Enjoy the gourmet capital of MontrealShopping is a great way to pass the time in between meals. Montreal, Quebec’s biggest city, was founded not as a fur trading post but as a missionary centre. In addition to a robust and diverse array of vintage-clothes sellers and interesting bookstores, there are local craftspeople and formidable luxury retailers that together embody the city’s unique blend of cosmopolitanism, utilitarian waste-not attitude, and indie, intellectual spirit—all in close proximity. There’s a good chance that you won’t leave empty handed.
Second time’s a Charm
Bustling Boulevard Saint-Laurent has an embarrassment of vintage stores—stroll its length at leisure. The serene is on our list. Seconde, which offers a carefully curated selection of luxury women’s clothing, and Le Magasin du ChaînonA thrift shop that has a trove of items (think Filippa K. shirts for less than $5). The colorful and cavernous, located near Plateau Mont-Royal. Marché FlohThe, which spans decades of fashion history. Mile End’s Bohème Vintage The store stocks high-quality denim and cotton, which it steams behind the counter.
Fine Furnishings
The ground floor showroom will make you want to buy all the furniture. Morceau is open on weekends and displays chic vintage pieces and new designs—svelte Italian lamps, shag rugs, and teak furniture included. The vintage pieces are restored and refinished by hand on-site. Browse the site for a maximalist sprawl. Antiquités Van Horne for a labyrinthine array of oddities both useful and not so useful—like gilded frames, animal figurines, and suits of armor.
