Montréal Underground Origins Blog

An alternative guide to 1974 Montreal: Montréal Insolite, pt. 2

15.06.2015

SECOND PART: OUR TASTES…
Montréal Insolite

FOLLOW THE GUIDE…

In the second part of this small guide you will find a list of places we recommend visiting. This list is far from complete because we would almost need to publish a mini phone directory to describe all the restaurants, hotels and nightclubs of Montreal.

We apologize in advance to the owners of the locations we missed.

For those who love to eat, the Montreal Star published, in French, a guide to all the restaurants in Montreal. We recommend it highly because it describes about 260 of the best restaurants in town.

All major hotels downtown operate great restaurants we have ignored in this guide.

Most of these hotels also put on elaborate shows.

Le Caf-Conc of Château Champlain and the Bonaventure Room of the Queen Elizabeth present world-class performances. These “super-clubs” are very popular.

NEIGHBORHOODS

The nocturnal world has its own personality, its laws, its customs and its regulars. Just like it’s normal for people with the same tastes to revolve around a common center of interest, some areas in a city quickly acquire a particular character.

Montreal is no exception to the rule. The city center itself is completely different, from one area to the other. Montreal is the meeting place of two cultures and that creates an absolutely unusual vis-à-vis phenomenon: a kind of parallelism of special neighbourhoods.

Thus, the English “hippies” go to clubs on Crescent Street. They’ll enjoy the terrace of the Poor Richard’s or Chez Oliver’s… while their French-language counterparts gravitate around clubs of Saint-Denis Street, or savour a beer on the terraces of Old Montreal.

However, these are far from exclusive milieus! On the contrary, there are many exchanges between the “hippies” of the west and their friends from the east. This phenomenon is visible at all levels! Be it homosexuals or people with orgiastic tendencies. This is the uniqueness of Montreal! We can have fun in two completely different cultural perspectives.

THE NEIGHBOURHOODS AND THEIR CHARACTERS

La rue Crescent et ses boutiques. Crescent Street and its shops.

La rue Crescent et ses boutiques. Crescent Street and its shops.

It is very easy to navigate in Montreal. St. Laurent serves as the median line between east and west. To the west, English traditionally predominates, while in the east, it’s the stronghold of the Parti Québécois. At least, that’s the situation in theory. But Montreal internationalizes week by week, so the balance of power tends to evolve.

North and south, there are several neighbourhoods predominantly Italian, Greek, Lebanese and Portuguese. The whole, interspersed with English and French strains of Quebecers. In recent years, one can see a clear regression in some neighborhoods. Old Montreal has abandoned them to let the newcomers. This is a phenomenon seen in all major North American cities.

Place-Jacques-Cartier, "nous chantons" - "we sing"

Place-Jacques-Cartier, “nous chantons” – “we sing”

If we exclude the city center, so the neighbourhood bounded by Guy Street to the west; Papineau Street to the east; Pine Avenue and Mount Royal Street to the north; and the St. Lawrence River to the south, each neighborhood has its own personality… its little personal touch. Remarkably, in every corner of the metropolis, one can find high-quality restaurants. It is not for nothing that Montreal has earned the title of gourmet paradise!

The east of Montreal which includes Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Longue-Pointe and Tétreaultville has a distinctly French character. This is where working class and petty bourgeois reside.

In these neighborhoods, nightlife is almost nonexistent. After midnight, all is quiet. However, one can find a few great restaurants like Sambo on Sherbrooke where the chef offers the best dishes of French cuisine and of Chinese cuisine. There is also a great piano-bar featuring the best Quebec singers.

Live From Earth, Prince Arthur, 1974

Live From Earth, Prince Arthur, 1974

If you want to flirt with a nice young Montrealer, you can go to Tropicana Café, corner Sherbrooke and Sheppard, an immense club dedicated to dancing, or at Prof Maboule, a busy nightclub on the ground floor of the same establishment. There is also the famous Café de l’Est, at the corner of Notre Dame and Bennett, one of the few places in Montreal where you can see a quality show.

Parc Olympique, Olympic Park, 1974

Parc Olympique, Olympic Park, 1974

Restaurants

Le Toit Rouge
5440 est, rue Sherbrooke, 259-3748
Spécialité, grillades et rôti de boeuf.
Excellent et prix modérés.

Le Sambo
5666 est, rue Sherbrooke, 256-1694.
Au choix, cuisine française ou chinoise toutes deux bien apprêtées.
Prix modérés.

Rieno Restaurant
3950 est rue Sherbrooke, 254-4555
Cuisine type nord-américain, prix modérés.

Le Sambo, 5666 Sherbrooke E.

Le Sambo, 5666 Sherbrooke E.

Tic-Tac
6583 est, rue Sherbrooke, 259-1580
Cuisine canadienne. Spécialité, club sandwich. Prix modérés.

Hôtels-Motels

Le Versailles
7200 est, rue Sherbrooke, 256-1613
Restaurant. Belle atmosphère.
Classe 3

Montreal Tourist Motel
6800 est, rue Sherbrooke.
Classe 3

Motel Métropole
5225 Métropolitain est,
Classe 3

Motel Le Diplomate
4645 est boul. Métropolitain,
725-3671
Classe 3

Kambo Motel
5775 est, rue Sherbrooke, 255-5691
Classe 4

Motel Jacques Cartier
14070 est, rue Sherbrooke, 642-4533
Classe 3

Montréal Insolite

Le Lucerne,
4950 est, rue Sherbrooke,
Restaurant excellent, belle atmosphère.
Classe 3

Hôtels

Fontainebleau,
5500 est, rue Sherbrooke, 256-9011
Hôtel classe 2

New Palace Hotel
2204 rue Mont-Royal e., 225-0187
Hôtel classe 4

Clubs de nuit et discothèques

Le Piano-Bar du Sambo
5666 est, rue Sherbrooke
Endroit relaxant, musique douce.
Au sous-sol une discothèque qui n’est vraiment fréquentée que durant la fin de semaine.

Le Shed 25
7008 est, rue Notre-Dame
Strip-tease de midi à la fermeture.
Bar typique du quartier. Propriété de Terry Evanshen, l’as-flanqueur des Alouettes.

Café de l’Est
4558 est, rue Notre-Dame
L’un des rares clubs de nuit à présenter encore un excellent spectacle avec des artistes québécois.

Montréal Insolite

Le Robot,
9385 est, boul. Gouin
Striptease.

Chez Mado
10181 bout. Pie IX
Spectacles variés

Café des Ponts
11639 boul. Pie IX
Striptease

Café du Nord
10715 boul. Pie IX
Spectacle tous les soirs, excellent Steak House tout à côté.
Piano-Bar au sous-sol.

Jardins Botanique 1974 Botanical Gardens

Jardins Botanique 1974 Botanical Gardens

Le Tropicana,
Immense salle de danse, orchestre
2901 Sherbrooke est.

Le prof Maboule
2901 Sherbrooke est,
Discothèque à la mode fréquentée par les plus jolies filles du quartier.

La Porte Ste-Catherine
3767 est, rue Ste-Catherine.
Danseuses à gogo.

La Paysanne
2693 est, rue Ontario.

Café Champs de Lys
1930 rue Delorimier
Spectacles, bar typique de quartier.

Casino Royal
4645 est boul. Métropolitain
Spectacles de choix.

Montréal Insolite

Les quartiers sud de Montréal. The southern neighbourhoods of Montreal.

Les quartiers sud de Montréal. The southern neighbourhoods of Montreal.

The southern districts of Montreal, Saint-Henri, Côte St-Paul and Ville Emard essentially have the same character. However, the nightlife is brighter. There are, in fact, typical working class clubs such as Lépine, Robert Bar Lounge where striptease reigns supreme and Cafe Pagoda, the locals’ rendezvous. The best local restaurant is Da Giuseppe, on Notre Dame near the De La Montagne Street, where Italian specialties are a real delight.

Restaurants

Da Giusseppe
1426 ouest, rue Notre-Dame,
933-5873
L’un des meilleurs restaurants italiens de la métropole. Spécialité, fettuchini, spaghetti et lasagne. Les scallopinis de veau sont à recommander. Beau décor, prix raisonnables. Excellents vins.

Trivi Pizzeria
800 rue de l’Eglise,
La meilleure pizza du quartier.

