Shopping · Montreal · Canada
Shopping in Montreal
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chicoutimi, Public domain
Quick answer
Montreal shopping ranges from Rue Sainte-Catherine's department stores and the Underground City malls to independent designers in Mile End and Quebec crafts in Old Montreal. Food gifts — maple syrup, ice cider and bagels — are what most visitors carry home. Best souvenirs: Maple syrup and maple butter, Ice cider and Montreal bagels.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Maple syrup and maple butter
Where to shop
Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
The main downtown shopping street, with department stores, chains and malls linked to the Underground City.
Avenue du Mont-Royal and Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Vintage clothing, local designers and design shops in the Plateau.
Mile End
Independent boutiques, bookshops and record stores around Rue Bernard and Rue Saint-Viateur.
Old Montreal
Quebec crafts, art galleries and design boutiques around Rue Saint-Paul and Bonsecours Market.
Markets
Jean-Talon Market
A year-round farmers' market in Little Italy with maple products and Quebec cheeses.
Atwater Market
An Art Deco market hall by the Lachine Canal with butchers, fromageries and seasonal stalls.
What to buy
Maple syrup and maple butter
Cans and bottles from markets and grocery stores, graded by colour and flavour.
Ice cider
Quebec ice cider in half bottles, sold at SAQ stores and the markets.
Montreal bagels
A dozen fresh bagels from St-Viateur or Fairmount, which freeze well for the trip home.
Quebec cheese
Firm cheeses from the markets travel best; check your home country's import rules.
Inuit and Quebec crafts
Galleries in Old Montreal sell Inuit prints and carvings; look for the igloo tag that certifies authentic Inuit art.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Little Italy
Jean-Talon Market
Opened in 1933, Jean-Talon is an open-air market that trades all year, enclosed in winter, with Quebec farmers' produce, cheese counters, maple products, bakeries and food stalls.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
Experience · Downtown
Underground City (RÉSO)
The RÉSO is a network of about 32 km of tunnels and passages linking metro stations, shopping centres, offices, hotels and universities beneath downtown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Food
Market · Old Montreal
Bonsecours Market
Topped by a silver dome and opened in 1847, Bonsecours Market was the city's main public market and also served for years as Montreal's city hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Montreal-style bagel, Maple taffy, Pouding chômeur and Ice cider. St-Viateur and Fairmount in Mile End, both baking around the clock and selling them hot by the dozen. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Montreal | $$$$ | Cobbled streets, grey-stone buildings and the Old Port waterfront |
| Downtown | $$$ | Shopping streets, museums and the Underground City |
| Plateau Mont-Royal | $$$ | Colourful row houses, outdoor staircases and Saint-Laurent bistros |
| Mile End | $$ | Bagel bakeries, cafés and artists' studios |
| Le Village and Quartier Latin | $$ | LGBTQ+ nightlife, student bars and the main metro interchange |
| Little Italy | $$ | Jean-Talon Market, espresso bars and family trattorias |
| Griffintown and Saint-Henri | $$$ | Lachine Canal lofts, Atwater Market and new restaurants |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CAD. Tip 15–20% of the pre-tax amount in restaurants and bars, and about 10–15% for taxis. Card machines prompt you, often calculating on the total including tax.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March and November; the busiest months are July.
- January: Igloofest — outdoor electronic music festival in the Old Port (usually mid-January to early February)
- January: Fête des neiges — winter festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau (usually weekends in January and February)
- February: Montréal en Lumière — food, arts and light festival (usually late February to early March)
- May: Festival TransAmériques — contemporary theatre and dance (usually late May to June)
- June: Francos de Montréal — French-language music festival (usually June)
- June: Mural Festival on Boulevard Saint-Laurent (usually June)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and culture
Downtown
Shopping streets, museums and the Underground City
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Montreal?
Maple syrup and maple butter, Ice cider, Montreal bagels and Quebec cheese.
+Where is the best shopping in Montreal?
Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest: The main downtown shopping street, with department stores, chains and malls linked to the Underground City.
+What are the best markets in Montreal?
Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market.