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Rue Sainte-Catherine

3.6 (44 reviews)

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Hudson Bay department store.
Robert S.

A street brimming with history, culture and commerce: Montréal's legendary Sainte-Catherine Street has many stories, stores, restaurants and residents. From west to east, Sainte-Catherine Street stretches 11 kilometres (9 miles) across the city. It is Montréal's main commercial artery and one of North America's longest and liveliest, for good reason. From Saint-Laurent Boulevard, going west, the street is home to the major department stores, an array of boutiques, restaurants and several shopping centers. Out the other way is a mix of boutiques, nightlife hotspots, cafés, theatre venues and more. From the great festivals to sidewalk sales to red carpet events, there's always something happening along Sainte-Catherine! No less than nine metro stations serve this busy street that winds its way through residential neighborhoods, the Quartier des spectacles and the downtown core. And with the ever-growing number of office towers close by, Sainte-Catherine Street offers easy access to the Underground Pedestrian Network. Sainte-Catherine Street has been the pride of Montréal for over a century. Towards the end of the 19th century, English merchants began to set up shop along Sainte-Catherine Street West. Philips Square saw the arrival of notable department stores the likes of Henry Morgan and Co. (now the Hudson's Bay building), Birks Jewellers in 1894, then Eaton's in 1927 and Simpson not long behind. Today, a diverse mix of patrimonial architecture combines with modern-day utility, making the street a prime shopping and entertainment destination. On the other hand, the traditionally francophone Sainte-Catherine Street East developed with industry in the 1870s. It became a commercial artery towards the end of the 19th century, with ground-floor shops in residential buildings making way for large stores. To this, add a host of entertainment venues, cinemas and theaters that keep Sainte-Catherine Street East hopping to this day. It crosses many buildings of the Concordia University so it is full of restaurants for the young like Ramen, Korean BBQ, pizza, dumplings, tacos, pizza, etc. A fun street whichever section you decide to focus on.

Denise W.

Rue Sainte-Catherine is the main street that runs east and west through downtown. This is also one of the bigger and busier street. There are many restaurants along this street. The street also cut through Quartier des Spectacles. The street is extra wide and certain sections of the street are not meant for cars to drive through. Definitely a tourist street for sure.

Entrance to Just for Laughs comedy festival
Mary T.

Rue Sainte-Catherine runs east-west through downtown Montreal. I was recently hanging out on Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest. I didn't have a chance to go Est! There are a ton of stores. I managed to squeeze in Miniso, Best Buy, and Starbucks in on my last night in Montreal before heading to the Just For Laughs comedy festival. This festival shuts down a good chunk of this street. It was cool to walk along it and not deal with traffic, which can be atrocious! It's a good area to shop and dine. I had dinner at Biiru that evening, which is just off this street. It was fabulous. Before I left to drive back home, I visited the Royal Bank on this street. I liked that I simply walked a block from my hotel and had everything that I needed. Of note, this section of the street is currently under construction. (326)

You can play chess on the street with these giant chess pieces (on rue Sainte Catherine, close to St. Laurent).
Jennifer P.

Rue Sainte Catherine (St. Catherine St) is the main east-west street in Montreal. Most of the action I'd say is between Guy and St. Laurent. Along this stretch, you will find lots of stores and restaurants. The street reminds me a bit of Yonge Street in Toronto, but it's obviously not as long. St. Catherine between Guy and St. Laurent reminds me of Yonge St between Bloor and Wellington. Retailers are mostly big chains. Restaurants are a mix of chains and independents, but more of the former than the latter. The street is always busy, and at night it is full of loud drunk university kids. Also, since the legal drinking age in Quebec is 18, in the summer the street is filled with 18 year old American tourists, lol. St. Catherine is not my favourite street to take a stroll. I prefer wandering around on St. Laurent or Duluth or St. Paul, but it's where a lot of the action is, so depends on what you're looking for.

The Pink balls that are hung above the street
Thea H.