Restaurants Dillalo.
6901 boul. Monk
2523 Notre-Dame ouest.
2532 Ontario est.
3990 Beaubien est.
Une nouvelle chaîne de restaurants en voie d’établissement. On en retrouvera bientôt dans tous les coins de la métropole. On peut y déguster les meilleurs hamburgers au Québec et les Montréalais font des milles pour s’y régaler. On y mange à satiété pour un prix plus que raisonnable.

l'échangeur Turcot Interchange. Une œuvre géniale de nos ingénieurs québécois.

l’échangeur Turcot Interchange. Une œuvre géniale de nos ingénieurs québécois.

Endroits spéciaux

Le Parc Angrignon
Un immense oasis de verdure situé boul. des Trinitaires et Lavérendry. On y installera peut-être le Zoo de Montréal. C’est un projet qui dort depuis plus de dix ans mais qu’on réveille périodiquement.

Motels.

Belvedere Motel
7250 boul. Montréal-Toronto.
Classe 3.

Cavalier Motel
6951 St-Jacques ouest.
Classe 3.

Laval Motel
6710 St-Jacques ouest.
Classe 3.

Montreal West End Motel
6700 St-Jacques ouest.
Classe 3.

Motel Colibri,
6960 St-Jacques ouest.

Nittolo’s Garden Motel
6580 St-Jacques ouest.

Club de nuit.

Lépine Bar Salon
2616 Jolicoeur.
Travestis en soirée.

Le Robert Bar-Salon
5090 ouest, rue Notre-Dame.
Striptease et gogo de midi à la fermeture. Bar typique du quartier.

Yvan Symonds

Yvan Symonds

Le Café Pagoda.
1875 ouest, Notre-Dame.
Orchestre bavaroise.

Le Gigi Lounge
6688 boul. Monk.

Le Barina,
2015 de l’Eglise.
Une immense discothèque où toutes les filles du quartier se donnent rendez-vous la fin de semaine.

Old Chum
Atwater et Notre-Dame.
Un trio pour la danse.

The Northwest parts of Montreal

In the West of the city, it’s the “great coldness” ….nightlife is almost non-existent. It must be said that our conquerors quickly divided the city so that to the west, you can find independent cities that are almost “forbidden areas” for nocturnal wildlife. Thus, neither “The town of Mount Royal” or Outremont allow the establishment of nightclubs within their boundaries … same situation in Westmount.

We only find a nightlife embryo in Notre-Dame de Grâce.

Northwest, mainly off the Décarie highway, there are great restaurants like Ruby Foo’s, Rib and Reef, The Stage Coach, Piazza Tomasso, etc., where English-speaking clients like to go. The nearing Blue Bonnets’ horse racing rack brings in large crowds and at midnight, the area is teeming with activity.

In the northern area of Montreal, there are several high-class restaurants and some very posh nightclubs.

Université de Montréal.

Université de Montréal.

Near the University of Montreal, on Edouard-Montpetit Street, a mini-Latin Quarter is being born … although it is in the making for over 20 years! Indeed, although the University has been on the mountain for almost 30 years, the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood never acquired the student feel it had when the University was located on Saint-Denis, downtown.

There are a few clubs where students meet up: the Café-Campus on Decelles, Chez Vito, Crazy Horse and a few other clubs on Côte-des-Neiges, but that’s it.

Also, a neo black colony seems to settle in the area. About 20,000 blacks immigrated to Montreal from the Caribbean and West Indies in the past ten years or so.

They apparently opted for the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood where they bring their exuberance and culture, adding a unique character to the local nightlife.

Again, however, the nightlife remains relatively calm.

Northeast, there are a few high-class restaurants like Chez Bardet on Henri-Bourassa Street, probably the best French restaurant in the city. The seafood lovers can enjoy their favourites dishes at la Barrique on Fleury Street and at Coquille on Metropolitan Boulevard. It is in this area that you can find the most popular nightclub in Montreal: Maxim’s on Lajeunesse. But apart from that club, it’s dead calm.

Ruby Foo's, 7815 Boul. Décarie 1974

Ruby Foo’s, 7815 Boul. Décarie 1974

Restaurants

Chez Bardet
591 est, Boul. Henri-Bourassa 381-1777.
Certainement l’un des meilleurs restaurants français en Amérique du Nord. On y prépare une cuisine classique mais absolument parfaite. Entre autres choses nous vous recommandons le Steak à la Clermont et les quenelles. Prix chers et vins de choix.

Le Mongol,
9695 St-Laurent 381-7777.
Un excellent restaurant où la cuisine chinoise est à l’honneur. Prix modérés.

New Granada Restaurant.
9920 St-Laurent 384-1522.
Bonne cuisine française. Le rôti de boeuf est divin. Prix modérés.

Le Gobelet
8405 St-Laurent
Jusqu’à récemment seuls les hommes y avaient accès. Cette taverne de style typiquement canadien est maintenant une brasserie et les femmes y sont maintenant admises. On sert la bière en fût dans d’immenses bocks et on peut manger une cuisine canadienne de choix. Les tourtières et les fèves au lard au canard sont à recommander. Un endroit qu’il ne faut pas manquer de visiter d’autant plus que les prix sont bon marché.

St-Hubert Bar-B-Cue
6355 rue St-Hubert
Si Madame désire magasiner, elle pourra profiter d’une visite sur la Plaza St-Hubert pour goûter au poulet du St-Hubert Bar-B-Cue. Tous les montréalais en ont mangé un jour ou l’autre et il est excellent. Prix modérés.

La Diligence
7385 Boul. Décarie
Style américain. Spécialités, steaks et fruits de mer. Prix chers.

Ruby Foo’s
7815 Boul. Décarie 731-7701.
Dans l’ouest Ruby Foo’s est véritablement le rendez-vous des noctambules. Vous avez le choix entre une cuisine française et une cuisine chinoise, toutes deux de première qualité. À recommander la Bouillabaisse marseillaise, les steaks et toute une collection de mets chinois. Toutefois, il faut y mettre le prix.

Rib’n Beef
8105 Boul. Décarie
Spécialités, steaks et fruits de mer
Prix raisonnables.

Piazza Tamasso
8205 Boul. Décarie 739-6331.
Meilleur restaurant italien du nord-ouest de la métropole.

Le Roi du Smoke Meat
6705 St-Hubert 273-7566
Si vous aimez le smoke meat, c’est le meilleur endroit pour en consommer dans le nord de Montréal.

Aéroport de Montréal.

Aéroport de Montréal.

Hôtels-Motels

Chez Maxim’s
10151 Boul. Lajeunesse 387-6211
Classe 3

Capri Seaway Hotel
6445 Boul Décarie 739-2771
Classe 3

Holiday inn Châteaubriand
6500 Côte-de-Liesse 739-3391
Classe 3

Holiday Inn Seigneurie
7300 Côte-de-Liesse 731-7751
Classe 3

Chez Tonton
9107 Bout. Lajeunesse 389-8213
Classe 3

Fleur-de-Lys
7900 Côte-de-Liesse 733-8223
Classe 3

Grand Motor Hotel
7700 Côte-de-Liesse 731-7821
Classe 3

International Motel
13000 Côte-de-liesse 631-4811
Classe 3

Le Séville Hotel
4545 Côte Vertu 332-2720
Classe 3

Metro Motel
9925 Lajeunesse 381-2577
Classe 4

Motel Attaché
10195 Boul. Lajeunesse 389-8434
Classe 4

Motel Pierre
2375 Laurentien 332-3060
Classe 3

Airport-Hilton
12505 Côte-de-Liesse 631-2411
Classe 1

Capitol Hotel
357 Van Horne 279-3278
Classe 4

Montréal Insolite

Clubs de nuits

Beer Garden Bavarois
20 Crémazie Est
Grand orchestre bavarois tous les soirs.

Café Evangéline
7067 St-Hubert
Rendez-vous de tous les gaspésiens.
En fin de semaine, ça “swinge”. Bar typique du quartier.

Café Palermo
4493 Iberville
Piano-Bar et danseuses.

Caves de l’abbaye
Holiday Inn
6500 Côte-de-Liesse
Atmosphère tout à fait spéciale. De joyeux moinillons vous font danser et chanter tout en vous offrant les meilleurs vins de la cave. À visiter.

