Markets, Montreal

Walk or bike along the Lachine Canal to get here.
Drive if you have to.
This was a lovely way to start the day. We bought gorgeous pain du chocolat, a rich latte, fresh strawberries, delicious cheese from la fromagerie and pate. Not just any pate, we had caribou/blueberry pate. It was incredible. There are picnic tables outside the market or you can walk along the Canal (either side) and find a spot.

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The Jean-Talon market is one of the most beautiful and colorful markets I've ever been to! They have around 300 vendors, so there is a lot to see! Take a walk around and browse all of the stands of fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses and coffee. Open daily at 8am at any time of year! >>See my Travelogue for more photos!

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Marché Atwater is one of those yuppie markets that let you feel like your doing something special or unique without the taint of a tourist trap. The market itself was constructed in Art Deco style in 1933 (designed by Lemieux), and its tall clock tower helps to give it that feeling of a futurist railway station. The market is located in the Sud-Ouest area of Montréal, one that has only quite recently begun the process of gentrification. The older industrial buildings and low-income housing that were put up in the area are still quite evident as you walk to the west from the Market, although many of them have been converted to upscale restaurants and lofts. Marché Atwater is, in some ways, typical of North American markets: you can buy flowers, organic produce, artisanal cheeses and meats, and plenty of other groceries that are made from local goods and targeted at well-to-do consumers with a taste for something that can't be found at a local grocery store. The staff are pretty much all bilingual and quite helpful if you don't know what you're looking for. Of course, prices match the general theme of the market, so don't expect to find any great bargains here. If, however, you're just wandering around and looking for a few good pictures, Atwater is the perfect destination.

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I was just walking the streets of Montreal and came upon this farmers market.....lots of little meat and fruit and pastry places...mini markets inside, some cafes, coffee...nice place to escape the cold...it was around 3 pm so people were all around, buying meats, bread( bread place was really crowded ..it was s nice place though, nice fresh pastas in there , pastries.....i wanted to buy some pasta sauce but was afraid airport people would take it from me, so i didnt take the chance although i probably could have hidden it , but who knows..I never do tell the truth when they ask if i have liquids, i say no, then if they catch me i say " oh, i forgot about that".. because they wont catch a lot of it from what i have seen...anyway the sauce was expensive so i didnt want to take a chance.

On the edge of Little Italy and in the centre of the city, there is a magnificent outdoor market called Jean Talon market. I's not sure exactly how big it is, but it covers at least 2 city blocks. Open all year round, the market has dozens of stands offering up gorgeous fruits and vegetables for very reasonable prices. There are also covered shops and cafes all the way around the perimeter of the market. Some of the other shops offered strictly olive oil, some strictly tea, and another dedicated to mostly olives! The cafes had sandwiches, pastas, gelato, coffee and so much more. Even if you don't have anything to buy, Jean Talon market is a wonderful place to take a stroll and observe all the bright colors and people.

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selling there food fresh fruit & veggies, & of course there flowers. At x-mas there trees. Oct. there pumpkins. And so on. Once done there the bike path just a few steps away is a nice viste. A walk along is a brewer with patio outside serving drinks priced reasonable. (4850 St. Ambroise Street.) Hours and opening not sure. Or just walk along the people path no it's not just for bike's there are two path.

There are many boutiques and shops in this Market. In the winter it is open from 10 am to 6pm. There are many high end boutiques (Art, Jewlery, leather) as well as restaurants and tourist related stores. This market was originally opened in 1847. It was built in the classical Revival style. The building was used as City Hall until 1878.

A visit to Old Montréal will inevitably bring you face to face with the grand Marché Bonsecours. Built in 1847, the building originally was the Parliament of Upper and Lower Canada. Later it became the City Hall of Montréal until 1878 when it became the main public market for the city. Now its use seems dramatically scaled back as the home for about fifteen upscale shops.

The interior is sleek and contemporary in a sort of high-tech style with lots of stainless steel and exposed architectural ductwork. While interesting, it left me feeling as though the designer had ignored the heritage of the building and presented a retail space that could have been built anywhere. Carol, however, was quick to point out that the design of the toilet rooms was beautifully executed...more than compensating for any other deficiency.

The shops themselves are worth a look if you are interested high fashion clothing and jewelry as well as some very nice ceramics and high end artwork.