27 notable Montreal restaurants and bars that have permanently closed

UPDATE, October 29 2020: It’s more important than ever to stay updated on the budget-friendly options found among the best cheap eats in Montreal, so we’ve dived back into our original article to bring readers even more bangs for their bucks. Times are tough right now, but with a little elbow grease and worn-down shoe soles, we’ve done the research—waistlines be damned—to bring the city we love the ultimate selection of where to eat for $10 and under before taxes.  Montrealers have an ongoing love affair with their city’s coupling low cost of living alongside its high quality of life, and the best cheap eats in Montreal are among the strongest supporting arguments for that. It’s a daily gift to hit up just about any corner of the island and find food that’s equal parts fulfilling and frugal, from Italian restaurants and Chinese restaurants to some of the best poutine and bagels in Montreal. We can’t promise any of these ain’t popular though, so enjoy the line-ups at these popular student haunts and local legends. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Montreal

Today, the Coalition des Centres d’activités physiques du Québec—representing some 200 gyms and sports centres in the province—has announced that will not be opening their doors in defiance of public health mandates from the Quebec government. The original plan was to open, as was announced on October 26 in a press release. "On October 29, we will be opening our gyms in all regions of Quebec in order to once again," the release originally stated. This was done in the face of the government's extension of the original red zone restrictions that were meant to last from October 1 to October 28, but were extended another four weeks until November 23. They've since walked back that decision, according to a report from the Montreal Gazette, in the face of Premier François Legault's insistence that fines would be being given to both proprietors and clients who defied public health. Instead, demonstrations are being planned, and the coalition is inviting their clients instead "to a 'health' protest in front of our facilities" tomorrow at 8:30am, as per the latest release from the organization. "This peaceful protest, in accordance with the rules in place, will be the first step in a movement that we want to see grow," the release went on to state. It's being done so "the Legault government realizes that it cannot govern only for COVID-19, but that it must do (something) for the physical and mental health of 8.5 million people." Most popular on Time Out - Montrealers will be allowed

Winter generally isn't the happiest time of the year fro many Montrealers, especially with an ongoing pandemic that's caused numerous restrictions to be placed on businesses, but there's one small announcement that dropped today worth looking forward to: Ice skating outdoors will be permitted this winter season in Montreal. Très bonne nouvelle! ❄️⛸ Il est essentiel pour nous d’offrir à la population des occasions de faire de l’exercice et du sport cet hiver, et nous travaillons très fort pour lui offrir différentes activités, dans le respect des mesures sanitaires. https://t.co/hF93k5PzuT #polmtl — Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) October 28, 2020 More specifically, Montreal's public health director Dr. Mylène Drouin is recommending the opening of outdoor rinks, according to a report by Radio-Canada in which they mentioned the doctor's interview on the radio program Tout un matin.  despite the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, its director, Dr. Mylène Drouin, announced on Wednesday. "Yes, we are going to recommend that the rinks be open," she said, noting that the physical activity would be of benefit to Montrealers dreading incoming seasonal depression and mental health issues surrounding a likely continued lockdown. "It might be free skating... obviously, there will be no hockey games."  Mayor Valérie Plante had pointed to the city approving the move two weeks ago.  As of now, several municipal sports centers are still open for certain activities despite the closure of gym

"It's better to prepare for the worst; I wouldn't be surprised if the government extends the closure of restaurant dining rooms," Constant Mentzas, chef at the renowned fish and seafood restaurant Ikanos, told Time Out Montreal in a recent telephone conversation prior to the renewed red zone restrictions in Montreal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Restaurant Ikanos (@ikanos_mtl) on Oct 18, 2020 at 2:19pm PDT That's Chef Mentzas' experience talking—having been through the city's previous lockdowns—but while he was right to be concerned, he and his team have adapted and innovated to the recent changes of 2020 with their new takeout offerings. The only thing we can't be sure of whether or not they're here to stay. "Even if they decided to reopen the dining rooms at the end of the (October), I doubt the whole town would be going out to eat overnight," Mentzas says. "I preferred to take my time, analyze the situation, get it right and launch a new platform my team and I would be comfortable working with in the short, medium and long term." Those machinations come from a cautious place: COVID-19 has changed the face of eating out in Quebec for now, and takeout and delivery services are more than necessary to survive. That said, this new platform of Ikanos' brings together three entities under the same name—or, rather, under the same leader. The first part is the Ikanos proper, where you can order one of the best grilled octopuses in town, sea bass

UPDATE, October 27 2020: Two days before red zone restrictions in regions like Montreal were set to change, Premier François Legault announced on behalf of the Quebec government that these restrictions would continue for another four (4) weeks. However, what is open and closed in Montreal, plus the rules on what you can and can't do in Montreal, have changed slightly, so we've updated our guide accordingly. Following the Quebec government's unveiling of a new COVID-19 alert system where regions of the province could be placed in one of four stages of lockdown, the island of Montreal was first placed on orange alert on September 20 following a spike in cases and the police issuing 1,500 verbal warnings and more than 90 tickets in a huge provinical sweep of restaurants and bars in the province. On September 28th, those three regions along with others were placed under red alert. Since then, the following regions have also been placed under red alert: The Capitale-Nationale region; Mauricie; Centre-du-Québec; Gatineau and Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais in the Outaouais region; Carleton-sur-Mer, Maria and Nouvelle in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region; Appalaches, Beauce-Sartigan, Bellechasse, Lotbinière, La Nouvelle-Beauce, Robert-Cliche and the city of Lévis in the Chaudière-Appalaches region; Laval; Joliette, D'Autray, L’Assomption, and Les Moulins in the Lanaudière region; parts of Deux-Montagnes in the Montréal region, La Rivière-du-Nord, Thérèse-De Blainville, and Mirabe