Café Chez Émile
11801 Norwood
(Près du Boul. Gouin face à la prison de Bordeaux).
Une magnifique terrasse donne sur la rivières des Prairies. Atmosphère spéciale en soirée.

Chez le père Mousse
5320 av. du Parc.
Sous le restaurant Chez son Père.
Une boîte typique, très classique.

Le Monocle
5666 Côte-des-Neiges
Café terrasse et discothèque… aussi excellent restaurant.

Le Sextuple
Bernard et St-Laurent
Une boîte où le striptease est à l’honneur.

Café Campus
3315 Reine Marie
Le rendez-vous des étudiants et des étudiantes de l’Université de Montréal. Spectacle de choix.

Chez Maxim’s
10151 Boul. Lajeunesse
Certainement la discothèque la plus populaire de Montréal. L’atmosphère y est chaleureuse et on y vient de tous les coins de la métropole.

Café Belhumeur
4145 Boul. Gouin
Spectacle.

Crazy Horse Saloon
5408 Côte-des-Neiges
Excellent Steak house avec café-terrasse et discothèque. Les plus jolies filles du quartier le fréquentent.

Special places

Montréal Insolite

Montréal Insolite

Montréal Insolite

Do not miss St. Joseph’s Oratory, located near the campus of the University of Montreal as well as the magnificent Mount Royal Park. You must walk up to the mountain’s chalet and around Beaver Lake.

You can admire the prettiest girls and see unusual things like a nudist in action.

The tourist has to take Camilien Houde Blvd to get to the top of the mountain. Then a walk in nature will allow him to contemplate a spectacular landscape. By returning through the west side, you get close to the Oratory situated on Queen Mary Rd. and the University campus located on Edouard Montpetit.

Downtown

Montréal Insolite

The city centre is really the heart of Montreal’s nightlife. And depending on the direction you take, you can feel the influence of neighbourhoods located on the outskirts.

The city’s centre, that is to say from Saint-Laurent to Papineau, has a particularly French character while to the west, English tends to predominate.

On Saint-Denis, a bit above Sherbrooke, you are in the middle of the Republic of the Saint-Louis Square, a small spot where the intellectual clubs, hashish and marijuana smells haunt you from the sidewalk.

This is the stronghold of the intellectual hippies of French culture.

There are psychedelic clubs like Osstid-plass, excellent restaurants like La Grenouille et le Boeuf, the EI Barrio Latino or the Swiss Mazot.

Facing the St. Denis Theatre, one can have coffee in several small places such as the Picasso, the Saint-Mâlo and the Galoche, to discuss philosophy, literature, sex… or independence.

A little further down, the Dorchester area is infused with German culture with a cathedral dedicated to Bavarian art. The facade of the Vieux Munich will certainly surprise you. Its rococo interior and its equally faux décor will perhaps make purists frown. Still, the food is excellent, just like the music from the great Bavarian band that plays in the centre of this huge building that can hold over 1,000 people- and it’s usually full.

Montréal Insolite

There you can drink beer by the gallon… and dance in the aisles to aid digestion.

As paradoxical as it may seem, in a city where English culture and French culture coexist and intertwine, it is a typical German cabaret that has the most success.

Going down a little lower, crossing the new fortifications that are now known as the East-West Highway, the visitor is suddenly brought two hundred years back. You’ve arrived in Old Montreal where the old has a modern twist.

St. Denis Street leads directly to the Bonsecours Church, the oldest chapel of the metropolis, with its Madonna that looks over the Port of Montreal.

Along the Bonsecours Street, amid assorted shops, authentic crafts and souvenirs “made in Japan,” you can admire the Papineau house… and other buildings that date back to the late eighteenth century.

Turning right, St. Paul Street is like a journey to the past. Facing the ex-Bonsecours Market, which after a long restoration now houses the technical services of the City of Montreal, there are an array of shops and excellent restaurants. At Les Filles du Roy, the Vieux Montréal, at La Catalogne and at the Trois Masques you can taste typical Quebec cuisine and best local drinks. Further down, you arrive at Place Jacques-Cartier. In the background, on the top of the hill, stands the Montreal City Hall…

Right on La Place, there is the Nelson Hotel where Robert Lemieux had his headquarters during the 1970 October Crisis… the same place where 1837 conspirators once met!

Montréal Insolite

On the other side of the street, there are many outdoor cafes of true Parisian style.

In the complex of the Hotel Iroquois, there is a hippie disco, La Place, a “boîte à chansons“ in addition to two terraces that are always filled to capacity.

During summer weekends, it is almost impossible to move around Place Jacques-Cartier as thousands of young people meet here to frolic around the flower market before enjoying a beer on the terrace of one the many surrounding cafes.

This is a favourite hunting ground for professional flirters.

This year, the Saint-Amable Street is hosting a hundred artists that sell their works on the sidewalk… in the style of Du Trésor Street in Quebec City.

Montréal Insolite

The Saint-Amable restaurant that occupies the basement and first floor of the Del Vecchio house is recognized for its excellent French cuisine.

A little higher, on Place Jacques-Cartier, is the Corsair where seafood is simply divine. You can walk from Saint-Amable Street to reach Saint-Vincent Street, where you can find one of the most typical spot of Old Montreal, l’Auberge de la Mère Vincent, where people go to sing old songs while drinking a Molson draft.

Just opposite, la Boutique des Cent Associés is where you can find authentic pieces of our Quebec artisans’ work.

On the south side of Saint-Paul Street, there is the Vieux Damase, a club with a poetic atmosphere where we can hear our best singers. This club is the counterpart of la Mère Vincent but it caters to a slightly older crowd.

A little further on, still on Saint-Paul Street, there is a very trendy nightclub called the Marquis de Sade, which also has an excellent restaurant open during daytime. It is the favourite spot for tasteful flirters.

Just in front there is the only jazz club that still exists in Montreal. However, the shows are held only during the weekend.

Montréal Insolite

Going up on St. Gabriel Street we pass the oldest inn in North America. Le Vieux Saint-Gabriel is known around the world. Its owner Mr. Rosaire Despelteaux is a character that must be met. And he has developed a very interesting complex in an authentic Canadian style.

Notre Dame Street, facing what looks like a huge warehouse but that is actually the municipal courthouse, one can notice an anachronism! An English-style steak house with a sign of a shocking red. If the sign is in poor taste, the steak, on the other hand, is delicious and very affordable.

The neighbourhood abounds in excellent restaurants. If you continue on Notre Dame, you can wave at the church of the same name, temple in a Canadian-Gothic style that you should not miss.

The pedestrian can cross Place d’Armes and take a look at the statue of Sieur de Maisonneuve a statue that pigeons seem to be very fond of. You should then find the only hole in the wall of the East-West Highway, St. Urbain Street, and head to Dorchester Street.

Ce qui reste de notre "Chinatown". What remains of our "Chinatown."

Ce qui reste de notre “Chinatown”. What remains of our “Chinatown.”

By the way you can admire what is left of our “Chinatown.” There are excellent Chinese restaurants that will likely be demolished within a year or two to make room for a huge administrative complex.

On Dorchester Street, there are the headquarters of Hydro-Quebec where Premier Robert Bourassa has offices in. Nearby, a huge construction site of feverish activity, Place Desjardins, is the first high-rise financed by the savings of Quebecers.

At the back, between mechanical cranes and concrete trucks, you can distinguish the Place des Arts. From this angle it seems crushed by concrete.

Heading towards the west you arrive at Place Ville-Marie. The prettiest girls in Montreal eventually cross there one day or another. It is necessary to take a break and admire the nature, especially around noon when all the surrounding offices empty themselves, literally.

We are now in full English quarter. Going up Sainte-Catherine Street, you have to look back, to the right.

Montréal Insolite

At Phillips Square and the opposite old Anglican church, you’ll notice a few dozen “hippies” loitering around. This is the English version of the Republic of Carré Saint-Louis

On McGill College between Cathcart and Ste-Catherine, you’ll notice a dozen artists who display their works on the walls, portraitists who draw interesting heads with charcoal and craftsmen who manufacture locally made sandals and leather belts. Another street, Saint-Amable, is of Anglo-Saxon flavour.

The intersection of Peel and Sainte-Catherine streets is the Broadway of Montreal where all tourists end up at some point.

