Jardin Nelson

Jardin Nelson is one of Old Montréal’s true gems. An open garden courtyard-styled dining area full of plants, warm lighting, and live music creates a vibrant atmosphere. One’s excited while waiting in the queue (we made the mistake of dropping in without a reservation) about the food to be sampled. And the food, when it came, was absolutely delicious! Overall, Jardin Nelson is an ideal spot whether you’re visiting with friends, family, or looking for a romantic evening out. The menu offers a great variety of options, and everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. Their crêpes are especially delicious, and the cocktails pair perfectly with the lively yet laid-back vibe of the space. Service was quick despite how busy the restaurant was. Reservation is definitely recommended. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Montréal. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere!

The food and wine were great. If you go for lunch, it’s usually easy to find a table. They don’t take reservations, and there’s often a long line outside. The best time to come is around 5 p.m. ,before the evening rush. Every day after 6 p.m., there’s live jazz music, so the crowd starts to build up around that time. If you arrive around 5 p.m., you’ll have a better chance of getting a table and can enjoy a relaxed dining experience while waiting for the music to start. I found that Friday at 5 p.m. is the perfect time to visit. They also have lovely backyard tables surrounded by greenery and flowers. The only downside is the small flies that tend to hover around the tables, it can get quite irritating depending on the weather and season. We visited in October, and it was a bit bothersome then.

Wow! Wow! Just WOW! Great food, friendly staff. Awesome atmosphere!! This place is not fully enclosed. It is like an outdoor patio space between a couple buildings. They use canvas to provide protection from the sun and rain. We are here on a day it rained, and we didn’t get rained on. Very cool idea! Food was good and it was very reasonable for the quality and the area.

This is the only place that I have given it 5-star during my stay in whole Canada. I felt like that I have sat in a bistro in Rome or Florence when I was eating there. Eventhough it is so busy, always packed, the waiters r so professional,kind and polite. Also the food was perfect, full of inspiration. Who ever is a chef of thid gem, is a real chef.

We visited Jardin Nelson for my birthday as it had a lot of recommendations. I ordered the citrus shrimp to start and the whisky ribs for my main. Both were excellent. For dessert we chose the giant cookie and they put a sparkler in it for my birthday which was lovely! Service was good and we got to sit on the patio which was nice. The heaters kept us toasty so we didn’t feel the chill as the evening went on. I also enjoyed their drink menu - my favourite drink was the Hugo Spritz. They do not take reservations at this restaurant so you need to show up and ask for a table.

We had a really lovely dinner at Jardin Nelson in Montreal. The atmosphere was warm and full of life — especially because of the live music. There were several musicians performing while we dined, and it added something really special to the experience. During jazz festival season, it’s even more vibrant, with music floating through the air and talented artists keeping everyone entertained. It feels like one of those classic Montreal spots where you just want to linger. The food was absolutely delicious. The chef did an excellent job — everything we ordered was fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. The menu is rich and diverse, so everyone in our group found something they really enjoyed, whether it was seafood, vegetarian dishes, or something light and refreshing. Our waitress, Melina, was amazing — friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. She made us feel welcome and taken care of throughout the whole meal. The desserts were also fantastic — a perfect way to end the evening. Overall, the service, the food, and the live music created a memorable night. If you’re visiting Montreal, Jardin Nelson is definitely worth a stop.

Such a dreamy outdoor setting for lunch with friends in the old port. A courtyard with birds flying around and so many flowers, and not to forget live music (and some heaters!). This was October 18th just before the seasonal closure. Food was delicious. Till next year we shall meet again!

We had such a wonderful experience at Jardin Nelson in Old Montreal! The restaurant itself is absolutely charming, set in a beautiful historic building with a cozy, inviting garden that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a hidden gem in the city. The food was fantastic – fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. We tried a variety of dishes, and everything was delicious, from the savory crepes to the refreshing salads. But what really made the experience extra special was the live music. The jazz trio added such a lovely, relaxed vibe to the meal, making it feel like a true Montreal experience. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The combination of the great food, the magical ambiance, and the bonus of live music made this a truly memorable outing. I would highly recommend Jardin Nelson to anyone visiting Montreal – it’s perfect for a leisurely meal with friends, family, or even a special night out.

