15 terrasses for the fine days of spring

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Spring has sprung, which means it’s time for Montrealers to get outside and revel in the season’s sunny and, we hope, warm days. And what’s our favourite place to enjoy spring? A terrasse, naturally!

Whether you’re looking to soak up some city life, hang out with friends, celebrate a special occasion, people-watch or share a drink with someone special, the Quartier des Spectacles has a patio you’ll love. Here are 15 of them.

Rooftop

Foodlab - Labo culinaire

1201 Saint-Laurent Blvd.

Whether your pleasure is a glass of natural wine or chef Michelle Marek’s thematic creations, this large deck on the third floor of the Society for Arts and Technology is the perfect downtown spot for after-work get-togethers. Open Monday through Friday.

Pandore

1300 Saint-Dominique St.

Perched atop the 2-22 building at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Laurent, this is one Pandora’s Box you shouldn’t hesitate to open. This popular bar is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 p.m.

SIX Resto Lounge

1255 Jeanne-Mance St.

Head for the sixth floor of the Hyatt Regency and you’ll find this cool spot, boasting an unbeatable view of Sainte-Catherine St. and Place des Arts. It’s the perfect place to watch all the action the summer’s festivals bring to the street. Regulars come for the cocktails and chef Sylvain Leveillant’s market cuisine. Every Thursday, a DJ keeps the beat.

Les 3 brasseurs

1658 Saint-Denis St.

This Quartier Latin institution is always hopping, and its second-floor terrasse is a great place to enjoy the brewpub’s house beers. If you’re hungry, try the flammekueche, the traditional Alsatian pizza-like dish.

With the gang

L’Abreuvoir

403 Ontario East

This Quartier Latin bar has a patio hidden out back – a nice discreet spot to chill out during Sunday karaoke or house-trap-dubstep Thursdays.

Foufounes électriques

87 Sainte-Catherine East

For more than 30 years, this dive bar has been a Sainte-Catherine St. institution. Out back, there’s a large patio that never goes out of style, accomplishing the same feat year after year: bringing together the young and the not-so-young for good times.

Les Katacombes

1635 Saint-Laurent Blvd.

Inside, this show bar presents everything from swing nights to live punk, ska and rock bands. Outside, the sunny deck is about more than cold beer: there are also regular barbecues and mini-shows.

Le Saint-Sulpice

1680 Saint-Denis St.

In the Saint-Sulpice’s huge courtyard, large groups of friends gather over pitchers of beer or sangria. A classic student hangout – complete with beer pong table – this bar has plenty of shade provided by umbrellas and honey locust trees.

Pop a bottle of rosé

Brasserie T!

1425 Jeanne-Mance St.

Right on Place des Festivals, T! offers bistro fare (tartare, charcuterie, bavette) courtesy of chef Normand Laprise – of Toqué! fame – along with an impressive wine list. During festivals, it’s the perfect vantage point for taking in a concert on the main stage.

Taverne F

1485 Jeanne-Mance St.

Carlos Ferreira, of Ferreira Café, brings authentic Portuguese flair to this restaurant, featuring petiscos – Portuguese tapas. Wash them down with a glass of good wine, and you’ll be in heaven.

The city, naturally

Les Jardins Gamelin

Place Émilie-Gamelin

For the second year, this urban oasis gives Montrealers a lively green space for whiling away some summer hours in the heart of the city. The terrasse, opening on May 12, will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with everything from breakfast to light meals by chef Dominic St-Laurent and his team from Ballpark restaurant. An evening in Les Jardins Gamelin is always special, thanks to a varied artistic program, urban agriculture workshops and the return of the floating sculpture. Plus, drinks are served every Wednesday through Sunday.

Le Sainte-Élisabeth

1412 Sainte-Élisabeth St.

After a long day at work, this pub’s courtyard, with lots of shade trees and vines climbing the walls, is a guaranteed stress-killer. Happy hour is especially popular, as is punk rock night, every Sunday.

Among the artists

Le Balmoral

305 Sainte-Catherine St. W.

Located in the Maison du Festival, also home to the Astral concert hall and cabaret, Le Balmoral serves French-inspired cuisine. During the Jazz Festival, its patio hosts small ensembles that jazz it up all night.

Café du Nouveau-Monde

84 Sainte-Catherine St. W.

On this patio outside the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), there’s a good chance you’ll see some of your favourite actors enjoying chef Tommy Matteau’s salmon tartare or duck confit.

Pub Quartier latin

318 Ontario St. E.

A true Quartier Latin institution. For nearly 25 years, the bar, which features a heated streetside patio, has been a beloved spot for friends to gather and raise a glass or enjoy a snack. You might have to rub elbows with comedians here, since the Bordel Comédie Club, a joint venture of Louis-José Houde, Martin Petit, Mike Ward, Laurent Paquin, Charles Deschamps and François Bellefeuille, is next door.