Montreal tops list of best places to travel for food: Study

Montreal has topped the list of gastronomic destinations, according to a new study.

The study, which was conducted by the Laboratoire sur l’agriculture urbaine (AU/LAB) and the Office Montréalais de la Gastronomie, compared Montreal to 10 cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe, to determine which was the best to go out and eat good food.

Several criteria were considered, including urban agriculture, cities’ similarity with Montreal, and geographic distribution, to name a few.

“In addition to being appreciated as an international gastronomic destination, Montreal is now recognized for the know-how of its urban farmers, so it is with great pride that we welcome the conclusions of this study,” said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourism Montreal.

“Urban agriculture also contributes to making our city a more sustainable destination, in particular through greening, increasing biodiversity and reducing heat islands, which is fully aligned with our Sustainable Destination Policy.”

In the study, Montreal stood out for having one of the best accessibilities to garden plots for citizens, as well as dedicated spaces for urban agriculture.

“Thanks to a bold urban agriculture strategy, Montreal is succeeding in providing local and ecological supplies, drawing on the innovation and know-how of local businesses. The public is also taking an increasing interest in edible landscaping, greenhouse projects and the protection of biodiversity. The title of World Capital of Urban Agriculture confirms our international leadership in sustainable development, and encourages us to continue putting down roots for nature in every corner of the metropolis. This is excellent news, and we can be proud of it,” said Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal.

Montreal has over 270 organizations involved in the city’s movement in urban agriculture.

Montreal topped cities like Brussels, London, Paris, New York, Toronto, and Vancouver.