Engagement Moon in Montreal

They say that you should enjoy your engagement as much as possible, so we decided to sneak away to Montreal for an Engagement Moon. The only regret we have is that we wish we extended our trip a little longer because we absolutely fell in love with Montreal.

If you’re confused about what an engagement moon is, it’s basically a trip for you and your loved one to get away before all the wedding chaos begins. An excuse to just enjoy each other’s company, ditch the wedding planning for a bit, and remind each other what’s important — your love for one another.

We chose Montreal for 2 reasons: it’s far enough but close enough (a 6-hour direct flight from LA) and we wanted to explore MTL further, as we have only been once (years ago) for a short trip in the winter. As you can imagine, it was very cold and we couldn’t do much exploring.

Our trip was 5 days and 4 nights, but I really wish we stayed at least a full week because there is so much to do and see. We crammed as much as we can throughout our stay but ended up being very exhausted each night, sleeping around 1 AM and waking up around 6 or 7 AM to make the most of our trip. Honestly, wouldn’t recommend this schedule as your engagement moon should be very relaxing, but our wedding is less than 3 months away so we had to do what we can and get back to LA to finish planning.

Regardless, we loved our time in Montreal and hope to return in the near future. If you’re looking to get away to Montreal, here’s a look at our itinerary to help you plan your trip!

Disclaimer: This trip was in partnership with the tourism board of Montreal.

Where to stay in Old Montreal?

Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel
414 Saint=Sulpice Street

This beautiful, perfectly placed hotel will give you access to the port of MTL, walking distance to Chinatown, and is less than 10 minutes from the metro. Think Old World charm meets luxury, as the bed was so comfortable that it was so hard to get up every morning yet easy to fall asleep in. Our room was extremely spacious with a living room, kitchenette, bathtub, and shower, and we had a courtyard view which wasn’t too bad. Plenty of closet space, which is a must for couples, and they welcomed us with a bottle of champagne, which I think was so sweet. Not to mention that the staff is extremely nice and super helpful when we asked for recommendations.

Continental breakfast was included in our stay and we also had dinner at their restaurant, OsKar during our second night. The food was delicious for both services and I love the intimate vibes of the restaurant.

What to do in Montreal?

OASIS Immersion: immerse your senses in an experience designed to connect to what matters today through powerful visual projection and stunning sound. We went to experience the Van Gogh’s Distorsion, which features 225 paintings, drawings, and sketches. There were 3 large galleries to walk through, each unique and left you intrigued. Highly recommend it if you want to experience art on another level.
AURA at the Notre-Dame Basilica: a captivating and beautiful combination of lights and music situated in the French-inspired, Gothic Revival architectural interior of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal. It’s about 30-minutes long and will leave you in awe. No photos or video recordings are allowed during the show.
Montreal Observation Wheel (La Grande Roue): if you’re looking for a view of Old Montreal from above, then take a 20-minute ride on the La Grande Roue. Enjoy an amazing panorama 60 meters high, four seasons a year, on the largest observation wheel in Canada. It’s quite romantic at night!
Bota-Bota Spa: Ever been to a floating spa? Neither have I — until Montreal. This relaxing spa was created from an old boat, in which you’ll find water circuits, massage and facial services, and a place to dine. We’ve had many massages around the world but Bota-Bota is hands down, our top 3 now. We had a couples massage that left us so relaxed, that we did not want to do anything for the remainder of the day. Highly recommend taking a self-care day during your trip and treating yourself to this!
Cirque du Soleil (KOOZA): Currently showing in MTL until August 14, 2022, but does travel so be sure to check their schedule. This show will make you laugh, leave you gasping and grasping your seat, and you’ll walk away feeling 100x happier. It was really good and that’s all I can say because you just need to watch it for yourself.
Space for Life Attraction: Let me just say that I did not think I could see penguins and a lynx in Montreal, but I did and I would do it all over again. With 5 museums to explore, we spent our day with the cutest animals in the Biodome before spending some quality time with butterflies at the insectarium. Yes, butterflies literally flying all around you. It was magical. We ended our visit with the botanical gardens, which is massive and stunning.
Walk around Old Montreal: the streets are buzzing with life and the cobblestone all around makes you feel like you’re in France (although it reminded me personally of our trip to Sitges). It’s worth exploring if you have the time.

Where to eat in Montreal?

Of course, a trip isn’t complete without some good eats! The food in MTL was amazing, and there was a wide variety of restaurants to choose from but here is where we ate (and recommend):

Taverne Gaspar: their outdoor patio was perfect for the evening and I loved how lively the boardwalk was. I highly recommend getting the cauliflower steak. It was the best one I’ve had and their mocktails are also refreshing.
Cafe Nelli: Instagram-worthy interior with delicious coffee. Their tartare was delicious for lunch and I loved their chia pudding for breakfast. KSOLE had their breakfast plate which was also good.
Un Po’ di Piu: hands down our favorite restaurant of the entire trip. Fresh pasta selections, amazing mocktails, and salads were so tasty. Plus the interior is adorable! I’m still reminiscing over that pasta I had. SO GOOD.
Foxy: think hunting lodge meets speakeasy vibes. Everything is cooked on a grill and while their non-dairy options were limited, I did enjoy their small plates (highly recommend the oysters) and they were so sweet to whip something up for dessert for me.

Thank you again to the tourism board of Montreal for taking such great care of us during our engagement moon!