How To Become A True Montrealer Tips From A Local

A true Montrealer is its own unique breed; different from both Canadians and Quebecois. But don’t worry, we still religiously say ‘sorry’ and ‘eh?’, well the Anglophone Montrealers do anyway.

We distinguish ourselves from the rest of Canada by being a bilingual city. Yep, that’s right. About 60% of the population of Montreal is bilingual. That makes it a wonderful diverse city like no other.

So, if you’re thinking about visiting or moving to the city, here’s everything you need to know to fit in from a local Montreal guide.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Ultimate Guide To Local Montreal Canada

1.P.S. We Have A French Police

The French police in Montreal have been around for as long as I can remember. They like to target businesses, from your store name and any promotional material you have, down to simply how you speak to your customers. Seriously, storefronts have had to take down signs because the English text was larger than the French…

Or in 2017 they tried to ban people from saying Bonjour/Hi… which is the primary way of greeting anyone in Montreal (in stores, restaurants, hotels…etc.). They said we shouldn’t be saying “Hi” at all… thankfully this didn’t pass.

This wasn’t the first time the French police tried something like this, and it won’t be the last. It’s been a never-ending struggle trying to protect their language from a hostile English take over. Which I totally understand, but still…

2. Go To A Hockey Game (Even If You Don’t Know Anything About Hockey)

Every true Montrealer has been to at least one hockey game to root for the Habs. It’s like how the city christens you. No, seriously!

Oh, you also have to love Youppi, our mascot. He’s all that remains of our old Baseball team, the Montreal Expos. When they were sold, the Habs got him. No one knows what he is, but you have to love him anyway! When you go to a game, you’ll be sure to see him pumping up the crowds.

3. Own Expos And/Or Blue Jays Merch

Along with owning some Habs merch, you should also own either at least one item from the Expos or Blue Jays. It’s not odd to walk around the city and see people supporting either team.

The Expos are the old baseball team, and we’re still hoping they’ll come back one day. So, we will never stop promoting them.

Alternatively, you can also root for the Toronto Blue Jays as Canada’s only baseball team now. You’re allowed to support them because you’re really supporting Canada. The same goes for the Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian basketball team. As long as you don’t support them too much, since they are after all, from Toronto. Which brings me to….

4. Have An Argument With A Torontonian Over Which City Is Better

This is the classic Montreal vs. Toronto feud. I’ve had this argument ever since I was a kid and my cousins would come in to visit us from Toronto. Our arguments were very basic back then such as fighting over who’s accent was funnier sounding. 

But this was just the beginning. The feud goes far beyond who’s accent is the right one. Now it’s who has the better subway system, the better summer festivals, and the all around better city to live in!

Montrealer’s like to make fun of Toronto for lacking culture, and trying to be too much like the States (well New York… have you seen their Dundas Square with all those billboards!? It’s practically a mini Times Square!).

But ultimately, it comes down to hockey. The Habs vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of the biggest rivals in the league. 

So you can love the Blue Jays, but you have to hate the Toronto Maple Leafs, even if you’re not a hockey aficionado. It’s an unspoken rule for both Torontonians and Montrealers alike that you hate the opposing city. Also, it’s your job to convince any foreigner that you are the better city.

5. Learn To Speak Franglais

Living in a primarily bilingual city, it’s only fair that both languages will mix. But, as you may recall, Québec is afraid that English is taking over. So although Franglais is officially when English words are used in French, with a French spin on it, it’s the opposite in Montreal Canada. 

You see, there are common terms that are just embedded in an anglophone Montrealer’s vocabulary.

For example, it isn’t a happy hour, but instead people call it a cinq à sept (5 to 7 in French). Or, instead of staying patio, it’s a terrace (all Montrealers live for terrace season to come every summer!). We also say cul-de-sac instead of a dead-end. But my favourite? Dépanneur, dep for short, this is our gas station ‘corner store’.

6. Learn Québécois Swear Words

On top of learning to speak Franglais, you also have to know the Québécois swear words. I love these because they’re all religious items…

The top three you should have in your vocabulary are:
(1) tabernak (tabernacle),
(2) Câlice/ colisse (chalisse) and
(3) hosti/osti (host).