Down Stanley Street, you may notice a very dark establishment: Budd’s. It’s the chic rendezvous of Montreal West. Right around the corner, there is the Lime-Light, a very happening club until six in the morning.

North of Saint-Catherine, on the east side of the street, a dark door gives access to Chez Dominique, the most exclusive nightclub of the metropolis. The construction cost over 300,000$ and it’s the favourite rendezvous of all the flirters of the west of the city. There we find the most beautiful girls of the metropolis… and with a little tact, one can make a very interesting catch.

On de Maisonneuve Boulevard, at the corner of Mountain and Crescent Street, two outdoor cafes attract regulars like magnets. Back to back, there’s Bourgetel and La Casa Pedro and they are in some kind of competition. This is the rendezvous of all admirers of the fairer sex and it is even the headquarters of the “girl-watchers.”

The “English and French babes” who haunt the neighbourhood have a clear need for liberation and most have dropped wearing bras, so the spectacle is worth sitting down for.

Crescent Street is the real fair. On busy nights, it’s difficult to move about. There, we meet bikers in leather jackets – that mainly go the Poor Richard’s and William Tell, as much as very chic “mods” that go to the Rally Club, Barraka, Sexe-Machine or to Thursday.

Sellers of marijuana and hashish are plentiful… it’s a true marketplace.

Here for a quick tour of the city centre… And in the middle of this mess we find a people who live there, work there and have fun.

(1) — Le Vieux-Montréal.
Restaurants, style français et canadien.

Montréal Insolite

Les Filles du Roy
415 Est, St Paul. 849-6556
Restaurant de style québécois, à recommander la tourtière, le ragoût de pattes de cochon et le jambon à l’érable. Prix raisonnables.

La Catalogne
311 est St-Paul, 866-6254.
Très bonne cuisine française, Décors typique du Vieux-Montréal. A recommander les Huitres Florentines et le rôti de boeuf. Prix raisonnables.

Ristorante Bacco
277 Est, rue St-Paul. 866-9755
Seul restaurant italien dans le Vieux Montréal. Excellents hors-d’œuvre et les pâtes alimentaires sont excellentes. Les scallopini de veau sont à conseiller.

Le Fadeau
423 rue Claude 878-3959
Restaurant très élégant. Cuisine classique française. Prix assez chers.

Le Corsaire et le Nautique
439 Place Jacques-Cartier. 866-9439
Meilleur endroit dans le Vieux Montréal pour déguster les fruits de mer. Les coquilles St-Jacques sont excellentes tout comme le rôti de boeuf.
Prix raisonnables.

Le Petit-Havre.
443 rue St-Vincent. 861-0581.
Chose pour le moins singulière cet excellent restaurant est installé dans l’édifice qui autrefois logeait la Morgue de Montréal. Les cannelonis sont très appréciés des connaisseurs, tout comme les crevettes flambées au Pernod. Prix plus que raisonnables.

Montréal Insolite

Le Petit-Navire.
425 rue St-Vincent.
Le Petit-Navire a accosté juste à côté du Petit-Havre. Les fruits de mer sont délicieux.

Le St-Amable
188 rue St-Amable 866-3471
Restaurant français classique. Cuisine soignée. L’un des meilleurs restaurant du genre au Québec. Les poissons farcis au homard sont un véritable délice. Prix chers mais on en a pour son argent.

Les Remparts
200 St-Laurent 845-7275
Décor superbe agrémenté d’une excellente cuisine. Prix chers.

Le Joncaire
12 ouest St-Paul, 845-7276
Prix plus abordables qu’aux Remparts, Nous vous recommandons le coq-au-vin. Bonne cave.

Montréal Insolite

Auberge Le Vieux St-Gabriel.
426 St-Gabriel, 878-3561
Une superbe auberge dans le plus pur style québécois. C’est d’ailleurs la plus vieille auberge en Amérique du Nord. Sa restauration a coûté plus d’un million. Le complexe est très grand. On peut y visiter un tunnel qui servait autrefois à abriter les femmes et les enfants lors des attaques des Indiens. On y trouve même la porte originale de la première prison de Montréal. Excellente cuisine canadienne à prix raisonnables. Vaut mieux réserver une table car l’endroit est très achalandé.

L’Amphytrion
320 est rue Notre-Dame, 861-0876
Charles Tonneau le propriétaire est l’un de nos plus grands experts en vins. Cuisine belge et française bien au point. Prix raisonnables.

Chez Delmo
211 ouest rue Notre-Dame, 849-4061
Ne vous laissez pas rebiffer par l’immense bar qui vous accueille à l’entrée. Le restaurant proprement dit est situé à l’arrière et si le propriétaire est un golfeur émérite, sa cuisine saura
vous séduire. A recommander le saumon poché et la sole de Douvres belle meunière. Cave excellente.

Montréal Insolite

L’édifice de l’hydro Québec et la fontaine de l’Hôtel de Ville

Restaurants à prix modérés

Restaurant des gouverneurs
Place Jacques-Cartier,
Excellente cuisine de style canadien, prix plus que raisonnable et service rapide.

La Brasserie du Palais
Notre-Dame, angle Place Jacques-Cartier.
Cuisine robuste que l’on tasse avec un bon verre de bière. Prix bon marché.

Au Vieux Baril.
St-Laurent au sud de Notre-Dame
Une belle petite brasserie où les mets sont excellents et à prix très abordables.
Les habitués du quartier fréquentent ces restaurants.

Steak House
Il n’existe qu’un seul steak house dans le Vieux Montréal.
Joe’s Steak House
42 rue Notre-Dame est, 866-7795
L’entrée est d’un rouge un peu choquant mais, à l’intérieur, l’atmosphère est très intéressante et le steak, excellent.

Hôtels-
Montréal Insolite

Hôtel Nelson
425 Place Jacques-Cartier, 861-5731
Classe 4

Hôtel Iroquois.
454 Place Jacques-Cartier,
866-4605
Classe 4

Hôtel Jacques Viger
(juste à la limite du Vieux-Montréal)
1254 St-Denis, 861-6331
Classe 3

Sunshine Rooms,
1042 rue St-Denis
Classe 4

Corona Rooms
1020 rue St-Denis.
Classe 4

Clubs de nuit, cafés-terrasses, — boîtes à chansons — discothèques

Montréal Insolite

Tout le long de la place Jacques-Cartier, il existe une bonne dizaine de cafés-terrasses où on peut consommer dans la plus pure atmosphère parisienne transportée directement à Montréal grâce à l’heureuse initiative du maire Jean Drapeau. Il y existe aussi plusieurs boîtes à chansons typiquement québécoises, des discothèques huppées, etc.

Hôtel Nelson
425 Place Jacques-Cartier
Café-terrasse et boîte à chanson.
Rendez-vous de la gent intellectuelle.

Le Fripon
Place Jacques-Cartier
Café-terrasse et bar-restaurant.

Hôtel Iroquois
454 Place Jacques-Cartier
Un complexe très important qui comporte deux cafés-terrasses, deux discothèques, La Place et l’Imprévu en bas et une boîte à chansons l’Imprévu. Tous ces établissements se remplissent dès la tombée de la nuit.

Le St-Vincent
408 St-Vincent
C’est la boîte à chansons typique du quartier. C’est d’ailleurs la première à s’être installée dans le Vieux-Montréal. L’été, les portes de garage qui la referment l’hiver sont grandes ouvertes et le public s’y masse pour voir le spectacle de l’extérieur.

Le Vieux Damase
104 est rue St-Paul
Une boîte à chansons qui s’adresse à un public plus âgé que celui du St-Vincent. L’atmosphère y est cependant tout aussi chaude.

Montréal Insolite

In Concert
2 est, rue LeRoyer
Une nouvelle boîte de Jazz qui vient tout juste d’ouvrir ses portes. Elle occupe les locaux où se trouvaient jadis la discothèque Louis XVI qui appartenait à Elaine Bédard. On y présentera au cours de l’été les plus grands noms du Jazz américain.

Le Marquis de Sade
36 est, rue St-Paul
C’est la discothèque huppée du quartier. Les plus jolies filles de la Métropole la fréquentent et chaque soir elle est bondée à craquer.

Le Black Bottom
22 est, rue St-Paul
Une boîte dirigée par des Noirs et où la gent hippie se donne rendez-vous. Musique psychédélique.

