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¶ Meeting Venue 
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
900 René-Lévesque Blvd W,
Montreal, Quebec
H3B 4A5, Canada
¶ Side Meetings 
Find out when each room is available on our public Trello board.
Fill out the Side Meeting Request Form to request a room.
The Secretariat will be allocating spots on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact support@ietf.org with any questions or concerns.
¶ Bus/Metro Strike Info 
Both the bus/metro drivers and maintenance employees will be on strike during the meeting week, unless an agreement is reached.
| Day | Impact | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 31 October | 🟩 Regular service | Regular schedule |
| 1 November | 🟥 No service | No service |
| 2-28 November | 🟨 Reduced service | Normal service during these time periods only: Metro between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. between 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. between 11 p.m. and the usual métro closing time Bus between 6:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. between 11:15 p.m. and 1:15 a.m. |
See the STM website for the latest info.
¶ Map 
The following link is a map of restaurants, attractions, hotels, etc. in the area surrounding the IETF venue.
IETF 124 Map of Montreal
¶ Alternative Hotels Nearby 
These hotels are within 15 minutes walk time of the meeting venue:
- Hotel Birks Montreal
- 5 - Hotel Bonaventure Montréal - 4
- Hôtel Le Germain Montréal - 4
- Hôtel Monville - 4
- Humaniti Hotel Montreal Autograph Collection - 4
- Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel - 4
- Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites - 4
- Le St-Martin Montreal Hotel Particulier - 4
- Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain - 4
- Novotel Montreal Centre - 4
- Renaissance Montreal Downtown Hotel - 4
- Holiday Inn & Suites Montreal Centre-Ville Ouest, an IHG Hotel - 4
- Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa - 3
- Comfort Suites Downtown - 3
- Courtyard Montreal Downtown - 3
- Hôtel Le Dauphin Montréal Centre-Ville - 3
- Moxy Montreal Downtown (New hotel, not yet rated)
¶ Airport Transportation 
Various transportation methods to and from the IETF venue and the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) International Airport are avaliable.
The Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) is the closest airport to the IETF meeting venue. Being about 20-25 minutes drive (18.6 km).
¶ Bus 
747 Express Bus
Featuring nine stops in each direction, the 747 bus service is provided by the City of Montreal 24 hours a day, 365 days a year transportation between downtown Montréal and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
Available fares that cover the 747 bus line (and bus + metro across Montréal) :
- 24-hr, all modes - A 24-hour ($11.25) transit pass, can be purchased from:
- Inside the YUL terminal. There are several ticket machines in the international arrivals area (door 28), most travellers concentrate on the one near the exit, search the others. Payment in cash, by debit card or with VISA / MasterCard credit card. They can also be purchased at the STM information counter, also located in the international arrivals area (door 28).
- In the bus (exact change in coins only, bills are not accepted).
- Online, via the Chrono mobile app, before boarding. Your digital fare will be validated by the driver on board the 747 bus. You must activate your fare on the mobile app before boarding the 747 bus. You will then have 120 minutes to validate it with the driver. On the bus, you will get a transfer that is valid for 24 hours to travel on the bus + metro anywhere in Montréal.
- In any metro station (for the return trip). Payment in cash, by debit card or with VISA / MasterCard credit card.
- 3-day, all modes - A three-day ($21.75) transit pass to cover transit for the beginning of your time in Montreal.
- Unlimited weekend, all modes - A weekend ($16.75, Friday 4 PM to Monday 5 AM) transit pass to cover transit for the beginning of your time in Montreal.
- Weekly, all modes - A weekly ($32.00, Monday to Sunday) transit pass is also available but requires a $6 OPUS card first. The OPUS card can then be reloaded at any time via a smartphone using the Chrono mobile app.
If you're arriving early on Friday (before 4 PM) and want a transit pass for the métro + bus (including the 747 bus line) for the weekend and the rest of the week, it is best to take a 3-day ($21.75) transit pass and then a Weekly ($32.00) transit pass on the following Monday.
If you're arriving on late Friday (after 4 PM) / Saturday and want a transit pass for the métro + bus (including the 747 bus line) for the weekend and the rest of the week, it is best to take a Unlimited Weekend ($16.75) transit pass and then a Weekly ($32.00) transit pass on the following Monday.
If you're arriving on Sunday and want a transit pass for the métro + bus (including the 747 bus line) for the day and the rest of the week, it is best to take a 24-hr ($11.25) transit pass and then a Weekly ($32.00) transit pass on the following Monday.
