Turning 27 in Montreal 🇨🇦

I have wanted to explore more of Canada for a few years now and decided to take my 27th birthday as an opportunity to finally see Montreal with my dear friend Lauren.

Montreal was the perfect place for us to explore, shop and try some delicious food along the way.

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate my birthday, and the trip left me even more excited to discover more of Canada’s hidden gems in the future.

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Day One

📍Breakfast at Toi Moi et cafe

📍Coffee at Cafe Olimpico

📍Explore Mile End

📍Shopping on St Laurent Blvd

📍Dinner - Kyo Bar Japonais

Lauren and I took the Via Rail to Montreal from Union Station for about a 6 hour adventure until we arrived. I actually really enjoyed taking the train and was quite comfortable and relaxing. We arrived late and took an Uber to our "hotel" and I say that lightly as it was a very strange hotel. For a few minutes or so we felt a little unsafe and thought maybe we go stay elsewhere until I suggested putting the mini-fridge in front of the door.

We woke up the next morning feeling much better and realized we were staying around a University and were surrounded by many more people our age. Arriving somewhere at night is always going to feel a little unsettling.

We got ready and headed out for a very yummy breakfast at Toi Moi and had a sweet breakfast with a mimosa to celebrate turning 27. After our breakfast we started walking towards Mile End window shopping and chatting like we always do. We stopped in many little shops with vintage clothing, little trinkets and a cowboy boot shop in which I tried my best to convince Lauren on buying a pair. Unfortunately, with vintage shopping comes the struggle of finding the right fit but Lauren did find some very great vintage pieces for her wardrobe.

After a long day of strolling and shopping we headed back to our hotel to freshen up before a wonderful dinner at Kyo Bar Japonais.

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Day Two

📍Coffee at Pikalo

📍Explored The Old Port

📍Bonsecours Market (This building was beautiful but kinda disappointed with the shops inside so would not recommend for shopping)

📍Le Vieux Montréal and Ferris Wheel

📍Lunch at La Catrina

📍Stroll along Rue Saint-Paul Street Est

📍Place d’Armes

📍Notre-Dame Basilica.

📍Dinner at Montreal Paella

📍Turbo Haüs

📍Uniburger (Twice) 😎😎😎

📍A bottle of bubbly and bed 😂

Our second day in Montreal was absolutely packed, as we set out to explore as many classic sights as we could in the heart of the city. We started at the Old Port, wandering past the little booths along the water and the Ferris wheel. I snagged a few cute postcards and pins for my collection, and then we hopped on the iconic wheel for a beautiful view of the city from above.

For lunch, we were both craving Mexican food and margaritas, so we grabbed a patio table at La Catrina and enjoyed a fantastic meal.

After hours of walking and exploring, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at Montreal Paella, where I tried Spanish food for the first time—and instantly loved it. That meal is actually what inspired me to book a future trip to Barcelona. We ended the night with a drink at a bar beside the hotel, then finished the evening with a bottle of bubbly in bed.

It was such a wonderful trip with one of my dearest high school friends, and I truly hope we continue to take girls’ trips and make memories together as we grow older.

Lauren telling me it was time for bed and not another Vodka Cranberry