airport lounges can be hit or miss, so i was pleasantly surprised by this little oasis tucked…read moreinside the domestic departures area of montréal-trudeau international airport (yul). located near boarding gate 1, the lounge is airside after security checkpoint a. simply turn right after security and you'll find it behind starbucks. there are only two lounges serving domestic departures at yul, this one and the air canada maple leaf lounge, so it's no surprise they get busy. unfortunately, no one enjoys being turned away from a lounge they're entitled to access, especially when it means wandering the terminal before coming back. i was initially placed on the waitlist, but i appreciated receiving a text message as soon as space became available. one thing to keep in mind is that preference is given to amex cardholders, so your wait may vary depending on how busy it is. what surprised me, though, was that we weren't even allowed to wait in the takeaway area to charge our devices. i had thought that space was intended for guests waiting to enter, but we were asked to leave and return when we received the text. it wasn't a huge inconvenience, but it would have been nice to have somewhere comfortable to wait instead of roaming the terminal. once inside, the experience improved considerably. food is ordered through a qr code at your table, while coffee, tea, premade salads, desserts, are available from the self serve stations. during my visit, the lunch and dinner menu offered avocado toast, orecchiette salsiccia, hot dog, creamy lemon and caper chicken, and house made blondie with ice cream along with alcohol, sparkling and champagne. i got the roasted chicken with basil, confit garlic potatoes, two-colour cauliflower, and a lemon caper sauce. everything was fresh, the chicken was tender, and the potatoes were nicely cooked. it was a surprisingly satisfying meal and definitely a step above typical airport food. the lounge itself was clean, modern, and noticeably quieter than the terminal outside. after finding a comfortable seat, it was easy to unwind with a meal, a coffee, and a chance to recharge...both myself and my phone. one thing worth knowing before you settle in: there are no washrooms inside the lounge, no showers. if nature calls, you'll need to leave the lounge and use the public airport washrooms before returning. overall, i enjoyed my visit. the food exceeded my expectations, the self serve beverage selection was good, and once inside, it provided a relaxing escape from the busy terminal. my only real criticisms are the waitlist process and the lack of a designated waiting area for guests who have already checked in. being turned away is disappointing enough; not even being able to sit in the takeaway area and charge your devices while waiting felt unnecessarily restrictive. would i visit again? absolutely. next time, though, i'll arrive a little earlier, expect a possible wait, or maybe just apply for an amex.

With a low rating in the Priority Pass app, I check-in with low expectations that were quickly…read moreexceeded. First of all, the lounge is laid out well with different types of seating from bar stools to booths to cushioned seats. It's also kept clean of clutter. It looked spotless when I went around 8 a.m. on a Monday in July. Every table/place to sit comes with a QR code you scan to order made-to-order dishes. For breakfast, they had toasts, avocado toast, eggs, breakfast sandwiches and more. The sausage breakfast sandwich was hearty and comes with potatoes. At the bar are fruit cups, yogurt, and fresh fruit. They have an area for to-go boxes if you're in a rush. There are alcoholic drinks at the bar and several coffee machines that make lattes, etc. They also have orange and apple juice for breakfast. Many tables have magazines on them, outlets nearby, and strong wi-fi. Staff are friendly and attentive. One thing to note is that there are no restrooms inside, but there are nearby.