Two route options are available to you from the airport:
- 747-1 - Stops at Lionel-Groulx metro station and various hotels
- Travel time from 45 to 70 minutes, depending on traffic
- Destination "Centre-ville (downtown)"
- Stops at various hotels on boul. René-Lévesque (Venue hotel is at the Mansfield / Gare Centrale stop)
- Terminus stop at Berri-UQAM métro station
- 747-2 - Stops at Lionel-Groulx metro station only
- Travel time from 25 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic
- Destination "Metro" (Terminus Lionel-Groulx)
- To reach the venue hotel from the Lionel-Groulx metro station, you will then need to take the 2|🟠 orange métro line (towards Montmorency) and exit at the Bonaventure métro station (3 stations down). The venue hotel is right above the station.
- You can also walk from the metro station but expect a 40 mins walk to the venue hotel.
Unless your hotel is near the Lionel-Groulx metro station or you prefer taking the metro, the first option (747-1 Centre-Ville (Downtown)) is the most convenient transit option.
¶ Taxi & Rideshare 
Taxis to and from the IETF Meeting Venue have a fixed rate, depending on the time of day:
- Between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.: $49.45
- Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.: $56.70
Payment in cash, by debit card or with VISA / MasterCard credit card.
To find a taxi, go to door 23 on the arrivals level, where a dispatcher will assist you. You do not need to book in advance.
Rideshare
Both Uber and Lyft are available in Montréal. Use the app to schedule a pickup.
From Baggage Claim, exit Door 20 or Door 28 on the Arrivals level.
¶ Passenger Pickup 
While you wait for your passenger to exit the airport, you can park for free at one of the three CellParc lots for up to (2) hours.
When your passenger is ready to be picked up, ask them to tell you which zone they’re waiting in (A, B, C, D, or E). You can then proceed to the arrivals drop-off and pickup area and pull over in the appropriate zone to pick up your passenger.
¶ Immigration, Baggage Reclaim and Customs 
You can complete your customs and immigration declaration even before you get to YUL. Advance Declaration, which is available on the ArriveCAN application (iOS / Android) and offered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), allows you to fill out your declaration up to 72 hours before your flight, saving you time as you leave the airport.
Once you’ve passed the mandatory inspection, you can collect your checked luggage.
Baggage claim 
Check the display boards to find out which baggage carousel number has been assigned to your flight. Luggage carts are available in this area if you need one. You can also ask a luggage porter to help you.
The airline is responsible for delivering your luggage. For missing or damaged luggage, or any other related issue, you need to go to your airline’s luggage service counter, located just before the luggage claim exit.
Handing in your declaration card 
Before exiting to the public area, you need to present your declaration card to a Canada Border Services Agency officer, who will advise you if you need to undergo a secondary inspection. This consists of a manual luggage inspection and, in some cases, a search.
Late or lost luggage
The luggage claim service counter is located on the international arrivals level, at the end of the corridor, in front of gate 28. Use one of the telephones to speak to an attendant and get information about retrieving your luggage.
¶ Arrival Coordination 
¶ Departure Coordination 
¶ Rail Transportation 
The Montreal Central station is directly underneath the conference hotel. (The hotel was built in 1958 by the Canadian National Railway.)
Via Rail provides long distance service in Canada. There are six trains each day to and from Toronto which take about five hours. There are five to and from Ottawa which take about two hours, and five to and from Québec City which take about three hours. Amtrak has a daily train to and from New York, which leaves in the morning and arrives in the evening about 13 hours later in each direction. Via has an overnight train to and from Halifax which runs three days a week.
exo provides commuter train service, some of which leaves from the Central station, some from Lucien-L'Allier a few blocks to the west.
¶ Language 
Canada's official languages: English and French. Although the province of Québec is mostly french speaking, Montréal is essentially a fully bilingual city with French and English both being commonly spoken languages.
¶ Money Conversion 
The official (cash) currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar (international abbreviation CA$).
XE Currency Conversion Website
Coins denominations are 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, $1 and $2, while bank notes are issued in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations.
Note that there are no pennies / 1 cent coins in Canada. Any amount is rounded to the nearest five cents when paying with cash.
¶ Credit Cards 
- Major Credit and Debit cards, such as VISA and MasterCard are usually accepted everywhere.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay are also generally accepted everywhere.
- American Express and other cards are often also accepted, but not in smaller shops.
¶ Sales Tax 
In Canada, prices shown for products / services do not include the sales tax. The sales tax is 14.975% (QST 9.975% + GST 5%) of the advertised price.
However, some products are exempt like basic groceries (meats, fish, cereals, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, coffee and tea), products for infants, feminine hygiene products and books / audiobooks.
