Wanderbrush

Some trips are planned months in advance, and others fall into your lap at exactly the right moment. This one was the latter. It was the kind of spontaneous adventure that reminds you why saying “yes” is almost always worth it.

Back in November, I had the chance to tag along at the tail end of Mason’s work trip to Montreal. Since neither of us had ever ventured into Canada before, we jumped at the opportunity to turn it into a quick weekend getaway.

Here’s how we spent our first 24 hours exploring Montréal—and why I think anyone should do the same if they ever get the chance.

Mason arrived in the city on Monday, and I did not arrive to the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport until Thursday night. I made my way through customs and withdrew some Canadian currency before grabbing a taxi from the airport to our selected hotel in Old Montreal.

The hotel we booked for our weekend was Place D’Armes, and I truly can’t say enough about how wonderful the experience was. Tucked just steps from the Notre‑Dame Basilica, it felt like a luxurious little oasis in the heart of Old Montreal—elegant and comfortable, yet still infused with the historic charm that defines the city.

I had taken a late flight on Thursday to avoid missing an extra day of work, so by the time I arrived at the hotel it was close to midnight. All I wanted was a few hours of sleep before getting my first real look at the city in daylight.

One thing to note about Montreal—and the Quebec province of Canada in general—is that French is the official language. To prepare, we brushed up on a few basic phrases and expressions (thank you, Duolingo). In the more tourist‑heavy areas, most people spoke both French and English, but it’s still something to keep in mind as you explore.

When I woke up on my first morning in Montreal, my mission was simple: coffee. Mason had to work until lunchtime, so I took the chance to wander through Old Montreal with a warm drink in hand and no real agenda.

Montreal has a reputation as a food city, so when I started researching cafés, I was met with an overwhelming number of great options—many of them just a short walk from our hotel. I ended up choosing Crew Collective & Café for my morning pick‑me‑up. Housed in a cathedral‑style building that once served as a bank’s head office, the space is breathtaking from the moment you step inside. High ceilings, ornate details, and a quiet hum of people working or chatting—it’s the kind of place you could sit in for hours, writing, people‑watching, or simply soaking in the historic charm. It’s a reminder to slow down and romanticize the small moments.

I ordered a matcha and perched myself at one of the tables, grateful for a cozy spot to escape the cold, overcast morning. As I warmed up, I mapped out my route for a little solo sightseeing, then grabbed a latte to‑go before venturing back out into the chilly air.

St. Paul Street (or Rue Saint‑Paul) is the main historic artery of Old Montreal, best known for its charm and cobblestone character. Lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and just about everything in between, it’s the kind of street that invites you to wander slowly and take in every detail.

I was walking the streets around 8:30am, so most of the stores were not open yet. This allowed me to have a quiet morning stroll as I took in the historic sites and buildings. The cobblestone streets, European ambiance, and stunning architecture made it the perfect backdrop for my first introduction to the city. The fall colors were also still hanging on in early November which provided even more incredible scenery.

Once I had taken copious amounts of photos and finished my latte, I slowly made my way back toward the hotel. On the way, I popped into Le Petit Dep, a charming little café in the Place D’Armes Plaza, just steps from where we were staying. I grabbed Mason a quick breakfast pastry before rounding back to our hotel. I headed back to the room, rested for a bit, and waited for him to wrap up work for the day.

For lunch, I already knew exactly where I wanted to go: the famous Schwartz’s Deli. This Montreal institution is one of the city’s oldest, serving its iconic smoked meat since the 1920s. It’s a beloved stop for tourists and locals alike, and its reputation only grew after Anthony Bourdain declared it a must‑visit. And honestly, if Tony says go, you go—so it became our first stop of the afternoon.

Schwartz’s was a little over a mile from our hotel, so we decided to walk and build up our appetites while seeing more of the city. Montreal is a place best experienced on foot, and we took every opportunity to wander. Plus, the more we walked, the more we felt justified in everything we ate.

We arrived to Schwartz’s and were greeted by a short line to enter. I heard countlessly that there was always a line at Schwartz’s, but it moves fast. So, we chatted with some people in line as we slowly inched our way to the front. We were seated after about 20 minutes, anticipation for the food building. They sat us at a 6 person table with another group of four, and the waiter gave us a run down of their menu and what to expect. Mason and I both knew we wanted the classic smoked meat sandwich, but we also supplemented it with peppers, cold slaw, pickles, and, of course, poutine.

When we were done it was determined, this meal lives up to the hype. Our food was devoured quickly and was nothing short of incredible. We cleared our plates, said goodbye to our table mates, and set off for our next stop of the afternoon: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

By this point, it had started to rain and we were running a bit tight on time to enjoy the museum to its full potential, so we opted for an Uber. It was about a 10 minute ride from Schwartz’s to the museum. We arrived to the museum around 3pm and had a couple hours to explore before it closed for the evening.

Mason and I used our two hours in the museum to cover as much ground as possible. The special exhibit during our visit was Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors, a powerful and provocative exploration of Monkman’s intervention into Western European and American art history. We spent a good chunk of time wandering through this exhibit, along with several other notable installations throughout the museum. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon: unhurried, inspiring, and a welcome break from the cold.

We took an Uber back to the hotel for a quick break before our dinner reservations later that night. The rain had picked up steadily throughout the afternoon, and while it would’ve been a great chance to explore more of the city on foot, the weather had other plans.

For dinner, we had reservations at a small spot called Le Majestique. Located in the same neighborhood as Schwartz’s Deli, the restaurant had a lively yet cozy atmosphere that immediately pulled us in. The menu was made up of small bites—perfect for sharing—so we ordered a handful of dishes to pair with our cocktails and settled in for a relaxed, delicious first night in Montreal.

This was a buzzy and snazzy spot to grab an intimate dinner. It came highly recommended to us and was the perfect spot to round out our first night in the city.

We walked back to our hotel from the restaurant and took in the liveliness of the city at night. A quick pit stop into Tim Hortons was our last destination before returning to our hotel for the night and getting some rest for our next and final full day in the city.