the Plateau. Ave du Parc, Boul. St. Laurent, Rue St. Denis, and Rue Papineau run north/south through the Plateau, and are paralleled by dozens of side streets in between. East/west, Rue Sherbrooke, Ave des Pins, Ave Rachel, Ave Mont Royal, and Boul. St. Joseph bisect the Plateau, with Mont Royal carrying a significant number of shops, bars, and restaurants. Each of these streets are accessible by car (though St. Laurent is one way, going north) and heavily serviced by numerous taxi companies.
Each of the streets listed above along with a few others are serviced by bus routes run by the STM. In addition, the Orange line of the Montreal Metro run underneath Rue Berri, adjacent to St. Denis. Sherbrooke station, Mont Royal station, and Laurier station are located within the boundaries of the Plateau.
Bike routes are few, but useful. Separate bike lanes exist on Ave. Rachel from Parc Mont Royal to Boul. Parc LaFontaine and Rue Brebeuf from Parc LaFontaine to Parc Laurier and there are painted bike lanes along St. Urbain, Milton, Prince Arthur, and St. Joseph. These lanes are generally not respected by Montreal drivers, so watch out. In addition, several of these lanes are not plowed during the winter, making them all but impassible following heavy snow.
See
Buildings
The most dominant architectural feature of the Plateau is the endless rows of Montreal duplexes and triplexes that house the majority of the Plateau's population. These buildings date from the early 20th Century and with their distinctive exterior staircases and wrought-iron ornamentation have come to define the visual landscape of the Plateau.
In addition, there are a few buildings of note scattered around the Plateau. The Warshaw building (St. Laurent and Bagg) dates from the 1920s and was the Plateau's first skyscraper. Though only seven stories tall, it is a distinctive feature of the neighborhood. Further north 4020 St. Laurent is recognizable by its impressive refinished neo-Art Decco exterior. Also there are many large churches from the 19th and early 20th century. Most notable of these would be the oriental looking St. Michael the Archangel, located at 5580 St.Urbain street.
On the southern end of the Plateau, on the edge of the McGill Ghetto is the Galleries du Parc, a large 1960s-era urban redevelopment project. The Galleries are comprised of four large buildings, three of them devoted to apartments and the fourth devoted to office space. In addition, a former hotel, now a residence of McGill University, and an underground shopping complex are part of the Galleries project. The underground mall, though small, contains a variety of shops and services including the Parc Cinema, showing art-house and second run films.
Parks
The Plateau is bordered on two sides by large parks. To the west is '''Parc Mont Royal''', originally designed by Frederic Law Olmstead in the 1880s and a dominant feature of the Montreal landscape. The park is widely used for recreation, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing in the winter, as well as the weekly Tam Tams celebration during the summer months. Parc Mont Royal is safe and accessible by the adjacent '''Parc Jeanne Mance''' and by Ave du Parc. To the east is '''Parc LaFontaine''', a well-manicured space including an artificial lake, bike paths, sporting facilities, and an outdoor amphitheater. Both parks are heavily used during the summer months.
A smaller park, '''Carre St. Louis''', is at the end of the Prince Arthur pedestrian mall, next to Rue St. Denis. Though a fraction of the size of either Parc LaFontaine or Parc Mont Royal, it is a popular and scenic local destination. Two fountains, bike paths, and easy access to a number of restaurants and shops provide a comforting background and a relaxing setting. On a side note, many of the the gags on the television show 'Just For Laughs' are performed in this park.
There are also a number of examples of impressive urban tableaux and graffiti art found throughout the Plateau. The side streets to the east of St. Laurent are well known for this, particularly '''Ave. Duluth'''.
Do
Maison de la culture. 65 Mont-Royal E. cross the street from metro Mont Royal. 14-872-2266. ue-Sun 1PM-5PM. ree. Exhibits local artists.\
Theatre de Verdure. n Parc Lafontain; metro Mont Royal or Sherbrooke and/or bus 24. 14-872-4041. cces_culture@ville.montreal.qc.ca. ttp://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=4517,7008316&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL. 0 Jun-17 Aug, Wed-Sun 7:30PM. ree-$30 depending on the show.. Three-thousand seat outdoor theater open for a summer program of dance, music, movies, and theater. Plan to line up early for the popular symphonies in the park series or just join the crowd of picnickers on the grass around the lake.