This was a great experience and restored our faith in having lunch in a touristy restaurant after having to walk out of Comptoir 400 after not getting any food. We ordered the Greek salad and two seafood crepes which came out on time considering how busy it was, and the food was delicious. They also have a lovely garden. I would highly recommend this place. Our negative experience at Comptoir 400, turned into a positive one.

Un endroit très agréable l'été. Étant entre plusieurs bâtiments (ou une sorte de court intérieure), l'endroit allie la brique et de belle structure civiles. Orchestre de musique (style jazz), très romantique, l'endroit héberge de beaux arbres le tout étant tres bien décoré. Le serveur professionnel la nourriture délicieuses, salade de homard et poke saumon. L'endroit propre également.

If you're in the French part of Canada, you gotta try crepes. Jardin Nelson is definitely a great option as they have both sweet and savory crepes, and a beautiful terrace to enjoy them on a nice summer day. Yes, it is expensive, but it's in the heart of old Montreal and the quality is great. Highly recommend.

The back patio lives up to the hype and was our main reason for visiting. If we had more time I would have come again to try more menu items and soak in the atmosphere. We had crepes, the smoked meat and chicken w broccoli. They were my wife's choice and although good I'm not a huge crepe fan. It's a must visit when in old town, there can be a wait but looked like the turn tables over pretty quick.

Very nice, busy, and boisterous restaurant with a large courtyard dining area. We enjoyed a lobster salad and the lemon wings along with a cider and some wine, while a three piece jazz trio played Beatles songs. Really fun place. Would be nice with a large group, but it gets busy. Service was quick and friendly. Would go again.

For all the hype on yelp we went here and were sadly a little disappointed. The service was decent, the ambiance was good as well with the jazz. The food though could be better for the price paid. The crepes were dry and just mid. The vegan poke was pretty good. That said I definitely would not come back here again.

I tried duck for the first time here! It was better than I expected! They also have a fair menu size with a lot to choose from if you're not into trying duck. They have jazz nights with musicians playing in the outside quarters. I think this is a good stop if you are visiting Montreal.

Gorgeous ambiance here at Jardin Nelson. The live jazz music was absolutely beautiful. We came on a Saturday night at 7:30pm for 8 people and only had to wait 45 minutes. The lines are usually long here but they do to fast. They do not accept reservations. Food was alright, very mediocre. The veggie lasagna was probably the best out of everything we ordered. The walleye was a huge disappointment due to the lack of flavor and spices (including salt). The smoked meat crepe was very also soggy and disappointing. Great views and drinks but not the best food.

We came here and saw the line. We figured it's going to be long wait looking at the lines but fortunately with only 2 people, we were able to get a table in minutes. The French onion didn't disappoint. Good flavor, not too salty, great cheese flavor. I would hope it's slightly more baked then the cheese flavor and aroma will even be better. Honestly, the pizza was ok. The drinks was good. Didn't order enough

We came for the weekend and wanted to grab dinner by the Old Port. This was one place I had passed by before but shyed away from because of the long lines. This time around we waited in line for maybe 10mins, and were seated quickly in the patio where we were greeted kindly by our server who encouraged us as we tried to practice our French. Ordered some yummy mock tails à la mangue. And Salmon Poke as well as the Forestière crepe. Overall, great experience. Would definitely come back again.

Great food, ambience and service. Our server was very attentive and extremely friendly. The garden atmosphere and live music was fantastic. Our wine (Klimt Grüner Veltiner) was perfect and the crepes we enjoyed absolutely delicious. Great experience!

This is a beautiful location to grab a bite I the heart of Old Montreal. The food was delicious and the true gem is the ambiance. They have a beautiful inside terrace to eat and listen to great live jazz. Service was excellent and we found this to be the perfect place to grab lunch during our visit.

