Atwater MarketAtwater Market occupies an Art Deco market hall opened in 1933 and designed by Ludger Lemieux with his son Paul Lemieux; the building houses indoor vendors while a row of outdoor stalls runs along the canal-side space. The market serves both local producers and specialty merchants, including notable bakeries and several cheese, wine and fish shops.
The market sits beside the Lachine Canal and Greene Avenue, with a pedestrian-and-cycle bridge linking it across the canal to Saint-Patrick Street and the bike path in Pointe-Saint-Charles, which helps make it a popular stop for cyclists. In warm months the outdoor area is lively with shoppers and riders stopping for produce, prepared foods and baked goods.
The neighbourhood around the market has seen considerable redevelopment and gentrification since the Lachine Canal reopened in 2002, bringing new condos and changing the local feel; despite that, the market remains a working farmers’ market and a focal point for both residents and visitors. Visiting combines the indoor market hall atmosphere with the outdoor stalls and canal-side views.
- Art Deco market hall: The 1933 market building is notable for its Art Deco design and contains indoor butchers, specialty shops and a longstanding bakery.
- Outdoor farmers' stalls: Rows of outdoor stalls sell seasonal produce, prepared foods and artisan goods, most active on market days and in summer.
- Première Moisson bakery: The bakery inside the hall is one of the market’s anchor vendors, offering breads and pastries to take away.
- Lachine Canal and pedestrian bridge: The canal-side setting and the pedestrian/bike bridge provide pleasant waterside views and a direct link to the Lachine Canal bike path.
- Cheese and wine shops: Several specialty cheese stores and a wine shop make it easy to assemble a picnic or sampling selection.
Nearby Attractions to Atwater Market#
Best Time to Visit Atwater Market#
Seasonal weather strongly affects the market atmosphere; outdoor stalls and canal-side activity are at their liveliest in summer while the indoor hall remains useful year-round.
Weather & Climate near Atwater Market#
Atwater Market's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -15°C to 27°C. Abundant rainfall (1001 mm/year), wettest in September, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -15° - -5° | -16° | 72 mm | overcast | 92% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.0h |
| February | Poor | -13° - -3° | -14° | 61 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.2h |
| March | Poor | -7° - 3° | -7° | 74 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 3.8 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 1° - 11° | 3° | 80 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.4h |
| May | Good | 8° - 19° | 14° | 81 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.7h |
| June | Very Good | 13° - 25° | 19° | 89 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.4h |
| July | Excellent | 16° - 27° | 22° | 93 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 3.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.1h |
| August | Very Good | 15° - 26° | 21° | 94 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 13.9h |
| September | Very Good | 10° - 21° | 16° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.0 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 4° - 13° | 7° | 83 mm | overcast | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.8h |
| November | Poor | -1° - 6° | -1° | 94 mm | overcast | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.4h |
| December | Poor | -10° - -2° | -11° | 84 mm | overcast | 91% | 3.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
How to Get to Atwater Market#
Atwater Market is in the Saint-Henri area of Montreal on Atwater Street beside the Lachine Canal and Greene Avenue; it sits a short distance from downtown Montreal. The city’s main airport is Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and intercity rail arrives at Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale).
The market is commonly reached by a short taxi or local transit ride from downtown; cyclists can follow the Lachine Canal bike path and use the pedestrian-and-cycle bridge that connects to Pointe-Saint-Charles. Check local transit maps for the best public-transport route and expect a short walk from nearby stations or stops.
Tips for Visiting Atwater Market#
- Arrive in the morning for the widest choice of fresh produce and to avoid the busiest crowds on weekend market days.
- Bring reusable bags and a small cooler if you plan to buy perishable items and travel onward by bike or public transport.
- The market combines indoor and outdoor vendors, so on cold or rainy days the indoor hall is the best place to explore.
- Cyclists will find the market convenient because of the canal bike path and the pedestrian bridge linking both sides of the Lachine Canal.