Best 5 neighbourhoods to rent in Montreal – 2020

What are the best 5 neighbourhoods to rent in Montreal? This is the million-dollar question.

Montreal is one of the most dynamic and charming cities in Canada. This beautiful city has so much to offer from cultural diversity to dozens of globally known festivals, from poutine to smoked meat, from its famous night life to beautiful nature and much more.

These are also the reasons why many people from all over the world chose to move to this amazing city. Each neighbourhood has its own traits and vibe. No matter where you choose to live you will a great quality of life in Montreal.

In Montreal, neighbourhood options are endless. Choosing which part of Montreal to live can be quite difficult. To narrow down the options, here are our Best 5 Neighbourhoods to Rent in Montreal 2020 Selection, with all their distinct flairs. 

1. Old Port Montreal/ Vieux Port 

Fun Facts. It is the oldest part of Montreal, dating back to the 17^th century and it has cobblestone streets and typical European architecture. It is the hot spot hub for tourists, so if you are the type of person who likes to be surrounded by new faces all the time and who likes to be in a place where it gives off the European vibe and is rich in history, culture, and gastronomy, this is the place to be! 

Where is it? It is part of Montreal’s central district (Ville Marie).

Walk Score. 88: It is the 2^nd most walkable neighbourhood in Montreal with 83,877 residents. What that means that most errands can be accomplished on foot. 

Bike Score. 82 What that means, that most trips can be accomplished by riding a bike. Minimal hills, and many bike lanes are available. 

Transit Score. 88 What that means, is that you are surrounded by hubs of public transportation means. 

• Metro Stations: Orange line : Champ-de Mars, Place-d’Armes, Square Victoria-OACI.
• Bus lines:
  55 (north along Saint-Laurent Boulevard to the Plateau Mont-Royal)

14 (north, then east to the Gay Village, Lafontaine Park and Plateau Mont-Royal)

36, 61 and 168 (to the southwest and Nuns’ Island)

Here is a website to guide you to further public transportation information: http://www.stm.info/fr/infos/reseaux/bus

Demographic. Most people who live in this area are mostly bilingual, a few percentages of people speak only French or English. Most people you can find living there are young professionals and couples without children. 

Rent.  The rent for a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo can range between $1,600-$3,000 depending on the amenities provided.

Rent in Old Port is not cheap, so if you are interested to move there, you will have to put in mind that your annual income covers at least 3 times the annual rent you spend. Choose wisely. 

Attractions. 

1. Churches: Notre-Dame Basilica (PS. this is where Celine Dion got married).
2. Museums: Pointe-à-Callière ( a history and archeology museum); Château Ramezay ( Must-see-museum, voted 1001 museums you have to visit before you die); Montreal Science Centre,  Centre d’histoire de Montréal (a museum that talks about the history of Montreal) Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier National Historic Site ( Founding fathers of Canada) 
3. Art Galleries:  Galerie Got, Marché Bonsecours( home to art galleries and a showcase of Inuit art and local products), PHI Centre, DHC/ART Fondation pour l’art contemporain
4. Festivals: Old port has infinitive events throughout the year. Check them out here. Montreal festivals and annual events
5. Gastronomy, Shopping: There are infinitive high-end restaurants and bars in this area. Make sure to walk along Saint-Paul street (which is home to most of the restaurants, bars, shops and many more etc. Refer to this link for more information about restaurants(https://montreal.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-old-montreal-vieux-montreal-old-port

and bars (https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/quebec/articles/the-10-best-bars-in-old-montreal/

6. Spas. ( Montreal’s 12 most interesting spas ) 
7. Rent a boat and do activities with friends and family at the Port ( https://www.oldportofmontreal.com/activities) 

2. Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

Fun Facts.  It is known for its coloured houses, cafes, book shops and a free-spirited attitude that embraces the bohemian culture and nature, and the European characteristic architecture. So, expect, while strolling along the streets of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, to find street art as a form of the “laissez-faire” attitude that this hood represents.  It was rated one of the 15 “hippiest” neighbourhoods in North America, so if you find that you resonate with attitude and artistic drive, Le Plateau is for you. 

Where is it? Northeast of downtown Montreal. Bordered to the south by Ville-Marie, to the west by Outremont, and north-east by Rosemont — La Petite-Prairie.

Walk Score. 96, or otherwise called Walker’s Paradise. Being the greenest and most walkable neighbourhood, this score can’t be surprising. Most people who live there walk around to do their errands, thus the high score. 

Bike Score. 100 You can use your bike for errands, as well there are many facilitated bike lanes to allow bikers to roam around safely. 

