A Solo or Group Girls' Weekend in Montreal

• Spa time:

  • Guerlain Spa at the Four Seasons: Walk on the rock bed, do the pools reflexology circuit (hurts so good!) and check out the one-of-a-kind massage experiences (try the Whispers of Ouessant)

  • Spa St. James at the Ritz Carlton for microcurrent facials that work like magic

  • Bota Bota Spa, on a boat in the water with water circuit, massages, restaurant and more — plan on spending several hours here

• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: Known for innovative exhibits and always worth a visit

• Old Town/Old Port Montreal: No visit would be complete without at least a walk through the area

• Chinatown, next to Old Town, for tea stores, gift shops and Dragon's Beard Candy, a very unusual confection that must be tried

• Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum/Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel: Learn about Marguerite Bourgeoys, a progressive woman of the 17th century, and visit the pilgrimage site of the chapel

• Lingerie Underworld, a store in the underground shopping center, where we can set up a shopping party for your group

• Montreal Botanical Garden, a jewel of Montreal with over 22,000 plant species and 30 thematic gardens

Day Trips

Quebec City is an easy day trip (there are bus tour options) if you have an extra day.

Cocktails/mocktails

Cocktail/mocktail culture is a big deal in Montreal, with many great places to try unique concoctions.

A favorite is The Cloakroom, a 25-seat cocktail spot inside a tailor shop, where there are no menus. A conversation with the server/mixologist leads to a drink creation; we have never been let down by anything they have served us.

Other favorite cocktail experiences:

• Atwater Cocktail Club and Milky Way Cocktail Bar, both helmed by Kate Boushel, an award-winning mixologist

• Bar George at Le Mount Stephen: Historical setting with creative cocktails and bar bites

Food markets & food halls

Montreal has several:

• Jean Talon Market: A large outdoor food market with multiple restaurants and food stands:

  • La Boite Aux Huitres is an oyster lover's dream with a wide variety of fresh oysters

  • Les Sucreries De L’Erable offers all things maple, a must when in Canada — try the maple sugar pie

  • Crêperie du Marché brings sweet and savory crepes to the market; there are dozens more places to sample

• Time Out Market and Le Central Market are two options to try local fare

Montreal Bagels are legendary — the two most famous are Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur. According to a local, the difference is that Fairmount bagels are chewy and St-Viateur's are crispy — try both and see which you prefer as they are just around the corner from each other. When in the neighborhood, don’t miss Kem Coba for some of the best ice cream in town.

Restaurants

• L’Express: A classic for French bistro fare

• Damas: Upscale Syrian cuisine

• Vin Mon Lapin: Farm-fresh, French-inflected food with shareable-sized plates

• Chez Tousignant: Quebec-style diner for poutine, cheeseburgers and house-made hot dogs

• Fleurs & Cadeaux: Japanese snack and sake bar for a casual dinner. After dinner, head downstairs to vinyl bar Sans Soleil