38 Best Places to Shop in Downtown, Montreal

Everything about this shop, from the handsome rue Crescent location to the immaculate hardwood floors and the classic bespoke men's suits with damask silk lining and hand-sewn buttonholes, speaks of quality, tradition, and style. Armenian Canadian tailor Arthur Der Shahinian began creating custom-made suits and shirts for men (and some women) since 1978, first from his modest digs at Marché Jean-Talon and later from his elegant atelier-cum-boutique on rue Crescent. Der Shahinian's sons David and John haven't compromised their father's principles of quality and friendly, professional service. The Der Shahinians also custom-make jeans and men's shoes.

In French they call costume jewelry bijoux de fantaisie, and that's exactly what you'll find here: a fantastic array of colorful crystal baubles. Elegant lines from Ginette NY contrast with the bold designs of Reminiscence Paris. The glass-walled boutique is easy to miss, as it blends into the surrounding building.

Tucked away in a small basement space on rue Crescent, this precious little artisanal chocolaterie owned by Belgian maître chocolatier Richard Zwierzynski has lived here for over 30 years and been in existence since 1976. With its stuffed teddy bears, shoe- and bottle-shaped chocolate decorations, and antique porcelain plates adorning the walls, a visit to Divine is like stepping into a 19th-century ice-cream parlor. Chocolate massage oil and chocolate tablets made from the mold of an illustration from the Kama Sutra will tickle the fancy, but it's the chocolate truffles, assorted chocolates, and the dark-chocolate-ganache cheesecake that will have you returning again and again.

With a reputation as the best vintage shop in the city, this upscale boutique specializes in vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories from the 1920s through the mid-1980s. Each handpicked item is carefully cleaned, repaired, and altered as necessary to give it a more contemporary flair and using no new materials. High-profile clients like Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett have been known to drop by. This location is bright, spacious, and loaded with irresistible treasures.

From its humble beginnings in a kitchen, this popular Canadian brand outfits young creatives and professionals in casual, contemporary fashions using ecologically friendly fabrics like hemp, kapok, seawool (a yarn made from recycled polyester and oyster shell composites), SeaCell (biodegradable fibers made from renewable raw materials found in seaweed and natural cellulose), and recycled cottons, polyesters, nylons, and wools.

From Lawren Harris and Emily Carr to Jean-Paul Riopelle and Jean Paul Lemieux, the Klinkhoffs know art, especially Canadian art. Open since 1950, the gallery showcases several floors of Canadian works from both contemporary and historical artists.

A Montréal tradition since 1932, the best men's hat store in Canada carries a huge stock of homburgs, fedoras, and derbies, as well as cloth caps and other accessories. Prices range from about C$80 to C$1,000, the top price fetching you a top-of-the-line Panama hat. There are lots of women's hats on offer as well.

This upscale department store is Canada's answer to Bergdorf Goodman. Gucci, Chanel, and all the usuals are complemented by up-and-coming designers and Holt's own in-house line.

Holt Renfrew purchased Ogilvy, Montréal's other chic department store on rue Ste-Catherine, and the two are currently in the process of merging into a megaluxury store and hotel (the brand-new Four Seasons). Holt Renfrew's move from rue Sherbrooke to Ste-Catherine should be complete sometime in 2020.

The leading female designer in Québec (and one who's celebrated throughout Canada), Marie Saint-Pierre is known for her signature pleats and ruffles—think sleek and sophisticated rather than frilly. Now she's lending her avant-garde touch to bridal, with a wedding collection that's available only at this flagship boutique.

Designed in Montréal and sold around the world, this is couture swimwear at its finest. In a rainbow of colors, these sexy cuts are meant to be displayed—though one of the ethereal cover-ups just might make one reconsider. There's also a collection of men's swim trunks and briefs.

Known around Montréal as one of the top menswear destinations, Tozzi is a one-stop shop for the dapper gentleman. Suits, polos, jeans, watches, sunglasses, and cologne—this boutique offers just about everything in a minimalist, serene environment.

Deep in the heart of the McGill University neighborhood, or the Ghetto as it's known by locals, this award-winning Montréal landmark is bursting with used books (including first editions) and specializes in philosophy, poetry, and literature. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the Lilliputian shop is beloved by locals and visitors alike. As celebrated Montréal novelist Heather O'Neill says, "Everyone says a prayer before walking in so that the roof won’t collapse." Open since 1975, the owners shunned modern technology (including a cash register) until just a few years ago. There's not even a sign, so keep your eyes peeled as you walk along Milton, though the bargain books lining the window are a good clue. The Word recently made an appearance in the Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman starring Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf.

Armoires and sideboards brimming with fine crystal and china line the walls at this beautiful shop, while chandeliers, linens, and other vintage pieces make up the rest of the treasures. Call or email before you visit, as hours can vary.

At more than 10,000 square feet, Aritzia's gleaming glass-fronted, two-story location on rue Ste-Catherine is the Vancouver brand's largest in Canada. Offering dressy and casual classics in addition to youthful contemporary fashions, this is the place to shop if you're looking for on-trend women's clothing at midrange prices. Along with its own collections, Aritzia also carries popular labels like Mackage, Citizens of Humanity, and AGOLDE.

The Canadian equivalent of Tiffany's (with its own version of the iconic blue box) has been selling diamond engagement rings, exquisite jewelry, and fine crystal since 1879. Recently renovated and redesigned and now part of the new Hôtel Birks, the luxury jewelry store contains partitioned boutiques within a larger boutique and sells items by brands such as Messika, Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex, Cartier, and Breitling, in addition to Birks' Collections. Even if diamonds or watches aren't on your shopping list, it's still worth a visit to the elegant new hotel and the seriously stunning Henri Brasserie Française (restaurant and bar lounge), serving French-inspired cuisine highlighting seasonal Québec and Canadian products ( www.restauranthenri.com).

