Feb 5, 2025

Rue Duluth Montreal

It's a vibe

"Somehow in the race to make everything chain stores Duluth has remained pretty much a family-run affair, skewed towards the hippy/punk end of the spectrum."

Come mid-May, some Montreal streets begin to be closed to traffic and become pedestrian havens. Significant stretches of Mont Royal, Bernard,  Castelnau, Wellington, Ste-Catherine Street West, and Ste-Catherine Ste East and St-Denis south of Sherbrooke shut down car traffic, and the pedestrians, bars, and restaurants all spill into the street. For a list and opening dates click here.

But none of those streets, in my view, hold a candle to Rue Duluth. I was thinking this as I jogged up the street recently. Cars or not, Duluth is a real vibe. The street begins at Parc Jeanne-Mance (at the eastern base of Mount Royal) and heads east for about 1.5 km to Parc Lafontaine. It's a lane wide and is paved for most of its length with bricks. To drive on it is a nightmare, so the traffic moves slowly.  So walk it, from one end to the other.

Duluth has hairdressers, barber shops, chocolate shops, higher-end restaurants, Waldorf toys for your kids, Portuguese groceries, Venezuelan sandwich places, and a gluten-free bakery. Duluth is the street where out-of-town university students get their parents to take them to kitschy Italian restaurants. Somehow in the race to make everything chain stores, Duluth has remained pretty much a family-run affair, skewed towards the hippy/punk end of the spectrum.

But Duluth doesn't take itself too seriously. The street has a smell, I thought, as I wandered there recently: patchouli. And Duluth too will be closed to cars this summer from June 19th to Sept 5th.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

About this spot

Duluth and St-Denis

C$

no-price

Explore Montreal like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Montreal guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Montreal

Léché Desserts

Sweet spot

"Léché Desserts" in Montreal hides many promises behind its pink benches and brick building! I recommend getting donuts here and going to watch the trains.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Jérémie

Gerhardt

Feb 12, 2025

Zab Café

Good coffee roaster

Zab Café is a coffee roaster from Montreal that has an interesting story, four locations, and good coffee. It's small and smells of good coffee.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

By

Jérémie

Gerhardt

Feb 11, 2025

PHI Foundation

Global contemporary art, for free

Housed in an art deco building in Old Montreal, the PHI Foundation is focused on making contemporary art accessible to the largest number of people.

002-building
Art & culture

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 8, 2025

Micro Espresso

Big on taste, tiny spot

I really recommend their cortado, where the rich, chocolatey espresso meets a dose of milk in a really satisfying combination.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 8, 2025

Drogheria Fine MTL

Amazing gnocchi for $5

Sit on the sidewalk and eat the most delicious gnocchi for only $5, with a rich tomato sauce and imagine whatever you want in your own alternate reality.

024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Museum of Jewish Montreal

Return to roots

I was struck by the enthusiastic staff and the very tender exhibit about window coverings that invited us to consider what is shown and what is hidden.

002-building
Art & culture

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Urban Farm Hang Out

Industrial lands rehab

Here you will find a strange pyramid of benches that doubles as an art gallery, small fields & greenhouses tended by students from the nearby university.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Cafe Olimpico

Two cafés battle it out

Olimpico attracts the young and beautiful. And Club Social feels like it's been there longer, and remains true to its roots. Both have terrific bombolini!

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Alati Caserta

The best cannoli in Montreal

The cannoli! A crisp shell that shatters a bit as you bite into it, first-class ricotta cheese. Not too sweet. Somehow light and filling at the same time.

024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Caffe Italia

Best for Sunday mornings

Caffe Italia has been popular with Italian families for decades & it never lost the homey feeling. The coffee is delicious. The vibe is welcoming and loud.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Marché Jean Talon

Largest outdoor market

Jean Talon market is the kind of place where there is a vast choice, but I'd bet that most regulars end up with their favorite sellers.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

1700 La Poste

Contemporary art

The exhibits are free to the public, and very well curated by Isabelle de Mévieus and her team. The converted post office is worth a visit on its own.

002-building
Art & culture

By

Scott

Duncan

Feb 5, 2025

Heading to Montreal?

134 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the crowd & travel slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Heading to Montreal?

134 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

Our team loves Montreal

Get to know our other Spotters from Montreal

As featured on: