Saturday, August 1
I suggest starting off your weekend with croissants and café au lait at Café Méliès, where you can have an amazing breakfast in a futuristic ambiance on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. In the afternoon, walk down the Main (as this street is known to local English-speakers) and enjoy free outdoor shows during FrancoFolies, a festival dedicated to French-language music that's on until August 9.
Then, if you want some quiet time far from the crowded downtown area, go to Pullman, a wine bar on Parc Avenue with iconic architectural highlights, chairs hanging from the ceiling and a big chandelier made with glasses. They have a great selection of imported wines, but also a fine list of original tapas. It's Saturday night, and Montreal's evenings tend to go on late.
For the best music in town, head over to Salon Officiel, an intimate venue located in the middle of the Plateau Mont-Royal. With red curtains and large baroque paintings, this place truly feels like the perfect mix between Montreal's European and North American cultures.