You can pretty much substitute any of these for F****. Let’s just say that Québec had a rough history with the Catholic religion…

7. Have A Love/Hate Relationship With The STM.

The STM (The Société de transport de Montréal) is our public transit system which includes metro and buses.

Montrealers love the public transport system until it disappoints them…which unfortunately happens to be more often than you’d think.

Living downtown, you can get everywhere you want by metro or bus. There are two reliable metro lines and unlimited bus routes at your disposal. It’s amazing, right?

WRONG! The bus times are rarely accurate. You can download the Transit app to help, but it doesn’t really; it lies to you time and time again. So, you aren’t a true Montrealer until you’ve cursed at the STM because:

(a) you missed the bus because it was early
(b) the bus never showed up
(c) you waited so long for the bus that you got on the next one scheduled 
(d) the metro suddenly breaks down

Also, you have to follow the STM on twitter for the most up to date news on the metro lines, because those WILL break down.

8. Guide To Montreal: Have a Favourite Poutine Spot

Montreal (well, Québec) lives and breaths poutine! So it’s necessary to have a favourite poutine spot in Montreal.

I LOVE L’Gros Luxe for a melt in your mouth tater tot poutine. But if I want something more classic I’ll make the trip to Patati Patata!

Side note, you also have to love true bagels (sorry New York) and smoked meat. These are two Montreal born foods that you have to try.

9. Get Drunk On Crescent Street

This is THE spot to go to for underage drinking (FYI the legal drinking age is 18 in Québec, so have fun!). But, if going to a Habs game was a christening to the city, getting drunk on Crescent Street is like a rite of passage.

The popular pubs to go to are Sir Winston Churchill Pub, Brewtopia (they brew their own beer), and Mad Hatters. Mad Hatters used to be the most disgusting place with the cheapest alcohol but they renovated a few years ago.

Even after getting drunk, your night isn’t over. Make sure to get some late-night eats at Boustan down the street. The garlic potatoes are delicious!

10. Endure A Winter & Wonder Why You Still Live Here

And finally, you can’t consider yourself a true Montrealer until you’ve suffered through a real Montreal winter. I’m talking blizzards, cold A.F. winds, and at the end of the day, feels like -40°C temperatures.

Oh yes, I love winters in Montreal. Half of the population will actually leave and live in Florida for 6 months – they’re known as Snow Birds.

But a Montreal winter leaves you with the best excuse to never leave your house, cuddle up with a good movie, and make some hot chocolate. Montreal also hosts a few great winter festivals to try to make the cold better – check out my top 10 here!

When you eventually do have to go outside, you really start to wonder why you still live here… and then summer comes around (eventually!) and you forget alllll about it!

Once the summer starts, you forget all about your winter troubles. Nothing beats a Montreal summer! Festivals every week like Jazzfest, Osheaga, and Comedy Fest…etc.

Oh, and now instead of -30°C, it 30°C (even more with that humidity!)! It’s HOT! So shorts and a tank top and going to the pool is what it’s all about (also that terrace life!).

The summers here is like a drug that makes you forget all about those terrible winters, so you do it all over again the next year!

Find A Place To Stay In Montreal

I love going on staycations at Hotel Nelligan in the Old Port of Montreal. It’s in a great location, walking distance to everywhere you need to be. When you stay there you can’t miss out on their unique roof top terrace above the hotel. See room rates & availability.

I’ve also stayed at the newly built Homewood Suites in Montreal Midtown (west of the city) and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a hotel that isn’t in the city centre. But they also have a branch downtown as well. It has a little kitchenette in every room and breakfast is included. Even though it isn’t downtown, you aren’t far from it. It’s walking distance to the Namur metro station, which will get you downtown in less than 20 minutes. See room rates & availability.

Here are some other alternatives I’ve heard about if you’re looking to stay in Downtown Montreal;

If you’re looking to stay in the heart of Downtown Montreal check out Auberge Les Bons Matins. This is a one of a kind stay perfect for a romantic getaway in Montreal. In this charming inn in Montreal, you’ll get a taste of local life. See room rates & availability.

You can also stay Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites if an auberge isn’t your style. Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites is in a supreme location in between the orange and the green metro line that get you anywhere else in the city. Breakfast is also included with your stay! See room rates & availability

For more accommodation options in Montreal, see Booking.com.

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