Where to Stay on the Plateau, Montréal: Is Plateau Mont-Royal a Good Base?
Is the Plateau a good place to stay in Montréal? Yes for a longer trip and a neighbourhood feel. Old Montréal or Downtown suit short first visits better.
Is the Plateau a good place to stay in Montréal? Yes, if you’ve got more than a couple of nights, you’d like cafés and parks outside the door, and you don’t mind being a Metro ride from the old streets. No, if it’s your first visit and you want the big sights on foot, or you want a large hotel with every service. In that case Old Montréal or Downtown is the better base. Of the 24 guides read, 22 name the Plateau as a base, and the ones that hold it back do it on distance and the shortage of hotels, not on the area itself.
The city-wide comparison is on the where to stay in Montréal page, and the area is described on the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood page.
Which one for your trip
| If you are | Stay on the Plateau? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| On a first visit of two or three nights | Probably not | Guides point you to Old Montréal so the big sights are on foot |
| Staying a week or more | Yes | Cafés, parks and a neighbourhood to come back to |
| A couple after food and walks | Yes | Restaurants, Mile End and Parc La Fontaine are close |
| Travelling with children | Yes | Six guides name it for families, mostly for the parks |
| Wanting hotel choice and the Underground City in winter | No | Downtown has more hotels and links |
| Driving | Check parking first | Two guides say parking is limited |
Roam Montréal read 24 guides for this page, in English, French, Italian and Portuguese, and the counts below are how many make each point. Almost none is about the Plateau alone, so most of the counts come from the Plateau section of a Montréal-wide guide. No hotel is named, since the guides disagree on which ones are worth it and none was checked against an operator’s own page. Hours and Metro facts come from the official pages linked below, read on 7 November 2026.
The Plateau as a base
Recommended by 22 of 24 guides read.
The Plateau Mont-Royal sits east of Mount Royal, and the guides describe it as a residential area of brick houses, outdoor staircases, murals and small restaurants. Several call it a good pick for a stay of a few days or more. Two of the 24 don’t recommend it as a base. One has no Plateau section at all, and the other describes the area without saying where to stay. Check the map to see how the places below sit around each other.
Local feel and an artsy streak
Local and residential, 12 of 24 guides. Artsy or bohemian, 13 of 24.
This is the main argument for staying here. Guides call it less touristy than Old Montréal and more of a place where people live, with independent shops, vintage clothes and cafés along Avenue du Mont-Royal and Rue Saint-Denis. One guide says it offers the best balance between seeing the city and feeling part of it. The streets for a slow walk are Rue Duluth and Square Saint-Louis.
Parc La Fontaine and Mount Royal
Parc La Fontaine, 14 of 24 guides. Mount Royal park, 13 of 24.
Parc La Fontaine is the Plateau’s big lawn, and guides who name it describe ponds, trails and skating in winter. The City of Montréal’s park page lists it open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight (checked 7 November 2026). The Mount Royal Park page on the city’s site also says 6 a.m. to midnight. The park’s friends’ group says the Tam-Tams take place on Sunday afternoons from May to September, on Avenue du Parc, and that it’s an informal event with no official organizer (FAQ, 7 November 2026).
For a snack up the hill, the Café des Amis at the Mount Royal Chalet lists snacks and coffee daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the one at the Beaver Lake Pavilion lists full meals daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The page says hours can change without notice.
Mile End and the bagels
Mile End as a neighbour, 18 of 24 guides. The bagel bakeries, 13 of 24.
Most guides treat Mile End as part of the same borough or a close neighbour. If you want a stay with a café on every block, it’s an option, though one guide says hotels there are scarce and tells you to book weeks ahead. Thirteen guides name its bagel bakeries.
- St-Viateur Bagel. The flagship bakery at 263 rue St-Viateur Ouest lists store hours of 6 a.m. to midnight every day, take-out only. The same page lists a café at 1127 avenue Mont-Royal Est, with the bakery open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (7 November 2026). Roam has a page for St-Viateur Bagel.
- Fairmount Bagel. The bakery’s site gives 74 rue Fairmount Ouest and dates Montréal’s first bagel bakery to 1919. The page doesn’t list opening hours, so check before you go. See Fairmount Bagel.
The Mile End guide covers the rest of it.
Few hotels
Mentioned by 10 of 24 guides.
The Plateau isn’t a hotel district. Guides describe small inns, B&Bs, converted townhouses, apartment hotels and rentals, and one says plainly that hotels are rare. If you need a big hotel with a lobby and a gym, look at Downtown. If you like a small place with a breakfast room, the Plateau suits you. Look at the stairs before you book. One guide notes some of the older buildings are walk-ups, and another says one of its hotel picks has no lift.
This page names no hotel and quotes no rates. Guides disagree on price. Four give a view and they don’t line up, with one calling the area cheap, one saying it has no good budget hotels, and one calling it more affordable than Old Montréal. Check live rates for your own dates, and read the total with tax before you compare.
Metro and getting around
Metro access praised by 8 of 24 guides. Called farther from the main sights by 4 of 24.
The STM’s Orange line page lists Laurier, Mont-Royal and Sherbrooke on Line 2 (checked 7 November 2026). Guides point to Mont-Royal and Laurier for the middle of the Plateau and to Sherbrooke for the south end near Square Saint-Louis. The STM page gives the stations and the line, not the walk from each one to a street, so look at a map for the block you’re considering.
One guide says the Metro is more spread out here than Downtown, and four say the Plateau is farther from the main sights. That’s the trade. You give up a short walk to the basilica, and you get a quieter street at night. The Montréal airport to Downtown page covers the trip in.
