Most stores are open from 9 or 10am to 6pm Monday through Wednesday, 9am to 9pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday. Many stores are now also open on Sunday from noon to 5pm.

Antiques--The best place to find antiques and collectibles is in the more than 50 storefronts along Rue Notre-Dame between rues Guy and Atwater.

Department Stores--Montréal's major shopping emporia stretch along rue Ste-Catherine (except for Holt Renfrew), from rue Guy eastward to Carré Phillips at Aylmer. An excursion along this 12-block stretch can keep a diligent shopper busy for hours, even days. Most of the stores mentioned below have branches elsewhere, including in the underground city.

Wines & Spirits--Although wine and beer are sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, liquor and other spirits can only be sold in shops operated by the provincial Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ). Though it was once as bureaucratic as most state-run agencies, successful efforts have made the stores more inviting. Some serve particular needs, others strive to be comprehensive. One of the largest is the SAQ Selection at 440 bd. de Maisonneuve ouest at rue City Councillors (tel. 514/873-2274), a virtual supermarket of wines and liquors, with more than 3,000 labels from some 55 countries. Prices run from C$10 (US$6.65) to C$1,000 (US$666) for some Bordeaux vintages. SAQ Signature at 998 bd. de Maisonneuve ouest at rue Metcalf (tel. 514/282-9445) specializes in single-malt scotches, whiskeys, brandies, and liqueurs, and has a bar for tastings. Smaller and less fancy, the SAQ Express at 1108 Ste-Catherine ouest is meant for quick in-and-out purchases; it's open daily and later than the other stores, 11am to 10pm.