Popped in for an afternoon relaxation and drink moment. After walking all day, it was the perfect spot for a little chill. Live jazz right on the outdoor patio, plus refreshing cocktails, and some great seafood treats. Loved the ceviche and grilled shrimp. Everyone raved about their food too. Service was very nice and made us enjoy the afternoon. A repeat visit for sure!

What aBEAUTIFUL restaurant! It was like sitting outside a cute patio with trees and pergolas. The food was good too! Very fresh and tasty! Our server was very nice and friendly and spoke good English. We all had different poke bowls that were very good.I had the pulled chicken one and myDH had the salmon one. My son had the cheese pizza. There was even live jazz

Absolutely beautiful garden in the back, the live band added such a romantic feel and the atmosphere was incredible. Def recommend their crepes, lots of variety and well made.

Our Airbnb is right across the street so we've gone here twice lol, once for dinner and once for breakfast. The ambiance is amazing! I love the live jazz and the outdoor seating with all the plants is great. I didn't think the music was overly loud at all, and for breakfast we were seated two tables away! The food is alright, expensive as can be expected in a touristy area. Their menu is kind of funky and it's kind of weird that they serve everything from tacos to crepes to poke. For a snacky dinner, we shared the nachos (weird but not bad) and the tuna ceviche. Nothing bad at all, just not as good as I would have liked for that price. BUT I understand it's a tourist trap so high prices and mediocre food isn't out of the norm. For breakfast we shared the crepe florentine which was really good and filling! I saw reviews about the crepes being soggy any maybe those ones just got left in the warming window for a little too long or the people didn't eat them fast enough lol. Ours was great and the dough was tasty! No wait at all to get seated, though we went on weekdays and it was just the two of us.

Great atmosphere coupled with awesome live music and good food...and you'll have folks lining up to take part of this dining event in Old Montreal. We made reservations for lunch and got seated pretty quickly. They don't take reservations during dinner so you'll have to brave the queue to get your seat. They really have a pretty extensive food menu and a decent beer/wine and cocktail list.

This restaurant has been on Place Jacques Cartier since I remember coming to Old Montreal....It's known for its Sunday Jazz Brunch, but they do have live music pretty much every night starting at 6pm. It's a lovely place with a large menu and friendly staff. Located in the heart of Old Montreal (Place Jacques-Cartier), Jardin Nelson is a true haven where you can bask in the warm summer atmosphere....yes, the restaurant is not open for the winter season, so it's a place for the summertime with live music.... We chose to sit on the front terrace in the heart of Place Jacques Cartier, where diners can watch artists and street performers, they also have a rear courtyard with a fabulous design and lush greenery landscaped areas. The salmon lasagna was cheesy and filling...a good size meal for a hungry tourist !!! LOL....

Eh. To be honest, this was our worst dining experience while in Montreal. Food was way overpriced and flavor was lacking. The duck confit poutine was saturated with gravy but I couldn't taste anything except salt. The Nelson crepe left so much to ask for. It contained bacon, cheese, and cinnamon apples and it was priced at $21... And also, it was served with a sad slice of watermelon and orange. The salmon poke bowl was the only thing that was slightly tasty. Service was very good and friendly. They only offer outdoor seating and it was so hot out. There were no fans and there were so many bugs and bees constantly flying around. Overall, this meal was almost $100. TLDR; Not worth it at all. Skip this place and try another place on this popular strip.

Great ambiance in the back patio with live music. We had the vegetable lasagna and bruschetta to share- both were excellent! We needed to return at night, as it was way to hot and stuffy when we tried during the day. It was a hot and muggy few days when we visited. Hostess not so friendly during day, yet waiter was great!

