Ever wish you knew the inside scoop before visiting a new destination? Now you can! We’ve reached out to our favorite locals and tour guides from all over the world for their insider tips. In the City Insider Q&A, they’ll let you in on the spots that should be on your must-see and do list!
Name: Ronald Poiré
Occupation: Tour guide
City: Montreal
Website: montrealfoodtours.com
Twitter: @Foodguidemtl
Facebook: Montreal Food Tours – Tours culinaires Montreal
Pinterest: Montreal Food-Tours
Short bio: Often referred to as the “Food Guru,” Ronald Poiré has greatly contributed to development of culinary tourism in Montreal. Project manager for VDM since 1998, his versatility has led him to create countless specialized tours for both the tourism and corporate industries.
Ronald holds a professional guide diploma.
Best way to get to/from airport: Grab a cab or the 747 bus line.
Best way to get to/from train station: This really depends…..
Favorite 5-star hotel: The Gault Hotel
Favorite budget hotel: Best Western Ville Marie
5 places visitors must see:
- Old Montreal & Notre-Dame Basilica
- Mont-Royal
- Jean-Talon Market
- A walk on St-Laurent Street, the Main
- The theatre district on St-Catherine Street, especially during festivals
Best local newspaper/recommended reading (for finding out what’s going on about town): The Tourism Montreal blog does great posts with lists of what to do every weekend
Favorite historical fact: That the exploration of a large part of North-America started through Montreal.
Favorite fine dining restaurant: Europea
Favorite casual restaurant: Restaurant Rouge Orange
Best place to get a coffee: Café St-Henri
Favorite museum: Pointe-à-Callière Museum of archaeology and history located in Old Montreal
Best sports venue(s): Burgundy Lion for soccer games!
Most popular local food: Restaurant Mâche on St-Denis
Best “locals-only” spot: Grumman 78
To live like a local, you must have this experience: Check out the tam-tams on Mont-Royal every Sunday afternoon of summer.
Local/native fruit or dish to try: Smoked meat and bagels are classics, but to try something truly Québécois, go for “paté chinois” at Mâche on St-Denis
Most popular local drink: Bloody Caesars with sriracha
Movies/TV shows filmed in your city: The last X-Men movie, Days of Future Past
Best souvenirs to buy/ goods to bring home: Maple syrup and some ice apple cider
Best smartphone app(s) for your city: Viator
Best travel tip: Montreal is one of the best walking cities in North America, so bring good shoes!
I visited Montreal for the first time last summer, and discovered at Terrasse sur L’Auberge, at 97 de la Commune Est, also overlooking St. Paul’s St. It is a tapas restaurant/bar on the roof of the Auberge de Vieux Port, and has gorgeous views of the old Port and the St. Lawrence river. I ate dinner there at sunset, and it was beautiful; the service was very attentive and friendly as well. Just looking out over the river after walking through the Old Port cobblestone streets all day was so relaxing.