Path Well Travelled: A Montreal Travel Guide
With the World Premiere of Super Slam being held during World Tour: Montreal, Canada will finally be hosting its first ever Flesh and Blood Calling on the weekend of September 12-14 2025. To light the way, I’m thrilled to provide some insights on things to do in and around Montreal while you visit my hometown.
Chart A Course
There are many ways to move around in Montreal. The most convenient (and cheap) way to cut through traffic is to use public transit. Once you touchdown at YUL airport, you can hop on the 747 bus line and it will take you directly downtown. Whether you’re here just for the weekend or ponder on staying a few extra days, consider getting a 3-day or a weeklong transit pass through the STM (our local public transit authority). The special fare of the 747 is included in those passes, otherwise it will cost 11.25$ for a one-way trip. There is an STM booth at the airport near the exit. As you clear customs and get to the public area, head straight towards the exit and turn right before you go through the door. You will see the bright blue STM banners. Make sure to grab a metro map there or at any of the metro stations. I will do my best to guide you around town so you don’t get lost in transit. You may also refer to google maps or the Chrono app (Google Play // App Store) if you favor a digital tool.
If you would rather take a private mode of transportation, you could either hail a taxi, order an Uber driver or phone a friend. Unfortunately, there have been an increasing number of scams regarding taxis at the airport, so I’d avoid those so as to not run into trouble. To clarify, some hawkers attempt to lure newcomers into their ride. Politely decline these and walk away. The official Montreal Airport taxi stand is on the Arrivals level near the central exit in front of the cloakroom. There have also been reports of taxis not running their meter on some rides. This is ok when going to or from the airport since they use a flat rate for that journey, but they should have their meter on for any other trip.
Once you are in town, it’s really easy to move around by public transit or walking, especially if you intend to stick to the downtown and surrounding areas. Another cool way to move around is by renting a bike. The bike sharing service here is called BIXI and you can use their app to unlock a bike. (Google Play // App Store) You can then bring it to one of the many docking stations around the city. Montreal is friendly for cyclists. To put it in context, there are plenty of bike lanes at our disposal and you can get to pretty much anywhere riding a bike.
The World Premiere will be held in the Montreal’s Convention Center (it’s called Palais des Congrès in French). The convention center is directly above the Place d’Armes metro station on the Orange line, and it also connects via the underground to the green line’s Place des Arts station. If you get there through the green line, you’ll have to trot along the Complexe Desjardins and Complexe Guy Favreau to get there.
Leyline of the Old Ones
Montreal is among the North American cities with the richest histories. There are plenty of historical sites, museums and many more cultural places to visit in Montreal. You can retrace the past in the Old Port of Montreal and get a glimpse of the European architecture that has influenced the city’s early days. This is one of the most iconic areas of Montreal. It is located just a short walk away from the convention center. You can take a moment to enjoy the nearby Notre-Dame Basilica as you make your way towards the old port’s ferris wheel or clocktower. There’s even a small waterless beach at the clocktower, perfect if you wish to prepare some sand sketched plans for the weekend.
Perhaps, you would prefer to explore the base of the mountain and make your way up the Mont-Royal afterwards? Mont-Royal avenue (Mont-Royal metro station on the Orange line) will be a pedestrian street around the World Tour weekend. This is perfect for those who’d love to explore some local shops and restaurants. I think this is among the best areas to get a snap shot of Montreal’s identity. After you sift through the busy streets, you should head up the mountain and enjoy a calming breeze along with magnificent views of the city at one of the belvederes. (Bus line 11 will get you closer to the mountaintop, or you can take a long walk from the Mont-Royal station) On the other side of the mountain, you can also find the famous Saint-Joseph’s Oratory. Will you pass the test of vigor and climb its 283 steps? The oratory is closer to the Cote-Des-Neiges metro station on the blue line.
