{"id":2054,"date":"2025-05-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=2054"},"modified":"2025-05-13T13:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:11:22","slug":"never-mind-new-york-the-paris-of-north-america-is-an-underrated-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/11\/never-mind-new-york-the-paris-of-north-america-is-an-underrated-paradise\/","title":{"rendered":"Never mind New York \u2014 the \u2018Paris of North America\u2019 is an underrated paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From dazzling cabarets to moreish poutine, Montreal has a lot to offer (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Suggesting a holiday to Montreal instead of New York<\/a> is a bit like telling someone looking for a new car to try Primark<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So when a friend recommended I visit Canada<\/a>\u2019s cultural capital as an alternative to the Big Apple, I was skeptical.<\/p>\n

Montreal rarely appears on must-travel lists, and to compare it to the smorgasbord of brilliance that is NYC<\/a>? Please.<\/p>\n

But six days there changed my opinion. I discovered a place where North American cool meets European sensibility, a historic bilingual city full of incredible food, art, and the world\u2019s best circus schools (yes, really).<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an insider\u2019s guide for first-time visitors, from dazzling cabarets to the best poutine spots in town.<\/p>\n

Markets, museums and maple syrup<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Founded in 1642 as part of \u2018New France\u2019, Montreal has managed to hold on to its French roots while welcoming a melting pot of cultures and respecting its indigenous heritage.<\/p>\n

Inviting people from across the world to set up shop here means dozens of languages are spoken. Montreal is often referred to as the city of languages, and the \u2018Paris of North America\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Montreal, the largest city in Canada\u2019s Qu\u00e9bec province, sits on an island in the Saint Lawrence River (Picture: Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tJoin Metro’s LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel<\/a> is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n

Simply\u00a0click on this link<\/a><\/strong>, select \u2018Join Chat\u2019 and you\u2019re in! Don’t forget to turn on notifications!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Like New York, the city has distinct neighbourhoods. The Old Town feels quintessentially Parisian; Montreal\u2019s version of the Notre-Dame Basilica<\/a> towers over the square, a Gothic masterpiece that plays host to regular light and theatre shows. I got a ticket for the Aura Experience, a three-act extravaganza that genuinely left my jaw on the floor. The $35 (\u00a319) ticket was worth every penny.<\/p>\n

Montreal is the circus hub of North America, and creative arts are big business here. The city is home to the National Circus school and is the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, the world\u2019s largest contemporary circus producer founded in 1984.<\/p>\n

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@marianamangandid<\/a> <\/p>\n

and of course try a montreal-style bagel + poutine \ud83e\udd6f\u2728 what did i miss? #montreal<\/a> #traveltok<\/a> #quebec<\/a> #travelvlog<\/a> #mtl<\/a> #wintertravel<\/a> #creatorsearchinsights<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c billie eilish CHIHIRO gravagerz remix \u2013 grava<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Depending on your capacity for learning on holiday, the museums around Montreal are either world-class or completely overwhelmingly. <\/p>\n

All provide extensive insight, and I recommend the McCord Stewart Museum<\/a>. For only $2 (\u00a31) the museum\u2019s \u2018Indigenous Voices Of Today\u2019 exhibit tells you the beautiful but harrowing story of the country\u2019s First Nations. Curated by indigenous people, it\u2019s a lens to the untold First Nations experience and recognises the colonist atrocities they suffered in the 1900s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My favourite experience in Montreal was on the outskirts of the city at Sucrerie De La Montagne<\/a>, a traditional sugar shack founded in 1972 by local legend Pierre Faucher. <\/p>\n

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Local legend Pierre has been running the maple shack since 1972 (Picture: Torin Gillies)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The family-run maple syrup empire not only shows us how the elixir of the north is made, but also provides the authentic Canadian maple farm experience complete with maple-drenched bacon and humble sugar pie. <\/p>\n

Throw in the live country music and maple taffy, this humble shack was the best memory of my trip.<\/p>\n

Surf and turf? Exploring Montreal\u2019s culinary scene<\/h2>\n

It would be a sin to skip out on poutine or thick stack sandwiches, but Montreal\u2019s culinary scene is about so much more than stereotypical diners.<\/p>\n

At Mile End in the heart of Little Italy is Jean-Talon<\/strong> Market<\/a>, one of the largest open-air fresh produce markets in North America. It\u2019s a great place to spend an afternoon, browsing the stalls and sampling local meat, cheese and spices.<\/p>\n

For the surf and turf Montreal is famous for, the Old Town Montreal is the place to be. When I arrived in the city, my guide almost immediately declared: \u2018The one thing you must try is the oysters\u2019. At Mignon<\/a>, the taste of the sea will make you forget you\u2019re in the middle of a bustling metropolis.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tMetro takes you to Canada’s hidden gems\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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