Artist Benjamin Von Wong recommends cultural spots, stunning architecture, and his favorite waterfront spa for rainy days in Montreal.

Montreal

"Recently, I've noticed that there are so many vegan places. I'm a vegan, and I think this city probably houses the best vegan sushi in the world. Sushi Momo is a place that I love to go to. The food is so amazing, and it's definitely a place I love to take people."

Sushi Momo par Christian Ventura

"I love Montreal in the summer. When the weather is good, it is absolutely gorgeous. The entire island surrounds this one mountain called Mont-Real, Mount Royal. And every Sunday, these things called the Tam-Tams go on where people gather to play the drums at this monument. People are playing in the park, slacklining, and doing acro yoga. Some people come together dressed in suits of foam armor, and they battle one another. It’s a unique and beautiful place and an opportunity for people to come together and connect and just be with nature."

Les Tam-Tams at George-Étienne Cartier Monument

"There's a spot I particularly love that's usually full and has the best mojitos in town. It's called The Distillery. There are actually two distilleries, but at La Distillerie, in French, they give you free goldfish — which I can no longer eat because I'm vegan — with your drinks. And these drinks are huge, but they're really yummy."

La Distillerie no.1 (Quartier des Spectacles)

"The Old Port. It just feels like a little slice of Europe. It's got beautiful cobblestones. The streets are really interesting to look at — gorgeous architecture, churches, little stalls, and shops all over. You can rent a bicycle, moped, or scooter and get around. You have paddle boats, and you have zip lines. There's a Ferris wheel and just about everything you need to have on a romantic outing."

Old Port of Montreal

"When the weather is bad, you can go to maybe a spa on the water. Bota Bota is this beautiful spa right on the waterfront, where you can see the city of Montreal. There's nothing quite like being out in the rain in a hot, beautiful jacuzzi with good company."

Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau

"There's something to be said about dive bars. This place in downtown Montreal called Mad Hatter's is really fun. They have a $2 pool, and there's free ping pong. There's like Jenga blocks that you can play with. It's a fun place to go with friends or on a date, and then towards three in the morning — I don't know if they still do this, I still remember when I was in university — you could put the tables together and dance on the tables. It's such a fun way of being out. It's affordable, small, and dark. A really cute dive bar to hang out."

Mad Hatter Pub