Montreal for Art Lovers: The Ultimate Guide

Thanks to its rich culture and thriving art scene, Montreal is one of the best cities in North America for art lovers. Boasting a great combination of contemporary art attractions and events, alongside rich history, and traditional architectural styles, there's plenty to experience no matter what kind of art you love in this truly outstanding city.

No matter how you hope to spend your getaway in one of Qubec's most culturally rich cities, here are some of Montral's best hotels, restaurants, and activities for you to enjoy.

Best Hotels in Montreal for Art Lovers

Montreal offers a truly fabulous selection of hotel, many of which feature unique, and original art works, making them a perfect stay for art lovers visiting the city. Whether you're looking for a simple, luxurious modern hotel that boasts it's own outstanding art collection, or a unique project combining design studio and archives with boutique accommodations, you'll find the perfect place to stay in Montreal.

Saint-Sulpice Hotel, Old Montreal, Montreal

Sitting just behind the world-renowned Notre-Dame Basilica in the heart of the historic neighborhood that is Old Montreal, this stunning hotel, rich with culture and heritage is the perfect place to stay for exploring some of the city center's most popular sites. Located within walking distance of a great range of galleries, quaint cafes, and lively jazz bars, and just a short walk from the convention center, it's surrounded by some of the city's most popular sites.

Sain-Sulpice Montreal takes pride in both its exceptional services and on-site facilities, as well as the Oskar Restaurant, which is located in the hotel's gardens. Guests can enjoy their meal here in the luxurious glass space, where the doors lead out onto the beautiful exterior terrace.

This luxurious boutique hotel offers spacious, contemporary suites, furnished with fully-equipped kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and coffee machines.

Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, Golden Square Mile, Montreal

The Four Seasons Hotel Montreal is located in the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, in the center of Montreal, and towers over the city as one of the most luxurious hotels in town. It's a great choice for art lovers as not only is there a stunning art collection housed here, but there it also sits just a 3-minute walk from Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. There's also a great selection of nearby attractions, including the Eaton Center Montreal, and the Ogilvy Bell Centre.

This 5-star hotel boasts a gorgeous spa, bar, fine-dining restaurant, state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour desk, and free Wi-Fi.

Rooms at this hotel vary in size, with family rooms and suites available. The interior decor is truly remarkable, with stunning herringbone wood floors, luxurious custom furniture pieces, and spacious marble bathrooms. They also include well-lit, spacious closets, which give each room a comfortable, residential feel.

Honeyrose Hotel Montreal, Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal

Located conveniently in Quartier des Spectacles, the neighborhood surrounding this stunning hotel is known as the cultural heart of Montreal, thanks to it being home to the Place des Arts complex, a selection of theatres, and several year-round outdoor festivals. It's a perfect place to stay in this stunning city thanks to some of the nearby attractions including the Eaton Center, Montreal Convention Center, and, of course, the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The property offers a selection of unbeatable on-site amenities and facilities, including a shared lounge, restaurant, outdoor terrace, indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, fitness center, private parking, 24-hour front desk, on-site business center, and free Wi-Fi for all guests.

Rooms at this hotel are all fitted with air conditioning, and various other amenities to ensure you have a comfortable stay, including a desk, fridge, and flat-screen TV.

Hôtel Uville Montréal, Old Montreal, Montreal

Situated in Old Montreal, Hôtel Uville Montréal is located just a 17-minute walk from Clock Tower Beach and just 400 yards from Notre Dame Basilica Montreal. There is also a great range of other great attractions nearby, including the Old Port of Montreal Montreal, the Convention Center, and Place Jacques Cartier Square, as well as some of the city's most beloved restaurants, attractions, and shops.

This small, 4-star, boutique hotel is part museum, part passion project, part history lesson, part design studio, part film & photo archive, making it one of the very few in the world that's so uniquely artistic in the way it captures a particular time and place.

Thanks to this, guests can enjoy a unique, personal touch to the service, with personal recommendations for dining, drinking, antique shopping, and even cool art gallery openings from the 24-hour front desk staff. The hotel also boasts a convenient snack bar, free Wi-Fi, and even a continental breakfast served here, with great vegetarian and vegan options!

This hotel boasts only 33, cozy rooms, each equipped with air-conditioning, a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, and a flat-screen TV.

Hôtel Alt Montréal, Griffintown, Montreal

Situated in the hip and trendy area of Griffintown, the stylish, budget-friendly Hôtel Alt Montréal sits right on the waterfront of the Lachine Canal and is within 0.6 miles of the Old Port. It makes a great base for getting around the city, thanks to it being within a 10-minute walk of Bonaventure Metro Station.

This trendy, business-centric, eco-friendly hotel boasts great on-site facilities for all of its guests, including meeting facilities, an on-site snack bar, a fitness center, and free Wi-Fi.

All of the modern rooms at Hôtel Alt Montréal contain original works of art, making them a hit with those fond of unique pieces. They also feature some great amenities, including a flat-screen TV, an iPod docking station, a coffee machine, a work desk with an ergonomic chair, and conveniently placed electrical outlets.

Best Restaurants in Montreal for Art Lovers

Montreal's dining scene is truly as exquisite as the city its self! With innovative dishes and a wide range of cuisines on offer, you can indulge in a great selection of refined dishes across a range of polished and upmarket establishments.