Montréal Insolite

Restaurants français, italien at autres…

La Picholette
1731 St-Denis, 843-8502.
Un excellent petit restaurant français dans le style parisien. Prix très modérés.

La Grenouille et le Boeuf
3459 St-Denis, 288-0652.
Comme le nom l’indique les spécialités de la maison sont les cuisses de grenouilles et les entrecôtes. Prix modérés.

Le Château-Madrid
368 Mont-Royal Est, 845-2843.
Le meilleur restaurant espagnol de Ia métropole. Nous vous recommandons tout spécialement les paellas. Durant le dîner, on vous offre, de plus, un excellent spectacle de flamenco.

Chez Georges
2063 Stanley, 288-8424.
Variété de plats français. A recommander veau, sauce aux tomates. Prix modérés.

Café Martin
2175 De la Montagne, 849-7525.
L’un des plus vieux restaurants français de Montréal. Cuisine préparée avec soin. A recommander la terrine de canard. Prix chers.

Montréal Insolite

Pescatore
1422 Stanley, 844-0525.
Spécialités italiennes et fruits de mer de style français. Prix modérés.

Le PamPam
1425 Stanley, 288-3090.
Café-restaurant, spécialités hongroises. A recommander les grillades. Prix raisonnables, 16 différentes sortes de café. Il y a quelques années le PamPam était le rendez-vous de toute l’intelligentsia montréalaise.

Les Halles
1450 Crescent. 844-2328.
Une cuisine hors de l’ordinaire dans un décor remarquable. Spécialités, grillades, soupes à l’oignon, etc. Prix modérés.

Le Vert Galant
1425 rue Crescent, 844-4155.
Granc chic. Excellente cuisine française. A recommander, le turbot sauce hollandaise. Prix chers.

Auberge St-Tropez
1208 Crescent, 861-3197.
Excellente cuisine de type français. Spécialités: Steak tartare, cuisses de grenouilles au vin blanc.

Montréal Insolite

Le Carmen
206 Stanley, 288-8424.
Café-expresso. On y sert une nourriture hongroise et européenne. Plusieurs variétés de café. Prix très raisonnables.

El Gaucho
2150 De la Montagne, 842-3481.
Il fait partie de la chaîne de restaurants Tavan. Quartiers de viande rôtie.

Moishe Steak House
3961 St-Laurent, 849-0541.
L’un des meilleurs “steak houses’’ de Montréal. Prix modérés.

Restaurant Viêt-nam
1509 Bleury, 843-7123.
Excellente cuisine vietnamienne. Les soupes sont délicieuses tout comme les egg rolls à la vietnamienne. Prix modérés.

Montréal Insolite

Chez son Père
5316 Park Ave., 272-8224.
Spécialité, Homard préparé de six façons différentes. A recommander tous les fruits de mer. Atmosphère très chaude. Prix chers.

Le William Tell
2055 Stanley, 288-0139.
Très beau décor rappelant les boîtes suisses. Spécialité, les fondues. Prix modérés.

Le Bistrot
2070 rue De la Montagne, 842-3481.
Au club des moustachus, à l’arrière, on mange à la parisienne. A l’avant, des sandwichs à la française. Prix modérés.

Le Castel du Roy
2070 Drummond, 842-8106.
Cuisine française traditionnelle mais préparée avec soin. Décor très attrayant. Prix modérés.

Torremolino
2125 De la Montagne, 843-8984.
Bon restaurant espagnol. Cuisine excellente. Prix modérés.

Montréal Insolite

La Rustica
1175 Union, 861-8078.
L’un de meilleurs restaurants italiens à Montréal. A recommander, les pâtes alimentaires en particulier les fettucini et aussi les scallopini de veau à la marsala. Prix modérés.

Portofino
2040 De la Montagne, 849-2225.
Spécialité Mets de l’Italie du Nord.
Nous vous recommandons spaghetti sauce aux palourdes. Salade César.

Le Mas des Oliviers
1216 rue Bishop, 861-6733.
Cuisine provençale. Doré à la basquaise. Ratatouille niçoise. Prix modérés.

Restaurants prix raisonnables, service rapide.

Montréal Insolite

Da Giovanni
572 Ste-Catherine Est.
Les Montréalais l’ont véritablement adopté. Il y a foule tous les jours et les soirs de pointe, il faut faire la ligne. On y sert les meilleurs spaghettis de la métropole.

Le Sélect
Coin St-Denis et Ste-Catherine.
Nourriture robuste à des prix raisonnables.

Le Poulet Doré
St-Denis et Ste-Catherine.
Le meilleur poulet Bar-B-Q du bas de la ville.

Le Louvre
Papineau et Ste-Catherine.
Nourriture canadienne de qualité.

Howard Johnson
710 Ste-Catherine Ouest
1236 Ste-Catherine Ouest,
Excellents fruits de mer.

Smoke Meat

Dunn’s Delicatessen
892 Ste-Catherine Ouest.

Ben’s
1001 De Maisonneuve

Montréal Insolite

Ben Ash
1 Ste-Catherine Est

Steak Houses

Schwartz (Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen)
3895 rue St-Laurent.
Un restaurant qui ne paie pas de mine mais qui sert ie meilleur steak et le meilleur smoke meat en ville. Il est fréquenté par tous les Montréalais.

Moishe’s Steak House
3961 St-Laurent.

Joe’s Steakhouse
1459 Metcalfe.
Atmosphère chaleureuse. Steak très tendre.

Curly Joe’s
1453 Metcalfe

The Barn Sider
2250 Guy.
Le Steak house qui a le plus d’atmosphère à Montréal. Cuisine excellente.

Alouette Steak House
1176 Ste-Catherine Ouest.

Restaurants chinois

Les meilleurs restaurants chinois du centre-ville sont tous groupés, rue Lagauchetière entre les rues Clark et St-Urbain. Ils seront cependant démolis bientôt pour faire place à un complexe administratif. A recommander.

Le New Lotus

Le Jade Garden

Le Jasmine

Le Sun Kuo Min

Le Cathay

Le Sunya Richska

Le Welcome

Ailleurs dans le centre-ville

Le China Garden
1240 Stanley

Le Green Garden
223 rue Ste-Catherine Est.

Hôtels

Montréal Insolite

Quality Inn
410 Sherbrooke ouest, 844-8851
Classe 2

Berkeley Hotel
1188 Sherbrooke ouest, 849-7351
Classe 2

Hôtel La Salle
1240 Drummond, 866-6492
Classe 3

Seaway Motor Inn
1555 Guy, 932-1411
Classe 2

Ramada Inn
1005 Guy, 866-4611
Classe 2

Hôtel de Province
1494 Dorchester ouest, 861-7201
Classe 3

Colonnade Hôtel
1366 Dorchester ouest, 861-9064
Classe 3

Hôtel Colonial
764 Peel, 866-3324
Classe 3

Tourist Rooms

Montréal Insolite

Résidence Hotel
847 Sherbrooke est

Argoat Lodge
524 Sherbrooke est

Hôtel Pierre
163 Sherbrooke est

Armor Tourist Lodge
151 Sherbrooke est

Manoir Shangri La
157 Sherbrooke est

Casa Bella
258 Ste-Catherine ouest

Château Versailles
1657 Sherbrooke ouest

Paris Tourist Room
67 Overdale

Grosvernor House
1198 De La Montagne

Manhattan Tourist
1237 De La Montagne

Auberge Chez Bébert
4109 rue St-Denis

Discothèques

Le Rallye Club,
1469 Crescent.
La boîte la plus huppée du quartier, pour y entrer il faut montrer patte blanche et porter veston et cravate.

Thursday’s,
1449 Crescent.
Une petite boîte intime avec terrasse doublée d’un excellent restaurant.

Montréal Insolite

Sir Winston Pub,
1459 Crescent.
Une boîte typique du quartier.

La Barraka,
1429 Crescent.
Une boîte marocaine ou on peut boire le meilleur café à Montréal.

La Sexe-Machine,
1469 Crescent.
C’est vraiment la boîte de la rue Crescent. La décoration y est pour le moins insolite tout comme le mobilier. Et les serveuses ont les seins nus. C’est le seul endroit qui a réussi ce tour de force à Montréal.

Le village de la rue Crescent.

