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Shopping in Montreal
Complexe Desjardins blvd. Rene-Levesque at rue Jeanne Mance Montreal 514-8454636 Complexe Desjardins gets its relaxed feel from splashing fountains and exotic plants. The roughly 80 stores range from budget-clothing outlets to the exclusive Jonathan Roche Monsieur for men's fashions. To get here, take the Metro to the Place des Arts and then follow the tunnels to the multi tiered atrium mall. Place Ville-Marie blvd. Rene-Levesque and rue University Montreal 514-8666666 Place Ville-Marie, with its 42-story cruciform towers, is where weatherproof indoor shopping began in 1962. It was also the start of the underground shopping network that Montreal now enjoys. Stylish shoppers head to the 100-plus retail outlets for lunchtime sprees. When you're ready for a food break, consider the Moevenpick Marche restaurant, where offerings range from salads and sandwiches to stir-fries and sushi; fresh juices, pastries, and wonderful coffees make it a good breakfast choice. Holt Renfrew 1300 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-8425111 Holt Renfrew, an exclusive shop whose specialty is furs and fashions, has supplied coats to four generations of British royalty. When Queen Elizabeth II got married in 1947, Holt gave her a priceless Labrador mink. The store carries the pricey line of furs by Denmark's Birger Christensen, as well as the haute couture and pret-a-porter collections of Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, and Chanel. Antiquite Landry 1726 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9377040Antiquite Landry has French and English furniture in pine, mahogany, walnut, and maple. Heritage Antique Metropolitain 1646 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9315517 Heritage Antique Metropolitain has many clocks and lamps as well as elegant English and French furniture. You can't turn your head without spotting another beautiful object. Cite Deco 1761 rue Amherst Montreal 514-5280659 Cite Deco sells furnishings of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, with lots of chrome and blonde wood. Ex Libris 1628B rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-9321 689 Ex Libris houses a fine collection of secondhand books in an elegant, gray stone building. S. W. Welch 3878 blvd. St-Laurent Montreal 514-8489358 S. W. Welch has a wide selection of old books that range from religion and philosophy to mysteries and science fiction. Birger Christensen at Holt Renfrew 1300 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-8425111 Birger Christensen at Holt Renfrew is perhaps the most exclusive showroom in the city, with prices to match. McComber Grosvenor 402 blvd. de Maisonneuve Ouest Montreal 514-2881 255 McComber Grosvenor, two of Montreal's biggest fur merchants, have merged to create this showroom filled with beautiful mink coats and jackets. Galerie Tansu 1622 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-8461039 Galerie Tansu offers 18th- and 19th-century porcelain and ceramic objects, furnishings from Japan and China, and Tibetan chests and carpets. La Baie 585 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-2814422 La Baie (the Bay) has been a department store since 1891. It's known for its duffel coats and Hudson Bay red-green-and-white striped blankets. La Baie also sells the typical department-store goods. Ogilvy 1307 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8427711 Ogilvy, founded in 1865, still stocks traditional apparel by retailers such as Aquascutum and Jaeger. The store is divided into individual designer boutiques. A kilted piper regales shoppers every day at noon. Simons 977 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-2821 840 Simons, in elegant 19th-century digs, specializes in high-quality clothes for men and women, including its own highly respected house label. Simons shares its address with a 12-screen Paramount theater, an IMAX theater, a bar, and a coffee shop. Le Faubourg Ste-Catherine 1616 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest, at rue Guy Montreal 514-9393663 Le Faubourg Ste-Catherine is a vast indoor bazaar abutting the Couvent des Soeurs Grises. It includes clothing and crafts boutiques, but it's best known as a wonderful