As Netflix rolls out the second half of the new Bridgerton season this month, you might find yourself craving high teas, grand ballrooms, and manicured gardens between the credits. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do in Montreal that bring the romance of the Regency era to life.
You can find candlelit concerts and floral displays fit for royalty, pick up a new gown from a modiste, or enjoy a refined tea service, all without leaving the city.
In this season of Bridgerton, Colin and Penelope, dubbed "Polin," have everyone in high society catching spring fever with their sudden engagement. It's not just flowers in bloom but rumours too, spreading faster than seasonal allergies. Meanwhile, Penelope’s life as Lady Whistledown is dangerously close to being exposed, adding even more tension to the mix.
Inspired by the genteel drama, here are seven local ways to dine, dance, and dress like a member of the ton in Montreal:
Go to the "modiste" at Ponton for a new gown
Penelope holds up a yellow gown. Right: A sign with a top hat outside Ponton in Hochelaga.
@bridgertonnetflix | Instagram, @josephpontoncostumes1865 | Intagram
Where: 4846, rue Sainte-Catherine Est
Cost: $125/weekend
Reason to go: If you're a fan of Bridgerton's regal style, Joseph Ponton Costumes in Hochelaga is a must-visit. Open since 1865, it's Quebec's oldest costume store, packing a massive selection of historical outfits perfect for any fan wanting to channel the show's extravagant fashion. You can rent everything from lace gloves and feathered hats to brocade jackets and full-on period gowns. It's a way of engaging in smart, sustainable fashion — renting a costume for a short time instead of buying. Just step into the shop, pick your persona and party like it’s 1813.
Read in the garden of Château Ramezay
Someone reads by a fountain in the garden of Château Ramezay. Right: Eloise reads a Lady Whistledowne pamphlet.
@nini_ced | Instagram, @bridgertonnetflix | Instagram
Where: 280, rue Notre-Dame Est
When: Every day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $13.50/adults, $10/students
Reason to go: You can channel your inner Eloise Bridgerton with a book in hand at Château Ramezay. Standing as one of the oldest buildings in North America, the Old Montreal landmark give you a direct line to the days when it served as the residence of Montreal's governors. The Governor’s Garden, a faithful recreation of an 18th-century setup, surrounds you with the herbs and plants that once fed and healed a historical Montreal. The curated gardens out back include a satyr head fountain that makes for a prime spot to settle down with a Julia Quinn book.
Take a break with "Me Tea" at Lady Porcelaine
Queen Charlotte sips a cup of tea. Right: A lavish spread of tea and sweets.
@bridgertonnetflix | Instagram, @lady_porcelaine_montreal | Instagram
Where: 4545, rue Saint-Denis
Cost: $15.45/"Me Time" session; $49.45/person for "Afternoon Tea Experience"
Reason to go: Forget Lady Whistledown's society papers; in Montreal, all the secret whispers circle around Lady Porcelaine. At the Plateau tea salon, you can indulge in a "Me Time" session for a decadent solo high tea with a personalized teapot, assorted scones, clotted cream, and seasonal jam. Or gather your dearest friends for the "Afternoon Tea Experience," featuring a selection of fine teas, savoury bites, and sweet treats. No reservations are required for the one-person experience, so even the most spontaneous aristocrat can partake in the ritual. The group experience is limited to three guests at a time, makes for an intimate setting is where Montreal's high society secrets are best shared.
Learn how to arrange blooms with Floralia
Someone arranges flowers on a table covered in bloom-filled vases. Right: Penelope stands in a doorway surrounded by plants and flowers.
@floraliamtl | Instagram, @netflixbridgerton | Instagram
Where: 5338, boul. Saint-Laurent
Cost: $25/flower socials; $75/bouquet workshop; $135/table centrepiece workshop
Reason to go: Just as Lady Danbury or the Featheringtons might fuss over the perfect floral centerpiece, so too can you dabble in the art of flower arranging. There's a table centrepiece workshop ideal for learning how to style and place flowers in a vases and a hand-tied bouquets class that focuses on the technique of portable displays. On Friday evenings, the Plateau studio also welcomes guests for a relaxed floral arranging social. You can invite your friends, bring your own wine, and practice your skills in a laid-back setting.
Perfect your waltz at a ballroom dance class
A couple dance under a flowering wisteria branch covered in lanterns. Right: Two people dance under chandeliers with an instructor nearby.
@bridgertonnetflix | Instagram, @arthurmurraywestisland | Instagram
Where: 4847, rue Jean-Talon O.
When:
- Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Have an enchanting musical evening at a Candlelight Concert
A concert performed by candlelight in the Église Notre-Dame des Sept Douleur. Right: Queen Charlotte under a large stained glass window while people in period costumes look down the aisle.
@candlelight.concerts | Instagram, @bridgertonnetflix | Instagram
Where: Varies
Reason to go: You can dress to the nines for a Candlelight concert, where the flicker of candles sets the scene for an electrifying musical journey—no time machine needed. These concerts replicate the pre-electricity ambiance that your favorite Bridgerton characters would have enjoyed, elevating live performances to a spectacular sensory experience. Venues are often elegance and you can imagine Queen Charlotte nodding along to an instrumental homage to Queen. Or, travel back further to revel in the timeless melodies of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, the rock stars of their era.
Have your potrait painted (or just a caricature) in the Old Port
An artist paints on a canvas surrounded by caricatures in the Old Port. Right: Daphne and Simon from Bridgerton stand by their portrait.
@gmartineznyc | Instagram, @bridgertonnetflix | Instagram
Where: Place Jacques-Cartier
Cost: Varies based on the artist
Reason to go: You can step back to a time before selfies and filters with a portrait session in Old Montreal. Local artists set up in the iconic square offering a flash from the past with their skill in painting portraits or caricatures. Bonus points if you dress up and pose in Regency attire, but you an also always opt for an everyday look. Either way, you'll gain insight into the days when a portrait sitting was the only way to capture a person's image. Reviews of the experience highlight the exceptional talent of the artists and the value for money.
- 7 rad things to do in Montreal if you binged the new 'Fallout' TV show and are craving more ›
- 6 movies and TV shows filming in Montreal this year ›
- 7 Montreal spots to venture if you dream of living in Stardew Valley ›
- I visited Montreal's oldest costume store for a Comiccon makeover & it was magical - MTL Blog ›
- 12 free things to do this week in Montreal - MTL Blog ›
- 11 of the best Montreal date ideas to impress your special someone this summer ›
- 14 of the best things to do in and around Montreal this summer - MTL Blog ›