Boulevard Saint-Laurent, food and evenings
Boulevard Saint-Laurent, 8 of 24 guides. Evenings described as quiet or lively, 4 of 24.
Boulevard Saint-Laurent is the Plateau’s busiest street, with cafés, bars and music venues. The guides don’t agree on noise. One calls the nightlife slow and steady, one says evenings are lively without being disruptive, and one says the street turns colourful at night. A fourth notes a hotel sitting above a live-music bar. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room at the back or on a side street.
For food, a few places come up again and again.
- Schwartz’s Deli. The deli’s contact page lists 3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent, open Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight (7 November 2026). See Schwartz’s Deli.
- Beauty’s Luncheonette. The restaurant’s site gives 93 avenue du Mont-Royal Ouest, open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closed Tuesdays. See Beauty’s Luncheonette.
- La Banquise. The poutine stop, on the map. Check its own site for hours.
The Plateau or Old Montréal
Old Montréal named for a first visit by 7 of 24 guides. Downtown named for hotels and transit by 8 of 24.
Guides split this by trip length. For a first visit of a few days, seven point to Old Montréal, where the basilica, Pointe-à-Callière and the Old Port are close together. The Plateau is the pick for repeat visitors and for people who want to live like a local, and one guide says it’s the best for local culture but far from the main sights.
Downtown is the choice for the widest range of hotels and, in cold weather, the Underground City. Eight guides make that case. If you can’t decide, the Montréal comparison lays out all the areas side by side.
What’s on
The Plateau has theatres, small music venues and street events through the year. Look at the events page for your dates, and the map for music near Saint-Laurent and Mile End.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Plateau Mont-Royal a good place to stay in Montréal?
Yes, for a stay of a few days or more if you want cafés, parks and a local feel. Twenty-two of 24 guides read name it as a base. It’s a weaker choice for a short first visit.
Is the Plateau better than Old Montréal?
It depends on the trip. Old Montréal is the pick for a first visit because the big sights are close together. The Plateau is the pick if you’ve been before or want a neighbourhood feel.
Which Metro stations are on the Plateau?
The STM lists Laurier, Mont-Royal and Sherbrooke on the Orange line. Check a map for the one nearest your block, since the STM page doesn’t give walking distances.
Are there many hotels on the Plateau?
No. Ten of 24 guides describe a mix of small inns, B&Bs and apartments more than large hotels. Check what your room offers before you book, such as a lift and breakfast.
Is the Plateau noisy at night?
It depends on the street. Boulevard Saint-Laurent has bars and music venues, while the side streets are quieter. Ask for a room away from the main street.
Where are the best bagels near the Plateau?
Guides name St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel in Mile End. St-Viateur’s flagship bakery lists store hours of 6 a.m. to midnight every day, and Fairmount’s site doesn’t list hours.
Sources: 24 guides in English, French, Italian and Portuguese, and 9 official pages
Guides in English
- Where To Stay In Montreal – 6 Of The Best NeighborhoodsGloboTreks
- Where to Stay in Montreal, Quebec: 6 Areas and HotelsDestinationless Travel
- Where to stay in MontrealFaraway Worlds
- Where to Stay in Montreal – Neighborhoods & Area GuideThe Crazy Tourist
- Where to stay in Montreal [Best Places to Stay for 2026]Travelling King
- Where to Stay in Montreal: Complete Guide for First TimersEveryday Tourist
- Where to stay in Montreal? Our experiences between Downtown, Old Montreal and the outskirtsTravelWorldOnline
- Montreal Neighborhoods Guide: Where to Stay, Eat and ExploreCanada Spirit
- 7 GREAT Neighborhoods Where to Stay in Montreal +Top HotelsMiss Tourist
- Where to Stay in Montreal (Best Places & Areas)Travel Lemming
- Where to Stay in Montréal: A Neighborhood GuideSeeker
- Where to Stay in Montreal: Complete Guide to the Best Neighborhoods and HotelsTwo by the World
- Where to stay in Montreal - a neighbourhood guideTravellerspoint
- Where to Stay in Montréal (2025)The Hotel Guru
- Where to Stay in Montreal, Quebec: The BEST Hotels & AreasTreksplorer
- The Best Places to Stay in Montreal for Tourists!Eat and Travel With Us
- Where to stay in the Plateau, Montréal: best hotelsThe Main
Guides in French
- Où dormir à Montréal ? Ma sélection d'adresses et de quartiersUn sac sur le dos
- Où dormir à Montréal ? Mes adresses + endroits préférésVoyage avec nous
- Où dormir, où se loger à Montréal ? Les meilleurs endroits pour trouver son hébergementPartir.com
- Les meilleurs endroits où dormir à Montréal en 2025Chéri fais tes valises
- Où dormir à Montréal en Famille ? Quartiers + Hôtels (2026)Voyageurs Intrépides
Guides in Italian
- Dove dormire a MontrealMarco Togni
Guides in Portuguese
- Onde ficar em Montreal: Downtown, Old Montreal ou Plateau?Mala de Aventuras
Official pages
- STM, Line 2 Orange stationsstm.info
- City of Montréal, Parc La Fontainemontreal.ca
- City of Montréal, Parc du Mont-Royalmontreal.ca
- Les amis de la montagne, Mount Royal FAQlemontroyal.qc.ca
- Les amis de la montagne, Café des Amis opening hourslemontroyal.qc.ca
- St-Viateur Bagel, locations and hoursstviateurbagel.com
- Fairmount Bagelfairmountbagel.com
- Schwartz's Deli, address and business hoursschwartzsdeli.com
- Beauty's Luncheonettebeautys.ca
Places in this guide
Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.
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