I mainly walked Rue Sainte-Catherine after seeing photos on Instagram of the Pink Balls which is in the Montréal Gay Village during the summer season. Seeing all of the photos online of it, I knew I had to see it in person during my one day in Montréal. I was pretty dumb because I somehow thought it was a short distance from my hotel (man was i wrong) I was staying at Delta Montréal and it was a good 6 km round trip (granted I wandered a little to take photographs of the art on the side of streets and buildings). Besides being a long walk, the display of the pink balls over Rue Sainte-Catherine is really unique and picturesque. The only downside was I would get a lot of people walking up to me talking to me in French - which I do not speak. Therefore I sort of got a little paranoid while walking because I was by myself and do not speak French. I didn't see many souvenir shops unfortunately and only spotted one along the Rue. Most of the road further down after you pass Quartier Des Spectacles - you come to an area surrounded by bars mainly and some restaurants which was nice to see along the route. Overall, I'd say it's worth to see the Pink Balls - then I'd see if you could head to Quartier Des Spectacles to see some music or what not since that was where most people were when I was in Montréal that day.

Rue Sainte-Catherine
Richard S.

Definitely the high rent district. All the upscale stores are located here. The street is lined with flags of countries from around the world.

PatrickJ T.

Rue Sainte-Catherine is one of the more popular streets in Montreal. We took a nice long walk along its route. When we reached the sketchy area we turned back to the more touristy area. Like any other street in a large city, this street has it's good areas and not so good areas. Best to stick to the main part with all the nice shops and restaurants, if you are a tourist. That's all I've got to say.

During the summer it is closed to vehicular traffic
Amy S.

It may not be Oxford Street or Carnaby Street, but its still someplace that if you like shopping you'll want to check out. For anyone else, it is a great central location where if you can find Rue Sainte-Catherine, you can find your way anyplace else in the city. That's what I used it for. Whilst I love shopping, these are the same stores that I can find anyplace else and so I used it more as a compass point to navigate the rest of the city. I did like that the portion from Rue Berri to Rue Papineau is shut down to vehicular traffic and so becomes a pedestrian mall with restaurant patios spilling out onto the street and festivals taking over the road. Make this one of your first stops in the city if you're a tourist and you'll be able to find your way around just fine!

Christmas decorations!

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1 year ago

Great street just above the Underground City in the heart of Montreal. Lots of wonderful places to eat, drink, and shop.

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15 years ago

It's here, In this street that I spend lots of funny time during my trip ! lots of bar ! really cool stuff !

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Rue Sainte-Catherine Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Rue Sainte-Catherine

Catherine Street (now officially rue Sainte-Catherine) is the main street for all your entertainment needs when you are in downtown Montreal.

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Ville Souterraine RESO / Underground City - Inside

Ville Souterraine RESO / Underground City

3.4(69 reviews)
0.5 kmVille-Marie

RESO, also called the Underground City, is a network of interconnected tunnels in downtown Montreal…read morethat house a variety of attractions. I've seen something like this similar in Houston, partly for people to escape the heat - so I'm assuming RESO is a way to escape the cold Montreal winters. RESO has evolved to somewhat of a tourist spot; it wasn't on the top of my to-do list but I had some time before heading to the airport and figured it would be a good place to check out. I think RESO has a lot going for it - part of its infrastructure is attached to the Metro, so it's easily accessible once you get off a station. The network contains a decent variety of shopping and dining, though from a food perspective most of the options are quick-service; if you're looking for something sit-down you should look elsewhere. Shopping is typical mall offerings, and they also have a lot of seating areas. Since part of RESO's function is to protect from the cold, I can see people utilizing this as a place to convene. Overall, RESO was just fine. It's confusing to navigate, and I'm sure I didn't see all of it - so a return visit may be warranted. It's not at the top of my list, though, as I feel there are more exciting things to see as a tourist in Montreal.

Google's location for the Underground City took us to Centre Eaton, which is technically part of…read moreit, but not the whole thing. Centre Eaton is good for shopping. The World Trade Center is better for sightseeing. The information center gave me this map. It was so freaking helpful.