Quebec Premier Legault is extending the current red zone restrictions in Montreal and other regions like it by another four weeks, until November 23. While "our efforts have paid off", the Premier said, the number of cases in hospitalizations and deaths need to continue to drop. In a press conference today, Legault highlighted that the province is experiencing as many as 1,000 new cases a day, meaning that until Quebec as a whole can bring down its case counts, current restrictions are going to continue. The announcement comes two days before the planned end to the red zone restrictions on October 28. He deemed that businesses (referring to retail and other current allowed openings) and schools are the only thing that should remain open at this time. Things may change after two weeks, however, if there is a "sustained drop" according to Legault. The situation would be revisited in that case, and some restrictions may be lifted. At the same time, schools will remain open, but will be experiencing certain changes, such as applying a hybrid system where classes for certain levels can be both remote and in-person. "We (can't) continue having ten new deaths every day," Legault said. "(If) the personal decisions that you make could reduce those deaths by one... your efforts will have been worth it," Legault said, speaking to Quebeckers directly. The premier also stressed that remote work, among employers, should be encouraged and that mental health needs to be addressed. "Our desti

This Halloween, Montreal's dessert festival Le Gros festival Sucré is bringing a COVID-friendly version of the spookier side of October by delivering bags of sweets and desserts to Montrealers' doors. While trick-or-treating isn't cancelled this year, the dessert festival's making it possible for Montrealers both with and without kids to enjoy something sweet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Le GROS Festival Sucré (@gros_sucre) on Oct 16, 2020 at 11:58am PDT The festival currently still has bags available, so it's best to act fast if you want something delivered to your door by people wearing costumes—you know, in the spirit of the season. Last time the festival did this, they sold out. Bags go for $38 for the large version, and $28 for the small, plus $5 in delivery fees. They include, according to the festival: 2 surprise donuts from CRemy pâtisserie 2 monster cookies from B.cuit Mtl 2 ghost brownies from Blissful Brownies 250 g. of candies from Mony Monka Bag of 5 meringues from Azucar Sucrerie Bag of spicy salted caramel popcorn from Azucar Sucrerie2 decadent cookies from Cookine + surprises for Halloween! To give you an idea of what's on offer, one of the last surprise bags sent to Montrealers' doors included the donut masters at Crémy Patisserie, Azùcar Meringues & Sucreries, cookies from Bcuit Mtl, the caterers at Essentiellement Sol, candies from MONY MONKA, freshly-baked brownies from Blissful Brownies and lots of can't-eat-just-one m

We're approaching that time of year when fall in Montreal is past its peak, the weather's getting darker, and Halloween in Montreal is about to go into full swing. This year, spooky and costumed celebrations are a little different, but this time of year isn't down and out: It's not too late to go pumpkin picking near Montreal (or you can grab one at a Montreal farmers market if you don't have wheels), candy stores in Montreal are still open to binge with, some of the best Montreal museums are doing virtual ghost walks, there are some haunted walking tours in Montreal to check out... Just don't go thinking Halloween in Montreal can't be celebrated at all. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to exploring Montreal in the fall

Editor's note, October 26 2020: As fall comes to its early end—the winter equinox always feels like it's coming sooner than its official date of December 21—and snow is inbound? Plus the ongoing pandemic? The best things to do in Verdun can't (understandably) be enjoyed to their fullest. That said, we've done our best to highlight this nieghbourhood's heights in entertainments, sights, sounds, culture and activities that you can enjoy all year and will adjust the selection accordingly as time goes on. When you take its burgeoning food and drink scene, its attractions, its generally good vibes and its entertainments—all of it—into consideration, the best things to do in Verdun isn't your average laundry list. As you'll find with any neighbourhood, Verdun restaurants and bars give the borough a lot of charm and character, but so do its community activies, shopping at its bookstores and vintage thrift stores, its parks, and more. Whether it's for summer fun or winter wonders, Verdun's got more than enough to merit a visit/stay/signed lease at any time of year. RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate Verdun neighbourhood guide

It’s takeout with a seriously cool twist: Chinatown’s latest arrival, the Japanese snack bar Fleurs et Cadeaux, is serving playlists to listen to as you eat. Photograph: Courtesy Fleurs et Cadeaux Imagine picking any number of items off their menu—Japanese curries, seasonal bento boxes, chirashi bowls and/or Japanese sandos, plus some specialty coffees and teas or bottles of wine and sake—and bringing it home. Open the bag, and along with it comes a QR code that takes you to a playlist inspired by the seasons and whatever you’re eating (plus a candle to enjoy eating by candlelight). The music’s recorded by the restaurant’s partner and resident DJ Hideyuki Imaizumi (the owner of Time Out Market Montréal’s Marusan) while the food’s being prepped, and that becomes a second ‘dish’ to be enjoyed as you eat. Photograph: Courtesy Fleurs et Cadeaux The idea is grounded in the original plans for Fleurs et Cadeaux: “It’s two businesses,” says David Schmidt, a member of the team that brought F&C to fruition. “There’s the snack bar Fleurs et Cadeaux on the ground floor, and then there’s the listening bar with a vintage sound system in the basement.” While it started to get its sea legs in Montreal’s dining scene back in September, the new restaurant has found itself adapting those concepts in light of October’s likely-to-be-extended red zone restrictions. Located inside of what once housed a gift shop of the same name, Fleurs et Cadeaux's building has roots stretching back to the 18