Visiting Montreal & Quebec City for the first time - recommendations?

[Aimeedyan]

(I posted on the community board, too, but someone recommended I post here too!)

It's our first trip to both places and I would love recommendations for restaurants, things to do, things not to do, etc. We love sightseeing, trying new restaurants and breweries, museums, shopping, etc. No kids.

Would a day trip to Ottawa be worth it? Or are there any other day trips worth doing?

(staying 4 nights in Montreal and 3 nights in Quebec City)

 

[BLAZEY]

In Quebec City, definitely visit the Citadelle de Quebec.

 

[Gigi22]

(I posted on the community board, too, but someone recommended I post here too!)

It's our first trip to both places and I would love recommendations for restaurants, things to do, things not to do, etc. We love sightseeing, trying new restaurants and breweries, museums, shopping, etc. No kids.

Would a day trip to Ottawa be worth it? Or are there any other day trips worth doing?

(staying 4 nights in Montreal and 3 nights in Quebec City)

I spent my honeymoon in Quebec City. I suggest you visit the Chateau Frontenac. Wander into the bar on the main floor after sunset and have an adult beverage at one of the tables overlooking Dufferin Terrace, towards Levis. Wonderful view. Very romantic.

Take the funicular from the lower to the upper town in old Quebec, unless you are used to hiking up really steep inclines.

If you have a car, do visit the Ile d’Orleans, which is a lovely old area.

Not sure I would recommend a day trip to Ottawa, unless you are adding another day to your vacation. Ottawa is about 2 hours drive west of Montreal.

 

[stfxkid]

In Montreal for breweries go to Dieu du Ciel and Benelux. For food try Shwartzes on St Laurent for smoke meet (you could also go to The Main across the street just as good and less buisy). Au Pied du Cuchon and Joe Beef are amazing but can be pricy but not as pricey as you would expect for world class chefs.

The fine arts musuem is great, but my favorit is the Redpath musuem inside McGill it is free and has dinosaurs.

 

[Absimilliard]

In Montreal for breweries go to Dieu du Ciel and Benelux. For food try Shwartzes on St Laurent for smoke meet (you could also go to The Main across the street just as good and less buisy). Au Pied du Cuchon and Joe Beef are amazing but can be pricy but not as pricey as you would expect for world class chefs.

The fine arts musuem is great, but my favorit is the Redpath musuem inside McGill it is free and has dinosaurs.

For Poutine, there is no way around it: La Banquise. Located east of downtown near Parc Lafontaine at 994 Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC H2J 2J3 , it is a legendary 24 hours poutine place. They have 30 kinds of poutine and all the beers they serve are from local microbreweries. For poutine, I have a legendary appetite and I can barely finish the "large" size. So stick to the normal size and enjoy! http://labanquise.com/en/poutine-menu.php . My favorite is the "Fred Caillou".

In addition to Poutine, the signature Montreal steak cut is the "Rib Steak" topped with roasted garlic and Smoked Meat spices. In the US, it would be a bone-in Ribeye and for a fine steak in Montreal, I strongly suggest Moishes. Its near Schwarz on St-Laurent street and they have an amazing after 9pm menu. http://moishes.ca/x72P578w/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Moishes-menu-after9-minuit-2017-20-dec.pdf

Are you renting a car? Most Costco around Montreal will sell you two 50$ certificates to Moishes for 80$. That would represent a nice discount as I figure two people on the After 9 menu willl come close to 100$ by the time you count the tip, drinks and taxes. Moishes also has their own parking, a rarity in that part of town.

If you have a car around Montreal, right near the airport is my favorite Smoke Meat Place. It is called Delibee and is a true hole in the wall restaurant, closed on sundays and attached to an old school tavern. The address is 24 Av de la Baie de Valois, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 4B3 . For me, the Smoked Meat is much better than Schwarz and their fries are delicious. The cole slaw is served with a spicy vinegar and I took a die-hard Schwarz fan here once. His verdict? As good as Schwarz, which even he did not think possible. Give them a call before at (514) 693-1163 to make sure they're open when you want to go. Tip: the rib steak is AMAZING and they even serve it with a little starter of smoked meat and roasted beef sausage.

For a day trip, I have a suggestion if you like ciders or wine in addition to beer: head to the eastern townships. You can visit a lot of wineries and cideries that offer tasting and you can find some amazing things there. Ice Cider is incredible.

Might I suggest a way out of the way restaurant if you can drive? It is not touristy at all and they did not have an english menu last time I was there with a friend, but the food was out of this world. The restaurant is inside an ancestral home and the French cuisine is as good as what you would find in a good restaurant in France. Prices are incredible too: 49$ for a five course meal featuring high french gastronomy. The website is http://www.lefolichon.com/topic/index.html and send me a PM if you want to try it. It is located in my city.

 

[ccudmore]

A couple suggestions for Quebec City:
At the Citadelle, try taking the Ghost Tour at night. It's a walking tour through parts of the complex where "ghosts" of people who lived there during its history tell their stories. It's not a replacement for the regular tour but gives you a very different perspective.

Taking a Food Tour in Quebec City is also a must. There's SOOO many amazing restaurants and a food tour will take you to 5 or 6 different types of restaurants with samples from each. Also includes a good historical tour of the neighbourhood.

 

[KCanuck]

I think the best croissants in QC are at Paillard in Rue Saint-Jean. Aux Anciens Canadiens has authentic quebecois cuisine and is in beautiful cozy old building. Chez Ashton for poutine!


In Montreal Maison Christian Faure in Old Montréal has outstanding pastries. Schwartz’s is one of the best smoked meat sandwich classic old restaurants. It’s not fancy but delicious.


Both cities are very walkable. It’s great to just wander!

 

[lisaviolet]

For a day trip, I have a suggestion if you like ciders or wine in addition to beer: head to the eastern townships. You can visit a lot of wineries and cideries that offer tasting and you can find some amazing things there. Ice Cider is incredible.

The Eastern Townships are breathtakingly beautiful. If you bike there are trails galore. It might be worth renting a car and checking it all out. The townships sit near the borders of NY/VT/NH and ME.

I am partial to North Hatley and Ayer's Cliff but you simply can't go wrong anywhere in the area.