Montréal picnic and park pairing

The Lachine Canal stretches over a few kilometres and is a great place to bike or take a walk on a nice sunny day. Depending on which stretch of the canal you’ve reached, there are several food options for you to choose from. Of course, the first one that comes to mind is Marché Atwater where you can put together your ideal picnic basket or get a ready-to-eat meal from their Pôle des Saveurs. We highly recommend the Falafel Yoni, Satay Brothers, and Le Petit Sao stands but there are many others you may choose from. If you’re heading east of the market, some great options include sweet and savoury pastries from Mamie Clafoutis, the best sourdough bread and baked goods from Miette Boulangerie, a zaatar or cheese manouché from Lulu Épicerie, coffee from September Surf or Lili & Oli and great Italian specialties from Marché Italien Le Richmond. In Pointe-Saint-Charles, just in front of the Canal and not far from Marché Atwater, Pâtisserie Rhubarbe’s excellent pastries can now be ordered online for pick-ups every Saturday.

If you keep heading east along the Lachine Canal, you will reach beautiful Sir-George-Etienne-Cartier Square where you can stop for a picnic surrounded by tall trees. This square is close to the popular gourmet stretch of Notre-Dame Street where you will find great Vietnamese specialties at Tran Cantine Vietnamienne, some of the best ice cream in town at Crèmerie Dalla Rose, Caribbean food at Llyodie’s, Italian eats and pastries at BarBara, seasonal and local specialties from Bonheur d’occasion, tacos from Tacos Frida, deli specials at Arthurs Nosh Bar, amazing pastries, ice cream and breads at Mollo and great coffee at Campanelli, Cordova or Café Saint-Henri.

There’s nothing better than enjoying an iconic Montréal dish such as a St-Viateur Bagel or a La Banquise poutine al fresco, especially when the “fresco” part is at Parc La Fontaine, one of Montréal’s most iconic parks. With a spectacular pond and so many amenities, it’s no wonder La Fontaine is one of the most popular among Montrealers. Nearby Sandwicherie Sue dishes out heavenly oversized sandwiches while Les Glaceurs and Pâtisserie Ol’ Sweet are the perfect spots to pick up a sweet treat. Café Sfouf and Le Moineau Masqué are both great options for a nice caffeine boost or cold drink. If you’d rather sit down to a meal while still being surrounded by the beautiful greenery, Robin des Bois restaurant is located in the center of Parc La Fontaine and donates all profits to to local community organizations.

Best known for the tennis championship, Parc Jarry also counts many sports fields, a dog park, an outdoor swimming pool, a children area, and a lovely, tranquil pond among its attractions. It’s surrounded by a vast array of international food and beverage options from the Mile Ex, Villeray and Park Ex. You can have your pick of great sandwiches from Dépanneur Le Pick-Up or Pascal Le Boucher or pick up coffee from Café Saint-Henri, Café Even or Café Larue, pizza from Vesta or Moccione, Greek pastries from Pâtisserie Afroditi, Indian ice cream from Crèmerie Meetha, or Armenian specialties like lahmajoun from Lahmajoune Villeray. You can also head to Montréal’s biggest farmers market, Marché Jean-Talon and assemble a custom picnic basket from the many stalls and food shops found on site, from local cheeses and seasonal produce to gourmet poutines, whole cooked lobsters, fresh oysters or grilled sausages.

Parc de la Petite-Italie defines the start of the charming Little Italy neighbourhood, with its tricolour flags flying proudly and the scent of pizza and espresso in the air. The park’s gazebo is the stage for many outdoor shows and its mature tree canopy is breathtaking any time of year. It’s dotted with picnic tables waiting to welcome diners and it’s surrounded by great dining options from Roman-style pizza and bomboloni from San Gennaro to Neapolitan-style pies from Pizzeria Gema or a New York slice from Pizza Bouquet. There are also many Asian food options like Thai curries and noodles from Pumpui, (vegan) bowls of ramen from Umami Restaurant and Szechuan noodles to go from Nouilles Sauvette. The (hot and cold) Italian espresso options here are endless but Caffè Italia and Caffè San Simeon are always a good bet while Café Caron & Frères offers a third-wave coffee option.  

The part of Laurier Street that’s located on the east side of the Plateau has become a great food destination. It’s also one of the prettiest neighbourhoods with mature trees and beautiful row houses lining the narrow streets. Your best food choices here are as varied as they come, from pizza from Stella Pizzeria or Pizzeria No.900, Lapin Pressé’s excellent grilled cheeses, Frites Alors!’ burgers and Belgian fries and Fous Desserts’ buttery pastries. For a caffeine and cookie pick-up head to Noble Café or Fleurimont. Make your choice and head to Laurier Park to eat with a view of the outdoor pool.

