10 New Montreal Venues for Summer 2019 Meetings and Events

A multipurpose event site surrounded by nature, Espace 67 officially opened at Parc Jean-Drapeau on May 30. The $73.4 million (CAD) project includes a modern amphitheater, new restaurant, and natural agora among other event spaces. Equipped with a stage and cutting-edge technology, the amphitheater can accommodate as many as 65,000 people. The restaurant, Gava, will open in September with a spacious open-air terrace and a total capacity of 150. The various elements of Espace 67 are brought together with a half-kilometer concourse with uninterrupted views of downtown Montreal and the Saint Lawrence River.

The first Canadian outpost by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, Marcus at the Four Seasons Hôtel Montréal features dishes centered on daily catches from Quebec’s surrounding waters. Menu highlights include scallop crudo with hibiscus, sorrel, and macadamia, and salmon belly with maple, nori, and uni. The brasserie seats 93 inside or 136 total with its all-season, heated terrace where guests can catch the sunset over Mount Royal. At night, the Marcus lounge and bar features cocktails, local beers, and light cuisine, along with music by live bands and DJs. The luxury hotel opened this spring.

Opened in June, the wine bar Vinvinvin features bottles from Quebec, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Unlike the traditional organization of wine lists by varietal, Vinvinvin’s menu is dictated by flavor, with names such as “joyful,” “punk,” and “emotions.” The interior’s pine green ceiling contrasts with its plum-colored tiled bar, giving the modern space a bold color palette and an inviting atmosphere. The venue, located in La Petite-Patrie, can accommodate 80 people.

A small eatery in Montreal's Villeray district, Restaurant Basterd specializes in seafood, homemade desserts, and cocktails. Its menu features dishes such as coconut shrimp, beef tartare with kimchi and peaches, and grilled octopus with summer salad. Its cocktail menu showcases three types of sangria among other specialty drinks. The design mixes industrial with luxe, with concrete floors and velvet-covered bar stools and benches. Available for buyouts, the restaurant can seat 60 guests indoors and an additional 50 on a terrace.

Opened in March, English gastropub Wolf and Workman is the Burgundy Lion Group’s latest venture. The menu, inspired by London’s pub cuisine, showcases seasonal ingredients from independent Quebecois farmers and suppliers. Situated in Old Montreal, the space was originally built in the 1830s, and is decorated with brick walls, plush red couches, and ornate chandeliers. The interior comprises a 60-person bar area and an 80-person dining room, and the terrace accommodates another 65 guests.

The vegan restaurant Tendresse opened in Montreal’s Gay Village in March. Its clean white walls are contrasted with salmon-pink bar stools and couches in muted colors for an unfussy, modern look. The menu features fare such as grilled tofu satay, mushroom waffle, chickpea burger, along with a vegan wine list. The restaurant seats 53 guests and an additional 25 on the terrace during summer months. Its eco-friendly practices include composting food scraps and other waste.

A collaboration project between Uniburger and Tomahawk Group, Unibar opened in May on St. Sulpice Street. The casual space resembles an eclectic basement speakeasy, with string lights and leaf vines hanging from the ceiling. On its food menu, burgers are the specialty, offering regular, double-patty, and the vegetarian Beyond Meat. The bar offers a selection of natural wines from France and the Mediterranean, as well as burger-friendly cocktails and local craft beers. The venue accommodates 75 seated or 100 standing.

Located in Montreal’s Little Italy, Ratafia is a bar with a gastronomic dessert menu. Opened in July, the bar offers a mix of classic and seasonal desserts, a creative selection of granitas with liqueurs, and also a homemade birthday cake. Savory options are also available through a shared platter with products from vendors such as Falafel Yoni and Epicerie Conserva. The bar’s interior, which seats 70 people, features booth seating, chic hanging lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Another 25 people can sit outside. Guests also have the chance to watch pastry chef Valentin Rouyé artfully create their desserts at the main bar.

Barroco Group’s new venture, Milky Way cocktail bar opened in January in Pointe Saint-Charles. The glamorous-but-casual venue is decked with fluorescent neon lights and tropical decor, creating the setting of a dreamy vacation. The stairwell that leads to the bar is designed to resemble a cosmos, and the long skylight above the bar showcases the glow of city lights. Since the bar is located on the first floor of the restaurant Fugazzi, guests have the chance to enjoy both Neapolitan-style pizza and crafted cocktails. The venue seats 90 people or holds 120 for receptions.

Inspired by the English pub but with a refined twist, Parliament is characterized by a dark color-scheme paired with modern wooden textures. The name of the pub references the 1849 burning of the Canadian Parliament that took place in the park across the street. The menu, crafted by chef Chanthy Yen, features reimagined classic English dishes, such as the bubble and squeak fritters with Marmite mayo. The space holds 50 people and is available for buyouts.