Downtown Montreal is set to receive an all-new activity-based gym unlike any other in the city: Café Bloc, a new rock-climbing centre near Quartier des Spectacles, is set to open next week on August 4.
Located next door to the Montreal Pool Room, the new address from co-owners Jean-François Gravel and Sébastien Aubé promises the city's first rooftop rock-climbing terrasse, equipped with lounging areas and beverages like coffee and microbrewery beers in between bouts of scaling their walls between two skyscrapers.
It's a fresh option when it comes to the city's relatively small pool of activities coupled with drinking, which currently (and largely) focuses on arcade bars, mini-putt, and bowling.
The café's rooftop's main attraction is a wall that's over 30 feet wide and 15 feet high, offerings views unlike any other downtown for climbers. It will accompany the pre-established indoor space which features more than 4,000 square feet of wall space which has been open since February 2020.
For those looking to simply watch climbers while having a drink, that won't be possible; anyone visiting the space is required to pay a one-day entry fee of $20 before being able to access the space. While experienced climbers are encouraged to gather here, the space will remain open to anyone thinking of trying out the sport by renting out climbing shoes; the only thing that's recommended is comfortable clothes.
For those concerned about touching and re-touching the same surfaces a others who use the gym, Café Bloc is following public health mesaures and recommendations just like any other gym. There's currently no access to the showers and saunas, visitors are encouraged to come tin the clothes they plan to climb in, water is made available for those with bottles, and only contactless payments are accepted. Coaching and physical therapy will also be available at the space through Café Bloc's facilities.
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