Ever wish you knew the inside scoop before visiting a new destination? Now you can! We’ve reached out to our favorite locals and tour guides from all over the world for their insider tips. In the City Insider Q&A, they’ll let you in on the spots that should be on your must-see and do list!

Ronald Poiré
Ronald Poiré

Name: Ronald Poiré

Occupation: Tour guide

City: Montreal

Website: montrealfoodtours.com

Twitter: @Foodguidemtl 

Facebook: Montreal Food Tours – Tours culinaires Montreal

Pinterest: Montreal Food-Tours 

Short bio: Often referred to as the “Food Guru,” Ronald Poiré has greatly contributed to development of culinary tourism in Montreal. Project manager for VDM since 1998, his versatility has led him to create countless specialized tours for both the tourism and corporate industries.

Ronald holds a professional guide diploma.

Best way to get to/from airport: Grab a cab or the 747 bus line.

Best way to get to/from train station: This really depends…..

Favorite 5-star hotel: The Gault Hotel

Favorite budget hotel: Best Western Ville Marie

5 places visitors must see:

  1. Old Montreal & Notre-Dame Basilica
  2. Mont-Royal
  3. Jean-Talon Market
  4. A walk on St-Laurent Street, the Main
  5. The theatre district on St-Catherine Street, especially during festivals

Best local newspaper/recommended reading (for finding out what’s going on about town): The Tourism Montreal blog does great posts with lists of what to do every weekend

Favorite historical fact: That the exploration of a large part of North-America started through Montreal.

Favorite fine dining restaurant: Europea

Favorite casual restaurant: Restaurant Rouge Orange

Best place to get a coffee: Café St-Henri

Favorite museum: Pointe-à-Callière Museum of archaeology and history located in Old Montreal

Best sports venue(s): Burgundy Lion for soccer games!

Most popular local food: Restaurant Mâche on St-Denis

Best “locals-only” spot: Grumman 78

To live like a local, you must have this experience: Check out the tam-tams on Mont-Royal every Sunday afternoon of summer.

Local/native fruit or dish to try: Smoked meat and bagels are classics, but to try something truly Québécois, go for “paté chinois” at Mâche on St-Denis 

Most popular local drink: Bloody Caesars with sriracha

Movies/TV shows filmed in your city: The last X-Men movie, Days of Future Past

Best souvenirs to buy/ goods to bring home: Maple syrup and some ice apple cider

Best smartphone app(s) for your city: Viator

Best travel tip: Montreal is one of the best walking cities in North America, so bring good shoes!

1 Comment On "City Guide — Montreal"
  1. thepixinator|

    I visited Montreal for the first time last summer, and discovered at Terrasse sur L’Auberge, at 97 de la Commune Est, also overlooking St. Paul’s St. It is a tapas restaurant/bar on the roof of the Auberge de Vieux Port, and has gorgeous views of the old Port and the St. Lawrence river. I ate dinner there at sunset, and it was beautiful; the service was very attentive and friendly as well. Just looking out over the river after walking through the Old Port cobblestone streets all day was so relaxing.

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