Classic Parc Saint-Henri is designed around a central fountain and is a great green space for locals to enjoy. It’s also a beautiful picnic area with many restaurants to pick up from all around. Try the Caribbean specialties at Piklìz Comptoir Caribbéen or the poke bowls at Venice MTL. If you’d like to venture a few blocks further, Sumac offers some of the best Middle Eastern specialties in the city.

Montréal’s Mile End neighbourhood is arguably one of the trendiest and most delicious with many eateries choosing to open their restaurant here. It’s also very close to Parc Jeanne-Mance and its inviting expanses of lawn. Your picnics in this neighbourhood can be as varied as they come. You may choose to indulge in the Lebanese specialties at Omnivore or enjoy a decadent poutine from Patati Patata. For a more local taste, Schwartz’ smoked meat sandwiches are never too far. You can find some of the best pastries such as buttery croissants and decadent chocolate babkas at Hof Kelsten. For a caffeinated stop, try Café Paquebot on Mont-Royal, or Dispatch Coffee. Edmond Café Cantine also serves coffee as well as great sandwiches. For a classic frozen treat, Dairy Queen or Ripples are perfect on a hot summer day. Les madeleines d’Emilie is a pastry shop that specializes in the confection of sweet and savoury madeleines, perfect for a picnic in the park.

No one can deny the charm of Carré Saint-Louis. Surrounded by colourful traditional Montréal row houses, it’s one of the most photographed squares in the city. It’s also the perfect place for a picnic if you’re in the area. You can grab a sandwich and a pastry from Mamie Clafoutis, some dumplings from Harbin Dumplings or vegetarian sushi from Momo Sushi. Unicone is a great place to get an ice cream cone or a cookie. For more food choices, venture down the hill and get a burger and fries from Uniburger or a vegetarian/vegan meal from Resto Végo. Le K kiosque, in the heart of Carré Saint-Louis, is a lovely spot to enjoy a coffee and a light snack.

Parc des Açores in the heart of the Plateau may not be one of the city’s biggest green spaces but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in neighbourhood charm. It’s also in close proximity to some very delightful places, such as Café Chez Téta, where you can purchase a manouché, the ultimate Lebanese street food, which consists of a flat bread topped with zaatar and olive oil. Some of the best Portuguese chicken in Montréal can be found at nearby Romados. The park is also the ideal place to enjoy great sandwiches inspired by international flavours from Capitaine Sandwich, comforting bowls of ramen from Yokato Yokabai or Coco Disco Club for specialties from southern Europe. On a hot summer day, head to CaLEM or SWIRL (vegan) for excellent ice cream. Café Replika has Turkish coffee and specialties like borek and sandwiches on simit (Turkish bagels). For a craft coffee option, try Café Névé.

If you happen to be in Rosemont, grab an açai bowl at Be Healthy, Love Berry full of berries, granola and more. Café Dei Campi is a lovely Italian café and bakery with a variety of excellent vegan pastries. Head to La Belle Tonki for Pan Asian specialties, to Boulangerie Automne for delicious bread, pastries or light lunch fare, or to Isle de Garde for great burgers and beer. Parc du Père-Marquette is one of the largest parks in Montréal and offers a children play area, volleyball and basketball courts, a skate park, a dog park, play fountains, a community garden, and many great picnic spots. It’s the perfect place to spend a sunny day with the entire family.

The Outremont neighbourhood is known for its leafy streets, beautiful homes and gorgeous parks. Parc Outremont and Parc St-Viateur are close to each other, and both offer water features to freshen up in the summer months. Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel are Montréal institutions that have been around for the better part of a century. Next door to Fairmount Bagel is Drogheria Fine where you can pick up a container of freshly cooked gnocchi in tomato sauce then head next door to Kem Coba for a great seasonal soft serve cone. On Van Horne Avenue, you’ll find pastries, bread and sandwiches at Le Paltoquet and great fried chicken at Roch le Coq. At Super Condiments, you’ll find gourmet sandwiches, drinks and coffee. Middle-Eastern shop Folfol makes some of the tastiest sandwiches in the city as well as a whole host of regional Syrian street food and specialties. You’ll also find very meaty sandwiches at specialty butcher shop Provisonsor classic tasty specialties like smoked meat sandwiches, hot dogs and urgers at Lester’s Deli.