Transit Score. 80. 

– Metro Stations: Mont Royal, Laurier, Sherbrooke.

– Buses: 

368 Avenue-du-Mont-Royal

11 Parc-du-Mont-Royal / Ridgewood

97 Avenue-du-Mont-Royal

46 Casgrain

51 Edouard-Montpetit

711 Parc-du-Mont-Royal / Oratoire

361 Saint-Denis

30 Saint-Denis / Saint-Hubert

363 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

55 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Demographic. Most of the population who live in Le-Plateau are youths ranging in age between 25-34 years old, so people could be students, young professionals, or couples without children for the most part. 

Rent. For a 1-bedroom apartment, prices can range between $1250-$1400, depending on what is provided as amenities. 

Attractions. 

1. Public displays of creativity. This is a highly walkable hood, so look out for any creative musician, public arts.
2. Parks. It is the hood of parks.  The most popular ones you have to go to are, Plateau Parc (perfect for picnics, BBQs), Parc La Fontaine (perfect for bike rides and picnics. Also has a huge outdoor skating rink), Carre St-Louis (known for its romantic fountains, could be a great place for a romantic date), Parc Jeanne-Mance (Tam-tam music, hosting softball, picnics).
3. Top Happy Hour places. Have a look at Buvette Chez Simone, Bily Kun(Czech Bar, live jazz), Rouge Gorge, Sparrow, Plan B ad many more. 
4. BYOW (Bring your own wine) restaurants. It is raging with BYOW authentic restaurants, and you can find food from all over the world. (Packed on Duluth Street and Prince-Arthur Street). check out our guide to the best Montreal BYOW restaurants here. 
5. Follow local artist’s projects for Glen LeMesurier and Patsy Van Roost. 
6. Restaurants. Go to live show restaurants like Sala Rossa. Must trys : Restaurant L’Express, Au Pied de Cochon, Yokato Yokabai Ramen, Best Poutine : Patati Patata, Chez Claudette, La Banquise and Ma poule Mouillee.
7. Festivals, Indie Theatres, Cinemas: Fests: Montreal Fringe Fest, POP Montreal, Puces Pop, Mundial. Theatres: Mainline Theatre, Montreal Improv, The Wiggle Room. Cinemas. Cinema du Parc, Cinema L’Amour. 
8. Get Coffee. Café Plume, Lapin Presse, Cafe Neve.

3. Le Sud-Ouest 

Fun Facts. Griffintown (is where knowledge and industry got acquainted) Pointe St Charles. (was home to the first Filles du Roi, young French women who immigrated as part of King Louis XIV program as well, the first home for our Irish friends.) Little Burgundy (Where Montreal Jazz was born) and St Henri (historically blue-collar francophone district). It has 106 parks in total. The Lachine Canal is the prince of Sud Ouest. Atwater-Canal-Lachine (Has one of the oldest markets in Montreal, and is surrounded by the canal). 

Where is it? Borough southwest of downtown Montreal.  

Walk Score. 73. It is the 6^th most walkable neighbourhood with 71,681 residents. Most people who live there walk around to do their errands

Bike Score. 81 You can use your bike for errands, as well there are many facilitated bike lanes to allow bikers to roam around safely. 

Transit Score. 76. 

– Metro Stations: Charlevoix, Lionel-Groux, Angrignon, Place St-Henri, Jolicoeur. 

– Buses: 

17 Decarie 

35 Griffintown 

77 Station Lionel-Groux/CUSM 

78 Laurendeau

191 Broadway/Provost 

371 Decarie 

Demographic. Most of the population who live in Sud-Ouest regions speak French, a small amount of them speak English and other languages. The ages who live there are mostly between 25-34 years old. Young professionals, students, couples with no children mostly live there but you can find seniors and families, but these are minorities. 

Rent. For a 2- bedroom apartment, prices can range between $1300-$2250, depending on what is provided as amenities. 

Attractions. 

1. Atwater Market. This market is one of the oldest markets in Montreal which is home to many local products and hard to find gourmet products. 
2. Rue Notre Dame.  Where you can numerous restaurants like Grinder, Chez Sophie, Le Bureau Bar Tapas, Restaurant le Richmond and many more. Bars, like Atwater Cocktail club, The Coldroom, Canal Lounge, Paper planes, Cordova, Milky Way, Cloakroom, Loic, Distellerie etc.
3. Lachine Canal. Where you can do many activities like biking, walking, skiing in the winter, Ice skating since the canal becomes a skating rink, Kayaking, picnics etc.  
4. Parks and Nature. Angrignon (where you can do many activities like rollerblading, hiking, walking and sports), Olympic Basin, La Pente a Neige, Ile Notre Dame Beach, Madeleine Parent Park, Square Sir-George-Etienne -Cartier. (all perfect for cozy picnics with family and friends, exercising, some have city pools where you can swim and many more.) 