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Ville Souterraine RESO / Underground City - Inside

Inside

Ville Souterraine RESO / Underground City
Ville Souterraine RESO / Underground City

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Quartier des Spectacles - Skating Rink in center city

Quartier des Spectacles

4.9(12 reviews)
1.2 kmVille-Marie

Every time I spend time in Montreal, I go to the Quartier des Spectacles because most Ville Marie…read morefestivals take place in this area. In the summer, it's pedestrian only on the area right around St Catherine, so it's easy to get around on foot and see all the stages and sights. The present-day Quartier des spectacles largely overlaps the site of Montreal's former Red Light district, whose history extends back to the beginning of the 19th century. Between the 1920s and the start of the 1960s, the neighborhood was home to an impressive number of cabarets that headlined famous artists. Montreal garnered a reputation as a fun-loving city, and tourists started to arrive in great numbers. The American Prohibition (1920-1933) increased Montreal's popularity, but also created conditions that led to the growth of organized crime, prostitution and illegal gaming houses. It is during this time that the neighborhood was christened the Red Light district. Beginning in the 1950s, professional theatre started to take hold.... in this neighborhood, the new energy took shape in the construction of Place des Arts, the metro system (three stations service the Quartier) and in the establishment of Hydro-Québec's headquarters. The following decade was marked by the building of Complexe Desjardins, which spurred commercial activity in the area, and the campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal, a university founded on the values of the democratization of knowledge and culture. In 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival presented outdoor concerts in the neighborhood for the first time. The natural vibrancy of the downtown area along with the many empty lots supported the proliferation and expansion of festivals over the years. Important cultural events became one of the Quartier's motors and one of the principal attractions of the city for tourists and locals alike.

There is so much going on at the Quartier des Spectacles especially on a weekend or even on…read moreweeknights. You will find a lot of tourist in the area. We arrived on a Tuesday night to Montreal and because we were staying 13 mins walk from Quartier des Spectacles, we came here for a visit. We didn't expect that there would be performance happening at night in the center of Quartier des Spectacles (near Desjardin Complex). At the Quartier des Spectacles, you will find a lot of restaurants and as mentioned before the entrance to the beginning of the Underground Tunnel is located at Desjardin Complex. This part of the city is quite busy after 10 am to 11 pm. Places des Art is also located smack center at the Quartier des Spectacles for those who wants to watch any live orchestral performances. https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/fr/carte/#places-publiques-animees

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Quartier des Spectacles - Seasonal market

Seasonal market

Quartier des Spectacles
Quartier des Spectacles - Seasonal market

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Seasonal market

Ville de Montréal - On Peel just north of Notre Dame.

Ville de Montréal

4.2(36 reviews)
0.3 kmVille-Marie

One of the friendliest cities I have ever visited. I love the mix of French and English cultures…read moreand architectures. Throughout the year, there are always festivals and cultural events. Not to mention the great restaurants and cafes all over. The French culture brings great bakeries (Pâtisseries) all over the city, from local chains to small mom-and-pop stores. The past few years, there have been more and more pedestrian areas for people to enjoy the businesses without the hassle of car traffic. A city for all seasons.

What a great city! So much food, art, and culture to enjoy. Centre Bell is such a wonderful…read moreplace to see hockey and the views from Mount Royal and the Biodome to view animal habitats were unmatched experiences as well. Montreal is a city that is quite bilingual although some neighborhoods are more francophone and others more anglophone. The modern areas as well as the old city are worth seeing. In fact it even beat London, DC, Chicago, and Seattle as our favorite city once we went but that got surpassed by Quebec City. Be sure to go to both

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Ville de Montréal - The often photographed French Second Empire rowhouses off Square-St.-Louis, possibly analogous to San Francisco's "Painted Ladies."

The often photographed French Second Empire rowhouses off Square-St.-Louis, possibly analogous to San Francisco's "Painted Ladies."

