For this weekend’s Weekender, we are going to mix it up a bit. There’s no reason why you can’t hop in and out of town over the span of one weekend; what makes Montreal distinctively notable is it’s close proximity to all the hot ‘out of town’ spots accessible by car. We’re not suggesting a major road trip, but you can definitely throw in an afternoon drive out to the Laurentians to spice up a low-key weekend in the city.
Friday night we suggest you stick around town and enjoy a homey and inexpensive authentic Italian meal at Pizzeria Napoletana in Little Italy. There are few places you can actually taste the distinctive and authentic flavor of Italy while, at the same time not burning a hole in your pocket. And the best part? It’s a BYOB, so stop by the SAQ, grab a favorite bottle (or two) of red, and make a night of it. Their pizza is by far the best in the city, and their pasta isn’t too shabby either. Cap the night off with a beer at The Green Room in Mile End.
Saturday morning, wake up on the early side, and start your day off with a coffee at Cafe Myriade, Canada’s best-known independent Cafe which, simply put, brews the best cup of coffee you will ever try. Owner and world champion barista Anthony Benda is a whiz when it comes to coffee and applies a very scientific approach to choosing his beans and details of extraction.
After a latte and a vegan pastry from this world-renowned Cafe, hop in the car and head about an hour out of the city to the Laurentians for an afternoon lunch at Martin Picard’s famous Pied de Cochon Sugar Shack. Picard celebrates Quebecoise ingredients and fare while incorporating natural maple syrup into almost every dish. We highly recommend his foie gras pea soup to start, and anything sweet as the main course. Order a movie on Netflix and spend a relaxing evening at home; if you are hungry, we suggest something light and easy, like a raman soup from Imadake).
Sunday, spend the day out in the cold, hiking up Mount Royal and stopping atop for a skate. Warm up in the afternoon with a homemade soup and unique sandwich from Santropol on St. Urbain. We say ‘unique’ because they manage to successfully pair things together that shouldn’t go together, like peanut butter and cream cheese). Spend the afternoon picking through the remaining Boxing Day sale racks at all the hot boutiques on the main. Try Duo for men’s wear, Lola and Emily for women’s wear, and U & I for a mix of both.