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25 Essential Terrasses for Outdoor Dining and Drinking in Montreal

Snug street-side structures, hidden courtyards, and sprawling rooftops made for catching rays

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Whether you’re looking for brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks, Montreal provides a bevy of outdoor patio options — “terrasses,” as we Montrealers call them. With an eye to a mix of restaurants and bars, both fancy and casual, here are our picks for where to lounge outdoors this summer.

Looking specifically for a rooftop terrasse? A few are included below, but a separate map dedicated to them is over here.

Did we miss a standout terrasse? Send us a tip at montreal@eater.com.

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Bar Cicchetti

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Venetian vibes get transplanted into Mile-Ex’s concrete surrounds at Cicchetti, and the result is a terracotta-hued al fresco dream. Order a Bellini or spritz, a handful of perfect-for-aperitivo-pairing snacks, and soak in the sun — Italian style.

There is no denying that snagging a table on the terrasse of Montreal’s renowned Syrian restaurant will be a feat. But when you do, it’ll be a night to remember, with every splendid dish somehow outshining the last.

Taverne Atlantic

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From the team behind Dominion Square Tavern, this bar boasts a spacious rooftop terrasse with unexpectedly picturesque views of the surrounding post-industrial decay. In addition to a comprehensive drink offering, they’ve got pizza, hot dogs, and poutine — all leagues better than your average bar food.

Part of what makes dining outdoors at Alma so special is its setting on a serene Outremont street, complete with towering trees and locals strolling by. Meanwhile, its menu transports diners to the Catalan coast with a lovely collection of natural wines and an unfaltering menu of seafaring plates. Sibling operation Tinc Set, just next door, carries the torch with a terrasse decked with wine barrel tables and similarly immaculate vibes.

Mon Lapin

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This lauded Little Italy wine bar isn’t so little anymore, but it manages to keep things cozy — inside and out. Its wooden terrasse dressed with string lights and planters was one of the most sought-after in the city last summer, and that’s unlikely to change this time around.

Bar Mamie

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Mamie is one of the newer kids on the block, but it quickly solidified its reputation as a neighbourhood hub, with a humming street-side terrasse in the summer that generates queues snaking onto Beaubien Street. Affordable wines, easy snacking, and some very warm service make this a terrasse you’ll keep returning to.

vinvinvin

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A slick list of organic, mostly Nordic wines joins a menu of seasonal bites on this Beaubien Street terrasse, which gets extra points for its stylish set-up — with wooden bar stools and booths built into its structure.

La Buvette Chez Simone

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This Parc Avenue wine bar with an enviable 5 à 7 scene bustles well after dark. The same goes for younger sibling Bar à Flot, a couple of doors south, where the terrasse is both luminous and low-key, and the drinks constantly flow.

Club Social PS

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Elena’s coveted Caesar salad, “M. Funguy” (wild mushroom and taleggio pizza), and mafalda pasta can be enjoyed outside, around the back, and on the cozy Club Social PS terrasse. During the day, it’s also a fine place for locals to grab a hoagie and escape the Notre-Dame strip.

Terrasse St-Ambroise

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Located right on the Lachine Canal at the McAuslan Brewery, this spacious terrasse is a great setting for a sunny afternoon in Montreal — complete with the requisite bar food (hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and the like) and a lively atmosphere.

Messorem

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Make the most of summer days in the Sud-Ouest by planting yourself on Messorem’s sizeable terrasse lined with turquoise picnic tables. Cold brews and comfort food from the pros behind Mitch Deli ensure it’s unlikely to disappoint.

Café Santropol

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This Plateau coffee and sandwich mainstay features a rambling, oasis-like backyard ideal for unfussy daytime hangs — and it’s easily the most affordable option on this map.

Réservoir

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Feel the breeze atop this attractive rooftop terrasse overlooking Duluth Street, steps away from the Main. Expertly prepared better-than-pub fare (think chimichurri duck hearts and fish croquettes with a coriander mayo) and house-made beers make this spot a must-try.

Maison Boulud

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Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant in Montreal’s Ritz-Carlton hotel is a predictably luxe affair — and its terrasse is no exception. Be it weekend brunch or a full-size French dinner, enjoy your meal overlooking a lush garden.

Le Vin Papillon

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From iconic smoked carrot éclairs and plates of thinly sliced ham showered in cheddar to a rotating offering of smart seasonal plates, Le Vin Papillon, from the Joe Beef group, remains one of Montreal’s top places to eat (and drink) in the city. An evening spent on its backyard terrasse will show you why.

