MONTREAL – If you want a reliable indicator of just which grand prix should be at the top of your must-visit list, then the races F1 regulars favor are about as good as it gets, and Montreal's is about as favored as any event on the calendar gets.
F1 has been making the trek to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve every year bar two (1987 and 2009) for well over three decades now, and in all that time it has never lost its allure as an enormously fun town in which to go racing.
As ever, it's the fact that Montreal possesses the essential assets of a characterful circuit close to the center of a great city that properly embraces F1 that make the Canadian Grand Prix one of the season's undoubted highlights.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located in the Parc Jean Drapeau on the Île Notre Dame. It's so close to downtown Montreal that the park's website even offers directions to and from the man-made island by bicycle. A slightly easier way to get there is on the Yellow Line of the Metro system from Berri UQAM station to Jean Drapeau station.
The city really gets into the spirit of grand prix weekend, and the atmosphere in Montreal is always fantastic. Crescent Street, a city-center road crammed with bars and restaurants, is usually pedestrianized for the race weekend, and concerts and F1-themed parties run for the duration of the event.
However, it's far from the only attraction. Montreal has fantastic restaurants, bars and clubs ranging from credit card melting upscale places to some monumentally seedy joints; all have their "unique" charms. It also has great shopping, great people and a strange but wonderful Euro/North American hybrid attitude that allows for both great service as well as a laissez faire attitude to just about everything else. In short, it's one of the year's best races.
The Track
Montreal is all about power and brakes. Team's medium- and low-downforce packages will make their first appearance of the season here as they try to maximize speed on the circuit's long straights, while at the same time trying to maintain good balance through the slow corners. In fact, the circuit is pretty much a series of long, fast straights (with the odd subtle bend) leading into low-speed corners.
The start-stop nature of a lap here – in which cars sometimes go from 300kph or more down to as low as 60-70 kph in first or second gear – makes for some hardcore braking events, and teams will bring their most extreme brake ducts to this race in an effort to get effective cooling.
This year's new power units are likely to be stressed here as well, both by the power needed in long bursts and also because the MGU-K will be extremely busy under heavy braking, and the straights will work the MGU-H hard as the turbocharger will be in demand for the bulk of the lap. It's a good track to view from as well, with excellent vantage points all around the circuit and good opportunities to see drivers at their work, either at full throttle or battling to stay away from the walls close to the edges of this temporary circuit.
Eating and Drinking
As we've said, Montreal has a great array of place to wine and dine, or indeed just to grab a burger and a beer. Here's a bunch we like to frequent:
Buonanotte
3518 St-Laurent, Montreal, H2X 2V1
Launched in 1991, Buonanotte is a place where fine Italian cuisine, an extensive wine selection, glamour and a wonderful ambiance meet. Our sommelier, chef, cocktail mixologist, DJ and beautiful waiting staff will make your night unforgettable, unique and sexy. For more than two decades, Buonanotte has retained its position at the heart of the city's dynamic fine dining scene, as well as being a major player on Montreal's trendy nightlife scene.
Mechant Boeuf
124 rue St-Paul Ouest, Montreal, H2Y 1Z3
A bar-brasserie with real character and personality, Mechant Boeuf is friendly, has great atmosphere and the DJ plays classic rock all night long. You'll straight away notice the chef's flair for the cosmopolitan: fish and chips, Spanish chorizo, of course there's poutine, but this one's got Migneron de Charlevoix cheese, cheesecake and so much more. The dish everyone talks about? The Méchant Burger. It's simply the best in the city.
Hambar
355 McGill Street, Montreal, H2Y 2E8
Located in the Saint-Paul Hotel, Hambar's claims to fame are its cured meat platters, its market cuisine and its vast selection of fine wines. In the summer, enjoy a vast terrace in Place d'Youville, open for brunch, Happy Hour and everything in between. Hambar is the perfect combination of casual and chic.
