https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 23:45:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2056840 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:17:04 +0000 californiadreams 2056840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in Montreal and moved to Toronto a few years ago....and I definitely say Montreal hands down! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2056460 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:43:39 +0000 regberadaisy 2056460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any specific neighborhood reco? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055779 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:13:10 +0000 regberadaisy 2055779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: I'm salivating looking at the Yelp pictures! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055772 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:10:02 +0000 Beehive 2055772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Yes, we've been to Pied de Cochon - it's fantastic, a must-do. Their porkchop is yummy, I can picture it now... Reserve well in advance if you are going to go, they book up quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055760 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:06:41 +0000 regberadaisy 2055760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: hahaha that's all i want to do. Eat &amp; sleep. In peace. :P</p> <p>@Astro Bee: we are adventurous eaters! So those suggestions tbh are perfect. I was looking at Schwartz on Yelp and I think DH will definitely want to try that for lunch or a snack. ;)<br /> Basically we love to try restaurants that have great food and/or only locals know about. We both love steaks but DH is a bigger steak guy than I. So for a fancy meal I would lean towards a restaurant that has a great steak but other offerings as well. </p> <p>I was looking at au pied de cochon on Yelp. Have either of you been?</p> <p>@Banana330: thanks! I'll check those out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055748 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:02:48 +0000 Beehive 2055748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for Montreal! We had an amazing meal at Au Cinquième Péché when we were there in October, it's not "fancy" in the white tablecloth sense but has beautiful food. </p> <p>We also had amazing meals at Liverpool House (next door to Joe Beef, also supposed to be great if you can get in), L'Orignal, and Damas for Syrian food. </p> <p>For bakeries Maison Christian Faure is a French bakery has incredible croissants and breakfast pastries, and regular pastries. Olive &amp; Gourmando has amazing "modern" kinds of pastries, like giant maple pecan cinnamon buns, vahlrona chocolate and banana muffins, things like that. Both bakeries are in Old Montreal.</p> <p>Yep, we pretty much went to Montreal to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055728 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:54:07 +0000 Astro Bee 2055728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've spent quite a bit of time in both cities, but more time in Montreal because DH is from there and we have friends still living there. I'd still recommend Montreal over Toronto. Because of it's size it's more similar to just about any major city in North America, whereas Montreal still has a lot of Old World appeal. And you do not have to speak french to get by there. Just speak english and the proprietor of the store/restaurant will speak back to you in english.</p> <p>As for recommendations, I have a bunch. My two favourite "special" restaurants are La Queue de Cheval and Moishe's (a long-time Montreal establishment). They're considered fine-dining steakhouses, and are a bit pricy, but definitely worth it for something like an anniversary. </p> <p>A much cheaper, but definitely checklist-worthy, option to dining in Montreal is Schwartz's Smoked Meat. Another Montreal tradition, you've never had Montreal smoked meat like this before, and it's not uncommon for there to be long lines outside of the restaurant. It's definitely not sit down and take your time dining, but worth the experience. If you give me an idea of what type of food you prefer, I could provide some additional suggestions.</p> <p>For things to do there are always festivals and shows going on, including the Jazz Fest (I think it's usually June-July), International Fireworks Competition (Wednesdays all summer), Just for Laughs, Cirque de Soliel fest, etc. </p> <p>Places to visit include: the Botanical Gardens, the Old Port (lots of buskers and cobblestones), the BioDome, Mont Royal/St. Joseph's Oratory (great views), and lots more. </p> <p>It's probably easiest to stay close to the downtown (Centreville) core, and there are lots of recognizeable hotel options in that area. From there you can just park your car, and take the subway (Metro) everywhere you need to go. Montreal is very accessible. </p> <p>You do see a bit of spike in prices/dip in availability during festivals, but it's not until Grand Prix time that things get crazy. Definitely avoid the city during that time, unless racing is your thing. You have to book really far in advance (i.e., months to a year) to get a hotel then. </p> <p>If you're into shopping, there are a lot of stores and boutiques along St. Catherine's, and the malls along there extend below street level (one entrance is at Hudson's Bay or La Baie) and go on for several blocks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055674 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:28:44 +0000 Reese 2055674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, same answer as @loki:! Montreal! Enjoy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055673 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:28:11 +0000 Banana330 2055673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Just check the dates you plan on going, there's the just for laughs comedy festival, jazz fest and osheaga music festival in montreal. Toronto is hosting the pan am and para pan am games, plus theres always events in the summer. You may want to attend or avoid those weekends depending on your preferences. </p> <p>I always advocate for trying somewhere new. If you've never been to montreal it's a great city, the old town is pretty and the food/drinks are great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055663 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:21:50 +0000 regberadaisy 2055663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loki: hahah that's exactly why I'm thinking Montreal too! It just feels more "romantic" than Toronto. We've been to TO so many times it feels less special somehow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055659 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:19:53 +0000 loki 2055659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>maybe it's because i work in toronto and grew up just north of it but i would say montreal... it just feels more vacation-y to me because it is so european feeling. it feels more special somehow! i haven't been in years though so i can't make specific recommendations... not that helpful :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-vs-montreal#post-2055651 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 12:15:37 +0000 regberadaisy 2055651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are planning a weekend getaway with your husband sans kids (what! what!) would you go to Toronto or Montreal?<br /> We'll be going in August. Looking for a relaxing weekend where we sleep in without kids! head out and do some exploring when we want to. Go eat some yummy food!</p> <p>We'll splurge on one nice dinner for our Anniversary. Any recs in either city?<br /> What would you recommend we do in either city? Must visit food places? Bakeries??? :) Any lodging recs? We are completely open to hotels and B&amp;Bs.</p> <p>Toronto is about a 1.5-2hr drive for us<br /> We go to Toronto pretty frequently because my aunt lives there. But when we visit it's usually to be with family. We also typically eat at Asian restaurants. So we haven't really explored the Toronto food scene much.</p> <p>Montreal is about ~4hrs driving for us.<br /> It's on our list of must visit cities but we also would rather see it during the winter.<br /> We've never been!<br /> I heard there's some big jazz fest or something? Would it make the city much busier? Will lodging hike prices due to it? </p>