source of quality foods -- fresh bagels, pastries, fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, and some of the city's spiciest and best Chinese takeout. A dozen or so very reasonably priced lunch counters sell ethnic foods. Le Place Montreal Trust 1500 rue McGill College, at rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8438000 Le Place Montreal Trust is a gateway to Montreal's vast Underground City. Its shops tend to specialize in high-end fashion. Indigo, one of the city's better bookstores, and the local branch of the Planet Hollywood chain are also here. Les Promenades de la Cathedrale 625 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8499925 Les Promenades de la Cathedrale, directly beneath Christ Church Cathedral, has 50-plus shops. Connected to the McGill Metro station, Les Promenades includes Canada's largest Linen Chest outlet, with hundreds of bedspreads and duvets, plus aisles of china, crystal, linen, and silver. The Anglican Church's Diocesan Book Room sells an unusually good and ecumenical selection of books as well as religious objects. Square Westmountrue Ste-Catherine Ouest and av. GreeneWestmount514-9320211 Square Westmount serves the mountainside suburb of Westmount, home of wealthy Montrealers, including executives and former prime ministers. So it's hardly surprising that the city's finest shops are here. With more than 50 boutiques as well as the exclusive Spa de Westmount, the prospects for self-indulgence are endless. To get here, take the Metro to the Atwater station and follow the tunnel. Coach House 1325 av. Greene Montreal 514-9376191 Coach House is a source for antique silverware. Double Hook 1235A av. Greene Montreal 514-9325093 Double Hook has been selling Canadian books -- from fiction and poetry to children's books, cookbooks, and business tomes -- since 1974. Galerie des Arts Relais des Epoques 234 rue St-Paul Ouest Montreal 514-8442133 Galerie des Arts Relais des Epoques sells modern and abstract works by contemporary Montreal painters. La Guilde Graphique9 rue St-Paul Ouest Montreal 514-8443438 La Guilde Graphique has an exceptional selection of original prints, engravings, and etchings. Antiquites Phyllis Friedman 1476 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-9351991 Antiquites Phyllis Friedman specializes in high-quality antique English furniture and decorative accessories -- Anglo-Irish glass, ceramics, crystal, and the like. Lapidarius 1312 av. Greene Montreal 514-9352717 Lapidarius stocks mostly watches, jewelry, and silverware. Le Village Antiquaires 1708 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9315121Le Village Antiquaires is shared by several dealers, including specialists in furniture, jewelry, books, and vintage clothing. Galerie du Louvre merits a special visit for its beautiful antique stained glass. Lucie Favreau Sports Memorabilia 1904 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9895117 Lucie Favreau Sports Memorabilia is the place to search for your own sports-hall-of-fame items, such as an autographed hockey stick or 1950s football poster. Ruth Stalker 4447 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-9310822 Ruth Stalker is the place for high-quality Canadian furniture and exquisitely carved hunting decoys. Viva Gallery 1970 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9323200 Viva Gallery, where Asian antique furniture and art take center stage, has a wide selection of carved tables, benches, and armoires. Galerie Walter Klinkhof 1200 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-2887306G alerie Walter Klinkhof shows established artists. Nino 3667 blvd. St-Laurent Montreal 514-8447630 Nino is hectic on weekends, when shoppers pack the narrow aisles scanning the shelves for spices, pickles, hams, and kitchen gadgets of all sorts. Downtown Downtown is Montreal's largest retail district. It takes in rues Sherbrooke and Ste-Catherine, boulevard de Maisonneuve, and the side streets between them. Because of the proximity and diversity of the shops, it's the best shopping bet if you're in town overnight or for a weekend. The area bounded by rues Sherbrooke, Ste-Catherine, de la Montagne, and Crescent has antiques and art galleries in addition to designer salons. Fashion boutiques and art and antiques