Photo by Lora Perrone

Photo by Susan Krashinsky

Photo by Susan Krashinsky

A world away from crowded rue Ste-Catherine in downtown Montreal, Mont-Royal Est is more Greenwich Village than Red-Light district. This trendy avenue runs through the famed Plateau neighbourhood from Rue St. Laurent to Rue d'Iberville. Rather than hustling among the hordes of tourists that congregate downtown, you'll want to savour every block of your journey in this cultural haven.

From its humble beginnings as a street containing just nine homes in 1889, Mont-Royal Est has had its share of ups and downs. By 1950, it rivalled rue Ste-Catherine in development, but faced setbacks during the 60s and 70s when many Montrealers made the move to the suburbs. It wasn't until in the 1980s that the area was revitalized, as young professionals and urban artists flooded in, and merchants catered to their tastes. Today, the avenue has never been a better place to hang out.

Walking the length of its sidewalks, you'll find the perfect fusion of North American convenience with European sophistication. Cheap eats are interspersed with classy bistros, and trendy clubs rub shoulders with dive bars.

The Goods
No matter when you start your day, you can always grab a gourmet breakfast at l'Avenue, a trendy -- albeit crowded -- local gem. If long lines aren't your thing, head across the street to Caffè ArtJava for a cappuccino topped with heart-shaped froth, or nosh on a Montreal bagel at Café St. Viateur.

Next, check out the boutiques for goodies that are hard to come by in other areas of the city. Ex-Voto entices shoppers with unique candles, jewellery and antique signs. Next door, gourmet shop Diabolissimo sells pâtés, sauces, cheeses and other cooking finery. If you're in the market for some new kicks - sneakers rather than stilettos are the norm around here - try Mochico. Adam & Eve and Plein-Sud flaunt fashion must-haves for men and women. Although you won't find too many vintage clothing stores, there are plenty of CD, book and DVD exchanges. Look for treasures amongst the trash at Le Fox-Troc or La Bouquinerie. At the centre of it all is Kiosque Mont-Royal, where you can find Christmas trees in the winter, pumpkins in the fall and a fruit market in the warmer months.

Cheap eats are interspersed with classy bistros, and trendy clubs rub shoulders with dive bars.