Maybe you’d prefer to feel the earth’s embrace and visit Montreal’s botanical garden or biodome. Located next to our Olympic stadium (Pie-IX or Viau stations on the green line), those two are part of a group of attractions that also include the planetarium, insectarium , biosphere. If this is the type of attraction you prefer, you might want to consider getting the pass that allows you access to all of the above for a reduced price. There is a yearly expo during September in the botanical garden called garden of lights. It showcases beautiful configurations where they light up the leaves and it’s worthy of the sky fire lanterns.
Treasure Island
The biosphere I mentioned above is located on a separate island called Jean-Drapeau. On this island, you will also find many more interesting attractions. You can take a lap (walking or biking) on the Gilles Villeneuve F1 circuit, bet big at Montreal’s Casino, take a dive in an Olympic size outdoor pool (it closes the same weekend as the WP) or go bananas at our theme park called La Ronde. You can walk to most of these from the Jean-Drapeau station on the yellow line but there are buses that take you to La Ronde (767 line) and to the Casino (777 line).
Autumn's Touch
If you’d prefer to lay low for a while, you can also take a stroll along the Lachine canal (it extends west of the old port) or break ground at the majestic Lafontaine park.(A short walk east from the Sherbrooke station on the Orange line or north from the Beaudry station on the green line) There are numerous parks and relaxing areas around Montreal if you simply want to enjoy the outdoors to regain composure. It is also the season where the leaves start changing color and it makes for beautiful scenery.
Interlude
I’d like to think that one of the cool things about Montreal is its multicultural diversity and inclusiveness. There’s definitely a little something for everyone. Among the places to experience this, there is the Quartier des Spectacles (QdS). Located a few blocks north of the convention center, you will find some outdoor festivals, theaters, museums and many other activities to invigorate the evening. There is a LEGO exposition called Art of the Brick that will be in town while you are here. The city has also set up some outdoor games that everyone is welcome to enjoy for free! If you visit us during our endless winters, you could even weave on the ice of the huge skating rink that gets set up.
If that wasn’t satisfying enough, you can venture east or west on Saint-Catherine street from the QdS and enjoy a multitude of shops and restaurants. It’s busiest between Atwater and Saint-Denis streets. (In terms of metro stations, that’s Atwater through to Berri-UQAM on the green line). It might take a while, but you could scour through the area and snag pretty much anything you desire.
Meat and Greet
If you come to Canada, there’s a few things you must taste before you go back home. To us Canadians, Maple Syrup is like liquid gold. Pouring some on any dish is like adding the Midas touch to it. Its sweetness is truly unique. It will not be in season around the World Premiere weekend, but you can still visit the Atwater (a short walk south of the Lionel-Groulx station, which connects the orange and green lines) or Jean-Talon markets (a short walk west of the Jean-Talon station, which connects the orange and blue lines) where you can meet some local artisans and farmers and get your hands on some of that delicious syrup and many other delicacies.
Dig In
One of my favorite ways to embrace a new region is through its food. There are way too many great restaurants to name them all here, but I am here to help you dig up dinner at some of the most famous spots in Montreal.
Just like maple syrup, another local food item that cannot be overlooked is Poutine. No, we’re not talking about the Russian president even if it sounds exactly the same. We’re talking about some french fries topped with cheese curds and delicious gravy (no bones). The best way to go about it is to establish a baseline by getting a basic poutine at any Belle Province. The nearest one to the convention center is on the corner of Saint-Laurent and Sainte-Catherine, which is just a few blocks north of Chinatown (More on this in a moment). You can then up the ante and try other places or try poutine with various toppings. Poutineville (multiple locations) is a good place to level up from the basic version of the dish. When you’re ready to double down, the best one in my opinion is the chicken poutine at Ma Poule Mouillé on Rachel street (a short walk south of the Mont-Royal station on the orange). Fair warning, poutine is a heavy hitter so make sure you save some room for it.