Surprisingly worth it!! We came for dinner on a Tuesday night in August. We came right before 6pm and seemed to have just missed a huge line after, so definitely try to go for an early dinner! We got seated right away, table for 4. Live music was to start at 6! It was really chill vibes like jazz covers. The outside patio is gorgeous. I was worried I was just paying for ambiance and mediocre food - maybe because my expectations were low, I was pleasantly surprised! The food was actually pretty good. I got the seafood mac and cheese - it surprisingly had a good amount of shrimp and scallop. The sauce was creamy and tasty. Portion sizes were filling. I came with my family on vacation. Everyone else I came with enjoyed their food as well! 1 star off because they were out of all of the beers I wanted (do better! Lol) and they charged us $4.50 for a glass of hot water with lemon!!! If you want any variety beyond free ice water, just be warned.

If I could give 3.5 I would. We sat in the back garden with live jazz - a beautiful atmosphere. Service was great. I had a Bloody Mary that was VERY strong (not my jam). The food was good, it won't blow you away. Come for the atmosphere.

If I could I would give this place a 10/10! I heard about this place from YouTube, but I didn't add it to my itinerary because I thought we'd never be able to make since we heard about the long lines. One day it was cloudy and rain/thunderstorms were on the forecast. We ended up walking in Old Montreal with an umbrella and were unexpectedly looking around for a place to eat an early dinner (4ish). It was then we spotted Jardin Nelson and at first it doesn't look busy (on the front porch) so I almost passed on it. It wasn't until I recognized the alleyway entrance from the YouTube video I had watched where I had a lightbulb moment. We were quickly seated in the first stairwell patio to the left under a large umbrella. We put in our orders after the recommendations offered by our waitress (who was incredibly sweet and patient). Once we got our appetizers, the live Jazz music began. It is an absolutely beautiful outside dining restaurant. We didn't even notice it was raining hard until we heard the thunder. The music and the waitstaff continued as if it were a sunny day. Only a few tables that aren't covered by large umbrellas were soaked, but the wait staff had relocated these patrons prior to the down pour. We were impressed at how well thought out and planned this place was. even the patrons waiting in line to be seated were protected from the storm! The food took some time to come out, but it was still tasty. We just enjoyed ourselves into the evening. I absolutely am in love with this place.

Excellent food, great service, and good ambiance. The seafood crepe was delicious. The apple juice was refreshing.

This is an authentic bistro by the port which I was lucky to get to try on a nice sunny day but it was hot (90 degrees F) and only has outdoor seating so there wasn't AC. We got there before 6pm and didn't have much of a line and got seated right away. The food was great and the service was pretty fast considering it was packed when we ate there. We got the small pitcher of lychee sangria, which was refreshing. We tried the pork crepe, american pizza and caesar salad all delicious and nice presentation. To top it off there was jazz music playing so that made it a nice dinner. I would recommend trying!

Long lines during dinner! The big attraction at this place is the beautiful indoor/outdoor dining area. There's a tree that grows through the middle of it! Awesome place to take pictures and enjoy good food! I decided on the Charcuterie Pizza for dinner. The flavor is unmatched! It was jam-packed with a variety of meats and cheeses. It was one of my favorite meals I ate during my trip to Montreal. The only downside to our visit was the service. Our waiter seemed bothered by the fact that we asked him to fill our waters. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to a bad day. He did not seem happy and it showed. With that being said, we still had a great time!

Beautiful restaurant in Old Montreal Stopped in there for lunch and I was happy to find that they are very allergy friendly too. I had a lovely salmon salad (safe for anyone with dairy allergy) coupled with a glass of syrah - so so good. Staff was super friendly as well! Can't wait to visit again in the future

Their crepes are delicious. And they have vegetarian options as well. For dessert, I had the pouding Chomeur which is definitely a must try. Outdoor seating with live music on a busy Saturday afternoon - couldn't ask for more from old Montreal. Service was fast and respectful.

Ambiance was amazing. The decor with the flowers and plants along with the jazz band playing was lovely. The food and drinks were amazing

Beautiful garden with great music and very tasty food. We loved it! There was a wait to be seated, but we only waited for no more than 10 min.

