Montreal terrasses and pedestrian streets: where to eat outside

Montreal takes outdoor eating seriously. As soon as the weather allows, restaurants set out terrasses, the local word for patios, and every summer the city closes several of its busiest commercial streets to cars so that people can eat, drink and shop in the middle of the road. If you are in Montreal between late spring and early autumn, eating outside is not an extra; it is how the city lives.

When is terrasse season in Montreal?

Terrasses on public property, such as sidewalks and parking spaces in front of a restaurant, are generally allowed for a season that each borough sets. The dates differ by borough and by street, so check the City of Montréal's current terrasse dates for the area you are visiting. Restaurants need a permit each year, so not every terrasse appears on the first warm day. In practice, the season gets going in May and lasts until the cold returns in October. Terrasses on private land, such as a back courtyard or a rooftop, follow their own rules.

What are Montreal's pedestrian streets?

Each summer, Montreal turns stretches of its commercial streets into pedestrian zones. In recent years that has meant around seven kilometres of road across several boroughs, usually from late spring to early autumn, with dates that differ by street. Restaurants spread their terrasses into the street, benches and plants appear, and the streets become places to linger rather than drive through.

The list of streets changes from year to year. Some are regulars; others come and go as boroughs decide. Check the city's list before you go.

Which streets are usually pedestrian in summer?

Street	Neighbourhood	What it is like
Mont-Royal Avenue	Plateau-Mont-Royal	The Plateau's main street, lined with benches, cafés and terrasses
Wellington Street	Verdun	A relaxed neighbourhood strip with terrasses on both sides
Saint-Laurent Boulevard sections	Plateau and downtown	Bars, delis and late-night food
Villeray streets	Villeray	Newer additions to the program

Saint-Denis Street in the Latin Quarter has been part of the program in some years and not others, which is a good example of why the list is worth checking.

How do you get a table on a Montreal terrasse?

• Go early or late. The rush starts right after work on warm weekdays and around noon on weekends.
• Book if you can, but expect that many restaurants keep terrasse tables for walk-ins.
• Have a plan B indoors. Montreal summer weather can change quickly, and a sudden storm moves everyone inside.
• Be patient on the first warm days of spring, when the whole city heads outside at once.

Can you drink alcohol on a terrasse?

Yes, if the restaurant is licensed. A terrasse is legally an extension of the restaurant where food and drinks are served with table service. Do not bring your own drinks onto a pedestrian street or a terrasse unless the restaurant is a bring your own wine place and allows it at its tables. The drinking age in Quebec is 18.

What is the etiquette on a Montreal terrasse?

• Say bonjour when you arrive, and wait to be seated unless it is clearly self-seating.
• Do not linger for hours over one drink at a busy dinner hour.
• Tip as you would indoors, usually 15 to 20 percent of the amount before tax.
• Keep the sidewalk clear. Pedestrian streets are shared with families, cyclists walking their bikes and other diners.

Are there terrasses in winter?

Most terrasses close when the season ends in the autumn. A few areas allow winter terrasses under special rules, and some restaurants offer heated or covered outdoor spaces, but winter in Montreal is mainly an indoor season. The city makes up for it with winter festivals and cosy dining rooms.

Where should you go for the best outdoor eating in Montreal?

For a classic Montreal summer evening, start on Mont-Royal Avenue in the Plateau, eat dinner at a bring your own wine restaurant nearby, and finish with a drink on Saint-Laurent. For something calmer and more local, take the metro to Verdun and spend an evening on Wellington Street. For a picnic with a view, buy supplies at Atwater or Jean-Talon Market and sit by the Lachine Canal or in Parc La Fontaine.

On Mosey you can rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of favourite terrasses to share with friends when the warm weather returns.

More guides to read next:

• Atwater Market guide: what to buy and eat by the Lachine Canal
• Old Montreal food guide: how to eat well and avoid the tourist traps
• Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End food guide: where and what to eat

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.