4. Lachine 

Fun Facts.  Lachine is the French term for China, which is said to be named like that to insult an owner who thought that he can find a passage from North America to China. It is one of the oldest neighbourhoods since 1667. The Rich people in Montreal used to have their summer houses in Lachine back then. It is home to best high schools in Quebec. It has a long waterfront and beautiful Marina. 

Where is it? Southwest portion of the island of Montreal, between the borough of Lasalle and the city of Dorval. 

Walk Score. 58. Lachine is the 12th most walkable neighbourhood in Montréal with 41,559 residents.

Bike Score. 65. There are some bike infrastructure. 

Transit Score. 53. Many nearby public transportation options. 

• Metro Stations: No Metro stations
• Buses: 37,71,117,144,191,195,196,209,460,496
• Train: Line route CA 
• Car: Autoroute 20 which is 15 minutes from downtown Montreal.

Demographics. Most of the people there are francophone, while others speak English only and other languages. This hood is mostly known as a family residential area. Only a small percentage are couples without kids or bachelors.  

Rent. Between $950 and $1500 is the typical rent you will find for a 2 bedroom apartment in Lachine, Quebec. 

Attractions. 

1. Waterfront Parks. Discover, Parc Rene-Levesque (garden of sculptures, Parc Saint-Louis (municipal dock, Lachine Canal National Historic Site ( where you can walk along. 
2. Old Lachine. It has a lot of museums like Musee de Lachine. Period buildings like Maison LeBer-Le Moyne, and Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site, a former fur trading post.
3. Rue Notre Dame, where you can find, Marche de Lachine, Montreal’s oldest public market since 1845. Also, many restaurants and bars like Casa Portugaise, El Meson, Il Fornetto, and bars like Zoe Fondues Karaoke, India Rosa. 
4. Secondary Schools/ High Schools. They score high on the Fraser Institute report card. Some Schools to consider,: Paul-Jarry, Pearson Electrotechnology Centre, College Saint-Louis and Collège Sainte-Anne.

5. Westmount  

Fun facts. It is one of the premier autonomous municipalities in Canada. Each of the residents back then made sure to input their personal touch on the city which helped create a mix of modern, fashionable and traditional. It is primarily an English speaking community. In 1874 it was the municipality of NDG and 1890 it was responsible for Cote St Antoine. In 1895 it got its name of Westmount because it is located on the western slopes of Mount Royal. 

Where is it? It is on the western slopes of Mont Royal.

Walk Score. 75: Most errands can be done on foot with 19,931 residents. 

Bike Score. 86: Convenient for most trips and has lanes especially for bikes. 

Transit Options

• Metros: Vendome, Atwater, Villa Maria 
• Buses: 

104 Cavendish 

138 Notre-Dame-De-Grace 

24 Sherbrooke 

356 Lachine/YUL Airport 

90 Saint-Jacques 

63 Girouard 

66 The Boulevard 

Demographics. Most of the population living in Westmount are between 45 and 64 of age. Usually Westmount is filled with families and seniors. 

Rent. 2-bedroom apartments range between $1605 and $2400 depending on the area and amenities. 

Attractions. 

1. Westmount Public Library. 
2. Westmount Park (Have a picnic, watch some soccer or rugby whenever there is a game, walk around, exercise) It has playgrounds for the kids. Also has an arena and swimming pool at the south end of the park.
3. Art Galeries : Galerie de Bellefeuille, Galerie d’Este, McClure Gallery/Visual Arts Centre
4. La route Verte. For bike riding or hiking.  Network of bicycling and multiuse trails and designated roads, lanes, and … of the Saint Lawrence River, out to the Gaspésie region, and on the Îles de la Madeleine 
5. Alexis Nihon (MontVR): Virtual Gaming Experience. 
6. Westmount Square, where you can find many great restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. 

So here we have it! These are the top 5 neighbourhoods that Agrasoy Realty recommends for all the newcomers or the nomadic who likes to explore different hoods.

There are many neighbourhoods that we could not include here. Please free to write to us if you feel that we need to include a specific neighbourhood for our Best 5 Neighbourhood 2021 Selection.

For more information about the listings/virtual visits we have in these neighbourhoods, make sure to find them on our website at www.agrasoyrealty.com.