Montréal Insolite

La rue Crescent est en train de devenir le Yorkville de Montréal. Les petites boutiques de luxe y poussent comme des champignons et viennent s’imbriquer parmi les discothèques les plus fréquentées. On peut s’amuser durant de longues semaines rue Crescent. On peut trouver de quoi satisfaire tous les goûts.

Le Tacot,
1010 rue Bishop.
Une petite discothèque intime très intéressante.

L’Annex Disco,
1441 rue Bishop.
Une terrasse recouverte de bulles de verre ou l’on peut causer et bien s’amuser.

Dominique’s,
1455 rue Stanley.
La discothèque la plus chic du Centre-Ville. On y trouve des filles racées, de la meilleure société et l’endroit est bondé tous les soirs. A ne pas manquer.

Le Harlow
1285 De Maisonneuve.
Cette boîte de classe est la propriété de Rodrigue Gilbert, joueur étoile des Rangers de New York. C’est le rendez-vous de tous les sportifs de la Métropole.

La Casa Mexico,
1448 Peel.
Seule boîte de type mexicain à Montréal. Excellents musiciens.

Montréal Insolite

John Bull’s Pub,
1201 de Maisonneuve.
Un des nombreux pubs qui poussent un peu partout dans l’ouest de la ville.

Le Sabayon,
666 Sherbrooke ouest.
Excellent restaurant grec ou on peut terminer la soirée en dansant le “bouzouki”. A ne pas manquer.

Tiffany’s,
2045 Crescent
Magnifique petite boîte très bien décorée. Atmosphère calme et sereine.

Oliver’s,
1400 rue Crescent.
Discothèque ou l’on “swinge” jusqu’aux petites heures.

Montréal Insolite

Don Juan
2022 A rue Stanley.
Excellent pour le dragueur habile.

Cafés terrasses.

Deux immenses cafés terrasses forment une espèce de frontière, boul. de Maisonneuve. Au coin de la rue Crescent, c’est La Casa Pedro. Coin de La Montagne, Chez Bourgetel. Ils sont tous deux également fréquenté. C’est l’endroit où l’on cause le plus à Montréal. On y rencontre les plus jolies filles.

Club de nuit, discothèques, etc.

Hôtel Jacques Viger.
1254 Saint-Denis
Il y a trois établissements dans ce complexe. La Cave des Moines, un pub et un cabaret avec spectacle. Atmosphère typiquement canadienne-française.

La Porte St-Denis.
4596 St-Denis.
Cabaret typique du quartier. Spectacles mettant en vedette les artistes canadiens.

Le Caprice.
4585 St-Denis.
Spectacles parfois intéressants et originaux.

Le 321
321 Ste Catherine Est.
Danseuses à gogo, topless.

L’Abitibi.
251 est, Ste-Catherine.
Danse tous les soirs au son d’un excellent orchestre. Cet établissement est appelé à remplacer le célèbre café St-Jacques fermé depuis quelques semaines pour faire place à l’Université du Québec.

Le Saguenay.
984 St-Laurent
Spectacles de travestis.

Le Rialto.
1217 St-Laurent.
Spectacle de basse classe.

Le Lodéo
St Laurent et Lagauchetière.
Petit spectacle et bière à bon marché.

Montréal Insolite

Le Casino Gaspésien.
316 Ste-Catherine ouest.
Spectacle style Western québécois avec les meilleurs artistes du genre. Le rendez-vous de tous les Gaspésiens qui habitent la Métropole. Bar typique du quartier.

1680 Ontario Est.
Normalement de bons artistes tiennent l’affiche. Bar typique du quartier.

Le Café Provincial.
1165 St-Hubert.
A cet endroit il y a une immense salle de danse ou les femmes se donnent rendez-vous l’après-midi. Au dessus, une discothèque huppée, le Lover’s, ou les Montréalaises de l’est vont s’amuser les fins de semaine.

Le Vieux Munich.
1170 St-Denis.
Une immense salle de spectacle qui est en même temps un immense restaurant. On y mange une nourriture robuste de type allemand que l’on arrose avec une chope de bière. Pour faciliter la digestion, on peut danser dans les allées au son d’un orchestre bavarois. Un endroit à ne pas manquer. On s’y amuse ferme.

Le Rockhead’s Paradise.
1252 St-Antoine.

Le temple du “SOUL” music à Montréal. En bas au Paradise Lounge l’excellent trio de jazz d’Yvan Symonds. Le rendez-vous de tous les noirs de Montréal. Un endroit d’un caractère spécial et qui se remplit à craquer toutes les fins de semaine.

L’Hôtel Colonial.
764 rue Peel.
Danseuse à gogo et striptease.

Le Shack
1200 Ste-Catherine Ouest.
Une immense discothèque fréquentée également par les petites noires et les petites Canadiennes. Musique de qualité, rythmes endiablés. A l’avant une excellente petite boîte ou le streaptease est à l’honneur. Du côté nord de la rue Ste-Catherine on peut voir l’ombre des artistes qui se trémoussent dans la vitrine.

Rockhead's Paradise, 1974

Rockhead’s Paradise, 1974

Marché Bonsecours, 1974

Marché Bonsecours, 1974

Endroits spéciaux

Le Vieux-Montréal est une source de découvertes quasi-quotidienne et on peut y passer des jours et des jours sans se lasser.

Endroits à visiter.

Eglise Bonsecours.

La maison Pierre Calvet

Les boutiques de la rue St-Paul.

L’Eglise Notre-Dame et le Musée situé à l’arrière.

Montréal Insolite

Place Desjardins.
The city centre is in the process of moving. Near St-Laurent, Ste-Catherine Street, just across from Place des Arts, a huge construction site rises. This is the all-electric complex of the Mouvement Desjardins.

Square Victoria

Square Victoria

Victoria Square, Stock Exchange Tower.

You can visit the huge room that hosts all the stock transactions in Eastern Canada. You can visit between 10 am and 3 pm when the activity is feverish. Opened Monday to Friday.

Montréal Insolite

Montréal Insolite

Chalet de la Montagne.

De la terrasse du Chalet de la Montagne on peut admirer une vue spectaculaire du Centre-ville. On peut y accéder de deux façons. En voiture par le Boul. Camillien Houde. Ou à pied par une série d’escaliers qui partent du coin de l’avenue des Pins et de la rue Peel.

Montréal Insolite

Suntanning at Place Ville Marie.

Suntanning at Place Ville Marie.

Underground City.

In downtown Montreal, there is a parallel underground city underground in the metro. Don’t miss it. There are several levels of shops, restaurants, bars, etc.

In fact, one could live for weeks in Montreal without ever seeing the light of day. This design is unique in the world.

The Montreal metro is the most beautiful in the world. And don’t miss it either. The metro leads directly to the Forum, Place des Arts, Central station and Windsor station, the bus terminus and to most department stores in the city centre. It also hosts numerous galleries of boutiques.

Montréal Insolite

For true night owls, here is a list of places that are open all night.

Discothèques

Le Tarot
St-Alexander & Mayor
(jusqu’à 6 heures, fin de semaine seulement)

L’Osstid’plass
3674 St-Denis,
(jusqu’à 6 heures tous les jours)

La Grande
77A Ste-Catherine Est
(jusqu’à 6 heures tous les jours)
clientèle masculine

Le Limelight
1254 Stanley.
(jusqu’à 6 heures tous les jours)
clientèle masculine

Montréal Insolite

Le Liquid Smoke
Décarie et Plamondon.
(jusqu’à 6 heures tous les jours)

Dans ces discothèques on ne vend que du café, et des liqueurs douces mais elles sont normalement remplies à craquer tous les jours après trois heures du matin. Toute la faune nocturne de Montréal s’y ramasse.

Restaurants

Dunn’s Délicatessen’s
892 Ste-Catherine ouest.

Montréal Insolite

Dankoff’s
1446 Peel

Le Louvre
Papineau et Ste-Catherine.

Le Tic Tac
Angle Langelier et Sherbrooke dans l’extrême est de Montréal.
Pour ceux qui désirent des journaux, des revues ou des livres, seule la Tabagie Laval est ouverte toute la nuit. Angle St-Christophe et Ste-Catherine.

Bains turcs, saunas, massages

Aquarius Sauna
1183 rue Crescent.
Ouvert 24 heures par jour. Sauna, massages. Pour hommes seulement

Sauna Neptune
456 ouest Lagauchetière
Ouvert 24 heures par jour. Piscine, gymnase, massage. Pour hommes seulement.