galleries line rue Sherbrooke. Rue Crescent holds a tempting blend of antiques, fashions, and jewelry displayed beneath colorful awnings. Chas. Johnson & Sons 1184 Phillips Pl.Montreal 514-8781931Chas. Johnson & Sons has on hand three expert kilt makers who can cut any tartan to any size. This downtown shop also rents Highland formal gear for all occasions and sells sporrans, skean-dhus, dirks, doublets, and day jackets, as well as a full line of classic British menswear. Galerie de Chariot 446 Place Jacques-CartierMontreal 514-8756134 Galerie de Chariot has a spectacular selection of Inuit carvings and drawings. L'Empreinte Cooperative272 rue St-Paul Est Montreal 514-8614427 L'Empreinte Cooperative has fine Quebec handicrafts. Le Centre Eaton 705 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-2883708 Le Centre Eaton has a definite youthful edge, with a huge Levi's store and some trendy sporting-goods stores. The five-story mall -- the largest in the downtown core, with 175 boutiques and shops -- is linked to the McGill Metro station. The Instant Tax Refund service, for non-residents, is on the fourth floor. Marche Bonsecours 350 rue St-Paul Est Montreal 514-8727730 Marche Bonsecours, inaugurated in the 1840s in the Vieux-Montreal area, has seen many incarnations over the years. Although it has been known as the city's principal public market for more than 100 years, it also enjoyed a stint as Montreal's city hall. Completely restored, it now houses boutiques that exclusively showcase Quebecois, Canadian, and First Nation's artwork, clothing, and furniture. Boulevard St-Laurent -Boulevard St-Laurent, affectionately known as The Main, is enjoying a renewed popularity. Its restaurants, boutiques, and nightclubs cater mostly to the upscale visitor. Still, the area has managed to retain its working-class immigrant roots and vitality, resulting in a unique melding of businesses: high-fashion shops are interspersed with ethnic food stores, secondhand bookshops, and hardware stores. Indeed, a trip up this street takes you from Chinatown to Little Italy. Shoppers flock to the two blocks of avenue Mont-Royal just east of boulevard St-Laurent for secondhand and recycled clothes. Casa del Habano 1434 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-8490037Casa del Habano stocks the finest cigars Cuba produces. Note that U.S. law forbids Americans from buying Cuban products. Kaufmann de Suisse 2195 rue Crescent Montreal 514-8480595 Kaufmann de Suisse has fine jewelry wrought by expert craftspeople. Collange 1 Westmount Square Montreal 514-9334634 Collange carries lacy goods of the designer variety. Antiquites Pour La Table 2679 rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal 514-9898945 Antiquites Pour La Table has an extensive selection of antique porcelain, crystal, and linens of only the finest quality -- all impeccably preserved and beautifully displayed. This is not the place to replace your missing pieces, however, as the pieces are mostly in complete sets. Marche de Westmount 1 Westmount Sq. Montreal-Marche de Westmount is an indoor market with shops selling pastries, cheeses, pates, fruits, cakes, and chocolates. You can assemble a picnic and eat it at one of the little tables scattered among the stalls. Galerie Jacques Germain 200 av. Laurier Ouest Montreal 514-2786575 Galerie Jacques Germain is the place to go for antique tribal art. Jeunes d'Ici 134 av. Laurier Ouest Montreal 514-2705512 Jeunes d'Ici has furniture and decorating accessories for children of all ages. Tilley Endurables 1050 av. Laurier Ouest Montreal 514-2727791 Tilley Endurables sells the famous, Canadian-designed Tilley hat and other easy-care travel wear. Rita R. Giroux 206 rue St-Paul Ouest Montreal 514-8444714 Rita R. Giroux makes flamboyant creations with fresh, dried, and silk flowers. Paragraphe 2220 av. McGill College Montreal 514-8455811Paragraphe is the biggest and most successful independent bookstore in the city. Vieux-Montreal -Though Vieux-Montreal seems choked with garish souvenir shops, shopping here can be worthwhile. Fashion boutiques and shoe stores with low to moderate prices line both rues Notre-Dame and St-Jacques, from rue McGill to Place Jacques-Cartier. Rue St-Paul also has some interesting shops. During the warm-weather