The Frisky Guidebook: Sin City North
Posted by: Laura Roberts
Filed in:
style
11:30AM, Tuesday August 25th 2009
Only a few hours away from both New York City and Boston, there are always plenty of Americans visiting Montreal for its reputation as Canada’s Sin City, as well as for its fab European influence. With strip clubs and sex shops galore—not to mention the gay-friendly vibe, drag queens, French food, and beer with higher alcohol content—Montreal can easily intoxicate your senses. Here are some of our suggestions for a weekend jaunt to La Belle Ville.
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Mount Royal While Mount Royal may not actually qualify as a mountain at only 234 meters (the technical cut-off being 305 meters), this highest point for which Montreal is named is a great place to see the sights. Offering great views of the city, along with an enormous iron cross, the mountain is a fantastic place to wander off the beaten path for an outdoor make-out session. You'll also find plenty of other engaging activities, like tobogganing and ice skating in winter or hiking, biking and sunbathing in the summer. |
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Cabaret Mado 115 St-Catherine East (514) 525-7566, Mado.qc.ca Where else in the world will you find the term “main drag” taken so literally? Montreal's top drag queen, Mado Lamotte, performs nightly at Cabaret Mado in a 1920s-era revue, featuring some of the city's sexiest drag kings and queens. Dress to kill, and bring both a sense of humor and a pure laine Quebecois to translate Mado's effervescent bilingual puns. |
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Resto-Bar Les Princesses 4970 Hochelaga (514) 255-0003, LesPrincesses.com If you're feeling frisky, you'll want to check out Resto-Bar Les Princesses for its “sexy breakfast.” Since brunch is the quintessential Montreal meal, and sex isn't much of a taboo here, it only makes sense that some enterprising locals thought of combining the two. Topless waitresses serve up inexpensive breakfasts starting at 5 a.m. So if you're still up partying, pop in for some sunny sides up. |
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Fairmont Queen Elizabeth 900 René-Lévesque West (866) 540-4483, Fairmont.com The site of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's infamous Bed-In, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is both elegant and sexy. The hotel's restaurant, The Beaver Club, shows off Canadian pride and a frisky side. Stay in John and Yoko's suite to "Give Peace a Chance" and record some love tunes of your own. |
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Hotel Nelligan 106 St-Paul West (877) 788-2040, HotelNelligan.com The Hotel Nelligan is one of Montreal's many gorgeous boutique hotels. Located in the Old Port, the combination of original architecture and modern style is sure to charm you. Great views of the St. Lawrence River from their rooftop lounge make this a great place to grab a drink in the evenings. Or, take tea in their garden atrium any afternoon. |
 | Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins 1401 Argyle (800) 588-5280, BonsMatins.com A cute and cozy townhouse B&B right in the heart of downtown, Petite Auberge Les Bons Matins will make your stay both comfortable and stylish with their colorfully decorated rooms and suites. Included with your stay, their Gargantuan Breakfast with homemade bread and tons of made-to-order options is a breakfast lover's dream come true. |
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Kafeïn Café-Bar 1429A Bishop (514) 904-6969 To experience the uniquely Montreal joie de vivre, check out Kafeïn with its laid-back lounge and intimate café. Upstairs you'll find hipsters talking music and art over homemade sandwiches and students studying with hot cups of coffee; downstairs, grab a cocktail at the bar or lounge on one of the couches with a shisha (flavored tobacco smoked through a hookah). Wake up or come down in this fabulous, friendly neighborhood favorite. |
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Le Bifteck 3702 St-Laurent (514) 844-6211 Offering cheap drinks, free popcorn, and a foosball table in the back, Le Bifteck isn't exactly the grandest bar in Montreal, but it's certainly got the most personality. This dive bar has launched the artistic careers of dozens of musicians, including hometown girl Melissa Auf der Maur, who once DJ'd here. With a mix of hipsters, old-timers and out-of-towners, this laid-back bar is a great place to meet up-and-coming bands on their nights off, or just chill with a pitcher and friends. |
 | Café Cleopatra 1230 St-Laurent (514) 871-8066, CleopatraMontreal.com The home of Montreal's infamous burlesque troupe, the Dead Doll Dancers, Café Cleopatra hosts some of the sexiest shows in town. From their regular fetish nights to a variety of Club Sin events on the second floor (plus the talented erotic dancers downstairs), there's plenty to keep you entertained the whole night through. |
