Montreal’s Most Beautiful Terraces
The nice weather is finally here, and you know what that means? It’s terrace season again! After the long months of winter, it doesn’t take more than a sliver of sunshine for us to rush to our favourite terrace and bask in the sun.
Fortunately for us, there is no lack of beautiful terraces in Montreal. As of the end of April, terraces spring up like mushrooms on the sidewalks and streets of the city. And that’s not even counting all the hidden terraces, on rooftops and in back alleys.
With the pedestrianization of Ste-Catherine Street in the Village, Wellington Street in Verdun and Ontario Street in Hochelaga, to name but a few, the number of inviting terraces is not likely to decrease in the years to come; quite the opposite! And the trend has only just begun.
There is always a good reason to eat on a terrace
Whether it’s for a coffee, a drink in good company, a brunch or a gourmet dinner, there are terraces for every taste and budget. Every opportunity is a good one to get your fill of vitamin D and make the most of our all too short summer. And why deprive yourself? After all, we can only enjoy it a few months a year.
And after two years of confinement, all we want to do is sit around a sunny table and toast to summer and our health with those we love!
Hard to know where to start? That’s why we’ve prepared this list of our favourite terraces in Montreal. With a little luck, we’ll have enough good weather this summer to try them all. We’ll keep our fingers crossed!
Happy terrace season!
Le Vin Papillon
A staple wine bar in Little Burgundy, Vin Papillon welcomes us summer after summer on its charming back terrace. We’re not taking anything away from the neighbouring terraces of Joe Beef and Liverpool House, but we have a soft spot for Vin Pap’s; as well as for its fresh cuisine, which is the perfect match for the hot summer months. Since 2020, the Vinet alley, behind the three restaurants, has been home to a friendly biergarten affectionately nicknamed “Joe Beach”, where you can enjoy the restaurants’ cuisine while sipping a glass of wine (or two).
Montréal
Candide
Set back from the hustle and bustle of Notre-Dame Street West, in a former presbytery, Candide and its chef John Winter Russel offer refined and surprising cuisine, enhanced by the wines of sommelier Vincent Laniel. As soon as the sun returns, the cozy 35-seat terrace fills up quickly. Throughout the summer, it hosts popular popup events with guest chefs. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram account so you don’t miss a thing!
Montréal
Club Social PS
The famous hidden terrace behind Elena in Saint-Henri is not so hidden anymore. Here, you can enjoy excellent pizza, Italian pastries, coffee and good wines. What more could you ask for?
Montréal
Gia Vin & Grill
The new address from the Elena, Nora Gray and Club Social PS family has yet to celebrate its first birthday, but we’re told that the St-Henri restaurant will celebrate the arrival of good weather in style with a magnificent terrace. We can hardly wait!
Montréal
Taverne Atlantic
If you haven’t yet visited Taverne Atlantic’s rooftop terrace, you should definitely add it to your bucket list. It’s one of the coolest in Montreal.
Montréal
Bar Cicchetti
What better way to enjoy happy hour than with a bellini or an Aperol Spritz on Cicchetti’s terrace? Inspired by the chiccetterias—bars where you can eat small bites (or cicchetti) with nice drinks—this address brings a colourful Italian touch to the Mile-Ex.
Montréal
Bar Henrietta
Starting at the end of April, Bar Henrietta welcomes you on its superb terrace on Laurier Street West. On the menu: classic cocktails, privately imported wine and delicious Portuguese-inspired bites. And it’s not because our boss’ partner is one of the owners that we’re telling you about it: it truly is one of our favourite addresses!
Montréal
Luciano Trattoria
Located on Saint-Zotique Street, Luciano Trattoria is easily recognizable by its black façade. Set back from the street, the restaurant’s terrace lets in just the right amount of sunlight. It is the perfect place to enjoy Luciano’s excellent cuisine in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.
Montreal
Labo culinaire - Foodlab
Located on the third floor of the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), the Labo Culinaire – Foodlab’s terrace offers a breathtaking view of downtown and St-Laurent Boulevard. In the words of Jean-Philippe Tastet: “the terrace is magnificent, overlooking the chaos and, in terms of immersive experiences, the chefs of the house offer exceptional performances every day.”
Montréal
Tiramisu
To watch for this summer, the opening of Terrasse Carla, a new project from the Lucky Belly Group, the team behind Tiramisu. Located on the rooftop six floors above the restaurant, the terrace is sure to be the host of many a wild night.
Montréal
Maison Boulud
The arrival in Montreal several years ago of the world-famous Daniel Boulud had delighted gourmets. The house offers outstanding dishes with a strong French touch and a focus on local products. The veranda adjacent to the dining room of Maison Boulud is exceptional! In addition to the cuisine and service, we love the elegance of the space and the incredible light that prevails.
Montréal
Les Enfants Terribles
At an altitude of 188 meters, at the top of Place Ville-Marie, the terrace of Les Enfants Terribles is without a doubt the most spectacular in Montreal. Surrounded by large bay windows, the terrace offers a 360° panorama of the city, from the river to the mountains, including the Olympic Park and the Jacques-Quartier Bridge.
Montréal
Jatoba
The magnificent Japanese restaurant located in the former Philips Lounge hides one of the most beautiful verandas in Montreal. For lunch and dinner, renowned chef Olivier Vigneault prepares sublime sushi and irresistible sashimi platters, in addition to a wide selection of Asian-inspired dishes such as dumplings, soups, rice bowls, meats and fish.
Montréal
Rites Berberes Restaurant
In the heart of the Plateau, owner Mohand welcomes you to his restaurant. Les Rites Berbères offers fine and traditional Berber cuisine: salads, lentil soups, merguez, briks and arguably the best couscous in town. The small terrace at the back of the restaurant on Rue de Bullion is surrounded by an abundance of vegetation, which keeps the terrace cool even on hot days.
Montréal
La Buvette Chez Simone
With a glass of wine in hand, we love to sit on the terrace of Buvette Chez Simone and watching the spectacle of passers-by and cars on Avenue du Parc. We also hope to spend just as many beautiful evenings on Bar À Flot‘s terrace, its little sister address.
Montréal
Mamie
Last summer, Bar Mamie’s small terrace—on the sidewalk of Drolet street at the corner of Beaubien—was always full. And for good reason! Between the fabulous list of natural wines and the delicious platters of charcuterie, there are plenty of good reasons to go. We expect this terrace season to be just as successful; and while we’re there, we’ll go next door to La Cave de Mamie to stock up on beautiful bottles to take home.
Montréal
Verdun Beach
Just a few steps away from Palco is another excellent Verdun address that hides a lovely back terrace. With some oysters and white wine, the evening is just beginning!
Montréal
ALMA
We were eagerly awaiting the reopening of one of our favourite Outremont addresses. Alma welcomes you on their tiny terrace to discover Catalan cuisine and wines. If it’s full, head next door to Tinc Set, a rotisserie and tapas bar run by the same owners, Juan Lopez Luna and Lindsay Brennan.
Montréal
Rumi Restaurant
Bordered by an enveloping greenery that creates a kind of oasis, the terrace of Rumi restaurant is as warm as the interior. Located at Outremont’s doorstep, Rumi offers the most delicious Middle Eastern cuisine: simmered dishes, grilled meats, good salads and delicious hot or cold mezzes.
Montreal
