Whether you’re a busy student needing a quick pick-me-up, a cozy place to study, or want to catch up with a friend, here is a list of my top 5 must-visit cafés in Montreal. These spots will surely fulfill all your caffeine fantasies.
5) Café Olympico
124 Rue Saint Viateur Ouest
Nestled in the heart of Mile End, Café Olympico opened its doors in 1970. This spot has withstood the test of time, maintaining its classic Italian ambiance. Olympico outfits a rustic look with old fashion hammered tin ceilings. Flags of soccer teams and several TV’s hang on the walls. There is spacious inside seating as well as an outdoor terrace. What I love about this café is its diverse customer base. Olympico’s patrons includes students, parents with kids, workers and businesspeople alike. They are even open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until midnight, so there’s no excuse to not check it out.
See their website for more info http://www.cafeolimpico.com.
4) Café Blanc de Blanc
248 Rue Villeneuve Ouest
This café is genuinely something special. Located right on the edge of the Plateau and Outremont, Blanc de Blanc offers an array of delicious coffee, pastries and a full breakfast and lunch menu. Food and drinks are all homemade and prepared à la française. The most unique aspect of this café is that it includes an entire laundromat! You can do your wash and enjoy a nice coffee or breakfast while you wait. In the back, there is a gorgeous outdoor seating area surrounded with draping vine leaves and greenery. Blanc de Blanc also hosts Backyard Sessions, a weekly live music series during the summer.
Take a look at their yelp page to learn more https://www.yelp.ca/biz/blanc-de-blanc-montréal-2
3) Kafein café-bar
1429 Rue Bishop
Kafein is one of my personal study favourites and student hangout spots Kafein is conveniently located in downtown Montreal right by Concordia’s Sir George William Campus. The café has an upstairs café and swanky downstairs bar. The café area is well lit and cozy, making it a perfect place to get some work done. Their menu offers a variety of coffee products, lunches and delicious smoothies. The downstairs is equipped with a full bar, low lighting and comfy couches to relax on. Kafein is also home to Poetry Night, where poets and writers of all ages and styles can come to share their work. They also host art events and movie screenings.
Learn more on their website http://cargocollective.com/kafein
2) Pikolo Espresso Bar
3418b Avenue du Parc
This tiny little gem sits right on the corner of Sherbrooke and Parc. Pikolo has a revamped industrial ambiance with low hanging lamps and even a small mezzanine overlooking the café. Serving high-quality single origin coffee, Pikolo brings Australian coffee culture to Montreal. This café has some of the most delicious coffee I’ve ever had, presented with beautiful latte and cappuccino art. Their baristas are incredibly knowledgeable about the coffee and products they serve and strive to help you customize a drink to your liking.
Learn more about their story at http://pikoloespresso.com
1) Cardynal – Bar à espresso
1558 Mont-Royal Ave Est
I stumbled across this café two years ago, and it has become my favourite coffee shop. (I even buy my coffee beans in bulk here). They serve single origin coffee from Cantook; a microbrewery in Quebec City. Cardynal sells coffee mainly from South America and Africa. It has a modern/minimalist style with exposed brick walls, light wood finishing’s and an excellent 70’s soul and jazz playlist. The café is quaint, quiet but never overcrowded. It is the perfect place for studying or taking a well-deserved pause-café. Cardynal is also a great place to learn about events happening right in your community. They have a corkboard with advertisements for activities such as yoga classes, writing workshops and live music.
Check out their Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/CardynalEspresso/