Montreal

Notre-Dame Basilica

Attractions

★★★★★

A deep-blue, gold-starred Gothic Revival interior that stops people mid-step. The AURA light show is worth an evening return.

Mount Royal

Outdoors

★★★★★

Designed by Central Park’s Olmsted. Climb to the Kondiaronk lookout, and come on a Sunday for the tam-tams drum circle below.

Schwartz’s Deli

Food

★★★★★

Smoked meat piled on rye since 1928. Order medium-fat, share a table, and don’t ask for it lean.

St-Viateur Bagel

Food

★★★★★

Wood-fired, honey-boiled, open 24 hours since 1957. Get a hot sesame straight from the oven and eat it on the sidewalk.

Café Olimpico

Coffee

★★★★★

The Mile End Italian institution since 1970. No pour-overs, no apologies — just perfect lattes and neighborhood theater.

Kem CoBa

Dessert

★★★★★

Vietnamese-French soft serve worth the summer-long line. The salted butter flavor has a devoted following.

Big in Japan

Drinks

★★★★★

An unmarked door on Saint-Laurent opens into a candlelit hall of whisky highballs. One of the most atmospheric rooms anywhere.