Festivals
<listing name="Main Madness" alt="" directions="between Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal" address="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="one weekend in June and August" price="free">Two weekends each summer St-Laurent boulevard is closed to cars for the Main Madness street fair. More an overgrown sidewalk sale than fair, restaurants, and shops set up in the middle of the street.</listing>
Buy
Though shops are dotted throughout the neighborhood, there are a few principle commercial avenues. Boulevard St-Laurent, known as "The Main" or "Le Main", is the largest and most famous, with a cornucopia of restaurants, shops, bars, and other services. Below Ave des Pins, St. Laurent tends to be more upscale, particularly at the junction of Ave Prince Arthur. Further north on St. Laurent there are a variety of clothing stores, hearkening back to the street's history as the center of Montreal's garment district.
As for price, the Plateau has experienced a long stretch of gentrification, which has pushed prices upward in many locations. However, there are still bargains to be found in main places, particularly for vinyl records, books, and second-hand clothing.
Clothing
Despite on-going gentrification, St-Laurent near Rachel and Mont Royal west of St-Denis, still have a number of vintage and second-hand ''frips'' where you can pick up '50s prom dresses and '70s T-shirts. Local designers have claimed several spots on St-Laurent including Blank.
Blank. lanc. hirts $19-30. Quebec's answer to American Apparel, featuring locally designed and made, high-quality cotton T-shirts, pants, and sweatshirts. They'll even print up shirts with your custom design.
Eva B Cafe-Boutique. 013 St-Laurent. etro St-Laurent. 14-849-8246. nfo@evab.ca. ttp://www.evab.ca/en/. on-Wed 10AM-6PM, Thu-Fri 10AM-9PM, Sat 11AM-5PM, Sun 12PM-5PM. 5 and up.. Selections from local designers, vintage, and a bistro/bar thrown in for good measure.
Preloved. 832 St-Laurent. 14-499-9898. ttp://www.preloved.ca/. Vintage.
Friperie. 976 St-Laurent. 14-842-3893. Vintage.
Music
Inbeat Records. 814 St-Laurent. 14-499-2063. ttp://www.inbeatstore.com/. New vinyl and CDs with an emphasis on techno and house records for the DJ-types.
Beatnik. 770 St-Denis. etro Mont Royal. 14-842-0664. ttp://beatnickmusic.com/. Used records and CDs.
Primative. 828 St-Denis. etro Mont Royal. 14-845-6017.
Paul's Boutique. 12 Mont-Royal E. etro Mont Royal. 14-284-773. Used CDs, records, and vintage T-shirts.
Eat
Budget
La Banquise. 94 rue Rachel Est. t Ave de la Parc LaFontaine; metro Mont-Royal. 14-525-2415. pen 24 hours. 6-10. ttp://www.restolabanquise.com/. La Banquise consistently tops locals' lists for best poutine in town (and not just because it's open for post-bar-hopping munch fests when judgment is slightly impaired). Maybe it's because they've been at it since 1968. The clientele is hip and clubworn, the walls and tables are brightly coloured, and the staff is friendly. 25 varieties of poutine make up most of the menu, but if you insist there are hamburgers and other fast-food fare, as well as a bar.
'''La Binerie''', 367 avenue Mont-Royal Est (metro Mont-Royal), 514-285-9078. A small unpretentious eatery that became a legend. It features traditional meals for under $10, especially ''feves aux lard'' (beans cooked overnight with bacon).
'''Euro-Deli''', 3619 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke). Very cozy deli/cafe in the middle of the trendy section of St-Laurent. Excellent fresh pasta, meatballs, lasagna, salads, etc. Very affordable.
Frites Alors. 33 rue Rachel Est. ttp://www.fritealors.com/. aily 11:30AM-10PM. Pommes frites with a choice of a half-dozen toppings. Poutine. Burgers. Salads. Part of a small local chain.
