Montréal's Centre Eaton Revives a Legacy with New Culinary Hub

MONTRÉAL, QC – February 24, 2026

Downtown Montréal's primary retail artery has a new pulse. Le Centre Eaton de Montréal today unveiled Les Terrasses, Espace Restos, a sprawling new food hall designed not just to feed the city's masses, but to evoke a powerful sense of its architectural past. Located on the bustling Tunnel level, the new culinary space replaces a dated food court with a vibrant, modern destination that pays direct homage to a beloved, if short-lived, predecessor.

A Nod to a Bygone Era

The name "Les Terrasses" will resonate with long-time Montrealers. It references the iconic, avant-garde shopping complex that stood at 705 Sainte-Catherine Street West from 1976 to 1987. The original Les Terrasses was an architectural marvel of its time, featuring a unique triangular spiral design with gradually rising, interconnected floors. Adorned with lush greenery, trees, and ivy, it was a vertical urban garden with about 140 shops. Its memorable jingle, "Blue floor. Green floor. Yellow floor. Red... Les Terrasses is where it's at," still echoes in the city's collective memory.

Despite its striking aesthetic, the mall's complex layout proved confusing for shoppers, leading to its demolition after just over a decade to make way for the original Eaton Centre. Now, the name is reborn. The new food hall, designed by the architectural firm LemayMichaud, seeks to capture the spirit of that original landmark while learning from its history. "We wanted to create a lively and welcoming destination--both an urban oasis and an animated gathering space where light and greenery interact with the vibrant energy of the Centre Eaton de Montréal and downtown Montréal," said Anne-Marie Bouliane, Partner Architect at LemayMichaud, in a statement. "The friendly atmosphere offers a nod to the former Les Terrasses while reimagining them for today's visitors." The design emphasizes brightness, sustainability, and clear, accessible pathways—a direct contrast to the charming but labyrinthine nature of its namesake.

Reshaping the Downtown Dining Landscape

The opening of Les Terrasses arrives in a city that has fully embraced the food hall trend. It joins a competitive field that includes the upscale Time Out Market located elsewhere in the same mall, the sprawling Le Central in the Quartier des Spectacles, and the architecturally stunning Le Cathcart at Place Ville Marie. However, Les Terrasses appears to be carving out its own niche. While concepts like Time Out Market focus on bringing gourmet, chef-driven concepts to a communal setting, Les Terrasses aims for broad accessibility and convenience, directly targeting the nearly 22 million visitors who pass through the Centre Eaton annually.

"The Tunnel level, now home to Les Terrasses - Espaces Restos, has been completely reimagined and redesigned," explained Laurence Duhamel, Senior Leasing Director for the Centre Eaton de Montréal at JLL. "The food hall features 12 carefully curated vendors while maintaining ample seating capacity to accommodate busy lunch-hour crowds." This focus on capacity and speed is critical for a location that serves as a major nexus for downtown workers, shoppers, and commuters using the directly connected McGill metro and the new REM McGill stations. The strategy is clear: provide a diverse, efficient, and pleasant dining experience that enhances the Centre's role as an essential urban hub.

A Diverse Menu for a Bustling Hub

The culinary offering is a calculated blend of familiar international brands and popular local chains. The first phase of openings features seven vendors: Thai Express, Subway, A&W, Bento Sushi, and Edo Japan are joined by the highly-rated local favorite Poke Monstre, known for its fresh ingredients, and the popular smoothie chain Jugo Juice. This mix ensures that visitors can find both comforting, well-known options and discover local flavors.

A second phase, planned for fall 2026, will further diversify the palate with the introduction of Hurry Curry, the popular Lebanese chain Basha, Shanghai 360, and Grillades Torino. This two-stage rollout allows the food hall to build momentum while ensuring a steady stream of new offerings to keep the destination fresh and exciting. The vendor selection reflects a deep understanding of the downtown demographic: a need for speed, variety, and options that cater to different tastes and budgets, from a quick sandwich to a flavorful poke bowl or a hearty Lebanese platter.

More Than Just Food: The Evolution of a Retail Giant

The launch of Les Terrasses is the latest move in a long-term strategy by property manager JLL to cement the Centre Eaton de Montréal's status as a premier lifestyle destination. This follows a massive $200 million overhaul completed in 2018 that unified the mall with the adjacent Complexe Les Ailes, dramatically expanding its retail footprint and improving visitor flow. These investments underscore a global trend in commercial real estate: shopping centers can no longer survive on retail alone. They must become experiential hubs that offer dining, entertainment, and community spaces.

This evolution is visible throughout the property. Alongside the new food hall, the popular body care and home fragrance brand Bath & Body Works has reopened in an expanded 5,048-square-foot space, signaling continued confidence from major retailers. The new Les Terrasses complements the Centre's other major dining draws, including the aforementioned Time Out Market and the recently reopened historic 9th-floor restaurant, Île de France. By blending modern food concepts, revitalized retail spaces, and the preservation of heritage, the Centre Eaton de Montréal is actively shaping its future, ensuring it remains not just a place to shop, but a vital part of the downtown Montréal experience for years to come.