Hello! I’d love some recommendations for things to do and places to eat in Montreal and Quebec City in September. We’ll be staying downtown in both places and are pretty active (walking, hiking, biking are good) but we won’t have a car - tips for getting around would be great too (uber? Transit?). We love fun little mom and pop places with good food (although appreciate a nice restaurant too), cozy cafes and urban adventures! Thanks

I found that eating anywhere in Quebec is a good food experience.

Park in Westmount for amazing sushi and other Korean/Japanese dishes and Kampai Beer Garden. Beauty’s for brunch.

I second kampai garden!

DAMAS!! Incredible high-end Syrian restaurant. We don't have anything like it in Vancouver so worth the splurge. We did the tasting Menu.

We used uber/public transport and even Car2go to get around. Hike up Mt Royal.

The metro is the way to go in Montreal - it can take you most anywhere. So many beautiful places to see there. Lakeshore in Lachine and Lasalle - food is generally fantastic where ever go. Bar district - crescent st is fun later at night as in after 10 pm

Mont Royal in Montreal. Beautiful view of the city.

Park restaurant
Korean chef studied with master chefs in Japan.
It’s a must (get a reso early)

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kazu in montreal

For Quebec City: look up Battuto, Le Voisin, Patente et Machin

Cathy Alexander
Is it called Montreal where you’ll find plenty of sidewalk cafés to choose from.

Olive et Gourmande in Old Mtl - St. Paul St. Utopia!!

Old City walking tour

Park Extension

Best poutine in Quebec City is at Frites Alors
https://fritealors.com

Use the bixi bikes to get around Montreal!

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Laser light show at Notre-Dame Basilica
https://www.aurabasiliquemontreal.com/en/schedule/

Atwater market - buy lunch and have a picnic by the canal Lachine. You're allowed to drink alcohol in parks in Montreal as long as you're eating
Terrasse St- Ambroise, also by canal Lachine, is awesome! If you like beer, dieu du ciel on Laurier has some of the best beer in Quebec. KemCoba ice cream on Fairmount street is my fave! You can buy fresh bagels a few doors down while you're there, or grab some to-go gnocchis at Drogheria Fine next door! Grabbing a picnic from Dinette triple crown and eat it in the park across the street is also fun. The last few places I mentioned are all located in the Mile-End neighborhood which is my favorite neighborhood in Montreal. I'm going back in July! I can't wait! Have a nice trip!

La belle et le boeuf in Montreal for poutine

Joanna
We did a bike tour with ca roule. you get to keep the bike for the rest of the day plus you get an overview of the city. They offer different tours and were excellent!!! We biked down to the market , locked up the bikes and wandered then rode back. Great day!

Just spent a week in Montreal and Quebec City. If you go to Quebec City recommend 2 days. I did it in 24 hr but felt not enough time. For Montreal there's daily, weekly or evening passes for metro and bus that's worth it coming in from airport cause that shuttle bus ride downtown is already $10 each way so get your pass at the airport in advance. Metro is convenient and if you're downtown walking around and old port is convenient. Further if you want to go to mt royal plateau area and market jean talon and little Italy. For food: La Banquise 24 hr best poutine place, St Viateur or Fairmount bagels are both known for fresh bagels (get the sesame or plain if you want them piping hot and fresh), Smoking Meat Vieux Montreal in Old Port for smoked meat (I prefer it over Schwartz or Main deli) however Reubens was good too. Kem Coba awesome sorbet and ice cream. Jardins Nelson in Old Port has outdoor gorgeous garden setting for romantic dinner with live jazz music - their sangria is good and duck confit. I had a Car2Go membership here in Vancouver and could use it in Montreal but not really available downtown core as its mostly in the Mt Royal plateau neighborhood. Quebec City try Bistro St. Malo in Old Quebec - amazing service and fresh mussels and fries for $25. Old Quebec is really walkable and the bus was convenient. If you bus or train to Quebec City from Montreal you can buy bus tickets or day pass in the Couche Tard convenience store in the bus/train station before hand. Quebec City is super convenient to bus around and the Best Western Plus City Centre I stayed in was really good and convenient that neighborhood has tons of hip and trendy restaurants and bakeries and cafes these days too.

Nouilles de lan Zhou in Montreal! You can pick what type noodles you want and the hand pull and cut them fresh. Tried them when I was there in April.

Maddie Plottel

I grew up in Quebec City and lived in Mtl for 10 years. Québec: After walking around the history neighbourhood get on the ferry to Levi’s(it’s only 3-4$ and goes every 30min) you get a beautiful view of the city from the river, you can sit outside and enjoy the ride. Also for a less theatrical neighbourhood, Limoilou is where real people live.
Montreal is easy: grab a Bixi and explore. Stay away from Ste-Catherine street unless it’s the gaybourhood, it’s mostly shopping.
Jean talon market and around is nice.
Dînette triple crown- great lunch place on a sunny day- they give you a pic-nic basket with your food, dishes/cutlery and blanket to eat in parc St-Zotique across the street. You bring the basket back when you’re done. The food is great.
Oh and one great thing also is biking by the Lachine canal, you can do it with a Bixi. It’s a great bike path away from cars. Bike to St-Henry neighbourhood(stop at a brewery by the canal).
Download the Bixi app to find stations.

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We’re going to Quebec City, Malbaie, Saguenay, Mont Tremblant and Montreal over 2 weeks.

we rented bikes and cycled from Quebec City to Montmorency FallS. Easy to do, mostly dedicated cycle paths

Thanks everyone for your great recommendations! Cheers!