I've been going to this annual Christmas craft fair for the past 3 years and have always found…read moresomething special. I don't consider myself to be a crafty person, but I appreciate things that are well done, quality pieces made with love. This is probably the largest and best craft show in the Montreal area, featuring handmade goods from a variety of artisans - whether you're looking for jewelry, knitwear, fur apparel, kitchenware, soaps or food/drinks - there is something for everyone. Best sellers return year after year, but there are lots of newcomers at every edition as well. This fair seems to cater to an older crowd, partly because everything is quite pricey, plus, some of the designs in terms of home decor and fashion aren't appropriate for all age groups. However, if you venture off into the gourmet food area, this is where you can find some of the more universally pleasing gift ideas. You'll be able to sample all kinds of fine goodies, like duck pâté, cheeses, nougat, chocolates, macarons, ciders and wine. What I really love is the free entry and convenience of location. Super accessible in the heart of downtown, connected to the metro and bus terminal. Place Bonaventure is the ideal spot to host this event. If you feel like shopping for unique items in a festive environment, this is it!

Zone Orange is a charming art gallery (galerie d'art) and cafe on a side street off of Old…read moreMontreal. It isn't terribly large, but it's clean, colorful, with a ton of random art on display and for sale. I had a conversation with friendly Dominic Morin, the manager/owner (he's listed as "le directeur" on his business card - I'm unsure how that directly translates). I told him I was sad there wasn't any food[1] for purchase, only coffee, and he noted my complaint (now they actually have SORBET in addition to their espresso). He also pointed out a few pieces to me, and mentioned his sister was an artist here; I also checked out these animal plushies (amusing cat and octopus ones) sitting on a huge IKEA shelf. Much of the random art there was graspable stuff - tres cool. Zone Orange is worth a visit.

Cute boutique with very expensive items. This is just off the beaten path so you will have to look…read moredown the side street to find it. Worth a stop if your in Old Montreal according to Frommers, to us it was overpriced crap.

Adorable boutique in downtown St Lambert that has a lot of gift ideas. Candles, local jams,…read morecaramel, spices etc... dishes, jewelry and kitchen accessories. A must at Christmas time.

For any themed or run of the mill party, this is the place where you can find costumes masks,…read more balloons, piñatas and pretty much anything else imaginable. I just got a whole slew of items for an upcoming relatives birthday and had no problem finding all of the items I was looking for - and then some.

I went and purchased 5 balloon arrangements and was disappointed to leave with arrangements that…read moredidn't float. Was not impressed at all.

Very disappointing experience at Deserres Montréal - Ville-Marie…read more I bought a toy on discount and returned to the store the same day, less than 3 hours later, hoping to exchange it for another toy of exactly the same value, simply because my child preferred a different one. The exchange was refused, even though the item was unused and the request was reasonable. What was most upsetting was the rude and dismissive attitude of the staff when I calmly explained the situation. I understand store policies, but customer service should also include courtesy and basic understanding. Given the circumstances, I believe some form of compensation (such as a store credit or exception exchange) would be appropriate to acknowledge the poor customer experience.

This is a small arts and crafts store inside a mall. Inventory isn't as expansive as Michaels but…read moreeverything is neat and easy to find. They also don't have coupons. Staff leaves you alone while you shop which is a good thing!

Tiny shop with just excellent creations and selections from local artisans!! This is a print shop…read morewhere you can book lessons and workshops to learn directly from the artist owners. You can also just pop in here for darling cards and sweet gifts like hilarious pins. I'm so happy to see something so cool happening in the spot, and with Atelier B and Butterblume right nearby it makes for a sweet little detour to this corner of the Mile End.

Charming stationary store, with a nice selection of cards, journals and small gifts. The staff was…read moresuper helpful and friendly. Just a lovely shopping experience.

Boucle and Papier is a small little stationery shop that offers greeting cards, stickers, desktop…read moreaccessories, stationery, and other little gifts. The place is small and adorable, as I found some Montreal-designed and -made items, such as stickers and some greeting cards. I did wish, however, that there were more local handmade/specialty items for sale, as similar cards can be found back in the States. If you're in need of a cute card or to brighten your day with some stickers and little knick knacks for your desk, stop by Boucle & Papier. +cute greeting cards and stationery +limited Montreal-designed and -created items

We came here to make candles and had a lovely experience. The staff was very kind to us even though…read morewe only spoke English. They have instructions written in English and in French on the wall. Lots of different scents you can choose from. They also give you cute aprons to wear. A very simple and fun activity to do with your partner or friends. We absolutely loved our candles. We also liked that we could also decorate and pick out our own sticker for it. We didn't get any drinks but if you are making candles, the drinks and food are 10% off. Definitely recommend booking online!