¶ Tipping Culture 
In Montréal, like the rest of Canada, tipping is customary in restaurants, bars, and taxis, with 15% of the pre-tax bill considered standard for restaurants (20% for an excellent service). Note that since May 7th, 2025, a new law states that suggested tip amounts on payment terminals must be calculated before taxes, presented in a neutral and uniform manner, and must allow a custom amount to be entered.
However, you are NOT expected to tip for take-out restaurants (e.g. fast food) / any restaurant where you stand in line and order at the counter to receive your food. Many of these restaurants will still present a tipping screen on the payment terminal even when there's no table service, in which case you should select None or enter 0.
¶ Electrical Plug / Outlet 
Electrical Plug and Voltage Information for Canada
In Canada, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type A and type B are used. The standard voltage is 120 V at a frequency of 60 Hz.
¶ Tap water 
Water quality on the island of Montréal is excellent and safe to drink. Most of the city’s drinking water comes from the St-Lawrence River, Lac St-Louis and Rivière-des-Prairies. The water is filtered and disinfected before distribution to ensure that it is safe to drink.
¶ Emergency Assistance 
In case of an emergency situation, the emergency number in Canada is 911.
A selection of Hospitals are pinned in the above map.
¶ Weather 
Current weather conditions in Montreal, Canada
In early November:
- Usually between 0 and 10°C (32 and 50°F)
- Snow is very unlikely (but possible)
- A winter coat and a tuque (toque, beanie, knit cap) are a must at this time of year. Normal shoes (e.g. sneakers) or hiking boots are still fine however (snow boots not needed).
Most interior areas are comfortable, even in t-shirts, all year round.
In case of cold weather / freezing rain, take advantage of the extensive underground pedestrian network.
¶ Métro and Bus 
The métro and bus lines are managed by the STM.
There are 4 métro lines spread across the city (1|🟢 green, 2|🟠 orange, 4|🟡 yellow and 5|🔵 blue). For historical reasons, there's no 3|🔴 red line!
The meeting venue is located directly on top of the Bonaventure métro station and is part of the 2|🟠 orange métro line.
All tickets and passes are valid onboard both the métro and bus. They can be purchased inside any métro station. You can also pay for a single trip onboard all buses with exact change only (no bills accepted).
| Pass / Ticket | Fare | Valid on the 747 bus line | Requires OPUS card ($6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-trip | $3.75 | ❌ | |
| 2-trip | $7.00 | ❌ | |
| 10-trip | $34.25 | ❌ | ✅ |
| 24-hr pass | $11.25 | ✅ | |
| 3-day pass (Consecutive days, until 11:59 p.m. the third day) |
$21.75 | ✅ | |
| Weekly pass (From Monday to Sunday 11:59 p.m.) |
$32.00 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited Evening (6 p.m. to 5 a.m. First use before midnight.) |
$6.50 | ❌ | |
| Unlimited Weekend (From Friday 4 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.) |
$16.75 | ✅ |
A trip is valid for 120 minutes. You can transfer between lines and métro/bus at any time during that period. However, you cannot exit and re-enter the same station using the same ticket / transfer. Once you do, it is considered a new trip.
Children under the age of 11 travel free at all times when accompanied by a person aged 14 or older. The accompanying person must have a valid ticket.
An OPUS card is required for certain fares (10-trip and weekly pass).
It can be purchased for $6 from fare vending machines inside any métro station or from station agents.
The OPUS card can loaded with tickets and passes using the Chrono mobile app or from fare vending machines inside any métro station.
¶ Underground City Map 
A large section of downtown Montréal can be walked without ever going outside. This indoor pedestrian network is called RÉSO. It covers 32 km, linking over 4,000+ shops and 60+ buildings, including 20+ museums and points of interest.
From the meeting venue hotel, you can go downstairs to the Gare Centrale and walk to many shopping malls, restaurants and métro stations from there.
The map below is older (from 2013) but gives a good overview:
¶ Apple and Electronics Stores 
There are various electronics stores near the meeting venue:
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Apple Store | Accessories are on the second floor |
| BestBuy | |
| BestBuy Express | Located inside the Montreal Eaton centre |
| Canada Computers & Electronics | |
| Samsung Store | Located inside the Montreal Eaton centre |
| Staples / Bureau en Gros |
¶ Grocery, Supermarkets and Convenience Stores 
¶ Bagels 
Montréal is famous for its bagels.
Bagel shops like St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel are extremely popular, but quite far from the meeting venue and can have long waiting lines. Note that bags of (6) St-Viateur bagels can be purchased from most grocery / supermarket stores.