Candide

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Come summer, diners can enjoy Chef John Winter Russell’s sleek and seasonal tasting menus just outside the old Little Burgundy church his restaurant Candide calls home. During May, dishes on offer include lobster with fiddleheads; little gem lettuce, ramps, and bottarga; and a dessert that pairs buttermilk, apple, and sunflower seeds. (The terrasse is opening by the end of the month.)

Verdun Beach

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This Wellington Street natural wine bar has a wooden terrasse that offers beachy, boardwalk energy. Its wine list features over 100 options (primarily Western European), and its smoked mackerel and roasted chicken with ranch dressing make for impeccable outdoor dining among friends.

Verdun’s restaurant and bar scene continues to see a resurgence still today, thanks to the arrival of characters like Palco back in 2015. With cocktail pitchers to sup up and snacks to try, it’s a terrasse certainly worth considering.

Hoogan et Beaufort

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The Technopole Angus in Rosemont, with its parking lots and burgeoning condo developments, may seem an odd choice for the terrasse season, but year upon year, Hoogan & Beaufort manages to make it special. Chef-owner Marc-Andre Jetté’s always-delicious menu of locally focused fare certainly helps. (Terrasse to open in June.)

Labo culinaire

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Sometimes referred to as the SAT Foodlab, the rooftop here is among the best terrasses Montreal has to offer — and its upper level even grows produce scattered throughout its food and drink. Under new chef Émilie Bégin, the menu keeps its creative edge, featuring tuna tataki with strawberries, lacto-fermented potato bread with mushrooms, and a rhubarb pavlova with honey, sumac, and gin for dessert.

Le Sainte-Élisabeth

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Boisterous watering hole Le Sainte-Élisabeth is a sure-fire spot to lean back with a pint and look up at the towering, vine-coated brick walls surrounding you.

Poincaré Chinatown

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Platters of fermented veggies, charcuterie, and kimchi make for great warm weather dining at this Chinatown rooftop. Pair it with a craft beer or fresh cocktail, and it could hardly get any better.

Grenade

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With a spacious, partly covered, inside-outside approach that few other places in town have managed to replicate, Grenade’s terrasse is a dependable bet. A great place to fill up on pan-Asian fare and summery drinks.

Terrasse Nelligan

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Resting atop Hotel Nelligan in Old Montreal, this iconic Montreal terrasse offers some formidable views of the city’s main tourist hub and remains a favourite among locals, too.

Terrasse Perché

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Never was there a terrasse more suitably named: Perched four storeys above Place Jacques-Cartier, Perché serves up a menu that leans fresh and raw, with options like guacamole, peach salad, and salmon tartare, in a space decorated with plant life and beach resort-like furnishings.

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Bar Cicchetti

Venetian vibes get transplanted into Mile-Ex’s concrete surrounds at Cicchetti, and the result is a terracotta-hued al fresco dream. Order a Bellini or spritz, a handful of perfect-for-aperitivo-pairing snacks, and soak in the sun — Italian style.

Damas

There is no denying that snagging a table on the terrasse of Montreal’s renowned Syrian restaurant will be a feat. But when you do, it’ll be a night to remember, with every splendid dish somehow outshining the last.

Taverne Atlantic

From the team behind Dominion Square Tavern, this bar boasts a spacious rooftop terrasse with unexpectedly picturesque views of the surrounding post-industrial decay. In addition to a comprehensive drink offering, they’ve got pizza, hot dogs, and poutine — all leagues better than your average bar food.

Alma

Part of what makes dining outdoors at Alma so special is its setting on a serene Outremont street, complete with towering trees and locals strolling by. Meanwhile, its menu transports diners to the Catalan coast with a lovely collection of natural wines and an unfaltering menu of seafaring plates. Sibling operation Tinc Set, just next door, carries the torch with a terrasse decked with wine barrel tables and similarly immaculate vibes.

Mon Lapin

This lauded Little Italy wine bar isn’t so little anymore, but it manages to keep things cozy — inside and out. Its wooden terrasse dressed with string lights and planters was one of the most sought-after in the city last summer, and that’s unlikely to change this time around.

Bar Mamie

Mamie is one of the newer kids on the block, but it quickly solidified its reputation as a neighbourhood hub, with a humming street-side terrasse in the summer that generates queues snaking onto Beaubien Street. Affordable wines, easy snacking, and some very warm service make this a terrasse you’ll keep returning to.

vinvinvin

A slick list of organic, mostly Nordic wines joins a menu of seasonal bites on this Beaubien Street terrasse, which gets extra points for its stylish set-up — with wooden bar stools and booths built into its structure.

