Venue

GSP 2025 will take place at Mila – Quebec AI Institute, one of the world’s biggest AI research institutes, located in the vibrant Mile-Ex neighborhood of Montréal.

Address:
Mila - Quebec AI Institute
6666 Saint-Urbain Street, Suite 200
Montréal, Quebec, H2S 3H1
Canada

How to get there

Mile-Ex is a dynamic neighborhood known for its mix of industrial charm and cutting-edge innovation. It’s home to a thriving arts scene, excellent restaurants, and tech startups. It is also well-connected to the rest of the city via Montreal’s STM metro and bus system.

Transit apps: The STM-recommended transit apps are Transit and Chrono, both are highly recommended. Transit has a nicer interface, but Chrono allows users to top-up their OPUS transit cards through the app. Google/Apple maps also work reasonably well.

Montréal (YUL) airport to the city: From the airport you can take the express 747 bus to downtown, and switch to metro/bus lines from there.

To arrive at the Mile-Ex neighborhood, the easiest way to go is to get off the 747 bus at the Lionel-Groulx metro station, and take the orange metro line to Beaubien/Jean-Talon stations.
You’ll need an OPUS card for all modes of transport. You can either buy a 10-ride pass, or a multi-day or weekly pass. Note that transport to/from the airport requires an additional pass that is slightly more expensive, but is typically covered by the multi-day/weekly/weekend passes. There is personnel by the ticket machines at the airport, so it’s a good idea to check with them to make sure you’re buying the right ticket if you have any doubts.

Getting to Mila by public transport: The nearest metro stations are De Castelnau (Blue line), Beaubien (Orange line) and Jean-Talon (both Blue and Orange lines), all a short 10-15-minute walk from the venue. You can also take the 55 bus from De Castelnau, 160/18 buses from Beaubien, and 92/31 buses from Jean-Talon to shorten the walk. Multiple other bus lines, including the very frequent 55 and 80, also serve the area.

By taxi/rideshare/car: Both taxis and rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) are readily available in Montreal. If you’re driving yourself, do keep in mind that street parking in the surrounding area is available but limited.

By bike: Montreal is very bike-friendly, and BIXI bike-sharing is very popular particularly in the warmer months with multiple stations available around Mila.

Restaurants and bars

Montréal has an amazing food scene, with more restaurants and cafes per square kilometre than anywhere in the Americas. The city has a massive variety of food options, from diners and fast food to haute cuisine to the incredible vegan diversity across a plethora of cuisines. We won’t attempt to do any justice to the scene, but will note down some suggestions for some Montreal classics and convenient places in the Mile-Ex/Little Italy area.

Bagels: St-Viateur’s and Fairmount Bagels.
Smoked meat: Schwartz’s Deli is the most authentic, but plenty of other places offer quality smoked meat sandwiches.
Poutine: Where you’ll find the best poutine in Montreal is a very… divisive topic. La Banquise, Greenspot, Ma Poule Mouillée, Chez Tousignant, Chez Claudette, Chez Ma Tante, Frite alors!, Paulo & Suzanne… Good luck picking one!
Around Mile-Ex/Little Italy: Le Pick Up, Cafe Guerrero, Pumpui, San Gennaro are great for quick bites, with many good Italian cafes nearby. Cicchetti, Vices & Versa, Bar St-Denis and Wills are great for afternoon/evening drinks & food.
If you’re looking for something different, Au Pied De Cochon in Le Pleateau is a staple for a bit fancier but super hearty Quebecois food. Lots of meat, foie-gras and poutine involved.
Many places offer vegetarian/vegan options, but several suggestions particularly focused on vegetarian/vegan food: Lola Rosa, Aux Vivres, Shushu Haru, Cafe Santropol, Bloom Sushi…

Sightseeing

Old Montréal contains the vast majority of historical buildings, most dating from the 17th - 19th century, the Notre-Dame Basilica, and many museums. There is also a 45 meter clock tower located in the Quai de l’Horloge, originally called the Victoria Pier, which you can climb up and get breathtaking views of the St. Laurence river and to a lesser extent, the city.
Mont-Royal is the extinct volcano the rises high above the city in the form of a large hill. The lookout at the top, known as the Belvédère, is a must-see, after walking through the Mont-Royal park.
Le Plateau/Mile End combines scenic residential streets, street art, mesmerizingly hip shopping, drinking and dining. The Mile End, an area of Le Plateau, offers some of the best drinking and dining in the city. It is just south of Mile-Ex, and thus easy to get to from Mila. Several streets are also pedestrianized during the summer months and are very pleasant to walk through.
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is where the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme is located. Rue Ontario, between Pie-IX boulevard and Frontenac, becomes pedestrianized during the summer months and offers a glimpse into local culture, centering at Place Valois. Rue Adam and Rue La Fontaine (two streets down from Ontario), between avenue Morgan and rue Joliette, offer a plethora of quintessentially Montreal architectural styles. The Maisonneuve market is also there.
Downtown: Skyscrapers, McGill campus, churches, and museums.
Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World’s Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex and the Montreal Casino are also located on or around the park.
The Lachine Canal, just west of the old port, offers an interesting walk along a now defunct but sprawling industrial zone that has since been turned into an endless amount of condos. Walking here from Old Montreal is very doable, and brings you to the open air Atwater Market – a Montreal favourite. The Canal also passes through the hip Saint Henri neighbourhood where some of Montreal’s best restaurants can be found.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory is Canada’s largest church. It was built on Mount Royal’s Westmount Summit which gives a stunning view of the city, especially at sunset.