The following bagel shops are in walking distance of the meeting venue:
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| La Fabrique de Bagel (1000 Atrium) | Located inside the 1000 De La Gauchetière Atrium |
| La Fabrique de Bagel (Carrefour Industrielle Alliance) | Located inside the Carrefour Industrielle Alliance centre |
| Hinnawi Bros Bagel & Café | Located in the tunnel between Place Ville-Marie and the Montreal Eaton centre |
¶ Bakery 
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Boulangerie Ange | Located inside the Humaniti Hotel |
| Boulangerie Au Pain Doré | Located inside Place Ville Marie |
| Brioche Dorée | Located inside the 1000 De La Gauchetière Atrium |
| Le Meilleur | |
| Première Moisson | Located in the Gare Centrale / Central Station |
| Rosetti (McGill) | |
| Rosetti (Peel) |
¶ Convenience Stores / Pharmacies 
| Location | Has a pharmacy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Couche-Tard | Small corner shop, located inside Gare Centrale / Central Station | |
| Dépanneur Boni-Soir | Small corner shop | |
| Jean Coutu (Ste-Catherine) | 💊 | |
| Jean Coutu (Saint-Jacques) | 💊 | |
| Pharmaprix (Place Ville Marie) | 💊 | Located inside Place Ville Marie |
| Pharmaprix (Ste-Catherine) | 💊 |
¶ Desserts / Pastries 
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Les Glaceurs | Cupcake Shop |
| Matcha Zanmai | Authentic Japanese sweets (mochi, cheesecake, ice cream, matcha, tea, etc.) highly recommended |
| Pâtisserie Mahrouse Centre-Ville |
¶ Groceries / Food Markets 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Avril Supermarché Santé | Health- & eco-conscious market featuring natural, organic foods & products, plus herbal supplements. Everyday 07:00-23:00 |
🥬++ |
| IGA Duke | Groceries supermarket Everyday 08:00-23:00 |
🥬 |
| Le Beau Marché | Boutique grocery store Mon-Fri 07:30-19:00, Sat-Sun 08:30-19:00 |
🥬 |
| Olly Fresco's (Carrefour Industrielle Alliance) | Prepared food market, hot buffet, made to order sandwiches and pasta, salad bar, extensive choices Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00 , highly recommended |
🥬++ |
| Olly Fresco's (Promenades Cathédrale) | Prepared food market, hot buffet, made to order sandwiches and pasta, salad bar, extensive choices Mon-Fri 07:00-17:00 , highly recommended |
🥬++ |
| Metro Plus De La Montagne | Groceries supermarket Everyday 08:00-23:00 |
🥬 |
| Provigo | Groceries supermarket Mon-Fri 07:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-21:00 |
🥬 |
¶ Maple Syrup 
If you plan on buying maple syrup, avoid the glass bottles sold in most souvenir shops. They are more expensive, smaller and usually only of the amber variety. All maple syrup (of each variety) is exactly the same, regardless of whether it's offered in a fancy container or a generic metal can.
You should instead look for 540ml maple syrup metal cans, found in almost all grocery / supermarket stores. They are usually available in either Amber / Ambré (lighter) or Dark / Foncé (stronger) variety, although it's possible to find Golden / Doré (very light) and Very Dark / Très foncé (very strong). If this is your first time buying maple syrup, the Dark / Foncé variant is a good choice.
They are usually sold around $10 or less.
Unopened cans can be stored indefinitely in the pantry / at room temperature.
However, once opened, you MUST transfer its content into a glass / plastic container and keep it refrigerated. It should then preferably be consumed within a year.
¶ Coffee and Tea Shops 
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bar Caffettiera | |
| Café Olimpico | Located inside Promenades Cathédrale (floor 1) |
| Café Veloce | Located inside Place Ville Marie |
| Columbus Café & Co | |
| diff. | |
| Leaves House | 100% plant-based coffee/tea, located inside Place Montreal Trust (Floor 3) |
| Plentea | Tea store |
| SoLIT Café | Located inside the 1700 Centre Manuvie (floor 1) |
| Starbucks | Located inside Place Ville Marie |
| Structure Roasters | |
| Tim Hortons | 605 Boul. René-Lévesque O - also serves donuts, muffins and wraps |
| Tim Hortons | 800 Rue De la Gauchetière O - also serves donuts, muffins and wraps |
| Tim Hortons | 1257 Rue Peel - also serves donuts, muffins and wraps |
| Tommy Café | |
| Tunnel Espresso | Located inside Gare Centrale / Central Station |
¶ Restaurants 
The following restaurants are nearby the meeting venue.
