26 Date Ideas in Montreal You’ll Actually Want to Do

I’m finally solving the age-old question of where to take your date or date ideas in Montreal for couples. Because we have all run out of ideas when the moment comes to plan a date! Here is an extensive and tested (by me!) list of date ideas in Montreal. Whether it’s your awkward first date, a spontaneous outing with your favourite person, or a special anniversary, this list will have something for you!

Year-round Date Ideas in Montreal

1. Old Montreal date ideas

Old Montreal is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful areas of the city, so a romantic stroll in Montreal can be a great idea. You can walk hand-in-hand through cobblestone streets, pass historic buildings, and walk along the Old Port. The area is filled with small cafés, museums, and charming shops. You might feel like a tourist in your own city.

I used to live in the area, so here are my favourite places to go: Cave à Manger (they have delicious pastries), Café Olimpico (one of the best coffees in town, so I’ve been told—I don’t like coffee, so I can’t confirm personally), Pequeno Bar, Bar Philemon and Mlle Catherine for ice cream. Brewsky (a great brewery with delicious food)

Pointe-à-Callière or the Centre Phi always have interesting exhibitions. The Old Port often has immersive VR experiences. You can combine any of them to make for a great afternoon and night out. We went to the VR experience, then had dinner, and then took a walk along the water. It was a great afternoon and night date.

2. Go to a museum

If you’re a culture-loving couple or just looking for an interesting date idea, Montreal’s museum scene is rich, diverse, and perfect for rainy or cold winter days. You can wander through world-class art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or discover contemporary pieces at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. History buffs will love Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology and History Complex and the Château Ramezay Historic Site, while the McCord Stewart Museum offers deep dives into Montreal’s past. Science and nature enthusiasts, you can check out the Planétarium. For something unique, go to the Redpath Museum for its ancient artifacts, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, which shares local stories. You can also explore craft traditions at MUMAQ, social history at Écomusée du fier monde, or thoughtful exhibitions at the Montreal Holocaust Museum and La Guilde Inuit art gallery. The city has more than 40 museums!

Not only will you be amazed (or dislike) what you see, but this will also give you a great base for conversation for the rest of the date.

3. Take a Cooking Class Together

For an indoor date night, you can take a cooking class. This is one of the great interactive ways to spend time together. You can learn how to make fresh pasta or perfect sushi rolls. Montreal has a variety of options, from professional culinary ateliers to intimate, small-group workshops hosted by local chefs.

4. Board Game Café Afternoon

If you’re looking for something playful, Montreal has a few board game cafés where you can eat and unleash your competitive side. I’m super competitive, so I often choose cooperative games to lower my intensity.

Randolph is one of the most popular; they have several locations in the city. I like Le Joker in Verdun. The food is delicious, you need to try their fries, and they have a lot of games to choose from. However, the ambiance is not so great, but the food and the company will balance everything out, trust me!

5. Take a Street Art Tour

Did you know that the city has around 3,000 murals? You can choose a neighbourhood and go on a mural scavenger hunt. You’ll walk around, stop to admire the murals, and then grab a coffee or something to eat. This is a great way to spend an afternoon in any season. Saint-Laurent Avenue has many murals, as it hosts the MURAL Festival in June. Rue Saint-Dominique, just parallel to St-Laurent, also has a lot of murals. Don’t worry, I have a complete article about where to find the best street art in the city here.

6. Attend a Live Show

From jazz clubs to indie venues, the city has so many places to go see live music or go see theater. Check out local venues like Casa del Popolo or La Sala Rossa for indie music or Upstairs Jazz Bar Diese Onze for jazz or Latin jazz music. Quai des Brumes has live shows every night. Centaur Theatre and the Segal Centre often offer affordable performances of musicals or theatre. You can also go to a comedy club like Le Bordel or MTL Comedy Club.

7. Try a Themed Escape Room

A unique date idea in Montrea is escape rooms! My boyfriend really likes them. You work together to solve puzzles and unlock clues; it’s a fun way to test your teamwork and see each other’s problem-solving skills. We have tried A/Maze in Atwater and Escape Masters in Griffintown. The last one, unfortunately, was too difficult for us and we couldn’t solve it. We will try another one next time!

