9 reasons Montréal is a perfect city for the bleisure traveler

Why should you go? Sponsored by forward-thinking companies like Solotech (entertainment technology specialists) and Element AI (artificial intelligence), the goal of C2 is to encourage community, networking, and collaboration through active participation by attendees. If you want to stretch your wings and think outside the box with some top-notch creative innovators, C2 is the place.

What do you do? Tracks are broken down into Conference Blocks (more traditional presentations on a wide range of topics), Collaborative Sessions (participatory, hands-on workshops and development sessions), and Labs (explorations of ideas).

Who do you meet? Francis Ford Coppola, Diane von Furstenberg, Chelsea Manning, Snoop Dogg, and Steve Wozniak have been just some of the conference’s A-list speakers. You’ll also engage in “Braindates,” one-on-one meetings where discussion partners are matched based on an expertise they want to share or learn.

For a community hub: Nope, no string lights and hardwood and well-placed pillows here — the brutalist architecture of Café OSMO, its cement surfaces and fierce angles, is what highlights the softness of your house-made brioche and matches the strength of your espresso.

For a funky design: Le Cagibi brought all the flavor and funk of its original Mile End location to a new spot in nearby Little Italy. The homey, mismatched decor sports comfy chairs and tables that are perfect for eyeballing glass shelves of vintage knick-knacks while you sip an espresso or a local microbrew.

For something unique: Café Résonance is a small performance venue that serves vegan dishes and a mean cup of coffee. Open until midnight, you’ll often find local artists showing their work, listening to live music, and sipping fair-trade cappuccinos.

For a night of theatre: In the heart of Old Montréal, Centaur Theatre Company has been hosting innovative and expansive performance since 1969. This English-language company puts on contemporary works and encourages creativity in young and old alike through salons, festivals, and other specialized events.

For Instagrammable street art: Montréal wouldn’t be the same without its blocks of striking, original street art. Most common in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood along Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Rue Saint-Denis, and Rue Duluth, the building-sized murals are half blazoned for all to see, half tucked away in quiet corners. Many are done by professional artists; MURAL Festival, an annual graffiti festival, showcases new works.

For everything else: Sprawling through multiple stories of a heritage building, the Phi Centre houses performance venues, art galleries, makers’ labs, a cinema, and production studios. On any given visit, their eclectic programming could include a VR look inside famous oil paintings, Inuit throat-singing, or a visit from Yoko Ono.

Travel by metro: Montréal’s transit network is comprehensive and regular; service runs till 1am (1:30am on Saturdays). You can get a one-day transit pass for $10 from any metro station, where you can hop on one of the multicolored lines to give yourself a tour around the city. Visit Place des Arts, the cultural hotspot in the heart of downtown, or hop the yellow line to the Biosphère, an ecological museum originally built for the ’67 International World Fair.

Wander the markets: If you don’t feel like hitting up a restaurant — or just want some brightness in your life — self-cater at one of Montréal’s indoor/outdoor markets. Marché Atwater and Marché Jean-Talon offer a wide selection of local fruit and vegetables, delicious baked goods (looking at you, macarons!), and cheese shops that are to die for.

Stroll the canal: Little is more pleasant than walking along the Lachine Canal, an eight-mile waterway running from the Old Port towards the hipster neighborhoods of Griffintown and Little Burgundy. The clear pathway winds past five locks, outdoor art installations, a multitude of green spaces, and Bota Bota, a floating spa.

Hike Mont Royal: Commonly called “the mountain” even though it’s more of a large hill, Parc du Mont-Royal has a network of trails and pathways great for a run or hike. You can take a more leisurely stroll or challenge yourself to climb the several flights of stairs that lead to the top, where a stunning view of the Montréal skyline awaits.

Do some yoga: Chill out after a long day with some restful yin or break a sweat with vinyasa flow — Montréal’s yoga studios are all over the place. Current literal hotspot Modo Yoga offers a range of styles in heated rooms for the extra bendy.