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Au Pied de Cochon 536 East Duluth (514) 281-1114, RestaurantAuPiedDeCochon.com Perhaps best known as the only restaurant in Montreal with the Anthony Bourdain seal of approval, this busy bistro serves up Quebecois staples with class. Try their Foie Gras Poutine for an upscale version of a greasy-spoon favorite, or the Duck in a Can for an Au Pied de Cochon original. Beginning in March 2009, you can check out their new all-you-can-drink brunches, sponsored by local brewery McAuslan. |
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Restaurant Laloux 250 des Pins East (514) 287-9127, Laloux.com Montreal boasts so many excellent French restaurants, it can often be difficult to choose! Restaurant Laloux is a great place for an intimate evening, boasting traditional six-course French meals with subtle Asian influences. Add to that an extensive wine list and sinfully delicious desserts and you've got a fantastic meal at one of Canada's top restaurants. |
 | Boustan 2020A Crescent (514) 843-3576 No trip to Montreal would be complete without the nightly post-bar lineup at Boustan. After the bars close at 3 a.m., you'll find “Mr. Boustan” (owner Imad Smaidi) serving up lovingly made cheap eats to students and party-goers alike. You've got to try the veggie pita—filled with unusual pita ingredients like grilled eggplant, potatoes and even an omelet—even if you're a die-hard meat eater. As Mr. Boustan says, “You don't like, you don't pay!” |
| SHOPPER'S PARADISE | |
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Ogilvy 1307 St-Catherine West (514) 842-7711, OgilvyCanada.com Ogilvy is one of those large downtown landmarks that most locals have never visited. With its bagpiper daily announcing the stroke of noon, this upscale department store has an intimidating old-world feel that keeps the rabble out. Check out the store's designer duds, then feel up the enormous selection of oriental carpets or peruse their high-end stationery boutique before the security guards realize you're not really the personal assistant to Donald Trump. |
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Joy Toyz 4200 St-Laurent, Suite 415 (514) 845-8697, JoyToyz.com Joy Toyz can be a bit tricky to find, but once you do, it's easy to see that you've hit the sweet spot. The knowledgeable and friendly female sales staff will set you at ease, and you'll be able to ask any questions you may have about their high-quality sex toys and erotic massage accessories. Woman-owned and woman-friendly, this sex shop is all about class, sensitivity and discretion. |
 | Billie 141 Ave Laurier West (514) 270-5415, BillieBoutique.com From J Brand jeans to Loeffler Randall flats, everything is available at this open and airy boutique run by two friends who met in fashion design school. We love the old-fashioned-meets-modern salon feel. |
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CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 10:39 am: [report]
I second Montreal as the “Northern” Sin City. Hottest girls this side of the atlantic, 19 is the drinking age, pot is plentiful (Hey it’s not BC, but it’s still Canada)....
FranCan
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 11:00 am: [report]
As a matter of fact, 18 is the drinking age in Québec. :D
BlueGarnet
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 11:01 am: [report]
Actually, the legal drinking age in Montreal (all of Quebec) is 18. In case any youngsters needed another reason.
BlueGarnet
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 11:02 am: [report]
Missed by one minute. Damn my need to check facts I already know!
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 11:09 am: [report]
Ahh, you got me. I just knew it was lower than the states. Go get wasted!
Coral
wrote on August 25 2009 @ 11:57 am: [report]
I lived in Montreal at one point, but I have visited Montreal over 20 times so far. Yes, the legal drinking age is 18, but trust me that doesn’t matter. I got served very easily at bars and could go into liquor stores (not the government ones) at 14. Crescent Street is definitely an amazing place for bars an clubs, along with Saint Laurent. I’m basically fluent in French, but most people speak English as well. I love Montreal, it’s very ethnic, and it has a somewhat European feel.
RoxyGirl
wrote on August 26 2009 @ 12:31 pm: [report]
I live not too far from MTL (not in the same province though!) and it’s a great place with an even better night life! I got 2-3 times a year and last time I went there I stayed at Hotel Nelligan. Gorgeous! It’s a lot of $$$ but it’s worth it!! If you haven’t been to the city yet…GO!