Today is my home's National Holiday! Bonne Saint-Jean! Since I've been spending my holidays back in Montreal, I decided it would be nice to show you the city my way. A few weeks back I made a blog post about sustainable shops in Dublin which turned out to be so popular, so I decided to try the same in Montreal, and boy was it different!
Montreal is a very eco friendly city. I had too many shops and businesses to choose from! I narrowed it down to a mixture of spots I know quite well and spots I went to try on this trip. It's an itinerary you can do in one day if you start in the morning, but you can also take the time to explore. The bulk of it is on St-Laurent Boulevard, in the Mile-End neighbourhood. It's a place with very few tourists, loads of independent shops and used to be called The Main back in the day. Enough talk, shall we start?
MARCHÉ JEAN-TALON - 7070 HENRI JULIEN AVE
The first spot on my list is an absolute no-brainer for me : my first ever job was in the Jean Talon Market so I know the place very well. The market is a massive permanent farmer's market in the city, it's open everyday and the areas that are covered by the roof also remain open in the winter which in itself is pretty amazing. The market is the perfect place to stock up on zero waste local groceries. On top of all the fruit and veg, you can find butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, plants, a few bulk stores and pretty much any kind of specialized food your heart desires. The people working there are also very friendly and will definitely accommodate you if you bring your own containers. And even if you don't need groceries, when the sun is out the market is so full of life and music it's a lovely area for a summer stroll.
VRAC ET BOCAUX - 6698 AVE CHRISTOPHE-COLOMB
This is a store I found online and was dying to visit. Vrac & Bocaux is a zero waste organic food store, and it looks beautiful! They offer a huge choice of bulk products, from pasta to washing up liquid to kitchen spices, I get the feeling they have everything you could need. If you're new to zero waste shopping, there are instructions everywhere and the staff is very friendly. They also have their own bags and jars that you can use if you forgot your own, it's all pretty sweet. The store also sells zero waste essentials like dish brushes, metal containers, sandwich bags etc. all made in Quebec by Quebec businesses. It's a great way to combine zero-waste and shopping local! The shop is a little bit farther away but is definitely worth the detour, I wish we had one life it in Dublin!
LA PANTHÈRE VERTE - 160 ST-VIATEUR E
I couldn't bring you around Montreal and not bring you here. I've been a massive fan of La Panthère Verte for years, they have the best veggie burger! They have no single-use plastics in their restaurants, instead opting for real cutlery and a water refilling station with tin glasses. Their menu is quite varied, from lunch meals to delicious desserts, everything is vegan. The drinks you buy from them are all in glass containers and they also sell a whole range of nuts and snacks as well. Some of their addresses (including this one) also sell alcohol! It's a great easy lunch option if you happen to see one of them.
STYLE LABO - 5595 ST LAURENT BLVD
Style Labo is a homeware and design store and I've rarely seen anything like it before. The store is HUGE and stocked full of old-timey furniture, lamps, frames, etc. Nothing too weird until you start seeing stuffed animals, old doctor equipment and things of the kind. The prices are a bit high but if you're looking for unique decoration pieces and vintage furniture, this could be the perfect spot for you. Since pretty much everything is second-hand, it's also much kinder to the planet. My personal favourites were the Edison lamps (They also have a little station where you can build your own set up with cord and all) as well as all their old stools. I want to buy them all, sadly nothing fits in my suitcase...
ANNEX VINTAGE - 56 RUE SAINT VIATEUR O
This place completely stole my best friend's heart, and I can understand why. Annex is a shop full of trendy vintage clothes, as well as some cool graphic tees made from local artists. They also carry a few body care products, solid perfumes and an impressive selection of pins! The clothes they sell seem to be quite curated to cool modern pieces, they had things for both men and women. In terms of style, the clothes are a little more "hipster" with old school patterns, 80s swimsuits and a whole bunch of denim jackets. The shop itself is beautiful and well, I'm a sucker for nice interior design.