months, sidewalk cafes are everywhere. Street performers are a favorite with the kids. Marche Atwater 138 av. Atwater Montreal 514-9377754 Marche Atwater (Atwater Market), at the bottom of Atwater, gets shipments of the freshest produce available from farmers who arrive in the wee morning hours. Before dawn breaks, chefs are haggling to carry off the best of the available crop. The next round of shoppers is the early risers hoping to be rewarded for their sacrifice with a good selection and a little solitude. Most of this market's shopkeepers are within the two-story complex, well-suited to rainy-day browsing. L'Institut de Design de Montreal 350 rue St-Paul EstMontreal 514-8662436 L'Institut de Design de Montreal has an amusingly innovative collection of kitchen brushes, buckets, CD-storage racks, clocks, bathroom equipment, and so forth. Ungava Factory Outlet 10 av. des Pins Ouest, Suite 112Montreal 514-2879276 Ungava Factory Outlet manufactures Canadian-down comforters, sold at wholesale prices here. Custom orders are accepted. The Linen Chest 625 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-2829525 The Linen Chest has one of the largest selections of competitively priced china, crystal, and cutlery in the city -- affectionately known as "The Great Wall of China." Down comforters and bedding are also a specialty. Birks1240 Phillips Sq.Montreal 514-3972511 Birks has, since 1879, helped shoppers mark special occasions. Be it an engagement ring or a wedding or retirement gift, a blue Birks box is a welcome sight for its recipient. Hemsleys Jewellers 660 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8663706 Hemsleys Jewellers is Canada's oldest jeweler -- in operation since 1870. The family-run business takes pride in an approachable attitude and reasonable prices. The selection and prices range wide, from small tokens to original creations. Private shopping is available. Cheap Thrills 2044 Metcalfe Montreal 514-8448988 Cheap Thrills sells good secondhand CDs and has a wide selection of secondhand books at bargain prices. Pegabo Shoes 770 rue McGill College Montreal 514-8614324 Pegabo Shoes is a true Montreal success story. Aldo Bensadoun opened his first Pegabo store in 1972. His shoe empire now includes more than 600 stores across Canada, operating under the names Pegabo, Simard et Voyer, Aldo, Globo, StoneRidge, and Transit. Pegabo is more high-end than others. There are numerous Pegabo stores around Montreal. Tony's Shoe Shop 1346 av. GreeneWestmount514-9352993 Tony's Shoe Shop, a Montreal institution for the finely shod foot, places stylish imports beside elegantly sensible footwear. Boutique Classique Angler 414 rue McGill Montreal 514-8783474Boutique Classique Angler has everything anglers need for fly fishing, from rods and reels to feathers for tying flies. Owner Peter Ferago has great advice on where to fish. Canadiens Boutique Centre Bell 1250 rue de la Gauchetiere Montreal 514-9892836 Canadiens Boutique Centre Bell sells hockey sticks, posters, pucks, authentic jerseys, and other memorabilia, all bearing the emblem of the world's most storied hockey team. Cerf Volanterie 2019 Moreau Montreal 514-8457613 Cerf Volanterie has sturdy, gloriously colored kites made by Claude Thibaudeau. He signs the kites and guarantees them for three years. Visits are by appointment only. Jouets Choo-Choo 940 blvd. Ste-JeanPointe Claire514-6977550 Jouets Choo-Choo has quality European toys and educational games at this shop 20 minutes from downtown. Westmount The more affluent antiques hunter might want to try Westmount, where the shops cater to the tastes of the executives who live in the upscale suburb. Le Complexe Les Ailes 677 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-2883708 Le Complexe Les Ailes is attached to Le Centre Eaton, in the building that housed the now-extinct Eatons. Les Ailes's flagship store sells women's clothing and accessories; the other 57 retailers here include Tommy Hilfiger and Archambault, a music store. Les Cours Mont-Royal 1455 rue PeelMontreal 514-8427777Les Cours Mont-Royal is tres elegant. This mall linked to the Peel and McGill Metro stations caters to expensive tastes, but even bargain hunters find it an intriguing spot for window shopping. The more than 80 shops include DKNY and Harry