8. Explore Jean-Talon Market

If you and your date love food, wandering through Jean-Talon Market is a must. This bustling market in Little Italy is full of colourful fruits and vegetables, fresh cheeses, baked goods, and local specialties. You can sample fresh berries, artisanal bread, and pick up ingredients for a homemade meal later.

9. Go to an improv show

I know that improv is not for everyone, but improv shows are fun! All the shows are completely different since the improvisers come up with things on the spot based on audience suggestions. Théâtre Sainte-Catherine on Ste-Catherine Street is home to the long-running Sunday Night Improv show and French-language improv nights (Les Lundis d’impro). My favourite place is improv shows in Saint-Henri, Improv Montreal. Ticket prices usually range from $10 to $25, and the shows are usually one hour long. It is perfect to go for a drink or eat something afterward or before. Who knows, you might see me on stage there.

10. Go to a Festival

Montreal is packed with festivals year-round, making them perfect for a fun and lively date. Whether it’s the amazing Jazz Festival in the summer, indie film screenings at the Fantasia International Film Festival, or the famous Igloofest and Montréal en Lumière in winter. Festivals are great because you can go from scene to scene to see great shows, grab some food from the food stands and enjoy all the cultural offerings of the city. This is one of the best things to do in Montreal for couples.

11.Go Bowling, Play Arcade Games,...

For a fun, playful date, Montreal has plenty of options to get competitive and laugh together. You can hit an arcade like Three Monkeys for classic games, pinball, and casual drinks, or check out North Star Machine for retro-style machines. Le Darling has a cool vibe for bowling. If you’re feeling adventurous, try an interactive VR experience, mini-golf at Putting Edge downtown, or axe-throwing. Axe throwing is surprisingly fun! These activity dates help you get to know each other without all the pressure being on conversation.

12. Go for Craft Beer

Montreal has a thriving craft beer scene. My first date with my boyfriend was at 4 Origines. You can sample local brews and try the funky beers they have, and then talk about which one is your favourite or if you disliked the funky beer that you just tried.

I have made it my mission to discover all of the breweries in the city. You can check out my complete article.

13. Go to a Trivia Night

Trivia night is a fun and easy way to turn a regular night out into something more interactive. Montreal has plenty of bars that host weekly trivia nights, making it perfect for a low-pressure date. Grab a drink, share some snacks, and work together on the questions.

14. Explore Mount Royal Park

Mount Royal Park is one of the best spots in Montreal for a simple, no-stress date. You can go for a walk along the trails, have a picnic in warmer months, or head up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere for one of the best views of the city. In winter, the park is just as beautiful, with ice skating, snowy paths and cross-country skiing trails. No matter the season, Mount Royal Park is an easy, classic choice that never gets old.

15. Visit an Artisan Fair

Artisan fairs are a great date idea if you love discovering local talent and unique finds. We have done a few of them, and they are always fun afternoon outings. Montreal hosts many artisan markets throughout the year, where you can browse handmade jewelry, ceramics, art prints, and small-batch food products while supporting local creators. Events like Collectif Creatif. MTL, Puces POP, Souk @ SAT, and seasonal pop-up markets happen throughout the city. You get bonus points if you buy something for your date that they really liked.

16. Visit a Cat Café

For a cozy and cute day, you need to visit a cat cafe. Places like Café Chat L’Heureux let you enjoy a coffee and eat while spending time with adoptable cats in a calm, welcoming space. I loved going there. I don’t have pets, but I love cats, and this allowed me to see these fur babies. Sadly, none came to visit our table,e but I was able to pet one at the cashier.

17. Do a Food Crawl

Instead of committing to just one restaurant, turn your date into a food crawl and try small bites at a few different spots. Pick a neighbourhood like Jean-Talon, Mile End, or the Plateau, and share tacos, dumplings, pastries, or dessert as you go. It keeps the date moving, gives you plenty to talk about, and takes the pressure off choosing the “perfect” place.

