A fresh chapter for a Saint-Jovite landmark

The corner of St-Jovite and Labelle streets has long been a Mont-Tremblant landmark, the red umbrellas a familiar sight to locals and visitors looking to pause for a drink and some people watching. Frederic Escotte has reimagined the space without erasing its past, and unveiled it to the public this summer.

The patio and red umbrellas have given way to an enclosed terrace, its clean white lines and crisp black lettering signalling a new era for Darquise, a quiet nod to Darquise Boivin, who first opened a bistro here decades ago. The four-season space is vast yet intimate, with soaring ceilings and lush greenery creating a breezy, almost tropical lounge atmosphere.

Service is friendly but efficient, letting the space do its work.

To start, a tapas trio of Madras-spiced cauliflower, chicken satay, and tuna tataki served on a slate board, each bite flavourful and well-balanced. For mains, linguini with lamb—a playful spin on a classic—and braised beef over mashed potatoes: nothing fussy, just comfort food done right, tender and deeply satisfying. A citrusy seasonal beer cuts through the richness, sharp and refreshing. Dessert is non-negotiable: the pouding chômeur, served right in a maple syrup can, is a sweet, sticky finale that appears on nearly every table for good reason.

Darquise now stretches across four moods: the bustling grill, the lively sports bar, the buvette (a more intimate taproom or bar), and the new terrace, each with its own rhythm. After years spent in hospitality across Mont-Tremblant, teaching at ITHQ (hotel management school in Montréal), and sitting on local tourism and urban planning committees, Escotte’s latest project feels less like a business move and more like a community gesture. Now, as Escotte steps into municipal politics, Darquise feels like a natural extension of his vision: a place that blurs the line between indoors and out, where people gather and connect over good food.