sidlee architecture

As part of the $200-million revitalization of the Place Ville Marie Esplanade, Montreal foodies will soon enjoy a brand-new concept: a gourmet biergarten in the heart of downtown Montreal, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten. Imagined by Sid Lee Architecture and A5 Hospitality, and executed by Sid Lee Architecture | Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architects in consortium, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten will open at Place Ville Marie in late 2019.

Seven days a week, all year round, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten will be the place where Place Ville Marie’s business people, the Montreal community, foodies, tourists and culture lovers will gather to eat, have a drink or simply enjoy time with friends. Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten will quickly become a destination of choice for business lunches, happy hours and festive evenings.

The 35,000-square-foot (3,252-square-metre) space will come to life under the future glass pavilion of the Place Ville Marie Esplanade. It will offer seating for more than a thousand people with 15 unique restaurant concepts, such as resto-bars, bistros and cafés, including three restaurants with table service. A wide variety of wines and cocktails, along with an impressive selection of local beers, all carefully chosen by renowned mixologists and sommeliers, will also be available

. With highly skilled chefs from Montreal’s culinary scene, including Antonio Park, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten will offer an immersive gourmet experience while fulfilling a social and cultural vocation. The site will also have a multifunctional space featuring an appealing program with one-of-a-kind events.

 

In the spirit of the biergarten, the space will have a convivial atmosphere inspired by the fresh, bright and spacious interior garden. It will be a venue for major celebrations open to all. As a lively urban square in the heart of a busy district with festive terraces, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten will echo Montreal’s lively street vibe, acting as a true indoor extension of the city.

“We want to celebrate Place Ville Marie’s central location by creating a unique point of access to the underground city,” said Jean Pelland, Architect and Senior Partner at Sid Lee Architecture. “The glass pavilion is an ideal setting for the interior garden, a space bathed in natural light and filled with greenery, where gourmet and festive gatherings will take place.”

Client: Ivanhoé Cambridge
Concept: Sid Lee Architecture & A5 Hospitality
Execution: Sid Lee Architecture | Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architects, in consortium
F&B concept and operation: A5 Hospitality

 

Photo 1: Esplanade — The PVM Esplanade is transformed into a new site for events. It connects McGill College Avenue with PVM's spaces and the new food hall via the glass pavilion.

Photo 2: Indoor garden — A four-season public garden located within the food hall and protected by a glass roof. The space beneath is bustling with activity on a daily basis and can be used to host special events.

Photo 3: Asian bistro — One of the many culinary kiosks, adorned with terraces, that surround the indoor garden and draw crowds from morning to night.

Photo 4: Indoor walkway — A walkway completes the diverse culinary options and serves as a meeting place for users of the downtown area.