18. Explore a New Neighbourhood

Exploring a new neighbourhood together is an easy and underrated date idea in Montreal. Choose an area you don’t visit often, like Verdun, Rosemont, Little Italy, or Hochelaga and wander without a strict plan. Stop for a coffee, pop into small local shops, or sit in a park and people-watch. It’s a relaxed way to discover new corners of the city while keeping the date spontaneous.

Seasonal Ideas for Things to Do for Couples

Summer Date Ideas in Montreal

19. Picnics

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the city’s parks. Plan a stop at the grocery store to get your favourite snacks, a blanket, and spend the afternoon enjoying the warm weather. Don’t forget to bring a small portable speaker to play some music.

20. Rooftop Drinks with a View

Montreal has some stunning rooftop bars that give you panoramic city views, making them perfect for a relaxed date. Watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand at spots like Pavillon at the SAT, Auberge du Vieux-Port, Terrasse Nelligan, and Bivouac in the Quartier des Spectacles.

21. Water Activities at the Lachine Canal

The Lachine Canal is one of my favourite places in the city. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, rent a kayak, paddleboard or pedal boat and glide along the canal. This is a fun and active.

22. Go for Ice Cream

Sometimes the simplest dates are the sweetest, literally! Montreal has some amazing spots for ice cream, whether you’re in the mood for classic flavours or something more adventurous like BBQ ice cream from Della Rose or one of the funky flavours at the famous Kem CoBa. I have made it my mission to try all of the vegan ice cream spots in the city. For a complete guide, you can go here.

Montreal Winter Date Ideas

23. Go Ice Skating

I might be the only person who doesn’t like ice skating, but it is a popular date activity. Whether you are an expert or keep falling, this is a fun activity to do as a couple. You can hit the trails at Parc Jean-Drapeau for a scenic skate along the water or enjoy the festive disco-themed skating nights there. The Old Port rink is another classic spot, with beautiful views of the city skyline and the St. Lawrence River. Esplanade Tranquille is a refrigerated ice skating rink in the middle of the Quartier des Spectacles. Afterward, warm up with a hot chocolate or coffee and enjoy the simple joy of spending time on the ice together. If you are looking for a complete guide of winter activities in the city, don’t forget to see my article.

24. Visit a Christmas Market

During the holiday season, Montreal transforms into a festive wonderland, and visiting a Christmas market makes for a cozy, magical date. You can stroll through the twinkling lights, browse artisanal gifts, and sample seasonal treats like mulled wine, hot chocolate, and fondue. The Grand Marché de Noël de Montréal is a charming holiday village in the Quartier des Spectacles filled with local artisans, seasonal treats, and live entertainment from late November into early January. The Montreal Christmas Village beside the Atwater Market offers a cozy atmosphere with fire pits, handcrafted gifts, and holiday snacks right by the Lachine Canal. For a more neighbourhood feel, seasonal pop-up markets at places like Jean-Talon Market often host holiday-themed events with local makers and festive bites, and specialty markets like Marché de Noël Végane / Vegan Christmas Market focus on plant-based and artisanal goods. My favourite one is the Montreal Christmas Village. It has more local stalls, while the one in the Quartier des Spectacles feels more targeted toward tourists.

25. Go sledding

Sledding is a fun outdoor adventure, a unique winter date idea in Montreal. Grab a sled (or even a crazy carpet) and head to popular spots like Mount Royal or Les Glissades au Jardin Gamelin. Here is the list of all the sledding places in the city. We went to the one in the Jardin Gamelins, and it was fun to feel like a kid again. There was free hot chocolate to warm up after.

26. Party at the IglooFete

Igloofête is part of the Igloofest, but this is a free event every Saturday during the duration of the festival. Come dance from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m, have fun going down the slide and roast some marshmallows in the fire pit.

See, dates don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes all it takes is the right idea! Bookmark this guide to the best date ideas in Montreal for when you’re out of inspiration, and don’t forget to tag @BRBTravelBlog in Instagram when you try one of these Montreal date ideas around the city!