Renaud-Bray

Renaud-Bray at Complexe Desjardins on Rue Sainte-Catherine is another strong location of Quebec's largest bookstore chain. Like the Place Ville Marie branch, this store has a dedicated children's section with books in French and English, plus a curated toy and game selection alongside the reading material.

The Complexe Desjardins location sits in a large indoor mall that connects to Place des Arts metro station and Montreal's underground city network. This makes it completely weather-proof and easy to reach by public transit without any outdoor exposure. The store opens at 8 AM on weekdays, which is unusually early for a bookstore and handy if you need a morning activity.

The children's area includes picture books, early readers, graphic novels (bandes dessinees), chapter books, and young adult titles. The toy section features puzzles, building toys, and small games. Renaud-Bray carries a strong selection of Quebec-published children's books, which make distinctive souvenirs for French-immersion or bilingual families.

Complexe Desjardins has a food court inside, making it easy to combine a bookstore visit with lunch. Place des Arts is steps away for families interested in theater or concerts. The Quartier des Spectacles is the surrounding neighborhood, which often has outdoor installations and free events, especially in summer.