Check out Montréal’s lushest garden patios
Summer in Montréal is synonymous with lounging outdoors, dining under the sun and stars and taking in the scenery. Montréalers crowd neighbourhood patios—or terrasses, as they’re known locally—to bask in the sunshine or wile away the hours as the sun sinks below the skyline and dusk settles over the city. Here’s a roundup of the lushest restaurant patios in Montréal.
OSMO x MARUSAN Café-Terrasse
51 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Tucked away in the iconic Notman House, the OSMO x MARUSAN Café-Terrasse brings the finest tastes of Japan to a design-savvy setting, paired with a back garden patio perfect for chatting over hojicha lattes or enjoying an expertly made karaage, katsu or tamago sandwich. It’s the definition of stylish and chill.
Le Vin Papillon
2519 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
Once a garden, the patio at Le Vin Papillon welcomes customers in a charming wooden haven with long picnic-style tables. With a constantly changing menu and extensive selection of wines, there are countless good reasons to visit this wine bar.
Renoir
1155 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
For lunch, dinner or a mid-day cocktail, the terrasse resto Renoir at the Sofitel Hotel is a true downtown gem. Internationally trained and renowned Executive Chef Olivier Perret specializes in flavourful and fresh dishes inspired by local ingredients.
Terrasse St-Ambroise
5080 Saint-Ambroise Street | Website
Located along the Lachine Canal, Terrasse St-Ambroise is the perfect place to savour suds on a sunny afternoon. If you don’t have hours to spare, you can still stop by for a quick drink before continuing your journey down the adjacent bike path, one of Montréal’s top bucket list bike rides.
Marché des Éclusiers
400 de la Commune Street West | Website
Equal parts farmer’s market, café, bar, restaurant and fine foods shop, Marché des Éclusiers is a choice destination at any time of day. Rest and recharge under the green canopy of its plant-lined terrasse while enjoying creations from Québec-based artisans.
Jardin Nelson
407 Place Jacques-Cartier | Website
Jardin Nelson is a heavenly oasis in the heart of Old Montréal. Located just steps away from Place Jacques-Cartier, this restaurant’s patio is a genuine secret garden away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Café Santropol
3990 Saint-Urbain Street | Website
Step through this quaint café in Plateau-Mont-Royal and discover a whimsical garden patio that is arguably one of the city’s best-kept secrets, and a true neighbourhood standard. Their epically stuffed sandwiches and iced coffees make for perfect refuelling during or after a shopping day or walk up nearby Mount Royal.
Le Sainte-Élisabeth
1412 Sainte-Élisabeth Street | Website
The leafy back garden of the Le Sainte-Élisabeth pub has long been an inconspicuous spot for those in the know, but now the secret’s out! And perhaps the biggest surprise is that one of the lushest restaurant patios in Montréal is hidden away off busy Sainte-Catherine Street in the Quartier latin.
Maison de thé Cha Noir
4611 Wellington Street | Website
Further down rue Wellington, the back patio at Maison de thé Cha Noir offers calm and respite with a lengthy tea menu and some of the city’s best mochi.
L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel
426 Saint-Gabriel Street | Website
L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel is a sweet spot all year long, with a winter fireplace and its own rich Old Montréal history always worth exploring. But the blooming terrace is doubtlessly one of its finest attributes, and its re-opening each year is a true sign of summer’s return we await with baited breath.
BENELUX brasserie artisanale
4026, Wellington Street | Website
For a stunning garden patio and mouth-watering eats, head for BENELUX brasserie artisanale's Verdun location on Promenade Wellington. Their list of featured beers never leads astray, and their opening hours stretch to 3 AM every night of the week for those summer nights that you just don't want to end.
Riverside
5020 Saint-Ambroise Street | Website
Set in an industrial section of the Lachine Canal, Riverside is a bar with a massive green patio and a raucous festive atmosphere that’s home base for some of the city’s coolest parties. Share your pizza crusts with your pooch, because dogs are more than welcome to join in the fun.
Maison Boulud
1228 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Thankfully, not all terrasses are only open through the summer months. The Ritz-Carlton Montréal is known for its deluxe touch befitting the name, and the nestled rear garden of their gourmet Maison Boulud restaurant keeps patio season going all year round.
Vices & Versa
6631 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
This popular Little Italy gastro-pub draws crowds year-round, but in the summer the choice seats are under the leafy canopy in the backyard. Their range of local brews features something for everyone, and the kitchen serves up some of the best pub grub in the city.
Rouge Gorge
1234 du Mont-Royal Avenue East | Website
Set in the happening scene of the Plateau’s Avenue du Mont-Royal, Rouge Gorge is a wine bar with a quaint streetside terrasse and a great selection of private import wine by the glass. Its perfectly balanced menu of oysters, shareable plates and mains make for perfect pairings.
Isle de Garde
1039 Beaubien Street East | Website
Celebrating their 10th anniversary in the heart of La Petite-Patrie, Isle de Garde serve up unique beers on tap, a curated wine list, whiskies—with a focus on Scottish distilleries—and classic bistro fare like steak frites and the Samuel L. Jackson Royale with Cheese burger.
Pavillon
1201 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Set atop the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT], this experimental restaurant lives up to its name, with an amazing rooftop terrasse on which to enjoy their latest creations.
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.