Atwater Market

Atwater Market, the second largest of Montreal's chief public markets, holds a special place in my Montreal memory banks. The first farmers market I recall visiting as a child, the Atwater Market's sights, smells and tastes stay imprinted for a lifetime. Selling a slew of premium butcher meat, fish, hundreds of different cheeses, some of the best chocolates in Montreal (Geneviève Grandbois, remember that name), flowers, fresh herbs and of course, fresh fruits and vegetables, Marché Atwater is more upscale in nature than budget, though if you look closely, a few steals and deals can be had. Just don't blink or you'll miss 'em.

Pro tip: cycling by the Lachine Canal? Plan a pit stop at the Atwater Market. It's but a tiny detour off the canal bike path and has the makings of a choice lunch or snack destination. Just keep your eyes peeled for a beige building with an art deco clock tower. You can't miss it. Really. You'd have to force yourself not to notice. It's a heritage site that dates back to 1933.