Time Out Market

There are so many great restaurants to hit up in Montreal; I think we are known as one of the foodie centres in the world, so there is always somewhere great to go and something to delicious to try. I don’t know about you, but when I’m making plans with my husband, friends and family, it’s difficult to narrow down all the great options and also, finding one place that suits everyone’s needs can sort of be a little tricky. That’s why, Time Out Market Montreal is kind of brilliant! Let me explain why.

Time Out Market Montreal is a cultural and food market – yes, I know, still sounds kind of vague. Basically, Time Out Magazine has been scouring cities for as long as 5 decades – they know what’s what when it comes to good food. So they’ve taken their magazine lists of must-try restos and converted it into a 3-dimensional reality. Creating an epicentre of culinary proportions, locals and tourists alike can finally try a little bit of all of our incredible restaurants in one common place.

Time Out Market spans 40,000 square-feet and is located in the Centre Eaton on Sainte-Catherine Street. I guess you could kind of think of it like a high-end food court, because that’s the closest way to describe it, but it is nothing like any food court you’ve ever been to. Time Out Market has 16 of Montreal’s most outstanding chefs and restaurants. To name of few, they’ve got Foxy, Olive & Gourmando, FoodChain, Dalla Rose, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, and so many more amazing, yummy places.

Aside from the fact that this makes where to eat after shopping a serious no-brainer, it’s also a great destination “resto.” Everyone is happy because there are 16 different kinds of foods to choose from. I don’t know about you, but when I visit a new city, I like to try the food – it’s a tasteful way to experience the culture. Well, Time Out Market is popping up everywhere with new markets opening in Chicago, Boston, Miami, New York, London, Dubai and more. The first Time Out Market was opened in 2014 in Lisbon and has been a serious success, so hopefully they’ll just open these everywhere and make all of our lives easier!

On top of the 16 eateries, there are mixologists and culinary classes. The whole thing is a cultural experience. I also love that the space is so beautifully decorated – it does not feel like you’re eating in a mall. It feels like you’re transported to a fine-dining restaurant with the city’s finest tasting menu available.

I am a serious food lover – it’s virtually impossible to stop me from indulging in a little treat or obviously some warm bread, but I sprained my ankle and have been on a serious cleansing kick to get myself back up to speed. It was almost impossible not to cheat, because I am obsessed with some of the restaurants that were there and the menu that was served at the pre-opening event was 17 dishes long! I was pining over the burgers and pizzas, but at least I got to taste the Olive & Gourmando salads and other healthy alternatives.

Whether I’m in Montreal and need a place to eat or travelling and want a chance to try out the city’s greatest, Time Out Market has made it so simple to not just read about the best of the best, they’ve actually curated the meals for us! Kudos Time Out, your Market is genius!

Dyan Solomon co-owner of Olive et Gourmando and Foxy.

Photography by Patricia Brochu