Vegan Friendly Legend:
🥬: has some vegan options 🥬++: has many vegan options
(no leaf means no proper vegan options or the menu isn't available online)
See the Vegan / Healthy section for dedicated vegan restaurants / shops.
Price Range Legend:
🟩: below $20, 🟦🟦: between $20 and $40, 🟧🟧🟧: over $40
(average main plate, per person, before taxes)
¶ Breakfast 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben & Florentine | Eggs, Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, French Toasts, Ham & Sausage, etc. Mon-Fri from 6:30AM, Sat-Sun from 7AM |
🟦🟦 | |
| Cora | Eggs, Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, French Toasts, Ham & Sausage, Fruits, etc. Mon-Sat from 6AM, Sun from 7AM |
🥬 | 🟦🟦 |
| Olly Fresco's (Carrefour Industrielle Alliance) | Prepared food market, hot buffet Mon-Fri from 8AM, highly recommended |
🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Olly Fresco's (Promenades Cathédrale) | Prepared food market, hot buffet Mon-Fri from 7AM, highly recommended |
🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Parma Café | Italian restaurant Mon-Fri from 7AM, Sat from 8:30AM |
🟦🟦 |
Also see the Bagels and Bakery section for more breakfast options.
¶ Chinese 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiao Dim Sum Bar | Dim sum restaurant | 🥬 | 🟦🟦 |
| Kan Bei 川月 | Traditional Sichuan dishes | 🥬++ | 🟦🟦 |
| Nouilles Zhonghua | Chinese noodles shop | 🟩 | |
| Restaurant Mr. Chuan | Chinese cuisine | 🥬++ | 🟦🟦 |
| Restaurant Pinophyta 臻心 | Chinese cuisine | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Fast food
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&W (Montreal Eaton Centre) | Located inside the Montreal Eaton Centre | 🟩 | |
| A&W (Ste-Catherine) | 🟩 | ||
| Burger King | 🟩 | ||
| Five Guys | Burgers, hotdogs, fries cooked in peanut oil | 🟦🟦 | |
| Grillades Torino | Chicken, beef and merguez skewers with many side options | 🟩 | |
| McDonald's (Gare Centrale) | Located inside Gare Centrale / Central Station | 🟩 | |
| McDonald's (Place Montreal Trust) | Located inside Place Montreal Trust | 🟩 | |
| McDonald's (Place Ville Marie) | Located inside Place Ville Marie | 🟩 | |
| McDonald's (Promenades Cathédrale) | Located inside the Promenades Cathédrales | 🟩 |
¶ French 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chez Lionel | 🟦🟦 | ||
| Henri Brasserie Française + Lounge | Upscale restaurant & bar serving French cuisine | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Le Passé Composé | Gourmet French brunch highly recommended, best to make a reservation |
🥬 (only 2 options) | 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Monème | 🟧🟧🟧 | ||
| Restaurant Île de France - Le 9e | Located inside the Montreal Eaton Centre | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Restaurant Le Carré | 🟧🟧🟧 |
¶ Greek 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kojax Souflaki | Located inside the Montreal Eaton Centre | 🥬 | 🟩 |
| Restaurant Zante | Classic Greek specialties | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Souvlaki Bar Express | Located inside the Fairmount The Queen Elizabeth hotel (floor 1) | 🟩 | |
| SPARTA Chicken | Grilled chicken, salads and kebabs | 🟩 | |
| Tzatzi-qui | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Indian 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Express | South Indian cuisine, located inside La MARQ | 🟩 | |
| Cuisine Arya | Authentic South Indian canteen, located inside Les Cours Mont-Royal | 🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Le 409 | Indian brewery | 🥬++ | 🟦🟦 |
| Masakali Indian Cuisine | Located inside the Best Western Ville-Marie Montreal Hotel & Suites | 🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Restaurant Héritaj | Indo-French fusion restaurant | 🥬 | 🟧🟧🟧 |
¶ Italian 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna | 🟦🟦 | ||
| Fiorellino | Neapolitan pizzas, pasta and small plates | 🟦🟦 | |
| Osteria Schiavio | Paste, pizza, located inside the 1000 De La Gauchetière | 🟦🟦 | |
| Parma Café | Italian / Panini Shop | 🟩 | |
| Restaurant Tbsp. | Gnocchi and pasta dishes | 🥬 | 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Trattoria Trestevere | Old-fashioned, long-running Italian eatery offering classic dishes | 🟧🟧🟧 |
For Neapolitan pizzas-specific restaurants, see the Pizza section.