Apt. 200
3643 St-Laurent Apt 200, Montreal, QC H2X 2V5
Open seven days a week, from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., 3643 St-Laurent Apt. 200 is the perfect spot for young professionals who want to unwind after work, grab a drink and play some classic arcade games as the sun sets through the open garage doors. Designed in the fashion of a young artist's loft, the place later turns into a fancy house party, with music ranging from old school hip hop to deep house. You can enjoy a fresh cocktail at the main bar or reserve one of the rooms for bottle service and throw your own private party.
Suite 701
701 Cote de la Place d'Armes, Montreal, H2Y 2X6
Suite 701 is a lounge restaurant all trendy Montrealers reckon is a must-do in the city. Our menu will surprise you with its current choices all served with a new twist, such as slow-cooked veal cheeks, Kobe burger or fresh pasta in a sublime lobster Bolognese sauce. Relax and let us take care of you. The place is magnificent. The bar is majestic. The DJ is amazing. On the roof, Terrace 701 offers a breathtaking view of the city and a trendy ambiance for brunch, lunch or dinner. Enjoy great food, refreshing cocktails and wonderful service in an uplifting setting.
Confessionnal
431 McGill Street, Montreal, H2Y 2G5
Located in the heart of Old Montreal, Le Petit Confessionnal burst onto the scene with the best Happy Hour in Montreal. Five years in the making, Le Confessionnal is still the place for young professionals to gather, party and go crazy, especially on weekends.
Rouge
3604 St-Laurent, Montreal, H2X 2V4
Le Rouge Bar is located just west of the main strip (7 Prince Arthur) and caters to an unpretentious and fun-loving mature clientele. Open since 2004, the bar combines an intimate and laid-back vibe over two distinct floors. The first floor plays a variety of retro, rock, funk, old school and classic house while the second floor is host to the latest top 40, R&B, and dance/house music.
New City Gas
950 Ottawa St, Montreal, QC H3C 1S4
Originally built in 1859 as the home of the New City Gas Company, the building is reflective of Montreal's past, making it one of the most protected buildings by Heritage Montreal. When re-opened in 2012 as an event space, its existing shell was maintained and a live venue was built inside, featuring a state-of the art sound and light experience. NCG is now known as one of the leading dance music venues in the world and has featured shows by top DJs such as David Guetta, Tiësto, Deadmau5 and Skrillex.
Five Montreal Must Dos
1. Investigate the subterranean city. Because in the winter Montreal is about as comfy above ground as taking an ice bath in a meat locker in the arctic, city dwellers sensibly constructed a huge, linked network of underground shopping arcades. In the summer (which can get pretty warm) they're air conditioned, so shop like Montrealers do and head underground.
2. Eat Poutine. Okay, it looks weird and is probably not the healthiest meal on the planet but you've got to at least have a go at Montreal's signature dish. The favorite late-night snack of French-Canadians is made with French fries, cheese curds and gravy. Yum.
3. Explore Old Montreal. The temptation for racegoers is to stick to Crescent Street's parties and the bars and clubs of Rue Ste Catherine but the Old Town should be on your list of places to visit. As the site of the original city, Vieux-Montréal is the hub of the city's culture. It's still got cobbled streets and a village feel and features sites as the Basilique Notre-Dame, the Hôtel de Ville, the Vieux-Port and the Marché Bonsecours. It's also a popular shopping area (despite the kitschy souvenir shops), and numerous bars and clubs bring the district to life when the sun goes down.
4. Go jet boating. The only rapids in the Saint Lawrence River (the Lachine Rapids) are right in Montreal and yep, you can attack them a flippin' jet boat – how awesome is that! The ride lasts one hour and it's a riot.
5. Eat a smoked meat sandwich. Alongside poutine, this is another culinary specialty of Montreal and the place to eat a four-inch thick meat sandwich is the Schwartz Deli on Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Be warned though: It's hugely popular and there are frequently queues.
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