Mile End

Known as the artistic and hipster hub of Montreal, the Mile End is a neighborhood situated in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough of Montreal. This is where most fashionable eateries, speakeasy bars, vintage shops, and underground music venues are located, along with plentiful Hassidic Jewish and Portuguese communities – which just goes to show just how diverse Mile End really is. In fact, the neighborhood’s ethnic composition has changed a great deal ever since its beginnings in the late 19th century when the transcontinental railway station was built, and retains a strong international yet very local flair, as most ethnic groups have been living alongside each other for decades. Today, it is a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood locals and visitors alike flock to – whether it is to eat bagels at Montreal’s two most famous bagel bakeries, Fairmount and St. Viateur, located only streets apart, or to take advantage of the area’s bustling musical scene; Mile End was even dubbed the “the heart of the independent music scene in Montreal” by media and is home to international musical sensations such as Arcade Fire. Some of the Mile End’s most famous attractions include the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Café Olimpico, Casa del Poppolo, Drawn & Quarterly Bookshop, Wilensky’s Light Lunch (made famous by author Mordecai Richler), and Frank and Oak.

Practical Info

The boundaries of the neighborhood are Mont-Royal Avenue to the south, Van Horne Avenue to the north, Hutchison Street to the west, and Saint-Denis Street to the east. Buses 55 and 80 are the easiest ways to reach the neighborhood from downtown Montreal.  It is also within walking distance from Laurier metro station.