City overview
Montreal's Orthodox community lives in the west-central part of the island rather than downtown. The densest cluster runs through Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Snowdon, where Décarie Boulevard, Van Horne Avenue, Victoria Avenue and Côte-Saint-Luc Road carry most of the kosher groceries, take-out counters and restaurants — Décarie Square, at 6900 Décarie, holds several kosher eateries under one roof. Outremont and neighbouring Mile End are home to the city's Hasidic communities and their bakeries and shops, while Laval (Chomedey) and the West Island (Dollard-des-Ormeaux) have congregations and Chabad houses of their own. For Shabbat, the real choice is between downtown and Old Montreal — central for sightseeing but outside any eruv — and the hotels on Décarie Boulevard in Snowdon, which sit inside the Montreal Grand Eruv within walking distance of the Montreal Torah Center in Hampstead. The eruv joins Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montréal West, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Snowdon and Outremont into one continuous area, so a family staying in that belt can walk to shul and to meals with a stroller. Most local kosher establishments are certified by MK.
Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
Montreal, QC · Free. Guided group tours $8 per person by reservation; self-guided group tours $6 per person.
A domed basilica on the slope of Mount Royal, reached by a long flight of steps with views over the west of the city. Visitors walk the basilica and crypt, the museum and, from May to Thanksgiving, the hillside gardens. It sits in Côte-des-Neiges, a short ride from Côte-Saint-Luc and Hampstead.
Hours
Shrine open daily 6:30 AM–9:00 PM; museum open daily 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (ticket counter closes 4:00 PM).
Tips
Shoulders must be covered, and skirts and shorts must reach at least mid-thigh. On-site parking: under 30 minutes free, 30 minutes–1 hour $3.75, 1–2 hours $5, 2–5 hours $10, 5–12 hours $15; pay by card, or cash at the main entrance. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free at the welcome desk. The Garden of the Way of the Cross is open May 1 to Thanksgiving. Toll-free line 1-877-672-8647.
Phone
+1 514-733-8211Neighborhood
Côte-des-Neiges
Activity providers
Kosher map of Montreal, QC
Pick a place on the map or search an address or hotel to see what is kosher around it.