The Plateau and Environs

The Plateau—as it's more commonly called these days—has been renovated by artists, performers, and academics eager to find houses that are also close to all the action. The Quartier Latin, or the Latin Quarter, has been drawing the young since the 1700s, when Université de Montréal students gave the area its name. Both the Latin Quarter and the Plateau have rows of restaurants, bistros, coffee shops, antiques shops, and art galleries. The lively strip of rue Ste-Catherine running east of the Latin Quarter is the backbone of the Village—Montréal's main gay community. Its restaurants, antiques shops, and bars make it a popular destination for visitors of all persuasions.