'''Maamm Bolduc!''', 4351 de Lorimier, (514) 527-3884. Quebecois food include what just may be the best poutine in town, served in a dozen different varieties ranging from traditional to ''bourguignonne'' (with mince, mushrooms, and red wine sauce). The portions are huge and the misnamed $7.50 ''petit'' is plenty for most ordinary people.
'''Schwartz's''', 3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke or bus #55). Famous delicatessen for smoked meat, served up in huge, juicy, peppery slabs. Cash only. No reservations. Expect to wait for a table at most times, but the queue moves fast. Smoked meat sandwich $5.65. Open daily 9AM-midnight or later.
Bouchee de Pain. uluth, just west of Parc Lafontaine. etro Sherbrooke. egular bakery hours. /A. This is a vegan bakery. It is delectable. All natural, sometimes no sugar, also caters to gluten-free diets. Go overboard on delicious coconut/orange cakes, rich chocolate brownies, 'dulce de leche' cannolis, and signature mongo-big cookies with only good things inside. Worth a detour. Very bike-able area. Feel-good affirmations on the wall that you can add to.
'''Cao Thang''', 1082 boulevard St-Laurent, (514) 392-0097. Vietnamese sandwiches, snacks and sweets. A traditional Vietnamese pork roll is just $2.50.
'''Croissant de Lune''', 1765 rue St-Denis, (514) 843-8146 (metro Berri-UQAM). Sweet and savoury crepes, breakfast fare, sandwiches, beers. A perfect brunch spot. Licensed.
'''Juliette et Chocolat''', 1615 rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQAM). A chocoholic's paradise! The thick menu at this favorite dessert restaurant, chocolaterie and creperie consists of chocolate in all of its forms, from cakes to thick "grandma's style" hot chocolates to salad dressing! Busy on Saturday nights, a great date or dessert spot. Everything here is sinful. A second (larger) location has just opened on Laurier at Parc.
Santropol. 990 rue Saint-Urbain. etro Mont-Royal or bus #55. 1-514-842-3110. ttp://www.santropol.com. aily 11:30AM-12AM. 10-20. er person. This favorite Montreal spot serves a great selection of creative, gigantic sandwiches, soups, coffees, teas, and breads to appeal to any veggie palate. With a funky decor, a great outdoor garden in the back in the summer, bookshelves stocked with used books, and a food service for the needy, this casual restaurant is a veritable Montreal institution. Casual. Popular among students.
Mid-range
'''Le Poisson Rouge''', 1201 rue Rachel, (514) 522-4876. A seafood BYOB with a wonderful ''prix fixe''. The maitre d' is friendly and knows everything about each fish and its preparation.
'''Soupe Soup''', 80 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke). Best soup and sandwich in town. Not cheap, but great quality and definitely original.
'''Au Pied de Cochon''', 536 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke), (514) 281-1114. Modern restaurant with casual ambiance. Huge meals. The place to go for lamb and original Quebec cuisine for a reasonable price; the poutine with foie gras is particularly (in)famous.
'''Carissima''', 222 avenue Mont-Royal Est (metro Mont-Royal). Excellent fusion Italian cuisine with a Mediterranean and French twist, also features an elegant yet fairly priced wine list.
'''Eduardos''', 404 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke). Good Italian restaurant, bring your wine!
'''Aux Vivres''', 4631 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Mont-Royal). Alternative vegetarian cuisine.
'''Byblos''', 1499 avenue Laurier Est (metro Laurier), (514) 523-9396. One of the best unknown restaurants in Montreal. Prices are amazingly reasonable for the food quality. Iranian food.
'''Khyber Pass''', 506 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke), (514) 844-7131. Afghan. Bring your own wine.
'''Higuma''', 3807 rue St-Denis (metro Sherbrooke), (514) 842-1686. With so many sushi restaurants to choose from, it's hard to know where to begin. Higuma is a perpetual favourite, with excellent quality at a good price.
