The first snow crabs are finally on the restaurant menu, very often accompanied by the first radishes and turnips with very crisp and refreshing flesh. Soon, it will be the turn of fiddleheads, rhubarb, lettuce, asparagus… And terraces! With the first cozy evenings set to show up soon, here are some magnificent terraces to have under the magnifying glass. Because once the patio heaters are on, all that’s missing is you, your little extra wool and your good humor to declare the season officially “open”, with a little drink in hand!
Bar Cicchetti
It is true that we drink very good cocktails there. The wine is just as important, and the same goes for the selection of beers from Quebec microbreweries. But what makes us literally fall in love with this intimate and inviting terrace is the friendly service, the friendly atmosphere and the feeling of being at home. We love the “no crust” sandwiches, simply perfect both at the end of the day and at the end of the evening. One last little Negroni before the last call ?
Hoogan and Beaufort
It is on a terrace sheltered from bad weather – more precisely under the roof of the former Canadian Pacific railway factory – that it is possible to savor the delicate cuisine full of personality by chef Marc-André Jetté. We swap the lively and warm atmosphere of the dining room (enlivened by the wood fire) for a more sedate atmosphere and a romantic touch of the fully covered outdoor space. It is therefore possible to book on the terrace with a clear conscience.
District Gourmet
This new gastronomic hall, bringing together under one roof 10 restaurants, a cocktail bar, a café and a grocery store, is preparing to inaugurate its terrace areas for the first time. We can escape with a cocktail in hand and the sun beating down on our noses at the La Plage bar, cross to Portugal to taste one of the best octopuses in town at the Helena restaurant, or even discover the finesse, freshness and Japanese flavors at the Kaiji Restaurant. Moments rich in discoveries and lively atmosphere guaranteed!
Trafficking
Modern cuisine inspired by native land, an absolutely magical natural setting where the forest, water and fire are one, and an atmosphere that is sometimes laid back, sometimes festive, animated by the sounds of tam-tam. The restaurant at the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake has also just welcomed a new starred chef, who will certainly make the experience even more extraordinary.
Oregon
This wine bar where you eat very well hides a very precious little gem, away from the comings and goings and the gaze of motorists on boulevard Curé-Labelle: a pretty and charming terrace. All the ingredients are there to spend a superb evening, starting with a selection of natural wines to make all the restaurants in town blush, an unpretentious – but gourmet and controlled – cuisine, and an atmosphere that is just festive enough. Some would say it’s the perfect trio.
The Delight Resto Lounge
Welcoming a hundred guests on three floors of terraces by offering a comfortable and festive atmosphere did not happen overnight. This institution of the city of Lévis, formerly a pizzeria in the 1970s, has constantly been able to renew itself and evolve to become a unique destination in the city today. The Délice terrace is certainly the most festive on the South Shore of Quebec.
- delice.ca
146 President-Kennedy Road, Lévis
The Origin
Sheltered from the wind – a heritage monument on one side, a view of the river on the other – the Orygine bistro welcomes its customers to its terrace, as soon as the weather permits. The cozy intimate spot with a warm ambience is the perfect prelude to unwinding, especially if the evening kicks off with one of the best cocktails in town. We don’t hesitate to leave the evening in the hands of the experienced team: you won’t be disappointed.
Culinary Lab
The Culinary Lab’s terrace, nestled a stone’s throw from the Quartier des Spectacles, is certainly the area’s best-kept secret. Sun beating down on the sunglasses and the glass of natural wine, the end of the day will never have tasted so good. This could also be the perfect preamble to dive into the refined dishes, well prepared and truly honoring the terroir of Quebec by the all-female brigade in the kitchen.
Tommy Dion is a food critic columnist and founder of the web platform and guide gourmand lecuisinomane.com.