POLICE PROTECTION

Even if it’s Canada’s largest city, Montreal is probably the quietest city in North America. Unlike American cities you can walk anywhere, day or night, without any danger.

Policing is very well structured and extremely effective. In the city centre especially, rarely more than three minutes pass without seeing a patrol car.

On Crescent Street and in the Old Montreal, two dozen uniformed police officers are on duty all night long… in addition to all the specialized squads that send in a lot of staff.

Montréal Insolite

However, there’s another side to it. This police protection brings some disadvantages. The officers intercept many vehicles every night for identity verification purposes. When in doubt, they conduct a thorough search.

If you travel late at night, this may happen to you. In such cases do not get upset. It only takes a few minutes and if you have nothing to hide, you’ll be on your way shortly.

If you come to Montreal by car, beware of parking. According to some statistics, Montreal police are amongst the Canadian champions when it comes to handing out parking tickets. It’s better to use public car parks that abound in every corner of the metropolis.

The police often pay collective visits to nightclubs and discos. It even happens that some of these officers unsheathe their service weapons during the raids.

Do not worry, because even if at first these officers may look mean, they normally are very nice.

These collective visits are however very annoying for those who want to have fun because they can last more than an hour. Fortunately, they occur with less frequency as they give little results.

During these raids, about thirty policemen look around the place and order that the music be stopped and the lights be turned on. Then they proceed to verify the identity of all those present.

In the strict sense of the law, no one is forced to identify themselves in such circumstances. In order to compel a citizen to identify himself, the officer must have reasonable grounds to believe he has committed a crime and must in addition inform him that he has suspicions against him.

The only exception to this rule is when the citizen is driving a motor vehicle. In such case, you must show your papers right away.

In practice, however, it’s better to identify yourself when a police officer asks to do so. Otherwise it is almost certain that you will have to go to the nearby police station and verification may take a few hours.

If, however, it turns out that the police had no valid reason to bring you to the station and force you to identify yourself, you are free to take action for damages.

Generally, it is not safe to walk around the city without any piece of identification, although nothing in the law requires you to.
The best proof of identity since the law never issued official ID cards is still your driving license. If you don’t have one, your social insurance card or baptism certificate will do.

You are not allowed by the law to go into nightclubs if you are under the age of 18.

Montréal Insolite

Bottin de dépannage.
Si d’aventure, vous roulez trop longtemps en auto et que l’essence soit rendue à un niveau dangereux voici quelques stations-service qui sont ouvertes toute la nuit.

Adéodat Provost
1165 boul. Maisonneuve.

Station Esso
rue de La Montagne entre St-Antoine et Dorchester.

Station Esso
rue St-Hubert entre Dorchester et Ste-Catherine.

Station Esso
rue Jeanne-Mance entre Ste Catherine et Dorchester.

Station Fina
Lyall et Sherbrooke (extrême est)

Fina,
2350 Henri-Bourassa (nord)

Champlain,
Ontario et Delorimier.

If your car breaks down in the city center, please contact Garage Adéodat Provost, 527-1321. Towing service.

When we’re on vacation, we sometimes run into problems. And it even happens that these problems lead us directly to the courts. We strongly hope that you will not have to experience such an adventure. If you end up in prison after too exuberant a night, here is a list of the best criminal lawyers in Montreal. This list is far from complete and we apologize to lawyers we have forgotten.

If it is a minor case, you’ll probably have to show up in a municipal court. This court is located at the headquarters of the police: 750 Bonsecours Street, at the entrance of Old Montreal.

If it’s for a drug deal or another major crime, you will be brought to the Palais de Justice, 10 Craig Street E., in both places the court hearings occur on Saturday morning for late appearances only.

If you live in a location more than 50 miles from Montreal and you plead not guilty, the court will require a cash deposit for you to be released. Otherwise, you will probably be able to be released with a simple signature unless the Crown Attorney objects to your release and requests an investigation. In this case you will spend a short stay of three days in Parthenais prison.

If you could not hire a lawyer, do not worry too much as a member of the Legal Aid Bureau will contact you before your appearance and represent you in court.

Montréal Insolite

Aide juridique — 842-2233
Me Claude F. Archambeault — 845-9211
Me Robert Beaudet — 769-8527
Etude Légale Blais et Leithman —875-4240
Me Jacques Bertrand — 526-0851
Me Jacques Bédard — 843-8926
Me Jean Guy Boilard — 288-4241
Me Gilles Beaupré— 871-3856
Me Louis Cliche — 526-6621
Me Marcel Danis — 526-6621
Etude Légale Duguay et Salois —527-2101
Maurice S. Hébert — 288-2150
Me Léo-René Maranda — 842-6871
Me Serge Ménard — 288-4241
Me Norbert Losier — 844-2354
Me Michel Proulx — 866-7997
Etude Légale Roger et Pontbriand —849-2451
Etude Légale Shadley et Melançon —866-4043
Me Jean-Paul Ste-Marie — 931-6204
Etude Légale Frank Shoofey et Pierre Morneau — 527-9831
Me Nikita Tomesco — 844-8661
Etude Légale Yarosvsky et Fish —878-3505.

Sometimes we catch serious ailments abroad. In Montreal, it’s impossible to reach a doctor outside normal working hours unless you have a family doctor here.

In such cases, it’s better to go to any hospital emergency clinic. They are fully equipped and specialists there can provide care whatever state you are in.

Centre-ville

Hôpital Notre-Dame
rue Sherbrooke est, angle Plessis

Hôpital St-Luc
1058 St-Denis, 861-7321

Royal Victoria Hospital,
687 avenue des Pins
842-1251

Montreal General Hospital
1650 Ave Cedar,
937-6011

Dans l’Est

Hôpital Maisonneuve,
5415 Boul. L’Assomption
254-8341

Nord

Hôpital Sacré-Coeur
5400 boul. Gouin,
333-2222.

Drogue-secours
935-2515

Terre Des Hommes, Man And His World

Terre Des Hommes, Man And His World


TERRE DES HOMMES

In 1967, God … and the Mayor Jean Drapeau shook hands and created the EXPO islands from scratch. The project was an enormous success!

EXPO 67 will certainly be remembered as being the most successful exposition of all time. Since then, His Honour the Mayor of Montreal had another brilliant idea. Expo 67 was quickly transformed into Terre des Hommes and visitors continued to flock there.

Expo Islands are certainly the main tourist destinations of the metropolis. People come from all corners of the globe to admire this tribute to the science of man.

Everything has been said about Terre des Hommes.

So we will not talk too much about it! All that is left to say is that you must visit this place.

Besides, many guidebooks tell the wonders of this small paradise in the middle of the St. Lawrence River are available to visitors.

Montréal Insolite

LA RONDE

La Ronde is truly the Amusement Park for all citizens who live in the Montreal area. This is both a small Coney Island and a cool oasis reminiscent of the Copenhagen Tivoli.

One can find specialized establishments ranging from Western-style saloons to authentic Quebec places.

Wonderful small restaurants can be discovered on the Ste-Hélène Island that houses the serious side of Terre des Hommes.

Then there is the gyrotron, the big wheel and games to entertain the young as well as a funicular that allows you to see from the big tower.

On the weekends, La Ronde is teeming with activity.

THE GOVERNOR’S FEAST

In the Vieux Fort St. Helena, located on the island of the same name, there is a restaurant that takes you back three hundred years ago.

Every night at 6:30 ET 9:30, the governor gives an authentic Quebecois feast. This is an adventure not be missed.

Montréal Insolite

At the feast, everything happens with great solemnity but in a surprisingly cheerful atmosphere.

It is an old piper that recalls a distant Bretagne that welcomes visitors. At the entrance, visitors are offered a glass of caribou and the governor makes his proclamation.

In the great hall, the Captain reigns supreme and directs his waitresses with an iron fist in a velvet glove.

You are served an excellent vegetable cream, the house shepherd pie, chicks with maple syrup that melt in the mouth and good glasses of red wine.

For dessert, along with the sugar pie, you get an excellent teacup and a good sapinette digestive.

Throughout the dinner, waitresses sing drinking songs.

It normally cost about 15$ per person. Which is very little for an unforgettable evening.

However, it is essential to make a reservation by calling 866-1267 since the Feast of the Governor is very popular.

