Now that the seemingly endless summer has wrapped up, fall is finally upon us—and with the changing seasons comes the perfect weather for strolling through Montreal’s food markets. Make the best of the city’s beautiful, albeit short-lived, fall season with The McGill Tribune’s rundown of the best venues around.
Marché Jean-Talon
7070 Ave Henri Julien, Montreal, QC H2S 3S3
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Weds, Sat from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Thurs, Fri from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. & Sun from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A 30-minute metro ride from McGill, Marché Jean-Talon is a maze of fresh produce, seasonal flowers, and small shops. As the largest market in the city with the greatest diversity of products, it’s the perfect place to stop for a coffee and croissant before filling your grocery bags. At any of the bakeries, fisheries, or chocolatiers, you are guaranteed to encounter plenty of free samples as you meander through all the market has to offer—so feel free to come hungry and make a lunch out of it.
Marché Atwater
138 Ave Atwater, Montreal, QC H4C 2H6
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Weds from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Thurs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. & Sat, Sun from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A few bus stops west of campus, Marché Atwater is in full fall swing. Though the market has less fresh produce than Marché Jean Talon, Marché Atwater makes up for it with its amazing selections of cheese, bread, and meat. Snack on fondue cheese bread, warm chilli, or pastries from the large Première Moisson as you wander through. For those who are already planning their Halloween, Marché Atwater’s display of pumpkins is a must-see.
Marché Saint Jacques
2035 Rue Amherst, Montreal, QC H2L 3L8
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Sat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Sun from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Marché Saint Jacques, located just north of Montreal’s Gay Village, is a quaint market, ideal for those who get overwhelmed by the extensive choices at the city’s larger markets. But even in its smaller setting, Marché Saint Jacques manages to satisfy your fall market needs. You’ll still find everything you need for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend weekend in one place: Pastas, pastries, produce, and coffees.
McGill Farmers’ Market
Rue McTavish, Montreal, QC H3A 0C9
Hours of Operation: Thurs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ending on Oct. 26
Found on McTavish every Thursday, the McGill Farmers’ Market is our very own one-stop-shop for Thursday’s lunches and dinners. Here you’ll find the key ingredients to make your own meals—breads, jams, honeys, and organically-grown produce from the Macdonald Campus—but you can also buy smaller goodies, like coffee, tea, baked goods, and plates of Indian food. Save traveling to the aforementioned markets on the weekends and indulge in McGill’s very own market for its remaining four Thursdays of the fall.