YUL DESIGNS - 5251 ST LAURENT BLVD
This stop wasn't planned but was a very happy discovery! This store focuses on clothing and lifestyle items made by Montreal designers and businesses, everything local. If you're a little confused by the name, YUL is the Montreal airport code. It felt great to walk around and see everything our local talents have to offer. The food section is especially yummy and I had to make a big effort not to buy anything. I highly recommend a thing called seasoning to sharpen. If you're visiting the city and looking for a souvenir, this might just be the best place. They also sell clothes, bags and also have a great range of kid products as well. Their homeware selection is also super varied and if you're interested, everything is also available online.
V DE V - 5042 ST LAURENT BLVD
This is a place you could call a lifestyle store. They sell a LOT of things. While it's not properly labeled "eco friendly", V de V sells lots of items from sustainable, local and natural brands which is why it ended up on my list. You can find bags from the brand Matt & Nat here which I absolutely adore. Most of what's in the shop is for the home, ranging from tableware, bathroom items, linen, plants and pots. They also sell furniture but I didn't exactly look a the price if you know what I mean... V de V is the kinda of shop were just looking around is fun since there's so many little details. They also have a range of natural and beauty products from multiple brands like Dot & lil, which is another Montreal brand. If you're looking for new detail elements to decorate your home, I'm sure you'd LOVE this spot.
GÉNÉRAL 54 - 5145 ST LAURENT BLVD
Another happy unplanned discovery! Général 54 is an independent store focusing on ethical fashion and local brands and design. They sell mostly clothes but they have a lovely table in the middle with locally designed fashion and home accessories. As far as the clothes are concerned, I thought they have a great curated selection and the style is definitely more current and minimal than vintage. The prices are a little higher though because the pieces are made by local designers, but well worth it if you find something you've been looking for for a while. The quality is great and the pieces will last you a long time. Coming to stores like these make me so proud of where I'm from, seeing all the great things available locally and made without harming the planet or the people who made the garments. We need more shops like these in more places!
CITIZEN VINTAGE - 5330 ST LAURENT BLVD
This vintage store is a chain, so if you're not hanging out in the same area, you might still be able to find one. In terms of actual fashions pieces, it's where I found the clothes I loved the most. The garments are cool and trendy, and they have a giant selection of denim shorts, at least in that store. Everything felt super summery and they also had a decent selection of men pieces, which can be a bit harder to find. They were also selling a few bags and shoes to complete your outfit. One thing I didn't know though, is that they also carry their own fashion line! Mind you it's a lot more expensive than the vintage clothes, but everything is made ethically in Montreal. I loved the design and wouldn't mind paying, but I did have one big issue with it : the sizes. Or should I say, the size. Singular. All their clothes seem to be "One size fits most" which is a concept I really disagree with. That being said, if I found something that looked cute on me and was made ethically, yeah I'd totally buy it there!
EMPIRE EXCHANGE - 5225 ST LAURENT BLVD
Empire Exchange is the same company as Annex Vintage, so the products you find there are quite similar. I did find their body care/beauty range had a bit more products. The one big difference between the two is that here, you can trade or sell your clothes (after all, it has exchange in the name!). They have a bigger selection of clothes than Annex and have a great choice of shoes in the back area. I absolutely fell in love with a pair of Chloe sandals (pictured below) that were just a smidge too small so I had to leave them there. I felt the general style of the clothes there was modern and trendy but also maybe a little older than Annex. Again, the shop is absolutely beautiful and everyone there was super nice, I'd highly recommend either of these!
BONBON COLLECTIONS - 123B AVENUE LAURIER O
After all this walking, you might need a little break (at least we did!). We found this dessert shop right on the way to our next destination and were intrigued by their vegan ice cream. They also sell other cakes and dessert and have a major focus on their products being allergen-free. In my family we have a few people allergic to peanuts and finding cake is always a bit of a struggle, so it's great to find places like these. We opted for a maple ice cream and the only thing I can say is that it was absolutely decadent. Then again, I like anything with maple in it, I'm Canadian after all. I would've like the option for a cone to avoid containers, but at least their bowls & cutlery are all compostable, so no single use plastics here!