¶ Japanese 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café Pastèque | Quick Japanese bento box food, located in the underground Eaton tunnel | 🟩 | |
| Iru Izakaya | A vibrant Japanese brasserie with a neon-lit Tokyo style atmosphere highly recommended |
🥬 | 🟦🟦 - 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Matcha Zanmai | Authentic Japanese sweets (mochi, cheesecake, ice cream, matcha, tea, etc.) highly recommended |
🥬 (tea options) | 🟩 |
| Ryu | High-end contemporary and traditional sushi, located inside the Hermes Building highly recommended |
🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Sora 45 | Café / Cocktail Bar | 🟦🟦 | |
| Sushi Rosa | Sushi restaurant | 🟦🟦 | |
| Sushiyo | Japanese / Korean sushi cuisine | 🟩 |
¶ Korean 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atti Express | Great Korean lunch options, located in the underground Eaton tunnel highly recommended |
🥬 (tofu bibimbap) | 🟩 |
| Bulgogi Grillades | Located in the Aon Hewitt building (floor 1) | 🟩 | |
| Ganadara | 🟩 | ||
| Kim Chi - Délice Coréen | Located in Gare Centrale / Central Station | 🥬 | 🟩 |
| Lee N Kim | Located in the Montreal Eaton Centre (floor 1) | 🥬 (tofu bibimbap) | 🟩 |
¶ Mexican 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Amigos | Great atmosphere, tex-mex chain style | 🥬 | 🟩 |
| El Habanero Mexican Grill | Street-food style burritos, tacos and rice/salad bowls | 🥬 | 🟩 |
| Escondite Drummond | 🥬 | 🟦🟦 | |
| Escondite Union | 🥬 | 🟦🟦 | |
| La Cantina | 🥬 | 🟩 | |
| Taco's Express | 🥬 | 🟩 |
¶ Pizza 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade Pizzeria | Neapolitan-style pizzas highly recommended |
🟦🟦 | |
| Pizzeria Bros | American-style pizzas | 🟩 | |
| Pizza Dany | American-style pizzas | 🟩 | |
| Pizza Pasta Mangione | American-style pizzas, Located inside Gare Centrale / Central Station | 🟩 | |
| Pizzéria NO.900 | Neapolitan-style pizzas | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Portuguese 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campo | Portuguese chicken & sandwiches, salad bowls highly recommended |
🥬 | 🟩 |
| Ferreira Café | Fine Portuguese seafood, wines & ports in a Mediterranean-accented space | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Helena | Upscale Portuguese cuisine | 🥬 | 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Portus 360 | Rotating restaurant featuring upscale Portuguese cuisine & panoramic views from the 31st floor. | 🥬 | 🟧🟧🟧 |
¶ Poutine 
Poutine is a must-have while in Montréal.
It consists of french fries, gravy sauce and cheese curds.
Many restaurants offer variations with extra meats, vegetables or other sauces.
The best place nearby to eat poutine is at Poutineville 🟩.
You can fully customize your poutine and it has proper vegan poutine options available. 🥬 vegan friendly
Another very popular spot is La Banquise 🟩, however it is quite far from the meeting venue.
The famous Au Pied de Cochon 🟧🟧🟧 has a foie gras poutine, also far from the venue.
¶ Pubs / British 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Dominion | Upscale pub food and old-fashioned cocktails | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Bar George | Scottish & British menu, located in The Mount Stephen hotel | 🥬 | 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Brit & Chips | British nook with counter seating for deep-fried fish made with specialty batters & pub goodies | 🟦🟦 | |
| McLean's Pub | English sports pub | 🟩 | |
| NYKS | Bistro Pub | 🟦🟦 | |
| Ye Olde Orchard Pub and Grill | Celtic pub | 🟩 |
¶ Seafood 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferreira Café | Fine Portuguese seafood, wines & ports in a Mediterranean-accented space | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Le Pois Penché | French bistro with various seafood dishes | 🥬 (limited) | 🟧🟧🟧 |
| Lucille's | 🟦🟦 | ||
| Sea Me | Located inside Les Cours Mont-Royal (floor 0) | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| The Keg Steakhouse + Bar | Upscale steakhouse and seafood dishes | 🟧🟧🟧 |
¶ Steakhouse / Diners / Deli 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deville Dinerbar | Retro-looking dinerbar, lunch only | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Dunn's Famous | Smoked meat sandwiches, poutine, pizza | 🟦🟦 | |
| Firegrill | Steakhouse, seafood and ribs | 🟧🟧🟧 | |
| The Keg Steakhouse + Bar | Upscale steakhouse, seafood dishes highly recommended |
🟧🟧🟧 | |
| Reuben's Deli & Steakhouse | Diner | 🟦🟦 | |
| Reuben's Restaurant Delicatessen | Diner | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Thai 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| HÀ | Located inside Le Cathcart (floor 0) | 🥬+ | 🟦🟦 |
| Thai Express | Fast-food style thai, located in the Carrefour Industrielle Alliance | 🥬 | 🟩 |
| Sésame | 🥬+ | 🟦🟦 | |
| Siam | Located inside the Warwick Le Crystal hotel | 🥬++ | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Vegan / Healthy 
| Location | Notes | Vegan friendly | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akai Bowl | Açai bowls and smoothies | 🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Copper Branch | 100% plant-based menu | 🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Leaves House | 100% plant-based coffee/tea, located inside Place Montreal Trust (Floor 3) | 🥬++ | 🟩 |
| Lola Rosa | 100% plant-based menu highly recommended |
🥬++ | 🟩 |
| LOV | Vegan and vegetarian menu | 🥬++ | 🟦🟦 |
¶ Information Points for Visitors 
-
The official Montreal Tourist Guide and Montreal Tourist Map can be downloaded as PDF.