In business since 1940, this local shoe empire stocks fashionable footwear and accessories for men and women. Along with its own label, Browns carries shoes by Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Wishbone, Blundstone, Teva, New Balance, La Canadienne, and more.

On the secondhand fashion map for decades, Eva B has all kinds of clothes, shoes, jewelry, and even eyeglasses on offer. Budget at least 30 minutes to scour the labyrinth of racks and the "pool," a large platform in the back where everything is a dollar. Just watch your step; the floor is uneven. If you get hungry in the process, nosh on a samosa or cookie from the in-store café.  There is now a second location, Eva D, at 1611 boulevard St-Laurent.

Whether you're considering a watch, diamond bracelet, or engagement ring, Château d'Ivoire might just have what you're looking for (as long as a significant price tag doesn't deter you). Brands at the newly built, ultra modern two-story veneration of all things luxury include Chopard, Piaget, Rolex, IWC, and Cartier, among others.

Built more than a century ago, Edifice Belgo houses more than two dozen art galleries and artists' studios exhibiting the works of both established and emerging artists. Each gallery or atelier maintains different hours, so it's best to call ahead.

Designer duds happily share space with inexpensive but in-vogue items at this low-key Downtown boutique with a devoted cult following. Brands include Citizens of Humanity, Dickies, Dr. Denim, Luv U Always, For Love of Lemons, Brain Dead, and Alltimers.

"Grand" is the right word to describe this antiques emporium—it's filled to the brim with elegant chandeliers and candelabras, armchairs and secretaries, and other decorative elements from the 18th and 19th centuries. These items would add a touch of refinement to almost any home.

This is Canada's premier high-end menswear destination. Stocked with both casual and formal attire, wallets, watches, and hats, this 22,000-square-foot flagship store caters to the classically tailored male. Brands include 7 For All Mankind, Michael Kors, Cole Haan, Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Brunello Cucinelli, ZEGNA, and BOSS.

These two iconic Canadian luxury department stores (Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy) merged into one brand, undergoing a monumental expansion of the original Ogilvy building. Unveiled as Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in 2019, the posh department store is linked, physically, to the equally glamorous Four Seasons Hotel, also opened in 2019. The exclusive megastore features loads of clean, white-on-white décor (white pillars, white walls, white floors, white marble), showcasing fashions and accessories for men and women from the world’s premier designer labels. Many of these are housed in intimate, partitioned boutique settings within the larger department store. On the fifth floor, clients can enjoy a private shopping experience in one of five personal shopping suites. Especially noteworthy is the Café Holt, all 1940s Hollywood-inspired glamour, with a remarkable central light fixture that recalls a solar orb set above a square orange bar, Breccia Pernice marble and chocolate wood surfaces, and gently curved seating in plush orange velvet upholstery. The café menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, with the chef highlighting contemporary Canadian cuisine with international influences.

Hudson's Bay department store is a descendant of the Hudson's Bay Company, the iconic 17th-century fur-trading company that played a pivotal role in Canada's development. The Bay, as it's known by Canadians, has been a department store since 1891 and is known for its duffel coats and signature red-, green-, and white-striped blankets. Besides fashions, housewares, and toys, there's also a beauty salon and spa, an optician, and watch and jewelry repair services.

Walk the red carpet (literally) beyond the black-and-white marble exterior into an elegant room filled with precious jewels. Founded in Montréal more than 60 years ago by a Swiss master jeweler and goldsmith, Kaufmann de Suisse is known for its flowing bands of gold and platinum. The posh yet friendly family-run boutique now also includes a dedicated VIP Philippe Patek corner, showcasing wares from the exclusive Swiss watchmaker.

You'll come to this store for the selection of European menswear and accessories, but you'll stay for the impeccable service and attention to detail. Expect suits from Kiton and Borrelli, jeans from Jacob Cohen, shoes from UK brand Edward Green, and bracelets and cuff links from Tate Ossian.

Find the trends du jour at a great price from the youth-oriented labels on the ground floor of this bustling department store dating back to 1840. Upstairs, the fare gets more upscale, with designer labels ranging from Balmain to Chloé and Lanvin. The store's fashion-forward men's suits and casual wear are also worth checking out.

This Québec-based lingerie chain is known for its bright, cheerful push-up bras, panties, and negligees. It also sells sleepwear and sportswear.

The Kleins have been selling and acquiring exquisite antiques and antiquities from around the globe for four generations. One of Montréal's most prestigious antiques galleries, Le Petit Musée has been a fixture in Downtown's Golden Square Mile for over half a century. The shop, which is housed in a gorgeous graystone on rue Sherbrooke, is a veritable treasure trove covering various rooms over four floors. You'll need a few hours and a lot of stamina to take in the nicely arranged and meticulously cataloged Inuit sculptures, African masks, Chinese bronzes, Japanese screens, Egyptian earthenware, Greco-Roman works, pre-Columbian pottery, Persian textiles, European furniture, oriental jewelry, and more.

A variety of chic independent boutiques are mixed in with international fashion brands like DKNY, Desigual, and Matinique in this graceful mall, once a grand hotel. Drop by Spa Diva or the top-notch salon Pure if you're in need of a beauty break. The elegant atrium sometimes hosts runway shows. Be sure to stop by the Barbie Expo, a collection of more than 1,000 Barbie dolls rocking some of the biggest names in fashion, including Christian Dior, Donna Karan, Armani, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Louboutin, Carolina Herrera, and Zac Posen.