While Montreal is officially a French-speaking city, it has several historically English-speaking neighborhoods, primarily located on the western side of the island. The most prominent "English" area is the city of Westmount, an affluent enclave known for its beautiful stone homes and high percentage of anglophones. Other major English-speaking hubs include the West Island suburbs, such as Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, and Dollard-des-Ormeaux, where English is the primary language used in shops and cafes. In 2026, areas like Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) and Hampstead also maintain a strong English-speaking identity. Even in these neighborhoods, you will notice that the city is increasingly bilingual; most residents seamlessly switch between languages. For a tourist, the "most English" feel can often be found in the downtown core near McGill University or in the trendy pubs of the Plateau, where the population is quite international. However, even in the "English parts," it is considered polite to start a conversation with a simple "Bonjour" before switching to English, reflecting the city's unique and vibrant dual-language culture.