Glitzy girls’ weekend in Montréal

For the best kind of girls’ getaway, you need a simple yet essential list of ingredients: 1) No men; 2) Lots of pampering; 3) Great spots to gab (and laugh like idiots); 4) Amazing food and drinks; and 5) Chocolate. Lots of chocolate. You’re in luck: Montréal has got it all, against the backdrop of an incredibly culture-rich city you’ll fall in love with for all kinds of other reasons too.

SATURDAY

Brunching

There’s nothing better to get the weekend rolling than brunch, and Montréal knows brunch. Choose from a sophisticated menu (tipples included) at Le Comptoir on St-Laurent or a heartier eggs-n-bacon style selection at Fabergé (try the breakfast poutine!) in Mile End – and did we mention the gazillion options downtown? If you’re in Old Montreal, let the gabbing begin at Le Cartet, a beautiful space on McGill Avenue that serves punchy coffee, delicious mimosas and a dish that involves crêpes topped with fruit coulis and nut-and-maple French with apple butter and blueberries, plus a bowl of homemade granola. Whaaa? Yes.

Learning

Oh, chocolate, how we love thee. One of the funnest things to do in Montréal is learn stuff – you really know a trip will stay with you forever when you return home with a new skill. Learn how to mix the perfect cocktail at Ateliers et Saveurs, how to make fresh pasta at Mezza Luna, or how to make sweet creations at master pâtissier and chocolatier HQ Maison Christian Faure. Generally held on Saturdays and 6-hours long, the Serious Amateur workshops at the Maison will teach you how to master French macarons, Vienoisseries or picture-perfect chocolates. You can imagine the tasting that happens at this sort of thing, so make sure you show up hungry!

Relaxing

Take a look at that view of the St. Lawrence River and say aaaah. There are few viewpoints that will give you a better sense of the heart of Montréal than the one from the Bota-Bota dry sauna, or the outdoor hot tub, particularly spectacular in winter. But that’s just one of Montréal’s many excellent spas; how about a rejuvenating soak in the beautiful water circuit of the nearby Spa Scandinave? Or an expert massage at Strøm Spa on Île-des-Soeurs? Talk about getting another perspective on the city…

Dining

For a (loud) good time, Communion is a spirited restaurant that presides over the corner of De la Commune and Place Royale, where the menu (seared duck breast, anyone?) is accompanied by cocktails like the Communion Maitai: a delectable mix of rum, Triple Sec, pineapple juice and Orgeat syrup. A more elegant evening awaits at Pastaga, a handsome haven in Little Italy where French delights and great wines rule. Think Spanish at Bocata, a warm-blooded spot where glasses clink over vast charcuterie platters – or how about a British romp in the restored 1927 pub Dominion Square Tavern? (Scotch eggs included.)

SUNDAY

Primping

Last night go to your head? You’ll feel like you’re in the lap of luxury on pretty Victoria Street, in Westmount, especially at a morning primping session at Victoria Park Spa, one of the city’s many options for a restorative makeover. The spa at Hotel Le St. James is a lovely place to get pampered in Old Montréal, and if you prefer to explore the Plateau, Espace Nomad is a beautiful (and recently expanded) spot with a nice selection of facial treatment and mani-pedi stations fit for a group. Speaking of nails, the choices are endless in Montréal – the world is at your fingertips!

Lunching

Conveniently located right downstairs from the Victoria Park Spa, Park is easily Montreal’s most renowned restaurant, and the ideal pace for a girl hangout that lasts for hours. Order a special sashimi platter (and a round of sake cocktails). More in a veggie mood? Go beyond veggie burgers at Chu Chai, a chic Thai spot on elegant St-Denis that serves mock meat that’ll fool even carnivores. Middle Eastern food is excellent in Montréal, as is French food (obviously): grab a table by the window at Chez Lévesque, on tony Laurier Avenue in Outremont, for a truly elevating lunch experience.

Shopping

Now, you may have heard of Old Montréal being touristy – that it is, but it’s also the go-to spot for locals and travellers alike to find incredible fashion by designers from Montréal and beyond. Strewn among the knickknack stores are style havens like UI (for good-looking winter coats and international designer ware), SSENSE (home to high-end minimalism), Espace Pépin (boho chic at its best) and Le Rhinocéros, a super fun store inside the Phi Centre, ripe with glitzy accessories and indie finds by local geniuses.

Celebrating

There are many, many places to clink glasses in Montréal, but few places do bubbles as well as La Champagnerie. Located in Old Montréal on a cobblestone street (beware, stiletto-wearers!), this hopping bar has a bubbly menu that offers over 100 labels. The nearby Flyjin is another cool pit-stop, filled with lively energy, flowing cocktails and reinvented Japanese cuisine. When you’re ready to turn the party up a notch, check out these shake-your-booty spots, or just chance it at New City Gas – there’s always fun happening under (and on) that roof!