Growing up in the burbs of Montreal I don’t recall Wellington being one of the city’s great streets. It was always quaint and a little run down. It’s now on a big upswing with quaint growing into cosmopolitan and run down into a hipster-cool environment. After hearing that our very own Wellington was named a Top Street in the World, Baharak and I decided to check it out for ourselves.
Here’s the quick summary – if you’re looking for something to do on the weekend heading out for a walk on the pedestrian-only, now world-famous, Wellington in Verdun is a terrific way to pass some time. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect as it’s been a few years since I’ve been but I was pleasantly surprised. The street is a vibrant mix of clothing shops, eateries, a great bagel spot, bike store, cool hat store and a ton of small bars and restos. The crowd is also just as vibrant. An eclectic mix of just about every nationality you could think of and all ages as well. There are smartly placed ramps for both wheelchairs and strollers all along the street and not too many bikes flying about.
A highlight for us was the Korean BBQ place Moa Moa. I can’t recall tasting a better crispy chicken. The BBQ beef over rice was also terrific. A small place with modest decor – almost looking like a fast food place, it filled up very quickly so head over on the early side if you can. With amazing food and attentive staff I will certainly go back!
Another bright spot on our stroll was the small artists’ nook nestled beside the Church of the Epiphany. Some very interesting art there. I overheard one of the artists while chatting with a friend ‘It took me twenty years to learn how to draw simply’ – thought that was a cool remark. Don’t miss that little artistic hideaway.
Finally, the last shop we popped into was Harricana – the place in Montreal to visit if you need a well made straw hat. No cheap imports here. The friendly staff will help you find the perfect summer headwear.
I hope the pedestrian only setup continues next year, I’ll certainly be back. Looking forward to trying out the Irish Pub that we reluctantly walked by.