La Buvette Chez Simone

This Parc Avenue wine bar with an enviable 5 à 7 scene bustles well after dark. The same goes for younger sibling Bar à Flot, a couple of doors south, where the terrasse is both luminous and low-key, and the drinks constantly flow.

Club Social PS

Elena’s coveted Caesar salad, “M. Funguy” (wild mushroom and taleggio pizza), and mafalda pasta can be enjoyed outside, around the back, and on the cozy Club Social PS terrasse. During the day, it’s also a fine place for locals to grab a hoagie and escape the Notre-Dame strip.

Terrasse St-Ambroise

Located right on the Lachine Canal at the McAuslan Brewery, this spacious terrasse is a great setting for a sunny afternoon in Montreal — complete with the requisite bar food (hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and the like) and a lively atmosphere.

Messorem

Make the most of summer days in the Sud-Ouest by planting yourself on Messorem’s sizeable terrasse lined with turquoise picnic tables. Cold brews and comfort food from the pros behind Mitch Deli ensure it’s unlikely to disappoint.

Café Santropol

This Plateau coffee and sandwich mainstay features a rambling, oasis-like backyard ideal for unfussy daytime hangs — and it’s easily the most affordable option on this map.

Réservoir

Feel the breeze atop this attractive rooftop terrasse overlooking Duluth Street, steps away from the Main. Expertly prepared better-than-pub fare (think chimichurri duck hearts and fish croquettes with a coriander mayo) and house-made beers make this spot a must-try.

Maison Boulud

Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant in Montreal’s Ritz-Carlton hotel is a predictably luxe affair — and its terrasse is no exception. Be it weekend brunch or a full-size French dinner, enjoy your meal overlooking a lush garden.

Le Vin Papillon

From iconic smoked carrot éclairs and plates of thinly sliced ham showered in cheddar to a rotating offering of smart seasonal plates, Le Vin Papillon, from the Joe Beef group, remains one of Montreal’s top places to eat (and drink) in the city. An evening spent on its backyard terrasse will show you why.

Candide

Come summer, diners can enjoy Chef John Winter Russell’s sleek and seasonal tasting menus just outside the old Little Burgundy church his restaurant Candide calls home. During May, dishes on offer include lobster with fiddleheads; little gem lettuce, ramps, and bottarga; and a dessert that pairs buttermilk, apple, and sunflower seeds. (The terrasse is opening by the end of the month.)

Verdun Beach

This Wellington Street natural wine bar has a wooden terrasse that offers beachy, boardwalk energy. Its wine list features over 100 options (primarily Western European), and its smoked mackerel and roasted chicken with ranch dressing make for impeccable outdoor dining among friends.

Palco

Verdun’s restaurant and bar scene continues to see a resurgence still today, thanks to the arrival of characters like Palco back in 2015. With cocktail pitchers to sup up and snacks to try, it’s a terrasse certainly worth considering.

Hoogan et Beaufort

The Technopole Angus in Rosemont, with its parking lots and burgeoning condo developments, may seem an odd choice for the terrasse season, but year upon year, Hoogan & Beaufort manages to make it special. Chef-owner Marc-Andre Jetté’s always-delicious menu of locally focused fare certainly helps. (Terrasse to open in June.)

Labo culinaire

Sometimes referred to as the SAT Foodlab, the rooftop here is among the best terrasses Montreal has to offer — and its upper level even grows produce scattered throughout its food and drink. Under new chef Émilie Bégin, the menu keeps its creative edge, featuring tuna tataki with strawberries, lacto-fermented potato bread with mushrooms, and a rhubarb pavlova with honey, sumac, and gin for dessert.

Le Sainte-Élisabeth

Boisterous watering hole Le Sainte-Élisabeth is a sure-fire spot to lean back with a pint and look up at the towering, vine-coated brick walls surrounding you.

Poincaré Chinatown

Platters of fermented veggies, charcuterie, and kimchi make for great warm weather dining at this Chinatown rooftop. Pair it with a craft beer or fresh cocktail, and it could hardly get any better.

Grenade

With a spacious, partly covered, inside-outside approach that few other places in town have managed to replicate, Grenade’s terrasse is a dependable bet. A great place to fill up on pan-Asian fare and summery drinks.

Terrasse Nelligan

Resting atop Hotel Nelligan in Old Montreal, this iconic Montreal terrasse offers some formidable views of the city’s main tourist hub and remains a favourite among locals, too.

Terrasse Perché

Never was there a terrasse more suitably named: Perched four storeys above Place Jacques-Cartier, Perché serves up a menu that leans fresh and raw, with options like guacamole, peach salad, and salmon tartare, in a space decorated with plant life and beach resort-like furnishings.