Unfortunately, most of the mobile and seasonal tourist information centers close in October, before the meeting.
¶ Museums 
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière) | Modern museum with archaeological digs & interactive exhibits in historical buildings. |
| Montreal Museum of Fine Arts | Spacious museum showcasing Québec & Canadian visual works, plus international contemporary art. |
| McCord Stewart Museum | Historical exhibits of costumes, objects & photos on popular subjects from hockey to Inuit art. |
| Redpath Museum 🦖 | Natural history & world cultures galleries showcasing dinosaur skeletons, extinct species & mummies. |
| Château Ramezay - Musée et site historique de Montréal | Historical home that hosted political leaders, now home to regional history exhibits & workshops. |
| Montreal Science Center 🔬 | Interactive & educational science & technology exhibits for kids of all ages, with an IMAX theatre. |
| Barbie Expo 👗 | Collection of 1,000-plus Barbie dolls dressed in bridal & designer wear or inspired by celebrities. |
| The Art of the Brick | LEGO art exhibition. Using more than a million bricks, creating over 130+ works of art. |
¶ Public Artworks 
Montréal is home to over 1200 public artworks. Visit the Art Public Montreal website for a list and a map.
Popular artworks nearby:
| Artwork(s) | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Ring and Autoportrait | Right in front of the meeting venue |
| Leonard Cohen Mural | Montréal largest mural, located on Crescent street |
| Section of the Berlin Wall and Statue of Amphitrite | Inside the Montreal World Trade Centre |
| Dazzle My Heart | Colorful mural on the Le Germain Hotel |
| The Orb | Place des arts, in front of the Opéra de Montréal |
¶ Old Montreal / Port 
Dating to the 17th century, Old Montreal's narrow cobblestone streets are full of lively plazas and charming shops and cafes.
¶ Points of interest
- Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
- Château Ramezay
- Hotel de ville (Montreal City Hall)
- Marché Bonsecours (Bonsecours Market)
- Notre Dame Basilica
- Place Jacques-Cartier / Nelson Monument
- Tour de l'Horloge (Clock Tower)
¶ Activities
- La Grande Roue de Montréal (Ferris wheel)
- Montreal Bungee
- Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière)
- Montreal Science Centre
- Tyrolienne MTL Zipline
¶ Olympic Park 
The Olympic Park, built for the Montreal 1976 Olympics, is home to the Olympic Stadium and various attractions. It's also a great place for a walk.
¶ Attractions
- Montréal Olympic Stadium Built for the 1976 olympics, it is the largest covered amphitheatre in Québec
- Biodôme Five ecosystems of plants and animals to observe and walk through
- Botanical Garden One of the world’s greatest botanical gardens, with over 18,000 taxa
- Insectarium A mix of butterflies, a number of other live and naturalized insect species (some of the live ones unconfined)
- Planétarium The best place to learn about the sky and the stars
- Sports Centre Two 50m long swimming pools, diving and shallow pools for all ages
- The Esplanade An outdoor space for many events, a skatepark and wall climbing
- Château Dufresne A museum and historical heritage site
- Saputo Stadium Home of the CF Montreal soccer team
The Montréal Tower, the tallest man-made leaning tower in the world, is unfortunately currently closed for renovations and is set to reopen in 2027. It can however be admired from the outside!
¶ How to get there
It can be accessed via the 1|🟢 green métro line at station Pie-IX and Viau.