This is definitely the highlight of our Canada trip! The food is excellent the live musicians are spectacular! We especially love the outdoor setting which provides a very relaxing atmosphere! We love all the food we ordered and our waiter Zachery is amazing!! Such a gentleman making sure everything came out ok! Really want to give a shout-out to him for making our Montreal experience an unforgettable one

After hunting for a restaurant that was both family friendly (travelling with 2 minors and many places to eat around town are bars-turned-restaurants that don't serve under 18) and found Jardin Nelson. Skeptical at first due to bad reviews and apparently long wait times for food, but heard the ambiance was good and wanted to wait for the back terrace. There was barely a 5 minute wait despite the line and we were seated right next to the band. the food was amazing! I got the Nelson crepe and it was delicious, and according to my dining partners the poutine with pulled duck, rosemary pork sandwich, and pulled pork crepe were delicious. Unfortunately the card reader wasn't working at the time we were there, but the workers were trying hard to get it back online. our server, Patrick, was extremely patient when we needed to wait at our table until they got the card reader working again, and the wait for the card reader was short and pleasant due to the live music

Beautiful place, arranged with so many details. Very enjoyable just to sit there and listen music. Beef tartare was done properly and the presentation was great. Meat lovers pizza was the best pizza ever. Super sweet and energetic server lady with glasses just made the whole experience the best restaurant experience in Montreal.

What a pleasant place to stumble into! We were just looking for a simple breakfast, maybe a drink, Steak Tartare if we were lucky... We got *so much* more! First of all, if anything has live music, especially jazz, I am THURRR. The two musicians transported me back to yesteryear, back to those decades I wasn't even alive to see! They played any and every song, and they owned it. Second, the ambiance. Vibezzz fo' dayzzz. The deconstructed building/outdoor garden (see pic) was so friggin well thought-out! They had ample seating outdoor, and the seating sections were sprawling-- it went on and on! Third, the dranks. I think I may just move to Canada for this local spin on an old classic, called the "Bloody Caesar." Everything you love in a Blood Mary-- dat tomato, olive, salt, pepper, celery, even a pickled green bean; BUT there is a smart addition in this country-- you guessed it, Caesar Salad Dressing. OMG why have I never thought of this!? Perfectly creamy, smooth...a dammmm good Bloody. Fourth, the FOOD. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Francophile, but anywhere that has a HINT of French culture, Steak Tartare is on my mind. I loved the presentation here (see pic). Served with Ye Ole quail egg for that extra pizazz, and of course.. #frites. Just go.

Excellent. Service was top notch, entering in from the street, we were asked if we wanted to sit in the back patio, what a nice spot for dinner on a nice night. Dinner was excellent as well, appetizer of Mousse de Foie, dinners of duck poutine and salmon lasagna.

Pros: Great food, a waiter who loves his job and gave us the best experience, great live music, fantastic ambiance, fairly priced and amazing food. Cons: Wait 45 min to an hour on a Saturday night to be seated in the garden. You could be seated fairly faster if you don't care for the jazz music. What a fantastic experience - don't miss out dining here if you're in Montreal. We haven't felt this awesome dining in a restaurant for so long. We were seated right under the podium. So we find enjoyed our food and drink while listening to some great music. The ambiance is so romantic with so much greenery and lights. The food is fantastic - we had a veggie pizza and the crust was so good along with the veggies and not overly cheesy. We also got a peri peri pulled chicken crepe which was surprisingly delicious. Our waiter was amazing and he told him we haven't been served this well in a long time. It really felt like we were back in Europe. If we return to Montreal, this will be in our list of places to go to.

We just happened upon this place in between two activities. We were looking for something a bit healthier then what we had been eating over the last 24 hours. We really enjoyed all three things we ordered. Very fresh and satisfying. The front terrace is a great place to sit and watch people. They also appeared to have a courtyard area inside in addition to the regular indoor dining. We had just finished biking and so we felt a little bit underdressed but it was fine on the terrace. I may have felt out of place inside. It sounded like they had some live music.

