Atwater Market (Montreal Public Markets)

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Eat and Shop in Style at Montreal's Atwater Market

Atwater Market is Montreal's second largest public market. — Guylain Doyle / Getty Images

Atwater Market, the second largest of Montreal's chief public markets, holds a special place in my Montreal memory banks. The first farmers market I recall visiting as a child, the Atwater Market's sights, smells and tastes stay imprinted for a lifetime. Selling a slew of premium butcher meat, fish, hundreds of different cheeses, some of the best chocolates in Montreal (Geneviève Grandbois, remember that name), flowers, fresh herbs and of course, fresh fruits and vegetables, Marché Atwater is more upscale in nature than budget, though if you look closely, a few steals and deals can be had. Just don't blink or you'll miss 'em.

Pro tip: cycling by the Lachine Canal? Plan a pit stop at the Atwater Market. It's but a tiny detour off the canal bike path and has the makings of a choice lunch or snack destination. Just keep your eyes peeled for a beige building with an art deco clock tower. You can't miss it. Really. You'd have to force yourself not to notice. It's a heritage site that dates back to 1933.

Atwater Market's Opening Hours

Marché Atwater is open Monday to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Atwater Market is often open on statutory holidays with the notable exceptions of Christmas and New Year's Day. Note that hours are subject to change without notice.

Getting to Atwater Market: Public Transit and Parking

I prefer reaching the market by foot, bike or public transit (by way of Lionel-Groulx, a quick five-minute stroll away), but arriving by car is entirely feasible. There is plenty of free street parking in the area.