My Favourite Cafés in Montreal
Montreal's got so many great cafés, so here are a few for you if you ever find yourself in the city or are on the hunt for a new café to obsess over.
From coworking spaces to cozy vibes, Montreal has got you covered. While it can be hard for me to sit in a café as someone who is always on the move, going to classes or rushing off to work, I still find joy in discovering new spots that give me some comfort from sipping a good cup of coffee or a chai (preferably iced), divulging into a savoury or sweet treat, and meeting friendly staff.
So without further ado, here are my top five café gems in Montréal!
Overview
Nous Sommes Café
Comptoir Koyasun
September Café
La Cave à Manger
Tommy Café
Nous Sommes Café - 180 Rue Prince Arthur E Montreal, and 333 Rue De La Gauchetière O, Montréal
I first discovered this café a few summers ago with my cousin and older sister and immediately fell in love. The simplistic decor, small space and delicious lattes sold me. I ordered the strawberry latte and it was my first time having one that didn’t come from Nesquick. While it does taste like Nesquick’s strawberry milk that I grew up on, giving me instant nostalgia—its use of fresh strawberries—also puréed—elevated this childhood favourite.
My sister and cousin got dirty chais, which newly became my summer obsession, however, none tasted as good as the one I had here. I haven’t tried any of their other drinks or food but I have heard they have excellent matcha and honestly all of their drinks look top tier.
Unfortunately, I don’t get to visit this café very often as it closes at 5 pm, sometimes as early as 3:50 pm, thus conflicting with my work and school schedules. But if you are ever downtown or near Sherbrooke metro and have the time, I highly recommend checking them out. They usually open at 7:30 am—a plus for the early risers.
Highly Recommend!
Comptoir Koyasun - 6963 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal
I found this Korean café on a whim when I was on break during my first semester at Concordia University at the Loyola Campus in NDG, and I am so happy that I did. If you go to Concordia, you know that there aren’t that many cafés nearby or at least within walking distance of the NDG campus. So, this place quickly became my go-to café whenever I was at that campus or in the area, and I needed a quick pick-me-up before I headed off to my next class. It is such a cute vibe and always smells amazing! Koyasun is also pretty small, but so cozy and homey, and I honestly don’t know how students resort to Second Cup over this place that is actually closer to the campus right next to the Dagwoods and not to mention cheaper!
I have tried a few things on their menu, like their chicken banh-mi, iced latte and matcha latte (iced and hot). I have been wanting to try their soups and ramen because there is always someone who orders it and it makes the whole place smell immaculate of course, it looks delicious and homemade, but I never have the time to enjoy it. The matcha there is one of the best I have ever tasted in Montreal! I typically ask for a little bit of sweetener and it is perfect. This was the first place I ever had matcha that I didn’t make at home and didn’t disappoint. So for all the matcha lovers, this place is for you. Their iced lattes are also really good and taste best with a bit of brown sugar.
Another plus about this place is that their items are super affordable. I got a medium-sized matcha latte (they only come in one size), costing me $4.50 to $5 after tax. How many places do you know that sell high-grade matcha for that price? Most places charge extra for matcha, particularly the local cafés like this one, averaging around 7-9 dollars. Their banh-mi is relatively standard but still cheap, costing about $12 but you can see them making it and you know that it is fresh and authentic. Banh-mi’s are one of my favourite sandwiches, so I have had a lot.
Overall, this place is super unique and a hidden gem.
September Café - 2471 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal
This one is probably the most popular café on this list, always packed, which makes it a bit lower on my list. But the staff here are amazing and their food makes up for its crowdiness. I find the staff super friendly—a completely different vibe than most cafés I’ve visited here.
Onto the food, the breakfast sandwich changed my life and made me realize how good breakfast sandwiches are. I haven’t tried anything remotely as good as that sandwich. While it is a bit pricey, it is a nice savoury treat. I have also tried their iced latte with a bit of maple syrup, courtesy of @vpettorelli on TikTok. I haven’t tried their pancakes, but I heard they are really good. My friend ordered the matcha latte and I have also been told that is good, again by @vpettorelli—I love her so much.
September Café also has a small terrasse which adds to this hipster vibe that I get from the staff members too, as well as the overall decor with wooden tables, and high, drooping, lamp light fixtures that give off a 70s vibe. Super on the brand being in the plateau area.
La Cave à Manger - 386 Rue Saint-Paul E Montreal
In the old Montreal area, crept away, this place is super cozy and nice. I love that it feels super hidden and like I’m in a cellar. While there isn’t much place to sit, they do have a terrasse in the summer. I have only gone once here, missing the round viral croissant, but their Ube hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookie gave a long-lasting impression.
On another note, I love that this place makes its marshmallow, creating a super aesthetic, rare and delicious hot chocolate. It is just so unlike any other café with a wide range of food that they make fresh every day like pizza, croissants, cookies and other pastries.
Another thing that makes this place unique is that it is open until 8 pm every day. I haven’t seen it packed but it is a popular café/bakery. I would definitely suggest coming early, and not after 6 as I did with my friend because they tend to have much fewer options, but I am still glad I got that cookie. It is probably the best cookie I have ever tried in Montreal, or dare I say, ever. No matter the time, you are pretty much guaranteed to get something delicious, excluding their beverages, but their marshmallow does sell out.
Tommy Café - 200 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal, 151 Rue St-Paul O, Montreal, 1302 Avenue du Mont-Royal E, Montreal, 6801 rte. Transcanadienne, West Island, 1241 Avenue McGill College, Montreal, 5401 Avenue Royalmount, Montreal, and 2327 Boulevard du Versant N
Last but not least, another popular café that you have proba
bly gone to if you live in Montreal or have visited here a few times, is Tommy Café. It has a few locations throughout the city, including Fairview Mall and Alexis Neon, but the location that I love is downtown, right in front of the Cathcart or Place Ville-Marie.
Not only is the outside gorgeous but the inside too, with so much room to sit comfortably on two levels—perfect for working or studying and with high ceilings and natural light. However, it can get pretty busy depending on the day and time, like lunch hour as many offices are close by, like CN and Telus.
What I typically order is an iced latte, an iced chai latte or an iced matcha latte. Always tastes good, except I would recommend adding a bit of sweetener like maple syrup to the matcha, but it is still good without it—again one of the best in the city. They also sell seasonal drinks often for the fall and winter with a variety of food like sandwiches, breakfast foods, salads and desserts. I have had their pre-made sandwiches that they can heat for you, super good.
Another cool thing about this place is that you can see them making their croissants with a glass window surrounding the kitchen—a little show while you wait for your order.
This place is my go-to when I am at work and I love it!
Honourable Mentions
See what I have ordered and recommend.
Café Olimpico (café crema + le remix, a blend of latte and café crema)
Osmo X Marusan (Hojicha latte + Egg Tomago Sando)
Le Petit Dep (ice cream, affogato + hot chocolate)
Café Americano - tirimisu latte
End
Those are my top cafés so far, but let me know if there are any cafés that you think I should try. I am always on the hunt for a good café—my Google Maps is filled with saved places. Let me know if you have been to these cafés and what you have ordered.
Until next time :)
Talia