For meat lovers, Montreal is famously known for its smoked meat sandwich. You can find the best ones at Schwartz Deli on Saint-Laurent street (the 55 bus line will get you there from the venue), Dunn’s Famous on Metcalfe street (the nearest metro station is Peel on the green line, but it’s walkable from the venue) or Reubens Deli (they have 2 locations, both on Sainte-Catherine street). The lines can get long depending on the time of the day and day of the week, but it’s worth the wait. It might look like raw meat, but fear not, it’s much much better.
While you’re here, you can’t pass over the opportunity to try a Montreal-style bagel! One of the originals for this is Saint-Viateur Bagel located on Saint-Viateur street. The 55 bus line can get you to Saint-viateur street and then it’s a short stroll from the bus stop or you can walk to the Place-des-Arts station and grab the 80 bus line. But there are a few La Fabrique de Bagel locations around downtown that are also worth trying. Paired with a good coffee, it makes for a delicious breakfast.
Speaking of breakfast and good coffee, there are plenty of great cafés in the city. If you want something quick and cheap, any Tim Hortons will do just fine. They’re everywhere. But if you require something a bit more refined to help you rise up in the morning, there are numerous specialized cafés for you to choose from. Café in Gamba has a location a few minutes away from Saint-Viateur Bagel on the same street; Myriad Café is another one with multiple locations near Mont-Royal and downtown; Crew Collective & Café is a few blocks south of the convention center in the old port in a building that used to be a bank; 49th Parallel Café is nearby as well and it belongs to a canadian coffee roaster; if you’re staying in downtown Montreal, you might be close to either Pikolo Espresso Bar (Place-des-Arts on the green line) or Leaves House Café (McGill on the green line). These are all delightful options for a smooth awakening.
Sticky Fingers
If you feel like eating something a little bit fancier, the Old Port has numerous high end restaurants. There are a few Michelin recommended restaurants in the area. Among them, there is one called Monarque that is pretty good. For my vegan friends, I really like Burger Fiance. They even have a vegan version of the infamous Poutine if you wish to succumb to the temptation.
On the opposite end of the budget scale, you may want to visit Chinatown for some cheaper, but still delicious food options. I’d like to add that it is very conveniently adjacent to the convention center in case you want to grab a quick bite between rounds and be back in a flash.
Last but definitely not least, there are some modern food courts spread out around downtown Montreal that all have a generous selection of trendy and delicious international food and drinks. I’ll cut to the chase, any choice you make within these is going to be great. There is The Central on Saint-Laurent boulevard (Saint-Laurent station on the green line), The Cathcart underneath the Place Ville-Marie (it’s between McGill on the green line and Bonaventure on the Orange line, it all connects via the underground) and, my favorite, the Time-Out Market in the Eaton Center (McGill station on the green line).
Crowd Goes Wild
Montreal’s nightlife is among the best in North America. Feeling riled up? Clubs and bars are open until 3 in the morning. You must be 18 years of age or older to enter. I’ll be honest, I don’t have a preference here. There are countless good clubs downtown. You will find the most popular venues on Crescent street (between the Guy-Concordia , Peel stations on the green line), on Saint-Denis street and in the village which is located on Sainte-Catherine street’s eastern portion (Berri-Uqam to Papineau on the green line). Don’t forget to tip the barkeep!
In the Palm of Your Hand
Let’s talk about some logistics. Here are a few things you’ll want to know if you are coming to Montreal, especially if you haven’t made three visits here yet.
The weather in September can be pretty wild. Sometimes, it’s really warm and some others you feel the northern winds. If you want take the upper hand, you should expect temperatures between 10oC to 30°C (50°F to 86°F). The current weather forecast stands between 15°C and 25°C (59°F and 77°F) around the World Premiere weekend. Rain has also been somewhat unpredictable in September. Luckily, you can still get around downtown mostly through the underground (by walking or using the metro). I do recommend bringing a good pair of shoes because you may end up overloading your feet.
Our local currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). There are very few places that operate using cash only. This is true mostly of some smaller shops and restaurants. You could very well not need cash in the time you spend in Montreal. In case you do end up needing some physical currency, you can cash out at one of the many ATMs available in the city.
