Rooftops in Montreal: the river, Mount Royal and the towers seen from above
An island in the St. Lawrence
The largest city in Quebec and Canada's second-largest city after Toronto, Montreal had around 1.76 million inhabitants at the 2021 census, spread across 19 boroughs. It covers most of the Island of Montreal, in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. Founded on 17 May 1642 under the name Ville-Marie, it owes its current name to Mount Royal, the wooded hill that overlooks downtown. Host city of Expo 67 and the 1976 Olympic Games, Montreal is also a major French-speaking metropolis, where people readily switch from French to English.
Old Montreal, the historic centre that grew up on the riverbank, lines up its cobbled streets, stone buildings and Notre-Dame Basilica between Place d'Armes, Place Jacques-Cartier and the Old Port. Just above, the glass towers of downtown, the Quartier des Spectacles and its festivals, Chinatown and Boulevard Saint-Laurent make up a highly varied urban landscape.
A city of summer terraces
In Montreal, summer is lived outdoors, and the rooftops are no exception. Most rooftops are seasonal: they open between late April and early summer, then close between late September and mid-October, before reopening the following spring. A few places are exceptions thanks to an indoor room or heated domes set up in winter. Always check opening dates before you go, especially at the beginning and end of the season.
Where to get a view from above in Montreal
In Old Montreal, facing the river
The historic district is home to several hotel terraces. On the roof of the Hôtel Nelligan, on Rue Saint-Paul, Terrasse Nelligan looks out over both the bell tower of Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port. Three floors higher, on the 8th floor of the Hôtel Place d'Armes, Terrasse Place d'Armes overlooks the square of the same name. Near Place Jacques-Cartier, the William Gray hotel brings together two separate venues: Terrasse William Gray, on the 8th floor, facing the river, the Ferris wheel and the Jacques Cartier Bridge, and Perché, a leafy terrace on the 4th floor. On the waterfront, Terrasse sur l'Auberge, on the roof of the Auberge du Vieux-Port, offers an open view of the river and of the summer fireworks.
Downtown, among the towers
On the 44th floor of Place Ville Marie, Rose Orange is the highest terrace in this selection, with a view of Mount Royal and the skyscrapers. Not far away, Terrasse Belvu, on the 3rd floor of the Marriott Château Champlain, faces Windsor Station and Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral. On the roof of the Renaissance hotel, Terrasse R spreads over two levels near Rue Sainte-Catherine, while Terrasse Alizé occupies the 9th floor of the Humaniti hotel, on the edge of Chinatown.
In the Quartier des Spectacles and Chinatown
On the 6th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton, Bivouac overlooks the Place des Festivals and serves cuisine made with Quebec produce. A stone's throw from Place des Arts, Muze Lounge & Terrasse occupies the 5th floor of the HONEYROSE hotel. On Boulevard Saint-Laurent, the Toit de la SAT, on the 3rd floor of the Société des arts technologiques, turns into a lively open-air bar with DJs every summer. A little further down, Terrasse Carla, on the 6th floor of the Hampton Inn, combines French bistro fare with Vietnamese flavours, and Poincaré hides a flower-filled terrace on the roof of its Chinatown building.
In Mile-Ex
Further north, Taverne Atlantic, on the corner of Avenue du Parc and Rue Beaubien, adds a neighbourhood rooftop terrace, open in fine weather, to its Art Deco bar.
Cocktails, food and atmosphere
Prices for every budget
All prices are given in Canadian dollars; as everywhere in Quebec, taxes are added to the displayed prices and tipping is customary. At hotel terraces such as Terrasse Nelligan, Terrasse William Gray, Terrasse Alizé or Muze, a cocktail usually costs $18 to $22. Neighbourhood spots such as Poincaré or Taverne Atlantic serve cocktails for around $12 to $17. Many rooftops also offer proper food: seafood and lobster rolls in Old Montreal, boreal cuisine at Bivouac, sharing plates almost everywhere.
A rooftop for every occasion
As a couple, with friends or with family
For a sunset tête-à-tête, Terrasse Place d'Armes, Terrasse William Gray or Rose Orange make an impression. With friends, the DJ nights at Terrasse R, Terrasse Belvu, Muze or the Toit de la SAT keep the evening going. On summer weekends, several terraces also serve brunch, such as Perché or Terrasse Carla.
Getting around easily
The metro serves most of these venues: Place-d'Armes and Champ-de-Mars stations (orange line) for Old Montreal and Chinatown, Bonaventure (orange line) and McGill (green line) for downtown, Place-des-Arts and Saint-Laurent (green line) for the Quartier des Spectacles.
Tips for enjoying Montreal's rooftops
Season, reservations and weather
The warm season is short and eagerly awaited: terraces fill up quickly as soon as the first warm days arrive, and several, such as Poincaré or Taverne Atlantic, operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Book when possible, especially for a group or a brunch, and arrive early for sunset. Evenings can be cool in spring and autumn: bring an extra layer. In winter, most rooftops close, but Terrasse William Gray sets up heated domes and Bivouac stays open all year round.
Photo : Taxiarchos228 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0