Summer terraces | The Press

New, improved or simply unmissable, there are many terraces to explore during the summer season on the Island of Montreal. Here are 10 that stand out.

Iris Gagnon Paradise
The Press

Poincare Chinatown

The Poincaré terrace is probably the best-kept secret in town right now — but not for long! The Chinatown establishment inaugurated its rooftop terrace last summer. It is accessed through the bar, located on the second floor of a building that does not look like much, but don’t be fooled by appearances. Arrived at the very top, we discover with delight the sunny terrace with a view of the city center and Chinatown. We drink in the specialties of the place: beers for all tastes and from all sources (both local and imported), a delightful list of thirst-quenching wines and quite funky cocktails (try the ginto-carrot!) . The dining menu, for its part, gives pride of place to fermented products. Open daily, from 4 p.m.

1071 St. Laurent Blvd.

Carla Terrace

No doubt, the gourmet offer of Chinatown continues to improve. After the opening of Tiramisu, last fall, in the new Hampton Inn hotel — which does not have a terrace, but whose wide windows open completely in good weather — here is the brand new Carla Terrace. Located on the sixth floor, it has 250 seats; it covers the entire southwest corner of the building and already attracts a festive youth. You can enjoy summer cocktails — try the Les Îles “frozé” spritz, perfect for beating the heat — and a menu combining French and Vietnamese influences, created by chef Chanthy Yen. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, first come, first served.

985 St. Laurent Blvd.

Biergarten In Belle Gueule Districts

It was last year that Brasseurs RJ launched its Biergarten Aux Quartiers Belle Gueule. Next summer, the company had the foresight to call on chef Paul Toussaint to create an appetizing menu, made up of dishes like homemade calzones, jerk chicken and brisket sandwiches. Everything goes perfectly with the beers produced by brewer Jan-Philippe Barbeau, which range from German Kellerbiers to scotches lagers, including beers with flavors such as vanilla, coconut or raspberry. Not a big fan of hops? A short cocktail menu is also included, including a “Ti-punch”. From Tuesday to Saturday.

5579, avenue Christophe-Colomb

Ferreira Cafe

It is very pretty and welcoming, the new terrace of the Ferreira Café, a Portuguese institution on Rue Peel, with its ocher-coloured cushioned benches, its green wall decorated with a yellow neon effigy of the restaurant and its drapes suspended from the ceiling. Here is a pretty cocoon in which to settle in the heart of the city, whether for lunch or dinner, to taste specialties such as grilled squid, octopus lagareiro or rice with seafood. Monday to Saturday.

1446 Peel Street

The Necessary Evil

The essential tiki bar in Chinatown has transformed its terrace for the summer, creating a pretty green enclave that offers a little privacy in this busy segment of Saint-Laurent Boulevard. At Mal Nécessaire, cocktails are serious business! Fresh juices, coconut cream (from fresh coconuts!) or horchata (Mexican rice milk) are homemade. Additionally, the place practices a zero-waste philosophy; for example, hollowed-out pineapples and coconuts become receptacles for cocktails. Want to break the crust? The place collaborates with the neighboring restaurant, Fung Shing, with a Chinese-inspired snack bar menu (dumpling, fried rice, Singapore noodles, etc.). Open daily from 5 p.m.

1106 St. Laurent Blvd.

Perched

Perché, as its name suggests, is nestled on the fourth floor of the Hôtel William Gray (which also has its own eponymous terrace on the eighth floor). But to get there, you take the entrance located in the pretty pedestrian rue Saint-Amable – look for the little bird! On site, we discover a pretty terrace with a boho-chic aesthetic that offers a breathtaking view of Old Montreal, the Big Wheel and Place Jacques-Cartier. You can enjoy fruity and fresh cocktails, the wine list is accessible and the menu is inspired by Californian cuisine. Closed on Mondays.

153 St. Amable Street

Restaurant h3

Although the terrace of Restaurant h3, in the Humaniti complex, was in service last year, very few people have had the opportunity to discover it so far. To remedy this, go now to the ninth floor of the building and discover this oasis with a view of Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle. Chef-owner Jean-Sébastien Giguère offers an all-summer menu: oysters, tartare, shrimp rolls, burgers, grilled meats… As for the wines, it’s impossible to be disappointed, since sommelier Hugo Duchesne (Best Sommelier of Quebec 2020, Medalist of silver in the 2022 Best Sommelier of the Americas competition) signs the card. Open daily, from 11 a.m.

340 de la Gauchetière Street West

river side

Located along the Lachine Canal, Riverside is an industrial-looking bar that adds a very popular terrace during the summer months (and which accepts dogs!). We stop to drink a cocktail or a beer and bite into a pizza. The place is not just for revelers: during the day, you can go there with your family, play pétanque or basketball, enjoy the ice cream truck or grab a caffeinated drink at the pop-up Café Malté . From Tuesday to Saturday.

5020 St. Ambroise Street

Tavern Atlantic

Here is another high-rise terrace that already has its share of fans: that of the always lively Taverne Atlantic, in Mile-Ex. We climb to the roof of the building to discover this hidden pearl where we feel elsewhere, somewhere between Brooklyn and Montreal. The usual snack menu with its pizzas, “crousti-pogo” and “euro-dog” provides sustenance. As for liquids, the menu is inspiring, with its fine selection of wines, beers and cocktails, including several created from local alcohols. Closed on Sundays.

6512 Park Avenue

Messorem Bracitorium

Those who know a thing or two about beer know that they will unearth little gems at Messorem. The Pointe-Saint-Charles industrial microbrewery brews a multitude of beers that often go off the beaten path, from IPA to sour. In summer, its huge terrace welcomes cyclists and walkers who stroll along the Lachine Canal with its colorful picnic tables. Since last year, the sandwich shop funky from Rosemont Mitch Deli opened a branch there; you can enjoy the succulent fried chicken sandwich, the Caesar-style fried squid or the refreshing pickle salad. When leaving, we do not fail to grab colorful cans at the local shop.

2233 Pitt Street