15 editor picks in Montreal.
15 cafe places in Montreal we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Montreal | Cafe across every city.
Montreal's cafe culture splits between Italian espresso tradition and the third wave that followed it. Cafe Olimpico has poured espresso in Mile End since 1970, while Cafe Myriade on Avenue du Mont-Royal helped launch the city's specialty scene. Old Montreal supplies the grand rooms: Crew Collective and Tommy Cafe both serve coffee under the marble of former bank buildings. The rest of the map rewards wandering, from Cafe Osmo's matcha and onigiri on Rue Sherbrooke to Cafe Falco's siphon coffee in a Mile-Ex studio building and Melk's easy neighbourhood counter on Monkland Avenue in NDG.
Cafe Olimpico has poured Italian espresso in Mile End since 1970, a loud, cash-friendly Montreal institution where regulars argue over soccer at the counter.
TipIt is cash-only and standing-room busy on weekends; take your cappuccino to the terrace out front.
Cafe Myriade helped launch Montreal's third-wave scene, pulling precise espresso and pour-overs on Avenue du Mont-Royal for a laptop-and-book crowd.
TipThe Mont-Royal branch has more seats than the tiny Mackay original; come mid-morning for a table.
Pikolo Espresso Bar is a two-level jewel near Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles, serving careful espresso and pastries to students off Rue Clark.
TipThe mezzanine has the quiet seats; the ground floor fills with a takeaway rush around lunchtime.
Crew Collective pours coffee inside a cathedral-like 1920s bank hall in Old Montreal, its marble and brass ceilings drawing remote workers all day.
TipIt doubles as a coworking space; grab a coffee and gawk at the ceiling even if you are not staying to work.
Olive et Gourmando is the beloved Old Montreal bakery-cafe from Dyan Solomon, packed daily for its Cubano, banana bread and pastries on Rue Saint-Paul.
TipThe queue at lunch is long but fast; order the Cubano sandwich and grab a chocolate brioche to go.
Cafe Neve is a laid-back Plateau coffee bar on Rue Rachel in Montreal, an early third-wave spot loved for its espresso, vegan cookies and calm vibe.
TipThe peanut-butter cookie with a latte is the local order; it stays mellow enough to work for an hour.
Le Butterblume is a bright, plant-forward cafe on Saint-Laurent in Montreal's Mile End, pairing careful coffee with a produce-driven brunch and lunch menu.
TipIt leans brunch more than coffee-to-go; come for the vegetable-heavy plates rather than a quick espresso.
Cafe Parvis is a plant-filled cafe in a former fur-district loft in downtown Montreal, serving coffee by day and pizzas and natural wine by night.
TipDaytime is calm coffee and salads; evenings turn to pizza and natural wine under the hanging plants.
Cafe Humble Lion is a bright specialty coffee bar across from McGill on Rue Sherbrooke in downtown Montreal, pulling careful espresso for a student crowd.
TipIt sits right by the McGill gates and gets busy between classes; mid-afternoon is the calm window.
Cafe Osmo is a Japanese-inflected coffee and matcha bar on Rue Sherbrooke in Montreal, teamed with Marusan for onigiri and pastries near the Plateau border.
TipThe matcha and the onigiri are the specialties; it is a calm spot to work between downtown and the Plateau.
Melk is a neighbourhood coffee bar on Monkland Avenue in NDG, Montreal, an easy all-day cafe for espresso, pastries and a laptop-and-stroller west-end crowd.
TipThe Monkland Village branch has room to sit and work; there is a smaller downtown outpost on Stanley too.
Tommy Cafe fills a lofty heritage bank building in Old Montreal with hanging plants and marble, a photogenic spot for espresso, salads and pastries.
TipThe soaring plant-filled room is the draw; go early for a table before the tourist rush arrives.
Cafe Falco is a serene, Japanese-minded coffee bar hidden in a Mile-Ex studio building in Montreal, making siphon coffee and onigiri in a plant-lined room.
TipIt is tucked inside an old garment building and closes weekends; go on a weekday morning for the calm.
Pourquoi Pas is a tiny, welcoming espresso bar in the Village near downtown Montreal, a longtime neighbourhood favourite for careful coffee and a chat.
TipIt is small and friendly rather than a work cafe; go for a proper espresso and a chat with the barista.
Cafe Pave is a snug, design-minded coffee bar on Rue Notre-Dame in Old Montreal, a calm stop for espresso, natural wine and light daytime plates.
TipIt is a small daytime coffee bar that pours wine later; a quiet alternative to the busier Old Montreal cafes.
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