The Carré Saint-Louis (also known as St. Louis Square) is one of Montréal's most literary streetscapes. Famed Québecois poets Émile Nelligan and Gaston Miron called this home. Brightly painted Victorian/Second Empire greystone rowhouses line the square--one of the best leafy spaces in the city. (It's been called "the closest thing to a European neighborhood square you'll find this side of the Atlantic" by the Project for Public Spaces.) A few blocks away is the fabled 'Schwartz's Deli;' grab a 'smoked-meat' to go, then come here to chow down by the fountain, surrounded by trees and 19th-century façades... (nearest subway: Sherbrooke station on the Orange Line)

For years I’ve seen this traditional deli featured on travel and food shows and I couldn’t believe I was there in person, ordering the classic lunch of smoked meat on rye with mustard and a side of fries. The Cherry Coke was thrown in for good measure. If you’re expecting a New York style sandwich though, you’ll be surprised by what is actually brought to the table. At their roots, the Montreal smoked meat and NYC pastrami are similar; both are kosher deli meats made by salting and curing beef brisket with a variety of spices. The Montreal version though isn’t as sweet as the New York version and uses more aromatic spices than they do in the Five Boroughs. The presentation is pretty similar with the Montreal meat having a slightly thicker cut. So what about the taste? The Montreal smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s was delicious, but shouldn’t be compared with cured meat in other parts of the world. What I enjoyed that day is not a derivative, it is it’s own tasty category and visitors should keep that in mind when they enter the crowded deli.

The best hot chocolate in Montreal. The list of 27 single origin Cacao Barry chocolate choices is very impressive! The way the hot chocolates are offered is quite interesting as well. You choose a chocolate from the list ranging from 29% white chocolate to 100% dark, with all the ranges in between. It comes to your table melted in a big cup with a side of hot chocolate “base” in dark, medium or light chocolate. You add as much of the base to your melted chocolate to make it the consistency you prefer. http://willtravelforfood.com/2011/10/18/montreal-best-hot-chocolate-cacao-70/

A city on an island with a mountain in the middle--along with its compelling geography, Montréal's multicultural past and present make it one of the most fascinating urban destinations in North America. (After Paris, Montréal is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world; as a visitor, though, you can mostly get by in English.) From the top of Mont Royal (the city's namesake), you get this view over downtown and the St. Lawrence River. F.L. Olmstead (the same guy who designed New York's Central Park), laid out the public park that includes 'the Mountain,' the city's forested and hilly heart... More about the park: http://montreal.com/parks/mtroyal.html

For every chocoholic out there, trust me on this one. When in Montreal you must go to Juliette & Chocolat! Hot or cold, white or milk, every dish is served with origin and vintage chocolates.I have tried sundaes, crepes and fondue and none of them have proven to disappoint. There are three locations and open all week till 11pm. There may be a line to get seated but it's time worth waiting.

Do as the locals do and head underground to get around. Taxis are expensive. Take the metro; it's so easy! My sister and I were recently exploring Montreal. To avoid paying for cabs, we both purchased a day pass on the metro for $8 each. It was worth the price and we were able to get around the city during a snow fall. The pass is valid on the buses as well.

Montreal is a wonderful city and the Bixi bike sharing system (http://montreal.bixi.com/) allows one to venture further and see other parts of the city. As the sun set, the Palais comes alive at night providing a glowing example of modern architecture not far from the Vieux Montreal area.

Formerly a members-only spot, this is now the place where old Italians and young hipsters meet for expertly pulled espressos and a seat in a sunlit window. 180 rue Saint-Viateur Ouest, (514) 495-0114. More in Montreal:Drawn & Quarterly, an influential graphic novel publisher and retail shopDHC/Art, witty contemporary art  Photo by Alexi Hobbs. Read more about Matt Gross’s trip to Montreal.

If you’re hungry, broke and around Mont Royal neighborhood, you should definitely head to PatatiPatata. Pata what? A tiny, bright colored place located in the corner of Rue Rachel and Blvd. St Laurent. Patati Patata is famous for its amazing and cheap sandwiches, poutines, hamburguers and salads. You can get good Canadian comfort food for less than 5 bucks; super nice staff included! Do I need to say more? Oh yeah I do, since its super small try to avoid peak hours, or just be patient and wait for a spot…but its so worth it!

Came here on a blustery day in February--too cold outside so we took refuge inside the empty cathedral. For such a grey day outdoors, the saturated colors of the church's interiors were very welcome.

Head to "Le Village Gay" on Montreal's famous Saint Catherine Street. You will walk under colorful bulbs for over a mile, enjoy al fresco dining and drinks, and great culture.

We came upon this wall art on a building as we were walking home from Schwartz's Deli- where they have the absolute BEST smoked meat in the world! I think she was crying because we hadn't brought her anything to eat!

Possibly the most important and influential publishers of graphic novels in the last 20 years, Drawn & Quarterly has a must-visit shop in the cool Mile End neighborhood. It sells work from the extensive D&Q catalog (which includes Joe Sacco, Lynda Barry, and Adrian Tomine) and from other publishers. Check out 184 Rue Beaubien by local graphic artist Cyril Doisneau. 211 rue Bernard Ouest, (514) 279-2224, drawnandquarterly.com. More in Montreal:Club Social, a lively caféDHC/Art, witty contemporary art  Photo by Alexi Hobbs. Read more about Matt Gross’s trip to Montreal. 

Madre restaurant is good at any time but their brunches are definitely some of the best in the city. The poached eggs & chorizo bubbles with caramelized onions and the french toast are delicious! http://willtravelforfood.com/2010/12/08/best-brunch-in-montreal-madre/

Poutine is the stuff of legends, much to the chagrin of many Canadians. It is the one food non-Canadians seem to know the most about and a snack of this heavy dish is at the top of the list for most visitors to Montreal. Even though it can be found throughout Canada, poutine got its start in Quebec back in the 1950s and truly is a collage, some would say train wreck, of ingredients. The classic recipe is simple really: french fries topped with brown gravy and curd cheese. But this simple explanation really doesn’t do it justice. Like many other comfort foods poutine may not be the healthiest dish but there is just something satisfying about the experience. I love sharing a big bowl amongst friends, each armed with a fork scouting out the best fries and melty cheese curds as the gravy drips drop by drop into the bowl below. There are a thousand varieties of poutine, including BBQ, lobster and even foie gras, but there’s nothing like the simple original version.

In the middle of Montréal, walking up Avenue McGill College toward 'the Mountain,' you can't help but run into the 65-person-polyurethane-sculpture "La Foule Illuminée" ("The Illuminated Crowd"). Sculpted by Franco-British artist Raymond Mason, this public art has stood in front of the BNP/Laurentian Bank Tower since the mid-1980's. In the words of the artist: “A crowd has gathered, facing a light, an illumination brought about by a fire, an event, an ideology – or an ideal. The strong light casts shadows, and as the light moves toward the back and diminishes, the mood degenerates; rowdiness, disorder and violence occur, showing the fragile nature of man. Illumination, hope, involvement, hilarity, irritation, fear, illness, violence, murder and death – the flow of man’s emotion through space.” Get up close, eye-to-eye with some of the nose-to-nose details, and you'll see why this sculpture still generates both controversy and bemusement in the middle of this vibrant city.

This salad and so many of Hotel Herman's dishes make it one of the best restaurants in Montreal these days. Read my full review here: http://willtravelforfood.com/2012/08/09/hotel-herman-montreal-restaurant/