'''Le Roi du Plateau''', 51 rue Rachel Ouest and '''Chez Doval''', 150 rue Marie-Anne Est, are arguably the best of the many Portuguese grill restaurants in town.
'''Brioche Lyonnaise''', 1593, rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQAM), (514) 842-7017. A popular, reasonably-priced eatery, it can get crowded at times. Sandwiches, crepes.
Chu Chai. 088 rue Saint-Denis. etro Sherbrooke. 1-514-843-4194. ttp://www.chuchai.com/. on-Sat 12PM-3PM, 5PM-10PM, Sun 12PM-3PM, 5PM-9PM. 15-20. er person, not including wine. A treat for vegetarians, vegans, and those who love them. Chu Chai specializes in Thai cuisine made with soy or vegetable protein to simulate meat. The roast "duck" is delicious, and the ''tom yum gai'' (lemongrass soup with "chicken") warms the heart. A bistro and takeout counter next door called "Chuch" has the same dishes in a more casual setting and is "bring your own wine".
Splurge
La Chronique. 9 rue Laurier West. etro Laurier, or bus 80. 1-514-271-3095. ttp://www.lachronique.qc.ca/. 28-150. 100 menu, $150 with wine. Has a casual feel until you see the astonishing creations of master chef Marc de Canck of Belgium. The table d'hote with wines is perfect in just about every way, but don't get it if you have to ask what it costs.
Vents du Sud. 23 rue Roy Est. etro Sherbrooke. 1-514-281-9913. ttp://www.milos.ca/. Bring your own wine. French restaurant with Basque country meals (St-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz). Duck and Cassoulet exquisite.
Drink
The Plateau is full of watering holes and the best thing to do is just wander and discover for yourself.
Starting west and moving east, Bar des Pins (formerly Pines Tavern and featured in Mordechai Richler novels) is famous with the McGill set for Tuesday night beer pong. On southeast corner of Prince Arthur and St-Laurent is Vol de Nuit, a good place to start the night, especially in warmer weather when the terrace is open.
Boulevard St-Laurent from Prince Arthur to Mount-Royal has a good mix of bars and clubs, from classy to downright sketchy. Korova (named after the bar in "A Clockwork Orange") is up a flight of stairs, has great music, and is popular with the hippest kids around. Nearby, also on St-Laurent below Duluth, is Frappe, a bar and pool hall, and Jupiter Room.
Further north, on the corner of Clarke (one west of St-Laurent) and Laurier Ave. is Dieu de Ciel, a brasserie that brews its own spectacular beer.
Les Bobards. 328 boulevard Saint-Laurent. etro Mont-Royal. Good happy hour. Great dancing on very diversified music on Friday nights.
Bily Kun. 54 avenue Mont-Royal Est. etro Mont-Royal. 14-845-5392. PM-3AM every day. 4.50 draft beers, $5 well drinks. ttp://www.bilykun.com/. Bily Kun ? the name is Czech, meaning "White Horse" ? is an institution in Montreal's Plateau district. Dim lighting, candles, and a huge bar give an intimate atmosphere, but Bily Kun gets hopping after 10PM with Montreal's hippest Francophones practically every night. Some of the area's top DJs spin experimental or loungey techno, but there's really no dance floor to speak of. Bar staff is kooky and nice, even if no one can quite explain the ostrich heads lining the walls. Upstairs O Patro Vys from the same owners frequently hosts small shows and events.
Quai des Brumes. 481 rue St-Denis. 1 514 499-0467. etro Mont-Royal. Very small and comfy watering hole in the heart of St. Denis near Parc du Mont-Royal. Velvet drapes, wood finish, and a chrome bar. Sometimes has live entertainment, which becomes a very intimate experience due to the small size.
Casa Del Popolo/La Sala Rossa. 873 boulevard Saint-Laurent. etro Laurier. 14-284-3804. ttp://www.casadelpopolo.com/. Established in September 2000, Casa Del Popolo is Montreal's only family-run neighborhood vegetarian hot-spot! Part fair-trade cafe, part music venue, part bar, part foozball hall... The Casa and its sister venue, La Sala Rossa, frequently host touring indie artists. Shows are cheap (sometimes free!). Try the goat cheese sandwich!
