Little Italy

What would a visit to Montreal be without spending some time in gourmet Little Italy? Montreal is nothing if not about food and history, and few other places than Little Italy can boast having these two – in spades. With some cafés having been opened for 100 years (a rarity on this side of the pond) and the presence of the world-class Jean-Talon Market (North America’s largest open-air market and one of the top tourist attractions in the city), Montreal’s Little Italy is not to be missed.
Although only a handful of Italians families have been calling Montreal home since the 17th century, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that the population of Italian descent really started to form a community. Unbeknownst to them, this camaraderie would not only end up being beneficial to Montreal’s industrialization, but also act as the perfect family reunification pretext for 15,000 of devastated families struck by Italy’s infamous implication in World War II. A new neighborhood was born, giving Montreal a much appreciated exotic kick. Locals will tell you that Little Italy is the shadow of what it once was, as most families have relocated to the suburbs in the 1980s. But some of them remain, their personal identity being too tied to the neighborhood to even think of moving away. Occasionally playing bocce in Parc Dante, shopping for kitchen supplies at Quincaillerie Dante or enjoying a cappuccino at Café International, these Little Italians at heart are what keeps the area alive.

Practical Info

Little Italy is located in central Montreal, between Jean-Talon Boulevard, Parc Avenue, Saint-Zotique Street and Saint-Denis Street. Is it easily accessible by car (although finding parking can be a challenge) and by public transit via metro stops Beaubien and Jean-Talon on the orange line. Many guided visits of the neighborhood, including tastings and chats with local chefs, are available.