What are the best unique shops in Montreal?

• What are the best unique shops in Montreal? I'm going to Montreal for the first time ever next week. Please tell me either shops or streets that have cool shops with unique items. Think: Queen Street West in Toronto. Items that interest me: tea, artisanal food, jewelry, shoes, bags, handmade stuff and stores that have unique items perfect for holiday gifts. I'm already planning on going to a few food markets.

• Answer:

  For tea: you want to try http://camellia-sinensis.com/tea/, for something more traditional, in a meditative, peaceful eastern-like atmosphere. (in the Quartier Latin area*). for something more modern, try http://www.davidstea.com/?___store=en&___from_store=fr, which is a bit more on the gift-boutique side, that on Mont-Royal st., east of Saint-Denis. For food: I don't know if you're talking about restaurants or gift items.... The french macarons I mentioned in the foot note make great gifts though. For restaurants it would be long to write since I don't know your taste and budget but if you specify I'll be happy to make suggestions. Jewellery, shoes, bags: you'll find some original and nice stuff on st-denis st. (Scarpa comes to mind - but I'm biased since I've worked there before), since a lot of shops are local. The mile-end is also great for indie design: walk around Saint-Viateur and Bernard. (mile-end is about the area between Saint-Laurent, Van Horne, Saint-Viateur and Bloomfield. Google this to see the area approximately: H2V 4H2) http://arterieboutique.blogspot.com/, http://www.local23mtl.blogspot.com/ and http://www.general54.blogspot.com/ come to mind but the streets are full of little shops. In that area on St-Laurent you'll also find independent international designers at boutiques like http://boutiqueunicorn.com/ or http://www.lesetoffes.com/, and you might come across a vintage pop up shop. If you're in the Mile-End DO STOP FOR A BAGEL :) I'm in the Fairmount bagel camp, but let's not start that war here. :) Also, for lunch time, http://www.soupesoup.com/ is very good (they also have a cafe downtown, on Crescent if I'm not mistaken) Also, if you're downtown (on St-Catherine), make the effort to continue past Guy St. (Concordia university) and you'll find good little shops like http://boutiqueonze.ca/, 1861 and http://www.razberry.ca/. If you have money and you're in Old Montreal, I'm crazy for http://www.rooneyshop.com/, http://www.reborn.ws/ and all the little art galleries/clothing stores over there (I'd say mainly on Saint-Paul). Oh and if you want funky glasses you want to go at http://www.msdion.com/. You didn't ask about going out or venues, but just so you know the http://www.fta.qc.ca/en/pages/2011/2011 will be on next week (if you like contemporary theatre or dance, don't miss it!!) And if you want, you can rent a https://montreal.bixi.com/ to see all this :) *while you're there, after, you can then go all the way up Saint-Denis street. All kinds of local shops, cafes and local restaurants. If you like the area, you can turn on Mont-Royal St. to the east, and see similar shops and restaurants (if you like french macarons, http://www.boutiquepointg.com/ is pretty good; the palm for that treat goes to the Europea macarons, though, which you can buy downtown, at the http://www.birks.com/fr/static/cafe/welcome.htm- they come in boxes and make lovely gifts. also, they're the ones I've tasted here that are the closest to what I've tried at Ladurée in Paris). If you turn west on Mt-Royal, you can get to saint-laurent blvd if you'd like, or if you're in for a little trek (about 20-30 min I'd say), get the the mountain. You'll also pass in front on http://www.weblocal.ca/maskarad-montreal-qc.html, on Mt-royal st, just before getting to Saint-Laurent blvd, which is a beautiful shop. Vintage lady-parlour -like decor (think red velvet curtains, upholstered chairs and old mirrors and dressers), with vintage and independent designers clothing and accessories. MOST IMPORTANTLY: have fun and I hope you enjoy your first time in Montreal! :)