The official languages in Canada are English and French. Montreal is located in the one province where French matters more than English. If you keep within the confines of the more crowded areas, you’ll be absolutely fine with just English. If you want to take a stab at it, “Bonjour” and “Merci” mean “Hello” and “Thank you”
If you wish to recharge your devices during your stay, you’ll want to know that we use Type-A and Type-B plugs. These are the standard in all of North America. Voltage here is 120V at 60Hz. Make sure to pack the appropriate adapters.
Wi-Fi is easily accessible in most public areas like hotels, malls and some cafés and restaurants. You may also want to lock it up ahead of time and load a SIM or eSIM with data you can use on the go during your visit.
Daily Grind
Montreal’s Flesh and Blood scene is stacked with very good players. If you would like to put money where your mouth is, this is the place to test your strength. There are events running locally on most days of the week too!
On Mondays, head on down to Randolph Pub Ludique Rosemont for the armory in one of the coolest bars/restaurants in Montreal. They serve delicious food and nerdy drinks on top of having a wide selection of board games. If you plan on getting there from downtown, you will have to run through most of the orange line to the Beaubien metro station and also take the 18 bus eastward for a few more minutes. Please plan accordingly.
On Tuesdays, it’s an encore at the Beaubien metro station, but this time we walk to Expedition Montreal. This store is located in the Plaza Saint-Hubert. There are plenty more shops and restaurants in the area. It might be worth getting there ahead of time if you’d like to try something different. There’s a Portuguese bakery nearby that makes the best natas in town too, but they close a bit early. It’s called Patisserie Rosario.
On Wednesdays, the action can be found at Capitaine Quebec. This LGS is located on Sainte-Catherine Street near the Guy-Concordia metro station. The game store, located on the second floor of the building, is not to be confused with the comic book store that’s on the ground level. It might still be worth a detour downstairs. Who knows, you might find a rusted relic in their massive collection of comic books and collectibles. It’s also worth noting that the store is located on the Concordia University campus. There are many good asian food options nearby and most of them tend to be on the budget friendly side. My 2 recommendations in the area are Kazu just across the street or Qing Hua Dumplings around the block.
On Thursdays, if you’re the type to never yield, then Chez Geeks is the spot for you. This small LGS is located at the doorstep of the Fabre metro station on the blue line. They are also next door to one of the best smash burger joints that I’ve ever been to. It’s called Mange dans mon Hood (MDMH). I strongly advise finding them online and ordering ahead of time (about 30 minutes) because the wait times are untamed during dinner time’s rush hour. I recommend a “Cali burger” or a “dirty ol fries”. Or both if you want to push the point. They also have a vegetarian option that is just as great.
On Fridays, we usually have our most flourished armory of the week. If you’re valiant enough to put in a last ditch effort, you’d come hang out at Silver Goblin, located on Sainte-Catherine street just a block west from the QdS. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), there will be truce at the LGS’ location while the TO shifts the tide of battle towards the convention center for the Super Slam World Premiere. Silver Goblin does however host a very big play area and a great collection of board games. The store is constantly buzzing with gamers having a good time and you’d be more than welcome to come hang out throughout the week. I will also point out that the judge conference ahead of the World Tour weekend will be held at Silver Goblin on the Thursday preceding the event. Signups are still open via JudgeHub if that’s something that could pique your curiosity.
Uplifting Performance
World Tour: Montreal is on the horizon and is set to be Canada’s biggest Flesh and Blood event to this day and we aspire to host many more major events in the future.
I hope this guide illuminates you on all the cool things that you can do in Montreal. There is so much more that I haven’t covered and I could brainstorm for many more pages, but perhaps this is enough to get your journey started and help you wander Montreal with purpose.
The weekend will be gone in a flash. Let’s all make the most of it and have a smashing good time while playing the game and seeing the world!
Featured Image by TheoFBe. Images throughout article from Wikimedia Commons, Samuel Charron, AAPQ, City of Montreal, RestoMontreal, Marches Publics, QDS International, and Anous Les Caribous.
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