Montreal Shopping

Montreal Shopping information

Best areas

St Catherine's Street is the city's main shopping artery. Here you will find all the major department stores, enormous shopping malls, and masses of souvenir shops, while towards the Latin Quarter, more daring, risqué items are a speciality. The green line of the metro between Atwater and Berri-Uqam runs underneath St Catherine's and the section between Peel and Place des Arts covers the major department stores and malls, meaning that you can get around all the major downtown shopping malls without ever going above ground. This is what the residents call the "underground city". Most major hotels and department stores are interlinked by over 13km of tunnels, metros and walkways. It's not quite as futuristically labyrinthine as the description, but it's a novel experience to shop all over the city without ever seeing daylight. No shopping excursion in Montreal would be complete without a stroll down Rue St Denis between Mont-Royal and Sherbrooke Metro stations. Here you will find the Quebeçois creative heart with privately owned, locally designed fashion boutiques mingling with antique shops, booksellers and bars and cafés. Carry on onto Rue Mont-Royal for even more, the western section concentrating on food and fashion and the eastern section specialising in antique and unusual second hand clothing. The bohemian air of the Plateau enhances the shopping experience and entices shoppers into the trendy bars and cafés of the neighbourhood. St Laurent Boulevard provides window shoppers with plenty of entertainment, featuring extreme fashion outlets alongside many Eastern European delis selling a range of speciality smoked meats and sausages. Locals frequent the small Portuguese cafés for home made pastries and desserts.

Shopping Centres

Shopping centres to try include the Eaton Centre at 705 St Catherine Ouest with over 175 boutiques, Les Ailes de la Mode, 677 St Catherine-Ouest for all the big fashion names, or Sixty Flagship Store, 1440 Peel, for Italian fashion brands. Big malls can also be found at Place Bonaventure, and Place Ville Marie.

Markets

Old Montreal, with its atmospheric cobbled streets and historic buildings provides a picturesque backdrop to serious souvenir shopping. A good combination of small galleries, hand made crafts and souvenir stalls can be found here. The most scenic place of all to shop for speciality souvenirs and locally produced artwork is the impressively domed Bonsecours Market - unmissable under its silver dome. Although not so good for souvenirs (unless you like presenting rotting food to your relatives) a trip around Montreal's colourful fresh produce markets can be an entertaining way to spend an hour or so. Putting together a picnic to eat in one of the city parks is a great way to while away a morning. One of the premier markets in Montreal the Atwater Market features seasonal vegetables and fruit stalls besides premier butchers and fishmongers. The best selection of goods can be found between 08h00-11h00. 138 Ave Atwater. Located in the heart of the Little Italy district the Jean-Talon Market sells locally grown produce, and a selection of Quebec and Italian produce from wine, cider and cheeses to pasta, flowers and bread. 7075, Ave Casgrain.

What to Buy

Tacky and wacky souvenirs can be found on St Catherine's street near to Peel Metro station. These stalls sell the usual array of Canadian T-shirts and caps, key rings and the like - with the Maple Leaf in evidence pretty much everywhere. Other tacky merchandise includes moose droppings (chocolate coated almonds), and small vials of Maple syrup, harvested locally in Quebec. These stall also sell cheap versions of Montreal Canadiens (the city's NHL team) merchandise. The official Canadiens store is located in the Bell Centre at 1260 de la Gauchetiere Ouest and is open from 09h00 until at least 18h00 (Tel: +1 (1)514-932-2582). Quality is better, but shirts and other memorabilia doesn't come cheap. Montreal has many places that sell native style art. One of the best boutiques is the Indicana/Baffin Art store in Old Montreal at 79 Rue St Paul featuring beautiful jewellery and pieces from local artists (Tel: +1 (1)514-866-1267). One unusual "speciality" of Montreal is Cuban cigar shops. Due to the embargo on Cuban produce in the United States, many Americans make the short trip North to Montreal to stock up on Havana's finest. One specialist is La Casa dal Habano at 1434 Sherbrooke Ouest, near to Guy-Concordia metro station (Tel: +1 (1)514-849-0037).

Opening Hours

Most stores open from Mon-Sat from 09h00-17h00. Thu and Fri there is "late night" opening until 21h00.

Tax Refund

Tax of 14.5% is payable on most goods, made up of a federal tax of 7% and a local Quebec tax of 7.5%. Both of these are marked on receipts but, as is customary in North America, tax may be added to the bill at point of purchase. Tax refund is available on most purchases being exported outside the country. You should pick up a refund form from customs on departure, or at the tourist office. You need to submit a completed form and produce receipts for all your purchases to qualify for a rebate.