Ville de Montréal - On the Plateau and looking up to Parc Mont-Royal and the Croix de Maisonneuve, one of the cool kids in the bike lane is giving me the V sign

On the Plateau and looking up to Parc Mont-Royal and the Croix de Maisonneuve, one of the cool kids in the bike lane is giving me the V sign

Ville de Montréal - Just off Rue Sherbrooke and north of Berri-UQAM, these are true urban townhouses as opposed to those flats with quirky curved outside stairs

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Just off Rue Sherbrooke and north of Berri-UQAM, these are true urban townhouses as opposed to those flats with quirky curved outside stairs

Vieux-Port de Montréal - 6.21.2025

Vieux-Port de Montréal

4.3(128 reviews)
1.3 kmVille-Marie

Vieux-Port de Montréal, or the Old Port, is part of the Vieux-Montréal area of the city. Along with…read morethe adjacent area that's filled with shops and restaurants, this is one of the top destinations for tourists visiting the city. There's a lot to see and do here; the promenade is quite long, and is filled with great views of the water and surrounding architecture. One of the main focal points here is La Grande Roue de Montréal - a large Ferris wheel that sits right on the water's edge. Additionally, there are carnival rides, food trucks, ziplining, and a beach that's open seasonally. Since I was there in autumn, most of the attractions and beach areas were closed for the season. It was still a great experience though because there were clear views of the water and foliage in the background. I also found myself sitting, people watching, and soaking in the aesthetics. No matter what time of the year, though, it's definitely worth stopping here during your time in Montreal.

During our last visit, we spent some time just relaxing and hanging out around the Old Port. My…read morehusband and stepson got on the ferris wheel (La Grande Roue de Montréal) and had a great time, being able to see far from atop. The tickets were $28CAN per adult. There are also places to rent paddle boats and many benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. There are food trucks in one area of the Old Port and shops in another section A great place, day or night to hang out and people watch...

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Vieux-Port de Montréal
Vieux-Port de Montréal
Vieux-Port de Montréal

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Vieux-Montréal - Fountain next to City Hall

Vieux-Montréal

4.4(94 reviews)
1.5 kmVille-Marie

Vieux-Montréal, or Old Montreal, is one of the top tourist destinations in the city. A hub for…read moreshopping, dining, recreation, and scenery, I found myself here multiple times during my trip soaking in the aesthetics. The majority of attractions line Rue Saint-Paul; you can spend a fair amount of time browsing the shops or grabbing a bite to eat. One of the biggest attractions here is the Notre-Dame Basilica, as well as the Old Port which has several carnival rides, food trucks, and a beach. The area is also filled with historical architecture, monuments, and statues. I noticed they offer walking tours of the area if you are into that, but I opted to explore on my own. One of my favorite features of Vieux-Montréal is the fact that some of the streets are closed off to cars, so you can stroll along with peace of mind. Definitely take the time to visit here, especially if it's your first time in the city.

"Walking slow down the avenue Through my old neighborhood"…read more(Jackson Browne) Old Montreal is just a fantastic place to experience It's the oldest neighborhood of the city (1642) and is world renowned for its cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and European charm. Key landmarks include the Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market, the Old Port, and Pointe-à-Callière Museum. There must be hundreds of statues, memorials, monuments, and pieces of public art on every corner. As for shopping and dining, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a better city for that. Boutiques, artisan shops, patisseries, restaurants, galleries, and cafes are everywhere. We had a crepe lunch at Chez Suzette, breakfasts at La Fabrique de Bagel and Le Petit Dep, a Polish dinner at Stash Café, and a late snack of coffee and pastries at a different Le Petit Dep. The quality of the food, and the smiling welcoming staff was consistently high wherever we went. Old Montreal is clean, safe, and devoid of panhandlers or vagrants. As we walked through the streets and visited the shops in Old Montreal, it was very cool to listen to all of the different languages being spoken -English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Lord knows what else. Merci and Au Revoir Montreal, we had a wonderful visit.

