Orchard Picnics Are Back at La Cabane d’à Côté — One of Quebec’s Most Beloved Summer Experiences
Every summer, La Cabane d’à Côté finds its own quiet way of reminding us that the best meals are often the simplest ones — eaten outdoors, without rush, surrounded by apple trees in full bloom. The orchard picnics are back.
The rural project of Vincent Dion Lavallée, Martin Picard, and Marc Beaudin — the same creative minds behind the legendary Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal — returns this season with its generous outdoor dining formula that has become one of the most anticipated summer experiences in all of Quebec. From June 20 to October 18, 2026, guests can once again settle into the grounds of La Cabane d’à Côté in Saint-Benoît-de-Mirabel, basket in hand, surrounded by the very apple trees that produce the property’s celebrated ciders.
What to expect
The formula is well established by now, and it works beautifully. Nearly a hundred dedicated outdoor spaces await visitors, each shaded by a parasol. Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis — or guests can bring their own setup: a blanket, cushions, a tablecloth, whatever makes the afternoon feel like yours. Leashed dogs are welcome. Kids can run freely through the orchard. And that, as anyone who has navigated a restaurant with small children will tell you, is worth a great deal.
The food stays true to the spirit of the house: generous, seasonal, and always thoughtfully composed. The base picnic basket, priced at $100 for two, lets guests choose from four main dishes grilled on-site at the BBQ. It’s the kind of meal that tastes better eaten outside — the kind of cooking that makes you understand why Picard and his collaborators built this place in the first place.
Private events in the orchard
For those looking to host a private gathering — a birthday, a team outing, a celebration with friends — La Cabane d’à Côté also offers exclusive rental of the orchard tent. The package includes communal seating for larger groups, an outdoor bar, dedicated table service, a lounge area with sofas and a fireplace, and a 12-course tasting menu. It’s an unusual and genuinely memorable setting for an event.
Dates and hours
Orchard picnics run Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until the end of the afternoon, through August 17. From August 18 onward, the experience continues Friday through Sunday, also from 11 a.m., through the final day of the season on October 18, 2026.
Practical information:
Reservations via the Cabane d’à Côté website.
La Cabane d’à Côté — 3595 Montée Robillard, Mirabel, Quebec (Saint-Benoît-de-Mirabel)
June 20 – October 18, 2026
Base picnic basket: $100 for two people
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Scott Usheroff
