The ruelles vertes are Montreal’s quiet triumph: residents petition the borough, the asphalt gets torn up, and the alley becomes a linear garden of vines, serviceberries, and community planters. The Plateau’s grid means you can travel blocks at a time through them — cooler, car-free, and full of murals and cats.
These picks chain the best-established ruelles with the external staircase streets and Mont Royal’s eastern flank. Duluth and the Carré Saint-Louis fountain square anchor the south end.