From the meeting venue, take the 2|🟠 orange métro line from the Bonaventure station (towards Montmorency) to the Berry-UQAM station and transfer to the 1|🟢 green métro line towards Honoré-Beaugrand. Exit at station Pie-IX (or Viau).
¶ Parc Jean-Drapeau 
The Parc Jean-Drapeau spreads over the Ste-Hélène Island and the Notre Dame Island. The former was significantly enlarged while Notre Dame Island was entirely built from scratch for the Montreal Expo 67 world fair. It was made from the rock excavated during the construction of the Montréal Métro in the early 1960s.
While only a few pavilions from the Expo 67 still exist, they've been transformed into new attractions (Biosphère, Casino de Montréal, etc.). The islands also include the Six Flags La Ronde theme park, the Formula 1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and various other attractions. It is a great park for cycling and walking all year round.
¶ Biosphère
The Biosphère is located on the Ste-Hélène Island. It was originally the United States Pavilion for the Expo 67 world fair.
The Biosphère is an inclusive institution showcasing a variety of approaches that offer a unique space for open innovation and engagement on pressing socio-environmental issues. It hosts various exhibitions, events, and mediation activities around the year.
¶ Casino de Montréal 
The Casino de Montréal is located on the Notre-Dame Island.
It consists of what was originally the France Pavilion and Québec Pavilion for the Expo 67 world fair.
¶ Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve 
The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a 4,361-metre long car-racing track which has played host to the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada since 1978.
When it's not hosting an event, the track can be used freely by cyclists, runners and pedestrians.
¶ Six Flags La Ronde 
Unfortunately, the Six Flags La Ronde theme park is closing for the year on October 31st and is only opened for the evening on that day.
¶ How to get there
You can travel to the Ste-Hélène Island by taking the 4|🟡 yellow métro line to the Jean-Drapeau station.
From the meeting venue, take the 2|🟠 orange métro line from the Bonaventure station (towards Montmorency) to the Berry-UQAM station and transfer to the 4|🟡 yellow métro line. Exit at the next station, Jean-Drapeau.
You can also travel to both the Ste-Hélène and Notre-Dame islands by taking the 777 bus line.
¶ Mount Royal 
Mount Royal is a hill west of downtown Montreal. It's a beautiful park and offers a breathtaking view of downtown Montreal from the Kondiaronk Belvedere.
¶ Kondiaronk Belvedere
Get a breathtaking view of Montréal from the Kondiaronk Belvedere.
View walking directions on Google Maps
From the meeting venue, it's a 1.9km walk with a 150m elevation.
- Walk up Peel Street towards Mount Royal
- Take the rue Peel Steps
- Take the Grand Staircase of Mount Royal
- Walk to the Kondiaronk Belvedere
¶ Oratoire Saint-Joseph
The Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is a grand domed Catholic church with an art museum, gardens & organ concerts, plus tours & events.
See the schedule and visitor guide for more details.
From the meeting venue, take the 2|🟠 orange métro line from the Bonaventure station (towards Côte-Vertu) and exit at the Snowdon station. Walk northeast on Queen Mary Rd. for 17 mins. The Oratory will be on your right. You can also take bus line 51 from the Snowdon station.
¶ Mount Royal Park
View the Mount Royal Park Map for all hiking trails.
The 711 bus line provides transit between 2 métro stations on each side of the mountain:
¶ Walking / Hiking in Montréal 
The following spots are quite popular for walking / hiking:
¶ Cycling in Montréal 
Montréal’s bicycle network totals 1,083 kilometres. You can view a map of the bicycle network on the Montreal Services website.
BIXI is a bike-sharing system with over 900 stations spread across the city. You can rent a bixi using the BIXI mobile app. Both one-way and monthly passes are available. Note that wearing a helmet is optional for regular BIXI bikes but mandatory for electric BIXI bike rentals.
- One-way passes are $1.50 (unlocking fee) + 20₵ / minute for regular BIXI bikes and $1.50 (unlocking fee) + 30₵ / minute for electric BIXI bikes.
- Monthly passes are $23 and include an unlimited number of 45 minutes regular BIXI bike rides. Over 45 mins, you are charged 18₵ / minute. Electric BIXI bikes are charged 18₵ / minute from the start.
¶ LGBTQ+ 
Montreal is widely considered an LGBTQ+ friendly city, known for its vibrant Gay Village, numerous queer-owned businesses, and a strong history of celebrating LGBTQ+ rights.
The Sainte-Catherine Street, between Berri and Papineau, is particularly packed with lively bars, eateries and boutiques that are very popular among the LGBTQ+ community.