It was okay. The service is good. The food leaves a little to be desired. The shrimp tacos had way too much mayonnaise in them. Not good. The rabbit crepe was crunchy, more like a tortilla. Lacked flavor

Este lugar ubicado en pleno corazón del viejo Montreal es uno de los mas populares, no se requiere de reservación, en mi caso duré esperando aproximadamente 25 min pero vale la pena, el lugar es bastante grande al interior y cuentan con musica en vivo toda la noche, la comida es bastante buena y variada, el servicio también es bastante bueno, lo único que no estaba a mi gusto fue la cerveza que no estaba bien fría.

Saw this place across the big open town square section. We were looking for brunch and the menu is perhaps more lunch/ dinner, but very glad we came. They have some seats in the front overlooking the square which are nice, but arguably the back is way better- it's essentially a covered inside/ outside section with all sorts of flowers and giant umbrellas. We were there for Sunday brunch around 11.30am, and they had a trio with singer and double bass providing great relaxing background music. We had the crepes, I mean honestly they were ok, not that amazing, but basically it's all about the venue. Staff were friendly and efficiency. Definitely worth a visit.

Awesome atmosphere, great food! Best poutine in-town! Extensive menus, live music, impressive drink selection! Staff is super friendly and accommodating!

If you come to Montreal, you MUST come to this eatery in Old Town. Beautiful set up inside and outside. We were able to get a spot upstairs outside and it was gorgeous! There was live music while we were enjoying the views and of course, the food! We weren't feeling rushed at all and our server was amazing. They had a full house for a Monday (mainly because it was the F1 weekend) but everyone was so nice and accommodating. We really enjoyed our time here!

Unlike to what Yelp is stating, this business is currently open. We were here for dinner on an October night. The courtyard seating area had great ambiance. The music band was amazing. I had the lobster salad which was absolutely delicious. The French onion soup was as good as I expected. By the time we left, people were lined up at the reception, waiting for tables. You can say that the restaurant caters to tourists (because it is located in a touristy spot), but you get everything for your buck!

Amazing food! Had the putine and the duck crepes! Amazing service and great jazz background music playing in the patio.

Heavy rain didn't stop Jardin Nelson from offering outdoor seating and live music under a huge canopy in one area and clear plastic ceiling in another- to protect folks from Mother Nature on our first 2016 long weekend Montréal trip. The outdoor terrace has different nooks- so depending where you're sitting, you'll get a different angle of the stage. We were slightly elevated and didn't mind that we weren't that close to the stage anyway. Despite its Old Montréal location, Jardin Nelson wasn't drowning with elbow-to-elbow tourists. To be honest, I was actually into Jardin's charming terrace more than anything. Service was pleasant and after driving 6 hours from NY, Jardin's lunch was good.

Gorgeous space and great ambience, food was ok but not great. The live music was lovely. Good French onion soup, but would have been better if the cheese was melted until brown. We split the soup and that was more than enough cheese for me. The layer of cheese must've been like 2 inches thick! My husband ordered the smoked pork loin crepe. The meat had AMAZING flavor. I ordered the seafood Mac and cheese, primarily because the photos of it here look so good. It was, and there was a surprising amount of seafood in it, mostly small bay scallops and shrimp, a little lobster. It was creamy and cheese-y but very one note compared to my husbands crepe. His was definitely the better dish of the two. Service was pretty good, attentive.

Just had lunch here, beautiful interior patio and wonderful service. The food was very good. It's a little pricey but you are getting what you pay for! Live music also. Very nice.

Beautiful atmosphere, outside, flowers, live jazz. Service and cocktails top notch. Food was high end and perfect. Try lobster sandwich, tomatoe appetizer, mushrooms crepe and seafood tostada. Fresh, flavorful and cooked right, crepe was not soggy.

Love everything about this restaurant. The crepes were to die for . The atmosphere was adorable. Our waitress was the nicest person ever ! The location was perfect ! Thank you for a wonderful Old Montréal lunch

The menu is extensive, we chose savory crepes which were wonderful, we also tried a couple artisanal cocktails which were nice. We sat in the courtyard and listened to Jazz for an overall excellent experience. My date felt drink service was slow but on a capacity Saturday night I felt service was expected and our server was excellent in both English and French