After a relaxing long weekend, it’s time for yet another weekend. Doesn’t feel like you had much of a workweek, we’re sure, but who’s complaining? This weekend we are going to stick around the St. Henri/Griffintown area as much as possible because it’s great for being outdoors, has cool bars and restaurants and is chalked full of young professionals.
The sun will come out this weekend, so let’s try to get outside as much as possible, shall we? Start with drinks after work at Burgundy Lion in the trendy Atwater Market core of St. Henri. Their courtyard terrace is perfect for being outdoors while enjoying some fantastic beer or scotch, and if you are hungry they have an unbelievable bar menu offering up classic English pub fare. After drinks, head next door to Gepetto’s for some thin crust pizza and red wine (they also have a terrace, which could be open this early as well). Head across the street to Joe Beef Oyster Bar for an after-dinner aperitif and a cool vibe amongst notable young professionals.
Saturday, start off the day with brunch at Griffintown Cafe, which specializes in some amazing comfort-style Quebecois food with a Mexican flare. Next, hop on a Bixi and take a leisurely bike ride along the canal from Griffintown all the way to the west point of St. Henri (if you are daring head across the canal into Point St. Claire and hop on one of the trails into Nun’s Island). Head home for some R & R before heading back out to Nora Gray in Griffintown for an authentic Italian dinner. The menu here changes seasonally, so prepare yourself for their new spring menu and some fabulous wine pairings. After dinner, head to Drinkerie just a tad west for drinks into the wee hours of the morning.
Sunday, get up and take a stroll to the Atwater Market. Grab some lunch on the go from their famous little pizza joint. Walk the streets of St. Henri west of Atwater and check out how it’s gentrifying and all the amazing new locations for new restaurants and stores that are popping up. Spend the day walking in and out of some of Notre Dame’s famous furniture and antique shops and then head into Limon for an authentic Mexican dinner before calling it quits on the weekend and getting home to rest up for the start of a full workweek.
Photo courtesy Joe Beef