Among the hodgepodges of vintage boutiques, high-end fashion, and locally owned and organic everything, Montreal’s streets are noticeably stomping grounds for the bohemian-chic hipster.

Against a backdrop of European Victorian-era flair, fervent shoppers seek out Le Plateau’s infamous Avenue Mont-Royal, boulevard Saint-Laurent, Avenue Laurier, and Rue Saint-Denis. Each is peppered with locally owned boutiques such as Barbeau or U&I, carrying the loveliest and most eclectic handmade fashions, vintage furniture, jewellery, lingerie, and extensive selections of yoga apparel. Prices can be high, but the quality of craftsmanship and service is worth it. Check out Boutique Lyla on Avenue Laurier if you need a fix of haute couture.

If bargains are what you are after, the city’s covert shopping haven, Chabanel, can be found north of its downtown core. The district’s warehouses are open to the public on Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm, bursting with deals on high-end merchandise. Do note, as street numbers increase here, so do fashion statements. The 555 Chabanel building near Meilleur Street has a cache of moderately priced French imports leaving plenty for the taxi fare to le Vieux Port, an evening of gelato samples and strolls down cobbled routes at sunset.