Rosen. Beware: the interior layout can be disorienting. Rowntree 780 av. AtwaterMontreal 514-9335030 Rowntree is filled with European country-style furniture and accessories. Galerie Elena Lee Verre 1460 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montreal 514-8446009 Galerie Elena Lee Verre is the city's leading dealer in glassworks. Bibliomania 460 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest, Rm. 406 Montreal 514-9338156 Bibliomania includes some out-of-print gems among its extensive shelves of secondhand books. It also has engravings, postcards, and other printed collectibles. Chapters 1171 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8498825 Chapters stocks one of the largest selections of books and magazines in the city, as well as CD-ROMs and stationery, and has a Starbucks cafe. Book signings are frequent. L'Essence du Papier 4160 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-2889691 L'Essence du Papier, with its selection of imported and handmade papers, is a reminder that letter-writing can be an art form. Here are pens suited to all tastes and budgets as well as waxes and stamps with which to seal any romantic prose that you might be inspired to produce. It also offers a wide selection of placecards, invitations, and journals. Club MonacoLes Cours Mont-Royal, 1455 rue Peel Montreal 514-4990959 Club Monaco specializes in urban attire -- some of which might do in the office -- for men and women. Diffusion Griff 3000350 rue St-Paul Est Montreal 514-3980761Diffusion Griff 3000 is Anne de Shalla's showcase for leading Quebecois fashion designers. Jean Airoldi 4455 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-2876524 Jean Airoldi is one of Quebec's most talented clothing designers. The shop that bears his name specializes in classic yet chic women's fashions. Made-to-measure is available. Mains Folles 4427 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-2846854 Mains Folles sells tropical dresses, skirts, and blouses imported from Bali. Revenge 3852 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-8434379 Revenge carries well-crafted original fashions for women by Quebecois designers. Oink Oink 1343 av. Greene Montreal 514-9392634Oink Oink carries the latest fashions as well as toys for infants and children. It's fun to hear how the staff answers the phone. Marcel Jodoin Fourrures 1228 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-2881683Marcel Jodoin Fourrures has a wide selection of nearly new (under five years old), previously owned fur coats, jackets, and stoles, most of which go for less than the cost of an imitation. Deuxieme Peau 4457 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-8420811 Deuxieme Peau (Second Skin), as its name suggests, sells lingerie so fine you don't notice you're wearing it. While you're feeling brave and beautiful, kill two birds with one stone and try on a bathing suit. H. Poupart 1385 Ste-Catherine Ouest Montreal 514-8425794 H. Poupart has been supplying Montrealers with the best tobacco the world has to offer for almost 100 years. Be it cigars, cigarettes, chewing and pipe tobaccos, or snuff, you can find a large selection here. Creations Nicole Moisan 4324 rue St-Denis Montreal 514-2849506 Creations Nicole Moisan has miles and miles of lace, with thousands of patterns to choose from, all from Europe. Custom orders are available. Marche Jean Talon 7015 rue Casgrain Montreal 514-2771588 Marche Jean Talon, an outdoor market, has some of the best produce in the city. In springtime it's almost overrun with gardeners rushing to procure the best plants and seeds. The market itself is surrounded by butchers, bakers, and other shopkeepers who have set up businesses on the market outskirts. Avenue Laurier Ouest Avenue Laurier Ouest, from boulevard St-Laurent to chemin de la Cote-Ste-Catherine, is roughly an eight-block stretch dotted with fashionable and trendy shops that carry everything from crafts and clothing to books and paintings. Rue St-Denis Rue St-Denis, perhaps Montreal's trendiest area, has shops of all descriptions and some of the best restaurants in town. People-watching is a popular pastime as this is where the beautiful people go to see and be seen. Cutting-edge fashions can be found both in the shops and on the shoppers. |