Le Reservoir. avenue Duluth Est. etro Mont-Royal. 14-849-7779. Brewpub. Very good snacks and tapas in a beautiful decor, there's a second floor upstairs.
Bifteck. 702 boul. St-Laurent. Some of the cheapest beer in town, served with some of the saltiest popcorn in all of Creation, consumed by bohemians and students from near and far (and the occasional honest-to-God rock star). Great place to start or end a St-Laurent pub crawl: to the south, you'll find trendy, relatively expensive places; to the north, some of the best dive bars anywhere. Or you can just stay and get tanked.
Go Go Lounge. 682 boul. St-Laurent. It's on the trendier part of St-Laurent, it looks trendy outwardly, the martini menu is certainly hip and happenin', but there's something missing: attitude. Anyone is made to feel welcome here and if there's a velvet rope and a doorman, it's only because the place really ''is'' full.
Else's. 56 rue Roy Est. Small, cozy space with a great selection of draft beers and fine whiskeys. Technically, it's a restaurant, but you're better off eating elsewhere and just picking at the mandatory nosh (bowl of olives, etc.).
Dieu du Ciel. 9 avenue Laurier West. etro Laurier. 14-490-9555. ttp://www.dieuduciel.com/. One of the best brew pubs in Montreal, it has a nice atmosphere for discussions between friends.
The Green Room/Le Salon Verte. 386 Blvd St-Laurent. etro Laurier. ttp://www.mileend.ca/. Mile End cultural center. Also serves drinks and plays loud music.
Sleep
Budget
'''Auberge Chez Jean'''[http://www.aubergechezjean.com/fr/], rue Henri Jullien, metro Mt. Royal; $20 (dorm), breakfast incl.
Le Matou. 420 rue St. Denis. 14 982-0030. ttp://www.lematou.ca/en/. 75-95 double. Breakfast included.. Small, three room, Bed and Breakfast in a typical Plateau apartment building. Shared bathroom.
Mid-range
'''Hotel-studio Anne ma soeur Anne''', 4119, rue Saint-Denis (metro Mont-Royal). Brand-new boutique studio-hotel. $60-150 Budget, superior, and large suites.
'''A la Bonne Heure''', 4425, rue Saint-Hubert (metro Mont-Royal).[http://www.alabonneheure.ca/] Charming new Bed and Breakfast just above Parc Lafountaine, two blocks from Mont Royal shopping, restaurants, nightlife. Only four rooms, so book ahead. US$60-100 double occupancy.
'''Chez Francois Bed and Breakfast''', 4031, Rue Papineau, 514-239-4638.[http://www.chezfrancois.ca/] Located in the lower Plateau area, close to Duluth restaurants, Saint-Laurent nightlife and more. Five rooms in a typical Montreal walk up, lovingly maintained by Francois, an accommodating host who has excellent suggestions for tourists, as well as preparing wonderful breakfasts which are included in his very reasonable rates, from $85-140 CAD. An especially good deal for couples is Room #4, includes a jacuzzi bath for only $140CAD.
'''The Hotel de l'Institut''', 3535, Rue Saint-Denis, 514-282-5120.[http://www.ithq.qc.ca/en/hotel/index.php] Located between the Latin Quarter and Plateau Mont-Royal, facing one of Montreal_fs most charming green spaces, Square Saint-Louis. US$100-160 double occupancy including breakfast.
Splurge
'''Hotel Godin''',10 West Sherbrooke, ''514'' 843-6000, [http://www.hotelgodin.com/]. A new modern hotel with great design. Ideally located near the hot spot boulevard, St-Laurent.
'''Auberge de La Fontaine''', 1301, rue Rachel Est. Phone.: ''514'' 597-0166, (''Toll free:(800) 597-0597''), [http://www.aubergedelafontaine.com] Fun Bed and Breakfast with 25 rooms. Located on the Plateau and across the street from Parc Lafontaine. $100-280CAD. (metro Mont-Royal)
Contact