Typographie
Imprimerie Dumont
Ville LaSalle

Impression aux ateliers de Payette et Simms
St-Lambert

Le 18 juin 1974

An alternative guide to 1974 Montreal: Montréal Insolite, pt. 1  
 Blue Metropolis: Montreal 1975 / 2015 discussion

Leave a Comment

Comments

  1. John
    Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
    Question - what was the name of bar before Ziggy's on Crescent. Street.
    • David McCarthy
      Friday, June 19th, 2020
      The Wrong Number
  2. Marvin
    Sunday, July 9th, 2017
    There was as Italian Resto on Cote Des Neiges near the now Metro with a large water fountain. What was it called?
    • Casey
      Tuesday, October 9th, 2018
      Chez Vito
    • thomas szirmay
      Friday, December 4th, 2020
      Paesano
  3. Richard Skelly
    Sunday, December 10th, 2017
    Well done. This definitely captures the era.

    As a West Coaster, I spent summer ‘74 taking French Immersion at the University Of Montreal. Program leaders Chantal Massinon and Pierre Nadeau included a visit to local restaurants in the curriculum. I’m pretty sure Le Gobelet was on the list. After hours, I remember great nights at Cafe Campus soaking up sounds from artists such as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

    I arrived a few weeks before the course to better soak up the city’s cultural ambience. One of my local guides was Liam Mullan. Arguably Canada’s greatest record promo man of that era, he had recently relocated from Vancouver, but knew Montreal well.

    That summer also featured a huge outdoor anti-Vietnam War event with Jane Fonda as a featured speaker. Rounding things out, day or night, was superb bilingual rock radio, courtesy of CHOM.

    Plus there was an unforgettable open air concert pairing Joni Mitchell with French chanteuse Veronique Sanson. Joni was backed up by Tom Scott and the LA Express. While Sanson performed, I briefly chatted with Veronique’s then-husband Stephen Stills. He popped up by the mid-field mixing board to ensure technicians made adjustments for his new spouse’s unique voice.

    Again, salut to this site’s curators for using text and photos to bring to life a very special year in Montreal.
  4. Richard Skelly
    Sunday, December 31st, 2017
    Since commenting December 10, I learned Chantal Massinon passed away in 1999. As a French language instructor, she was nonpareil. My classroom time with this woman extraordinaire helped me navigate Montreal during the rest of summer of ‘74 and a subsequent trip. A loving reminiscence of Chantal, posted by friend Anne Aucy, survives at par4chemins.free.fr

    Au revoir, Chantal.

    Richard Skelly
    rockinrichskelly@yahoo.com
  5. Holly Avila
    Sunday, July 1st, 2018
    If you hung out in Le Vieux Montreal that summer, I was the American hippie woman singing on the streets with my Quebec Quoi girl friend. I wrote a song that summer that is on my CD, Mountains Back Home, and I'm writing my memoirs from that summer, since I kept a journal at the time. I would love any photos from those years, particularly of the Iroquois Hotel, where I often stayed. hollyavila.com
    • Mary
      Tuesday, October 16th, 2018
      Hi Carole,
      I sure do remember, having spend most of my (underage then) evenings there for 2 years and so. It was very special, roomy for dance, aery with its two floors height, and the crowd was really nice.
      I think the address was 1226 Stanley.
      But in mémories it seem to have been shadowed by the close bu Lime Light... Which I never liked as much.
      Many friendships there... I wonder were every one is gone.
      Hope live have been good to you. :)
  6. Carole
    Saturday, September 15th, 2018
    Does anybody remember the Lorelei dance hall on Santly st. ..?
    • Mary
      Tuesday, October 16th, 2018
      Mary
      Tuesday, October 16th, 2018
      Hi Carole,
      I sure do remember, having spend most of my (underage then) evenings there for 2 years and so. It was very special, roomy for dance, aery with its two floors height, and the crowd was really nice.
      I think the address was 1226 Stanley.
      But in mémories it seem to have been shadowed by the close bu Lime Light... Which I never liked as much.
      Many friendships there... I wonder were every one is gone.
      Hope live have been good to you. :)
    • Edith
      Monday, December 31st, 2018
      Yes! I used to go there all the time in the mid-70s when I was 18 or so. Loved dancing there.
      • Vittorio
        Friday, February 24th, 2023
        I never saw you!
    • Casey M
      Thursday, February 18th, 2021
      Yep wasn't called Loreleight right next to Limelight... One of my first underage clubes I frequented. Is was a open 2 floor club, huge Dance floor in the center, Band at the end. Second floor, here was tables all around onto opened flor!
    • Mary and Kim
      Tuesday, November 1st, 2022
      Sure Carole, I loved so much the place and ambiance.
      We were underage, then but we spend night there nearly all week long for 2 years or so. A lovely and very special place, very unusual and 70"... And I knew nearly all the regulars customers. I wish I have kept contact, or at least have some pictures.
    • Vittorio
      Friday, February 24th, 2023
      Nop.... but I recall the Muspateque. Crescent St.
    • Vittorio
      Friday, February 24th, 2023
      Hi Carole,
      Do you remember the fellow who walked Crescent ST in the company of a dack and a cat?
  7. Vicki, Chicago, IL
    Monday, November 12th, 2018
    Hi! I passed through Montreal in the summer of '74 and have always wondered where I stayed. My girlfriend and I were backpacking and we met a student who invited us back to his dorm downtown. It was a high rise and there were police outside but we walked in no problem. Inside we were able to buy and smoke marijuana freely. We appreciated the hospitality. Any idea what school that was?
    • Steve
      Monday, February 4th, 2019
      Sounds like YMCA on Stanley street
  8. Barbara Farnham
    Tuesday, June 16th, 2020
    Trying to find a magazine type information for my brother who worked at Le Gobelet in the 70 's
    Les dernieres annee de le Gobelet
    • Vittorio
      Friday, February 24th, 2023
      Do you remember the fellow who walked Crescent ST in the company of a dack and a cat?
  9. Celine
    Thursday, April 8th, 2021
    Quels souvenirs! Merci!
  10. Win
    Monday, September 6th, 2021
    Does anyone remember the restaurant La Tour Eiffel on rue Stanley . There was a wonderful chanteuse from Guadeloupe who sang beautiful songs and played guitar. Wish I could recall her name.
  11. Alexander MacDonald
    Thursday, May 5th, 2022
    Looking for the name of the mall that eventually morphed into Eaton centre.
    Octagonal split level with lots of sets of stairs . A truly confusing place.
    Roughly where 750-800 Ste Catherine o
    Thanks! Alex
    • Christine
      Monday, July 4th, 2022
      The shopping Center before it became The Eaton Centre was called ‘Les Terrace’
      - as you described it - it was multiple floors - rather confusing to navigate I must say. I once found a purse I really liked and went back the next week to purchase it and never found the store again lol.
      In the basement level they had a mini Julip ( big orange - just like the one on Decarie Blvd) where they sold Orange Julip!
    • Lesley
      Sunday, July 10th, 2022
      "Les Terrasses" from 1976–1987.
  12. David Blakely
    Thursday, February 2nd, 2023
    It's amazing there are no photos of Chez Georges that was on Stanley Street until 1990 (My favourite restaurant from '71). An amazing venue where beautiful people met and icons of Quebec like Rene Levesque dropped by.
  13. Vittorio
    Friday, February 24th, 2023
    Le Carmen
    2061 Stanley, 288-8424.
    Café-expresso.
    On y sert une nourriture hongroise et européenne.
    Plusieurs variétés de café. Prix très raisonnables.

    And women were also très raisonnables!!!…………..

    V.
  14. Vittorio
    Friday, February 24th, 2023
    Nop.... but I recall the Muspateque. Crescent St.
  15. M.Dworkind
    Sunday, April 16th, 2023
    Thanks a very nostalgic journey.
    Nothing stays the same?
  16. neil stone
    Wednesday, July 12th, 2023
    thanks for the rip if you were downtown in the 70's 80's we met
  17. John Lea
    Friday, September 8th, 2023
    There was an Italian restaurant on Ogilvy Avenue next to CTV station, what was the name
  18. Jub
    Sunday, August 18th, 2024
    Wonderful site! Brought back memories when I used to work in the Sunlife Building.

    What was the name of the restaurant across from the old Forum in the 70’s that had pictures of hockey players on the walls?