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Vieux-Montréal - Fountain next to City Hall

Fountain next to City Hall

Vieux-Montréal - Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)_Yelp_Sanju-5

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)_Yelp_Sanju-5

Vieux-Montréal - The fountain next to City Hall

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The fountain next to City Hall

The Illuminated Crowd

The Illuminated Crowd

5.0(2 reviews)
0.3 kmVille-Marie

There's a Yelp entry for The Illuminated Crowd? I feel that Art is un-ratable, but not everyone…read morefeels this way, for example, my middle school art teacher who gave me a poor grade on my papier-mâché masterpiece (and in essence deterred me from going into The Arts. That's ok, I think I serve the world better as a scientist than as an artist anyway). But enough about my artistic potential or lack thereof, let's get back to this art installation. So The Illuminated Crowd is apparently the most photographed piece of public art in Montreal. The sculptor is Raymond Mason and material is resin. It was created in 1985. It's a crowd of people, and at the front it looks like everyone is staring and focusing on something in the distance, and as you go towards the back of the sculpture, things start to degenerate and people start attacking each other and some are on the ground wounded and mutilated. What's it all about? Well, that is up to you, the observer, to determine, no? The plaque at the base states that the artist is depicting "the fragile nature of man" and "the flow of man's emotion through space" but I feel that with art, the meaning is also up to the spectator, thus may mean different things to different people. I personally find this work haunting and creepy. I also see it as a sad commentary on humankind and of our potential for hurting each other. It's not the most uplifting of art pieces, but worth a view if you're in the area. It's on McGill College near de Maisonneuve.

Very moving and thought provoking - every human emotion in a concise space in the center of…read moreMontreal, Do not miss and do not overlook.

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The Illuminated Crowd
The Illuminated Crowd - Apparently the most photographed piece of public art in Montreal. Looks uncreepy from this angle, but the back is creepy!

Apparently the most photographed piece of public art in Montreal. Looks uncreepy from this angle, but the back is creepy!

The Illuminated Crowd

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Quartier Chinois / Chinatown

Quartier Chinois / Chinatown

3.4(29 reviews)
0.9 kmVille-Marie

If you're walking by, cool, but don't make a special stop. Not much to see, very small and mostly…read morerestaurants that appear pretty sketchy to even eat at. Not specific to China either, pretty much a melting pot of Asian cuisine and decorations. Don't get your hopes up, nothing really exciting.

Montréal's Chinatown or Le quartier chinois is situated in the Ville-Marie borough. Chinatown…read moreoccupies roughly one square block - Saint Dominique Street to the East, René Lévesque Boulevard to the North, Viger Street to the south and Jeanne-Mance Street to the West - four corners of which are marked, each by a large ornate Paifang Gates (the most of any Chinatown in Canada.) The bustling part of town was established in the early 1890s. With several Chinese stores set up on de le Gauchetière street peppered with Chinese laundries in the area, a Montréal Chinatown slowly started to emerge. The first initiative to revive the area was the installation of a pedestrian mall on de la Gauchetière street in the 1980s. Followed by the Chinese Catholic Community Centre, low-rent housing complexes with reserved floors for seniors, and low-income families, and the construction of the first all Chinese hospital in Canada - The Montreal Chinese Hospital in 1999. What started off as small grocery stores, diners and restaurants, over the years, business in Chinatown reflect the multi-cultural Asian ethnicities that make up this vibrant neighbourhood. Businesses of Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, Chinese refugees from South-East Asia are all represented in Chinatown. Behind the souvenir stands and trinket shops are business that local Asian-Montrealers patron to source specialty imported items, such as Asian Pharmacies (herbal teas and ointments) or dine at some of the most authentic Chinese and other Asian restaurants the city has to offer. After two years of pandemic, I can see some storefronts boarded up and closed, but that is true all over the city and the world. Slowly, I am sure this quartier will have a rebirth and be a focal point of tourism in Montreal as well as a focal gathering point for locals.

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Quartier Chinois / Chinatown - Gate.

Gate.

Quartier Chinois / Chinatown
Quartier Chinois / Chinatown

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Rue Sainte-Catherine - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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