I was recently on Monkland with my kids and they were starving (you'd think they were small…read morechildren, the way they get so hangry and yet never have snacks or a protein bar on them. But NO, they are both adults. lol). We had to go for lunch IMMEDIATELY. And our go-to place Pigeon, was totally full. I asked the hostess/manager of Pigeon what other place nearby she'd recommend, and she mentioned Local75 right away. So off we went. It was a humid day so we opted to sit on the enclosed patio, as the restaurant itself was aggressively air conditioned (for me, anyhow), plus it was dimly lit inside (probably great for the evenings, but didn't feel right on a sunny summer day at noon). We were seated right away and our server couldn't have been nicer. The menu was perfect for lunch: there were a lot of salad and sandwich choices, lots of burgers and chicken wing choices, and more. We chose two BLT's and a plate of 6 chicken wings with sweet potato fries. Everything was delicious. I love how my Diet Coke came in a frosted Mason jar, and I love how the server gave us each a wrapped moistened towelette for our hands (a rarity nowadays - but so needed when eating chicken wings!). One issue of note: the server, who was lovely, was the only server working while we were there. I'm unsure how many people were in the kitchen, too, as it took quite a long time for our food to come out. We had a great lunch here and would definitely return.

It's a trendy bar. We went as Ye Old Orchard was full. The food was decent, the drinks and service…read morewere great. But it's cramped and loud. Great for pre-dinner drinks, but not an intimate place to dine. File under Monkland hipster spot.

We were greeted immediately by the maitre-de. We requested balcony seating…read more Tight seating on the balcony but we made friends with our table-mates from Ottawa :) Perfect weather and a lots of sunshine, which explains why it was so crowded. Excellent service. It was great to see such team work with the waitresses and also the maitre-de, who was bussing at times. You could tell this restaurant cares about their guests. Arrived during happy hour 2 for 1 drinks, free chips/salsa, popcorn, chili, etc. Had Pizza Strips and Jambalaya. Extremely reasonable - especially at Happy Hour!

Went for new year's eve party and had a great time. It's on the 1st floor of a 3-story complex…read morehaving different bar/longest on each level. Ground level has Winston Churchill Pub and top level has Karina lounge. We bought NYE ticket with access to all 3 levels and it was worth it. All 3 levels had different atmosphere with DJ playing in Winston Churchill and Karina lounge and live band in Winnie's. Winnie's has 3 bars with ample bar seating, dining area and space for live music. Had a great time, will definitely recommend this place.

A classic in the Monkland Village, I always love coming here when I visit home because it is always…read moreso comfortable. The patio is a great social hangout, the people watching is second to none and the live music and poutine is great! Get a pitcher of sangria - that's just about perfect too!

This was uploaded very late, but we had a great time here and the food was delicious. We sat…read moreoutside on the terrace and it allows you to people watch and see the hustle and bustle of Monkland. The service was great, the food was memorable and the portion sizes were decent. It's a great place to go if you're spending the day in NDG.

Love, love, love this fabulous place. My husband and I have made this our go-to establishment in…read morethe Gay Village. We have other places for Montreal in general, but this is it for this area. Food: I've had the Hangover Tater Tots, and they're awesome. Other food I've had has been great. Service: The staff can get a bit overwhelmed when busy, but they still work their magic to ensure we are all taken care of. They will provide English or French instructions and menus as appropriate. Friendly, and welcoming, and they offer suggestions and such. Great people. Ambiance: the atmosphere is casual, with hints of gay bar. Bathrooms are downstairs, in a communal wash area, with gender-neutral stalls. Great vibes, and outdoor seating is available.

Hanging around Montreal's Gay Village, you're bound to get into something greasy. No, I'm not…read moretalking about the back room of a go-go boys club. I meant a place to eat casually where calories are just figments of our imagination. This place looked pretty popular but still had plenty of room on their terrace late into the afternoon. Jamie W and I didn't know this restaurant was part of a broader chain. However, it became obvious when we looked through the laminated photo menu. Smashburgers and related diner fare appeared to be the specialties here. There was definitely a TGI Friday's vibe about the gluttonous food and the lackluster service. Jamie ordered the C$23 Mac Cheeseburger, a carbopalooza of mac & cheese with cornichons (Photo 9), a guilty pleasure with a bit of crunch. I went for the C$23 Holy Swiss, a standard mushroom cheeseburger with caramelized onions, BBQ sauce, and an excess of mayo. I went for the lettuce wrap for a C$2 surcharge (Photo 10). It came with soggy fries, and our C$3.75 mugs of Coke Zero helped get the food down our gullets (Photo 8). The brick walls were covered with gay iconography (The Village People, Elton John, Betty White). FOOD - 3 stars...familiar diner fare executed predictably AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars.. spacious and gay SERVICE - 3 stars..,doing their job TOTAL - 3 stars...just a link in a chain RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/aO5rmUhunu

