Shopping in Montréal
-
A
Les Antiquités Grand Central
The most elegant store on Antique Row is a pleasure to visit for its English and continental furniture, lighting and decorative objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. Get buzzed in to see the Louis XIV chairs, full dining-room suites and chandeliers in Dutch cathedral or French Empire style, with price tags in the thousands.
reviewed
-
B
Harricana
Milan-trained fashion designer Mariouche uses top-grade materials to create fur and woven garments of unparalled style and beauty; soft, comfortable and for the most part affordable. Her creations are regular features in the fashion magazines. This airy corner boutique occupies an old bank and uses its safe as a changing room.
reviewed
-
C
Complexe Desjardins
This 1970s multifunctional complex links three office towers, a shopping mall and a big public plaza with atrium, trees and tinkling waterfalls in what’s still Montréal’s largest commercial building. The food court in the basement is usually buzzing with shoppers exhausted by the selection from 110 stores.
reviewed
-
D
Le Point Vert
Part magazine shop, part hangout, this family-run establishment in the Portuguese are of the Plateau carries hard-to-find literature as well as the essentials. You’re apt to spot bespectacled hipsters perusing the latest issue of Adbusters alongside vintage fashionistas leafing through French Vogue.
reviewed
-
E
La Casa del Habano
This well-stocked stogie temple has 50 brands of Cuban cigar. Be aware that taking these across the border into the USA is illegal although some travelers separate the bands when packing. Cigaraphernalia sold here includes cutters, humidors, lighters and books. The lounge and espresso bar attracts young important puffers.
reviewed
-
F
General 54
The hats! The bags! The community consciousness! Mile End artists have created almost everything stocked at this great little boutique. Goods are sold on consignment with creators getting proceeds from the store. You’ll find stuff you won’t find anywhere else, including funky T-shirts and leather handbags.
reviewed
-
G
Lola & Emily
Less is more at this whimsically girly shop designed like your dream vintage apartment. Carefully selected clothes by brands like Swedish designer Filippa K, Denmark’s Designers Remix, Belgium’s Essential and Canada’s Ca Va de Soi are displayed in antique Indian furniture, which is also for sale.
reviewed
-
H
Un Amour des Thés
Over 160 types of loose tea sit in canisters behind the counter of this charming shop. It stocks leaf varieties and flavors you’ve likely not only never heard of, but never imagined (red-berries and maple syrup, tea with chocolate oils, cream of Earl Grey). Regular tea tastings and ceremonies are also held.
reviewed
-
I
Metropolitan News Agency
Missing your January 19, 1984 copy of the Winnipeg Free Press? Well, chances are, you'll be able to find a yellowed copy here amongst over 5000 newspapers and magazines from across the globe. It just gets weirder and weirder the longer you poke around. If you can't find it here it probably doesn't exist.
reviewed
-
J
Galeries d’Art Contemporain du Belgo
Over a decade ago the Belgo building was a run-down haven for struggling artists. It quickly earned a reputation as one of Montréal’s most important exhibition spaces with galleries, dance, yoga and photography studios. Designers, art dealers and architects now make up three-quarters of the tenancy.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Lili-Les-Bains
Montréal’s larger-than-life swimsuit maker started out making cruise-ship gear. Her philosophy is: every woman should have the dress of her dreams – size makes no difference. Cuts can reveal or conceal. Lili uses gorgeous fabrics flown in from Europe and has clients from all over the world.
reviewed
-
L
Coffre aux Trésors du Chainon
There are several friperies (used clothing stores) in this area, where Chainon takes the cake for its vintage hipster accoutrements. Browse through endless racks for five-dollar gold pumps and monogrammed bowling shirts, tea sets, horn-rimmed glasses, houndstooth ties and other treasures.
reviewed
-
M
Renaud Bray
One of 14 branches in greater Montréal, this bright ‘n’ cheery bookstore specializes in French titles but has a decent choice of English best-sellers, travel and literature titles. A good portion of the store is dedicated to CDs in both languages, with a choice of local rock and pop.
reviewed
-
N
Chez Rose Marie Lingerie
Run by a no-nonsense mother-daughter duo, this old-school lingerie boutique is serious about its underwear. It may not be as slick as the downtown lingerie boutiques, but this fantastic little shop has a great selection of support bras as well as sexy, frilly unmentionables, all at unbeatable prices.
reviewed
-
O
Kamkyl
Kamkyl has a fine Italian-made collection of men’s suits with understated lines that beam self-confidence. Son of a German master tailor, designer Douglas Mandel (formerly of Hugo Boss and DKNY) also snagged a design award for this stylish post-industrial atelier of parquet, light and space.
reviewed
-
Surface Jalouse
Graphic art and home decor meet at this slick and innovative boutique that sells murals, vinyl decals and custom designs to emboss on walls, furnishings, mirrors and any other surface that takes your fancy (instead of wallpaper!). Unique furniture is also for sale, and many decals are removable.
reviewed
-
P
Boutique Eva B
In a space reminiscent of a theater’s backstage, this boutique is a riot of recycled women’s clothing, retro gear and new streetwear. It’s the kind of place where 1950s bowling shoes are proudly arranged beneath a flock of floaty feather boas and yet it all seems very normal.
reviewed
-
Q
Indigo
This sister store of Chapters is a three-floor emporium with comfy reading chairs that keep you browsing for hours. It has a great selection of Canadian and Montréal literature, a good CD section and Starbucks coffee bar. A wonderful travel and map section is on the 2nd floor at the back.
reviewed
-
R
Scandale
The magnificent Marie-Josée Gagnon has been running this boutique since 1977, bringing in exotic Parisian imports and more recently showing off the creations of Georges Lévesque, one of Québec’s most exciting designers known for cutting-and-pasting shapes and fabrics.
reviewed
-
S
Revenge
This renowned showcase store for Québécois designers displays subtle designs for professional women who want to balance chic with audacious. The men’s ready-to-wear garments have a less challenging task, stressing confidence and masculinity in direct, commanding lines.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Boutique le Marcheur
A stomping ground of quality walking shoes for urban treks around town. Montréal is a walking city, and this aptly named boutique keeps local feet happy year-round. Admittedly, it can be tough to find footwear both stylish and comfortable but you’ve got a decent shot here.
reviewed
-
U
Au Papier Japonais
You’d never have guessed how many guises Japanese paper can come in until you visit this gorgeous little shop. The lamps and kites make great gifts and you can fold them for easy transport. This store has also become an arts and crafts hub and offers workshops and seminars.
reviewed
-
V
Local 23
This tart little friperie stocks recycled clothing and heaps of interesting vintage finds. Even if you are not a secondhand clothing freak, this is an interesting place to stop by. There’s nothing junky about it and pieces have been carefully chosen and arranged.
reviewed
-
W
Place Ville-Marie
Begun in the late 1950s, Montréal’s first shopping complex marked the start of the underground city, was Montréal’s most important skyscraper for years and set the standards for similar complexes around the city. It now hosts around 80 boutiques, restaurants and service stores.
reviewed
-
X
Diffusion Griff ‘3000
French fashion diva Anne de Shalla studied fashion in Paris and came to Montréal in the 1970s. She now selects from up to 30 Québec designers every year for her exclusive shop collection – stretchy leathers, semi-sheer dresses, blouses and wrap-around casuals.
reviewed