Esplanade Tranquille

I visited Esplanade Tranquille on a Friday night for a DJ skating event, and it was a great experience overall. The skate rental process was quick and efficient—less than five minutes of waiting, which is impressive for a busy night. They offer skates with strap-on fastenings, which are super convenient, especially for beginners who might struggle with traditional laces. Because of the DJ event, the rink was quite packed, making it a bit tricky to skate freely. However, I’ve passed by on other nights, and it’s usually much less crowded, so I understand that this was just a special event situation. The location itself is fantastic—right in the heart of downtown Montreal with beautiful lighting at night, giving it a slightly magical feel. It’s a perfect spot for a winter date. Inside, the upstairs area is a hidden gem. One side has study tables, while the other is a cozy lounge with plush couches, offering a ski-resort-in-Aspen kind of vibe. It’s the perfect place to warm up with a hot cocoa while enjoying a great view of the rink. Overall, a great place to skate, hang out, or just soak in the winter atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Esplanade Tranquille, located at the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, is a thoughtfully designed public space that offers a welcoming environment year-round. In the summer, it features a spacious urban terrace with patio furniture, greenery, and a playground, providing a relaxing spot for locals and visitors alike. During the winter months, the area transforms into a large refrigerated skating rink, accommodating up to 400 skaters on its 1,500 m² surface.    The esplanade also houses a multipurpose pavilion that includes Café Tranquille, a restaurant, and versatile event spaces, enhancing its role as a cultural hub. Its proximity to the Saint-Laurent metro station and integration into the vibrant Quartier des Spectacles make it easily accessible and a popular gathering spot for various events and festivals throughout the year.  Overall, Esplanade Tranquille serves as a dynamic and inclusive space that reflects Montreal’s commitment to creating engaging public areas for community interaction and cultural expression.

I love skating here. It's free if you bring your own skates. There a cafe upstairs to sip a hot drink and watch the skaters and u can rent board games. Also at night they do some cool interactive projections on the rink

Came here for the jazz festival in July 2025. Love the vibe!

This is a fairly newly developed area in Montreal downtown. Many restaurants have opened up nearby, and there’s also the central market across the street which offers various types of cuisines, bistro and bars. The square is converted into skating rink during winter time. It’s possible to rent skates. If you don’t have any, the skating rink is quite large, in comparison to other cities that we’ve seen. Esplanade Tranquille is quite well located downtown where you can combine your skating experience with another activity and make it a night out downtown Montreal.

I enjoyed it a lot and I think everyone else going there enjoys it. Doesn't matter if you skate or just sit around. There are lots of public enclosed spaces for people to go there. Chill ill and look around. Look at the beautiful decoration! + Vivid skating of people there you can see Joy ruling the atmosphere. I loved it

A lot of good energy and positivity on this rink! Usually it's pretty busy, but I've never seen anyone crushing into others, at least not on purpose. They have dedicated area for beginners at one end, so you can learn /remember how to skate in a low stress environment. Staff at the desk is always friendly and helpful. They have lockers, locks are available for rent, if you don't have your own. Skates rental price seems to be fair. Overall a good place to spend an evening in winter Montréal.

Great place yo skate. Too crowded at night but worth the stop. Try to come around 4pm. You can rent skates if you don't own a pair and it's free to slide! There's an area for beginners. The music is really nice, not too loud. You'll have a great time.

Cafe Tranquille which overlooks the skating rink is a real chill space to spend an afternoon and get some work done. With a closed fire pit, lounge-y chairs, sofas, and and a cafe that serves up some decent Golden Lattes (turmeric lattes)!,. My only complaint is that there's aren't enough electric outlets for people to juice up their laptops.

An outdoor skating rink with a city vibe. Well maintained with regular Zamboni schedules. A festive place to go if you are into skating.

Esplanade Tranquille is a winter gem in Montreal, offering a unique experience that's casual, charming, and fun. The ice rink is well-maintained, the food and drinks are cozy and comforting, and the games and overall vibe make it a perfect escape from the cold. The $14 skate rental is very reasonable for the experience, and the cafe provides a lovely spot to relax after skating. I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking for a winter outing that's a bit different from the usual! Video Review will be posted on Tik Tok and Instagram soon @Foxyappetite In Depth Review: Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting Esplanade Tranquille in Montreal, and it proved to be a delightful winter outing that offers a mix of relaxation, fun, and cozy vibes perfect for a date night or a family outing . Ice Skating Rink: The outdoor ice skating rink at Esplanade Tranquille was a real highlight. While it's not as large as some of the other city rinks, it's perfectly sized for a relaxed, enjoyable skate. The ice was smooth, and the ambiance created by the twinkling lights around the rink made it feel like something out of a winter fairytale. The rink was lively but not overcrowded, making it ideal for those who want to skate at their own pace. It's free if you bring your own equipment and rentals are available for about $14 for adults. The skates were in good condition. Cafe and Drinks: After skating, we headed inside the cozy cafe to warm up, and it was the perfect spot to unwind. The combo for two we ordered was a wonderful treat: it included hot cocoa, which was rich and comforting, and a chia latte--a nice alternative to the typical coffee drink. Both beverages were well-made and complemented each other nicely. The best part was the selection of pastries from the display case, all of which looked mouthwatering. We chose a chocolate caramel cookie and a chocolate mint sandwich cookie, both of which were delicious treats but I preferred the caramel cookie . Games and Atmosphere: The café upstairs also offers games for rent, which adds an extra layer of fun to the experience. Whether you're there with a date or with family, the option to play a few rounds of board games or card games gives you an easy way to spend time together. The overall vibe of the place is welcoming and relaxed, making it a perfect spot for a winter outing, especially after an active round of skating. The atmosphere was friendly, and the staff were helpful, adding to the overall positive experience.

This is an open area in downtown Montreal. I came at the right time and there was the Haloscene artwork on display. It was pretty cool to watch. In the day time, they have chairs and tables set up. You can grab food from nearby restaurant and eat here. We did that once and got food from Cachitos. The area is always clean. At different times, they have different performance in the area.

I was so grateful for this place during the Jazz fest! Great place to sneak off between sets and get some work done. Bottom floor is extremely clean and filled with green plants. The bean bags are the coolest part.