This place is a gem. The dining room is quaint and cozy, but the portions are anything but small -…read moregenerous and satisfying. The flavours are authentic and spot-on. Service was exceptional; warm, attentive and perfectly paced. Great vodka martini which was served ice-cold, balanced, and one of the best I've had. Highly recommend for great drinks, real hospitality, and a meal that delivers.

Absolutely delicious dishes. Super flavorful and great portions…read more Service was awesome! Staff was quick, attentive and friendly. Cozy vibes and loved the decor. Can't wait to return!

Had to try the local Filipino spot in the city to see how they throw down while visiting. Greeted…read moreand seated by one of the owners who was our waiter as well. Awesome taking to him about the concept and their ideas for the restaurant. Love everything they are about and am proud of what they are doing to get Filipino food out there. Restaurant had a very homey and welcoming vibe when you came in. Came with the fam so we were able to order a bunch of dishes to share. Unfortunately we were on the brunch menu only because they were getting ready for holiday closure and menu change and sadly I don't have the names of each dish but just going to say they were all delicious and full of flavor. Was a mix of traditional Filipino flavors they learned while traveling to the Philippines with a twist of new flavors they added. Overall this is a must try for anyone looking for yummy Filipino flavors and/or looking to try something new I highly recommend it. Salamat Jun Jun!!!

Exceeded expectation!…read more Comforting! Level up Pinoy food! Owner is so warm and welcoming! Best wishes!

Montreal is not the first city that comes to mind when I think of a hub of tiki culture, but Jamie…read moreW and I are always on the prowl for evocative taverns with plenty of old-school, Trader Vic's-level decor and matching cocktails with colorful parasols, of course. From our hotel, we took the subway to Station Beaubien and found this bar nearby on the quite bustling St-Hubert. A small sandwich board directed us to climb a dimly lit stairwell. At the top of the stairs was Snowbird where we were immediately taken with the darkly kitschy atmosphere. The bar itself was long and fully occupied, and the rest of the compact space was well packed. We thought we might have to leave, but the host found us a high top table that had just opened up. It definitely checked the Trader Vic's box as we were genuinely delighted with the array of tropical libations presented on the animated placemat (Photo 10). Their four-snowbird potency scoring system was helpfully amusing with three snowbirds indicating "You're going to text your ex". Both of us hit three snowbirds with our orders. Jamie went for the C$16 Bahama Mama made with Planteray 3 Stars, coconut rum, orange, pineapple, lime juice, and hibiscus syrup. Mine was the C$16 Painkiller with Planteray Dark, Agricole rum, pineapple, orange & lime juice, Don Gardenia's mix, and coconut syrup (Photo 9). Both of us were pleased with our selections though I think they could've dropped the rating to two snowbirds which indicate "You're gonna stay up late". It was surprisingly not overly loud as we were able to pick up on the obscure songs they were playing through the Shazam app. The staff was friendly, and there was just one particularly industrious server handling the entire space. We didn't stick around for a second round, but a return visit seems likely someday. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...sweetly tasty, not quite as pungent as described AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...meticulous decor well done SERVICE - 4.5 stars... friendly and industrious TOTAL - 4 stars...never enough tiki bars in this world RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/2DjT8JKy_r

Snowbird was amazing! Loved the decor (reminded me of Trader Sam's at Disney world) and the drinks…read morewere excellent - really classic tiki drinks that packed a punch. The servers were so nice and friendly. The bartender was super sweet and took a free shot with us. Loved this experience and would highly recommend visiting!