Live in Griffintown

If you want to live close to the action of downtown yet still enjoy the relaxing benefits of living near a body of water within walking distance of your loft, then Griffintown is the neighbourhood for you.

At the water’s edge and just 10 minutes from downtown

Bordered by the Lachine Canal to the south, by Notre-Dame Street to the north, by Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and the Bonaventure Expressway to the east, and Georges-Vanier Boulevard to the west, this borough in the southwest part of town – the Sud-Ouest as locals call it – really has it all.  

Explore ↗

For the past 20 years, this former industrial area has undergone intense revitalization, attracting many real estate developers and new residents. And we can understand why. Who doesn’t dream of sipping a cocktail in their rooftop swimming pool while watching the sun set behind a gorgeous city skyline?

Welcome to Mary and Robert Griffin’s land

Established on farmlands called “the fief of Nazareth”, which belonged to the Religieuses hospitalières de Saint-Joseph, the land then went to Thomas McCord until 1796. But this historic district owes its name to Mary and Robert Griffin. Owners of the only Griffintown home at the start of the 19th century, the couple quickly divided their land into building lots and laid out King, Queen, Prince and Nazareth streets, which today crisscross the Cité du Multimédia.

The digging of the Lachine Canal from 1821 to 1825 marked the beginning of the industrialization of Montréal and the massive arrival of Irish workers, who quickly populated the area. Railway lines constructed alongside the Canal added rail traffic to this busy hub, boosted by the opening of the Victoria Bridge in 1860, the first bridge to cross the St. Lawrence River. Industrial activity continued until the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, which ended the canal's economic heyday. Griffintown’s population began to disperse and the area fell into obscurity.

Who will your neighbours be?

The Griffintown neighbourhood attracts an active, educated, affluent and cosmopolitan population, of which 73.6% speak French and English and 37% come from an immigrant background. According to the latest demographic profile published by the City of Montréal in 2014, there are some 6,500 people, three-quarters of whom are between 25 and 64 years old and more than half of whom live alone. Couples with children and single-parent families are in the minority (34%), with households without children making up two-thirds of families in the neighbourhood.

Residents of Griffintown are generally more educated than their neighbours in other areas of the Sud-Ouest borough (77% have a university degree compared to 39%). Over 40% of them work in business, finance, administration or management. In general, households have an average income that is significantly higher than that of households in the rest of the borough.

Things to do in Griffintown

Start by discovering the historic park on the banks of the Lachine Canal, between the Old Port and Lake Saint-Louis. Families, picnickers, sport and outdoor enthusiasts love to meet in this green island in the heart of the city. In summer, you can navigate the canal by canoe, kayak or pedal boat (docking at the Canal Lounge floating café for a snack), take a guided tour aboard the Petit Navire or cast a rod and see if the fish are biting! You can also walk or cycle the 13.5 km trail that runs along the canal, one of the most beautiful circuits in Montréal. In winter, the groomed and partly snow-cleared trail is perfect for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snow biking.

If art is more your thing or you’re just curious about local culture, go to 1700 La Poste, on Notre-Dame Street. Before you go in, take a moment to admire the two imposing columns that flank the ornate copper door of this former post office transformed into a private exhibition centre. Then continue on to the Arsenal contemporary art centre on William Street to discover Canadian and international artists, and visit the Blouin Division art gallery. You’ll feel like you’re Chelsea, New York, in this huge building of the former Marine Works Canada shipyard, converted into an art centre in 2011. Soon, you will also be able to admire a series of works of public art in the four new parks and public spaces that will be developed by the City along Ottawa Street: Place des Arrimeurs, Parc des Eaux-Cachées, Place William-Dow and Place Mary-Griffin. This cultural corridor will link the Fonderie Darling, in the eastern part of Griffintown, to the Arsenal.

And what outing would be complete without a delicious meal in a neighbourhood restaurant? You are spoiled for choice: the Grinder, Mauvais Garçons, Le Boucan, Bird Bar restaurants are a must if you’re into comfort food and lively evenings. If you just fancy sipping an espresso or cappuccino, opt for Mano Cornuto or Café Lali; for sumptuous dishes cooked in a wood-fired oven, try Foxy; for refined and contemporary Italian dishes, choose Le Richmond; or grab a pint on tap and pull up a chair to watch a game on the big screen at the Lord William pub. And to celebrate a special occasion and delight your palate, book a table at Chez Sophie or at Perles et Paddock. Once famous for its antique shops, Griffintown is now a favourite destination for foodies.

Would you like to follow the real estate market more closely? Subscribe to our monthly market reports (in French for now).

Griffintown

Last update : September 2022