Whether you're looking for a classy experience of indulging in some of the city's best Japanese or Italian fare, or are simply hoping to enjoy some gourmet dining in a laid-back, contemporary setting, there's the perfect spot for everyone here!

Restaurant Graziella, Old Montreal, Montreal

Situated in the popular, cultural hub that is Old Montreal, this fine, traditional Italian restaurant is the perfect gourmet restaurant for those looking for somewhere refined and upscale.

Led by Chef Graziella, this restaurant takes some of Italy's lesser-known regional dishes and reinterprets them in a way that truly exceeds expectations, making this the perfect spot for those who love an artistic flair when it comes to innovative dining.

The menu is of exceptional quality, boasting some truly mouthwatering choices such as osso buco, and lobster pasta, and visitors are guaranteed an equally outstanding quality of service.

Bonheur d'Occasion, Southwest, Montreal

At Bonheur, visitors can expect a professional, yet exuberantly friendly service, alongside a menu with generous, high-quality dishes, such as one of the best-value hot seafood platters in the city.

This gem of a restaurant boasts a great array of fresh vegetables, light raw fish, and indulgent grilled delicacies, including blood sausage, and guinea fowl!

Once you've taken the opportunity to indulge in a mouth-watering, seasonal entrée, we recommend sampling one of their outstanding desserts - in particular, the crispy maple and sweet clover millefeuille.

Marconi, Little Italy, Montreal

This stunning restaurant has quietly been on the rise as one of the city's most outstanding spots since it opened back in 2016. Since then, it has become a true neighborhood gem, with seasonally-inspired dishes, crafted with the utmost indulgence by Chef Mehdi Brunet-Benkritly.

There is a variety of truly special dishes on the menu, but we recommend what could possibly be the best mushroom toast in all of Montreal, and the delicious miso deviled eggs.

Jun I, Mile End, Montreal

If you're looking for the best sushi in all of Montreal, be sure to head down to Junichi Ikematsu’s 'Jun I'.

While the entire selection of sushi, maki, and sashimi is arguably the best quality in the whole of the city, some of the other entrees here are not to be missed. With a unique blend of playfulness and traditional flavors, every dish is created with expert precision.

Boullion Bilk, Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal

If you're on the hunt for a truly outstanding, upscale dining experience in Montreal, Boullion Bilk is one truly flawless example, that sets the standard for upscale French dining.

With a minimal, yet upscale setting, this outstanding restaurant is truly one of the best choices for special occasion dining in the whole city. Worry not if a meal here is slightly out of your price range though, as Boullion Bilk also boasts a truly fabulous lunch menu that's a little more affordable, without sacrificing any of the quality.

Best Activities in Montreal for Art Lovers

Montreal is a city rich in culture, history and design, and thanks to it's thriving art scene, there's plenty of attractions to enjoy if you're an art lover!

Visitors can enjoy everything from historical museums and stunning cathedrals, to more contemporary galleries and expos!

The Chateau Ramezay, Old Montreal, Montreal

The Chateau Ramezay is an important history museum in Montreal that boasts a great range of exhibits on the city's long and complicated history. It was once the home of Governor Claude de Ramezay and was used by the American Revolutionary Army in 1775 and 1776. The museum its self is home to some truly stunning artworks, making it a great place for your Montreal bucket list if you're an art lover.

The Governors Garden, situated just behind the building is a popular spot for relaxing during the summer. It boasts expansive lawns and gorgeous flower displays, and what's better is it's free to enter!

This gorgeous history museums is also noted as one of the many haunted places in Old Montreal, and is praised by many visitors for it's excellent value and rich historical collection.

Barbie Expo, Downtown, Montreal

For those interested in art and design, particularly when it comes to fashion, one of the most unique things to see in Montreal is arguably the Barbie Expo.

This hugely popular attraction boasts over 1,000 barbie dolls, dressed by some of the city's leading fashion designers, and is open Friday through Sunday.

Being free to enter, it welcomes many guests who come to marvel at these doll's unique outfits, worn by Barbies of various nationalities.

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, Downtown, Montreal

The Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde, otherwise known as "Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral", is a stunning replica of the world-famous St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and is arguably one of Montreal's finest landmarks.

Completed back in 1896, at a cost of over $1 million, it was one of the most expensive buildings to be erected in Montreal at this point in history. The facade is truly remarkable and is a point of inspiration for architects, designers, and artists alike.

Noted by visitors as a truly fantastic landmark, it is equally as breathtaking on the interior as it is from the outside.

MURAL Festival, Saint Laurent Boulevard, Montreal

MURAL Festival is an annual event along Saint Laurent Boulevard in Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal. It takes place over a 10-day period in June and is held to celebrate the city's vibrant art scene.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of different workshops, music performances, and live painting sessions, and see a selection of murals that run along the boulevard, with at least 80 on display from previous festivals, and around 20 new ones created for the festival every year.

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Downtown, Montreal

This internationally renowned art museum, boasts a curated display of artworks from both Canadian and international contemporary artists. With a variety of changing exhibitions, and a stunning permanent collection that showcases important trends through contemporary art, there's a great selection of things to see here.