LE CONSCIOUS MARKET - 207 AVENUE LAURIER O
This is a spot my mom actually told me about! It's a pop up shop though, so you might want to hurry to check it out, it's open until July 8th. The Conscious Market is a collective of 12 sustainable brands that got together to create this one beautiful store. They have clothes, beauty products, food, fashion accessories, vegan leather, kids clothes and homewares. The prices are also quite varied depending on the brand you're looking at so it's worth checking, some of it is quite reasonable. It's also the first time I got to try the brand Ilia Beauty, and I was so happy I got to do so in person! They had absolutely gorgeous sunglasses as well which is what caught my attention the most. I also really want to mention that the people there we so so so nice. Some of the brand owners were there when we stopped by and everyone was so happy to talk about sustainability and it was just very refreshing.
STATION SERVICE - 72 RUE RACHEL E
I was so excited to try this place! I used to work with the owner years ago (In the Jean-Talon market) and I was so happy to see that she now is a fellow advocate for slow fashion and conscious consuming. Station Service started out as an online service where people can rent out designer clothes and accessories for events. They stock clothes from Quebec & local designers and also offer a membership service. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and also to look amazing in designer fashion without spending all your money. Since this month though, they have opened an actual store where the rental service is also available, but now they have the same clothes for sale as well. They have also expanded to homeware, stationary and beauty products. They also sell reusable straws if you've been dying to try one! I have to say this though, the prices are not cheap, but the quality of everything is great and you can buy knowing you are helping small local businesses and entrepreneurs to no cost to the environment. I'd been on the hunt for the perfect eco friendly white t-shirt, and this is where I found the one!
ETIKET - 1832 SHERBROOKE ST W
Etiket is an independent beauty store I discovered this winter when I was here for Christmas. They specialize in unique perfumes but they stock an impressive selection of natural beauty products! They sell Kevin Murphy, Tata Harper, Rahua, Malin & Goetz, PAI, RMS beauty, etc etc. The people who work there are incredibly helpful and will answer all your questions and let you try products if you're not sure what would work for you. The shop is also right in the city center so it's a very convenient location. And I'm saving the best for last, they have a spa area as well! They do Tata Harper facials and treatments and while it might not be cheap, it's going to leave you relaxed and glowing.
LOV - 464 MCGILL ST
I decided to end the day by stopping for dinner at LOV Montreal. The name stands for Local, Organic, Vegan so I'm sure you can start guessing what their concept is. They have two restaurants in the city and also one in Laval. I'd hear of them before but actually never got to try it. The first thing that you notice when you walk in is how beautiful everything is. The place is light, full of plants and the decoration is just on point. But this is a restaurant and the important bit is the food. My mom came to join me for dinner, she had a vegetable lasagna and I opted for Hemp & Basil Pesto Gnocchis. I'm neither vegetarian or vegan, but I do recognize that meat is bad for the environment and so I love to do my part and reduce the amount I eat. The food we had was absolutely delicious so even if you're unsure about vegan food, I suggest you try it! Our waiter was super helpful and answered all our noobie questions. Did I also mention they do great cocktails?
4 comments
Thank you so much for this post. I’m visiting Montreal in a few weeks and will be sure to work my way through your recommendations 🙂
Ahh that’s so cool to hear! Enjoy my amazing hometown 🙂 It’s a beautiful time of year as well!
I’m working on this school project where we’re supposed to turn Bickerdike (in the Old Port) in an eco-quartier and I was looking for a bunch of eco-friendly shops. This post was super helpful, thanks a lot !
Le Vrac du Canal in Lachine is fantastic too, on Notre-Dame. Great post, thank you!