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The best barbershops in Montreal. Skin fades, traditional cuts, hot-towel shaves, and beard work from neighbourhood chairs across the Plateau, Mile End, Old Port, and beyond.

The best bookstores in Montreal. Literary havens with curated French and English titles, indie zine sections, rare-book rooms, and historic Mile End and Plateau institutions.

The best cycling routes in Montreal. Flat island loops on Île Sainte-Hélène, serious hill climbs on the Mountain, the Lachine Canal corridor, and cross-city protected paths.

The best festivals in Montreal. Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, Osheaga, Igloofest, Nuit Blanche, and the year-round programming that makes the city's festival calendar legendary.

The best hair salons in Montreal. Colour specialists, balayage, curly-hair experts, and Japanese head spas from Mile End to Westmount and downtown, for every hair type.

Montreal's hidden gems. Under-the-radar neighbourhood spots most tourists never find. Local favourites the guidebooks miss, picked by people who live in the city.

The best live music venues in Montreal. Independent rooms, jazz clubs, indie rock haunts, classical halls, and the small stages that define the city's after-dark sound.

Montreal's best local designer boutiques. Avant-garde fashion, streetwear labels, and the creative minds defining the city's distinctive look. Shop directly from makers.

Montreal's most photogenic spots. Stunning interiors, dramatic architecture, hidden alleys, and natural light worth chasing. The places that look better in person than online.

The best cinemas in Montreal. Repertory gems screening 35mm, neighbourhood institutions worth supporting, art-house programming, and the rooms where film history feels alive.

The best museums in Montreal. World-class fine art at the MMFA, modern collections, immersive history, and the smaller institutions worth a deliberate visit.

The best parks in Montreal. Mount Royal at the city's heart, the islands in the river, urban green spaces in every neighbourhood, plus a few hidden corners worth finding.

The best record shops in Montreal. Deep crates of jazz, soul, hip-hop, indie punk, and Quebec rarities. A vinyl scene that rewards patient digging across multiple neighbourhoods.

Where to work remotely in Montreal. Cafés with reliable wifi, power outlets, comfortable seating, and a laptop-friendly culture. Tested by people who actually use them.

The best restaurant bathrooms in Montreal. Art deco restorations, a famous waterfall urinal, a taxidermied bison and basement kung-fu lounges. Here are the rooms worth a detour from the dining table.

The best running routes in Montreal. Trail loops on Mount Royal, stair workouts, the Lachine Canal, the river paths, and long flat stretches along the water for distance days.

The best shopping in Montreal. Independent boutiques, vintage shops, local designers, and curated stores across the Plateau, Mile End, and Old Montreal.

The best sports bars in Montreal for watching the Canadiens. Big screens, cold beer, real crowds, and the right energy whether the Habs are coasting or clawing back from a third-period deficit.

The best thrift stores in Montreal. Vintage finds, curated second-hand fashion, and sustainable shopping that won't break the bank. The city is a goldmine for both.

The best vintage furniture in Montreal. Authentic Mid-Century Modern pieces, industrial salvage, designer originals, and locally sourced finds for a real home transformation.