A MUST DO EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T REGRET! This was the highlight of our trip! We did a private tour for 2 couples, and fantastic doesn't even begin to describe it. Our walking food tour along St. Laurent Blvd with Melissa was outstanding! Melissa's deep knowledge of the history and cultural highlights of each neighborhood made the tour so much more than just tasting food-it was a true journey through Montreal's diverse heritage. From Chinese to Jewish, Portuguese to Italian, and of course the iconic foods of Montreal, every dish was a perfect reflection of the community it represented. Ending at Jean Talon Market was the cherry on top! Melissa's passion, storytelling, and delicious recommendations made this tour unforgettable. A must for food lovers and history buffs alike! My tip is to skip breakfast because Mélissa does not disappoint in making sure you leave perfectly satisfied.
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Private tour in Montreal Mélissa S
Eating up the Main in Montreal
5.0
(8) reviews
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6 hours
1
Tour date
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6 hours
1
Mélissa S.
5.0
Guide rating
16
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Tours delivered
22 hrs
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I want to unfold Montreal for you by showing you its beauty, telling its stories and tasting its food. Where these things intersect is where you will find me and where you will really get a feel for the city and how unique and delicious it is as well as the people that have made this city what it is. I am originally from British Columbia but have been in Montreal my whole adult life (20 years) and although my first language is English, my heritage is mainly French Canadian and I am fluent in french and Spanish as well. I did a multi-disciplinary program in Canadian Studies at McGill; I am a certified professional cook and was in the restaurant industry and taught cooking for many years. I am an accredited Montreal tour guide and I broke the mould in terms of food tours in Montreal using the food scene and the personal stories of chefs, farmers, artisans and tasting as a way to experience the city with my touring company that I have been running since 2012. I also like to incorporate the voices and stories of women into what I do. I have a Master's in Educational Technology and coach female entrepreneurs. I am also a trained birth doula and fight for birth and reproductive justice and housing rights. Come and get access to the city in a way that you will not get on your own and let me share my love of food, people, learning, humour and transformative events and stories! Please contact me with any questions or to personalize a tour for you. BA from McGill University with honours with a major concentration in Canadian Studies 2007 Montreal Tour Guide and bicycle guide Certification 2015 Professional Cooking Diploma 2009 On the cover of the business section of the Montreal Gazette in 2015 Winner of best female entrepreneurial award of Montreal in 2013 Quebec entrepreneurship contest Second place winner of services to businesses for my corporate food tours Quebec entrepreneurship contest Operating Tours since December 2012 Selected for trade missions to Paris and Atlanta 2013/2016 Currently undertaking an MA in Educational Technology Trained doula No Restrictions
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Mélissa S.
St-Laurent Boulevard - The best combination of History and Food
Overview of your Montreal tour
St-Laurent boulevard, St-Lawrence or the Main is traditionally Montreal's east-west dividing line and the border between the English & French, but was also the corridor of immigrant communities that were squeezed between the two dominant cultural communities. I was the first one to design a food tour of this national historic site, and although many have tried to copy since, they cannot copy the relationships I have with businesses in Chinatown, where I worked for years, in the former Jewish quarter where I have been giving tours since 2012 as in Little Italy as I did a cooking internship in Italy. I am a charismatic storyteller who is as well versed in history as food. Many tout my tours as the best thing they did in Montreal. The food takes on a new meaning when you understand the story behind each place and the eating grounds you in place and your senses. This street tells the story of the whole city through its historical landmarks and the businesses that are still there frozen in time.
Recent Reviews
We had such a fun time on our food tour with Melissa! She has so much knowledge on the different cultures and correlating food. Each restaurant we stopped at was so delicious and inviting. I recommend doing this tour no matter what you are visiting Montreal for! We were there for a bachelorette party and everyone enjoyed the tour!
Malissa's enthusiasm for her city of Montreal is "catching" on a tour with her. She was great giving us history and general information about the city. This is mostly a walking tour with buses, subways and car rental. She was always willing to allow us rest time as needed.
Melissa was a joy as a tour guide. Our group of 6 were foodies and Melissa dazzled us with her knowledge and enthusiasm for unique food items. Fair warning, wear your walking shoes and be prepared for a full day visiting unique shops. Eat a light breakfast as you will taste some of the finest local food available. From a Chinese bakery to a chocolate shop where you will learn how to taste a variety of chocolates. Melissa is a treasure you won't want to miss. Her knowledge of Montreals history is a plus
We had an outstanding tour of Montreal, under the guidance of Melissa and driver Martin. The cooperation in tailoring the tour to our interests, their knowledge and preplanning, gave us the best experience for our day in Montreal. They both were extremely enthusiastic, helpful and we feel so fortunate to have found them, and have them show us their wonderful city.
Come with your walking shoes and come hungry for Melissa's fun-packed and knowledgeable tour of Montreal's diverse foods and neighbourhoods.
Your Montreal tour itinerary
This Private Walking Tour encompasses the following areas: Old Montreal, into Chinatown, the former Red Light District, the Plateau Mont-Royal, the Mile-End into Rosemont and Little Italy including the Jean-Talon Market. - Meet in a historic spot that allows us to bring you into the context of Montreal's history through architecture. - Explore St-Laurent street and follow the city's development chronologically moving up the street to from older to newer areas - Learn the history of Montreal, the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Jewish and Italian communities that were all along this street -12 food stops that are everything from Montreal's emblematic comfort foods: smoked meat, bagels and poutine into pastries, from mom and pop shops to cutting-edge trendy joints -Visits the Jean-Talon Market, North America's biggest open-air market - See 8 neighbourhoods -Walk about 5 kilometres -Take the city bus twice -Get an idea of the landscape of the city and see wildly contacting neighbourhoods
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Transport details
Type: Walking
This tour is best done on foot. Please wear comfortable shoes. We will take the city bus once or twice with tickets that are provided
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Meeting location
Montreal, QC, Canada
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Place d'armes at the base of the de Maisonneuve monument in the middle of the square in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
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6 hours
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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