Hop a BIXI: Most business travelers can’t bring their bicycle in their carry-on, but Montréal has your back with BIXI. The bike-share service has stations all over the city, offering one-way, one-day, or multi-day ticket options. Take the bike wherever you like on Montréal’s comprehensive bike paths, and then leave it when you’re done.

Summer: “Ephemeral villages” pop up around Montréal through September, then disappear until next May. These clusters of food trucks, beer gardens, live music venues, and artisan markets transform industrial, underutilized pockets of town into summer paradises. If you need evidence of the city’s creative spirit, look no further.

Winter/Spring: Cabanes au sucre aren’t unique to Montréal, but they’re a fundamental part of Quebecois culture. Traditionally held in “sugar camps,” the feasts involve maple-syrup-flavored desserts, ham and pea soup, and copious amounts of hot apple cider. All it takes to become a Quebecois paysanne is a tromp through the woods to a sugar shack.

Autumn: As if the Montréal Botanical Garden isn’t beautiful enough year-round, every fall it hosts the Gardens of Light festival. Based on a Chinese tradition, glittering lanterns illuminate the walkways, inviting visitors to explore this ecologically friendly and mesmerizing display in a way not seen the rest of the year.

For the fine diners: French restaurant Au Pied du Cochon prides itself on its meat-heavy fare; aside from desserts, only two items on the menu are vegetarian, and even the french fries are cooked in duck fat. Every item is prepared with mouth-watering style, and their foie gras is out of this world.

For the views: When you walk into the Four Seasons Hotel Montréal, look up. Marcus sits atop the stunning lobby, and while cozy corners proliferate, the best seats come with downtown views out on the terrasse. Expect amazing seafood, always locally sourced, and an impressive raw bar.

For the introvert: If you prefer to recharge in peace and quiet, consider a trip to Camellia Sinensis, a calm teahouse in the midst of Montréal’s famous Latin Quarter. Another option is Else’s, a tiny bar/restaurant with a cozy, whimsical vibe and a packed menu of various comfort foods to fuel you from the inside out.

Indigenous cultures: Mikw Chiyâm is an interdisciplinary arts program and creative residency aimed at indigenous youth, commissioned by the Cree School Board. Educational director Melissa-Ann Ledo teams up creative kids with First Nations artists all across Canada, and in her spare time runs The Rainbow Story Hour, an event for kids featuring storytime with drag queens and queer artists.

Creativity and activism: Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté has been changing the face of circus for years with his unique and poetic shows, but his latest project is all about promoting the creative spirit of Montréal and the greater region. Lune Rouge brings together a team of accomplished executives to mentor and invest in the next generation of local entrepreneurs.

Neuroscience and machine learning: Yoshua Bengio is the scientific director of MILA (Montréal Institute for Learning Algorithms) and co-founder of Element AI, and his 130,000+ citations on Google Scholar prove him to be an absolute expert in the field of machine learning. Interested in studying how machines display intelligence, he’s a frequent public speaker and graduate supervisor at the institute.

For a quirky chateau: The vibrant Latin Quarter offers all kinds of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. One of the best hotels around is Hôtel Château de l’Argoat, a charming, small-but-professional space with unique artwork gracing every corner. The owner runs a nearby gallery, and the hotel offers comfortable and unusual rooms, free parking, and a variety of concierge services to suit your needs.

For a home away from home: Every room in Hôtel Anne Ma Soeur Anne has a kitchenette for the self-catering traveler, and you can enjoy relaxing in their leafy central courtyard. Located inside a typical house in Plateau Mont-Royal, some rooms also have a private terrace, while others offer a Murphy bed/desk combo that allows you to convert your room to an office for maximum work time.

For streamlined comfort with style: While every tourist crowds into the Old Port, Le Petit Hôtel is on a more peaceful side street, close to the action but not overwhelmingly so. The many amenities, including a 24-hour coffee bar, 24-hour gym, and concierge access, make this a great overnight for those who know exactly what they want when they travel.