Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal

A commercial artery and cultural heritage site, Saint-Laurent runs north-south through the near-centre of city and is nicknamed The Main (French: La Main) which is the abbreviation for "Main Street". Dividing the city between East and West, as well as traditionally dividing it by language, ethnicity, and class, the boulevard was named as the country's Main National Historic Site in 2002.

The Main runs through many of Montreal's ethnic communities, a first stop for immigrant communities for over a century – initially Jewish, Chinese and Italian, and later Portuguese, Greek, Arab, Haitian and others. Oozing with charm and history, it's a great place to view urban street art, drop in a coffee shop, pick up a few things at a specialty boutique, grab a bite at a deli or bistro, find a hidden bar or pub, or just kick back with a cold drink on one of the patio seating areas and watch the world go by.

Numerous art galleries and other cultural organisations make their home on the Main, including La Centrale gallerie Powerhouse, Théâtre Espace Go, the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, the Montreal Fringe Festival, Image & Nation Festival, the Society for Arts and Technology, and the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal. Many well-known music venues can also be found on the Main, including Casa del Popolo, Sala Rosa, Club Soda, Barfly, Jupiter Room, Club Lambi, The Academy Club and Divan Orange.

Gastronomic highlights include Schwartz's deli and the nearby Main Deli Steak House, both serving Montreal-style smoked meat, as well as the Montreal Pool Room, serving Montreal hot dogs since 1912.