Top Rated Shopping in Montreal

If you happen to be strolling along the quaint streets of Old Montreal, take a few minutes to check out the unique collection at Heritage Gallery. Opened by Kosta Dios, this family-run establishment is a cross between a gallery and and a shop which reflects its owner's love for native art and his experience as a furrier. Along with an array of beautiful pieces of art and fur accessories, the store has branched into gift items, each of which is carefully hand picked to add to the impressive collection. Whether it is to buy the perfect art piece for your living room or simply to soak in the local art, this is a great place to visit.

Rue Sherbrooke or Sherbrooke street is one the biggest and the most prominent shopping streets in Montreal. There are antique shops that have some of the most unique collections, as well as showrooms of many local, national and international brands of clothes, accessories and jewelry. Shopping aside, the street also has some mid and high-ranged spas which are perfect for a relaxing afternoon. Culture enthusiasts will be thrilled by the art scene here, for some of the best art and collectible shops such as Pointe-a-Calliere and Musee des Beaux-Arts are situated here.

Run by Louise Bouchard, one of Quebec's foremost herbalists, this upscale boutique pampers its customers with plants and herbs, essential oils, cosmetics, gifts, herbal teas and outstanding service. Aside from running one of the finest such stores in North America, Bouchard imparts her knowledge to the next generation at l'Herbolist College in Montreal. Manufactured in-house and claiming myriad restorative powers, the teas are a perfect complement to the house brand cosmetics, soaps and lotions. The beautifully decorated interior attracts throngs of rue St-Denis shoppers in search of some serenity.

Dazzling chandeliers and an array or beautiful and intricate antique items ranging from quaint figurines to elegant furniture is what one can find when one walks into Grand Central Inc. The store is a treasure-trove of antiques specializing in light fixtures and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. From delicately designed table lamps to grand chandeliers, each piece is chosen carefully and adds to the collection. The wide variety makes it the perfect place to buy a birthday gift for a friend or to buy classy decor for your home or your office.

While there is no dearth of antique and vintage items stores in Montreal, The Little Shop is certainly one-of-its-kind. Perched on a busy street, it is easy to dismiss it as a run-down brick structure. However, the moment you step inside and a treasure trove of rare vintage pieces greet you. Peruse its exhaustive collection featuring old cameras, belts, hand-woven rugs, traditional prints and vintage wedding dresses. Vintage cutlery, Anne dolls and Baptism outfits are also on display at this vibrant Montreal space.

This book seller specializes in literature and literary criticism, including all the works of F.R. Leavis and Q.D. Leavis, the well-known Cambridge critics and publishers of the 1930s magazine Scrutiny. In all some 10,000 titles are crammed into about 152 square meters (500 square feet). A good selection of ancient history includes all the major world empires - Chinese, Egyptian, Inca, Aztec, Hindu and Babylonian. All in all, it's one of the city's best known and loved independent bookstores.