If you love discovering fab cafes for coffee, tea or maybe a cocktail while travelling, this post is for you! Here are seven unique cafes in Montreal that you’ll definitely want to visit.
Planning a trip to Montreal? Add these seven must-visit places to your list.
Salon de Thé Cardinal
If a traditional tea with real china cups and a tower of sweets and scones is your thing, you’ll adore the Cardinal Tea Salon.
Located on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, you’ll swoon when you enter this photogenic tea room. The decor is gorgeous with its black and red checkered floor, glowing chandelier, and red velvet chairs.
Cardinal’s hours are limited: Thursday and Friday from 7 pm to midnight. Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Reserve your table in advance on their website.
Order “Tea for Two” on the weekend to try a little of everything. The scones and macarons are excellent. And who knew that a cucumber sandwich could be so tasty?
The Cardinal transforms into a cocktail bar on Thursday and Friday nights with tea-infused cocktails and nibbles. Try the Rose Petal Gimlet!
Its old-timey vibe makes this tea salon one of Montreal’s most unique cafes.
Cardinal Tea Salon
Le Petit Dep
With four charming locations in Montreal, Le Petit Dep stands out with its distinctive aqua-green hue framing the windows and doors of its shops. “Dep” is slang for Depanneur, which means corner store in Quebec.
But Le Petit Dep is so much more. Step inside this cozy cafe, with its old wooden tables and dangly tiffany lamps, to discover its terrific selection of specialty foods.
Le Petit Dep prides itself on supporting local producers, so this is a great place to stock up if you want products made by Quebec artisans.
You won’t be disappointed even if you only stop by for a coffee. And just look at this adorable coffee cup.
In the evening, Le Petit Dep is a chill place to enjoy a cocktail and a charcuterie board. Or grab some snacks to eat back at your hotel.
If you’re visiting Old Montreal, the two most accessible locations to check out are 179 Saint-Paul West and 461 Saint Sulpice.
Crew Collective & Café
I wish I could tell you that the Crew Collective & Cafe was a hidden gem, but the stunning architecture of this Montreal cafe ensures that tons of people have already discovered it. So go early!
Even if you have to stand in a long line to get your cappuccino, I promise you it’s worth it! And the almond croissant was divine.
Located in a heritage building from the 1920s, it was once the home of the Royal Bank of Canada. I defy you to find a more architecturally stunning cafe. Sip and savour the building’s gorgeous coffered ceilings and graceful stone arches.
The Crew also doubles as a coworking space, so digital nomads or anyone wanting to check their Instagram while on holiday can purchase a day pass and hang out.
La Cave à Manger
Whether you eat outside or head down into the cozy “dining cellar,” La Cave à Manger is a bakery/wine cellar that offers delicious coffee and incredible rolled croissants.
The flavours of their rolled croissants change frequently. I indulged in their pina colada which arrived with an adorable little umbrella on top. The croissant was flaky, buttery and filled with a luscious pineapple cream.
Meanwhile, their Instagram posts have me drooling over new flavours: coca matcha, black forest, and raspberry lychee… are you hungry yet?
It took all my willpower not to go back for seconds and thirds. Located at the Marché Bonsecours on rue Saint Paul, La Cave à Manger should not be missed.
Melk Café
If you’re in downtown Montreal, Melk Cafe on Stanley, with its cute green cups and organic coffee roasted in small batches in Montreal, is the place to go.
While the shop is small, it feels fresh with white tiles, blond wood and pops of green. And everything is delicious. I indulged in a matcha latte and an oatmeal cookie before grabbing a cappuccino to fuel my wander through Montreal’s downtown core.
They also have a location on Monkland Avenue, a fun neighbourhood with many local shops.
Solit Café
SoLIT is one of my favourite Montreal cafes. Not only was the food and coffee delicious, but the grilled cheese donut was crazy good.
But what sets this place apart is its dreamy interior. When you look up in this “orange grove” inspired cafe, you’ll see an abundance of oranges, greens and twinkling lights dangling from the ceiling.
Visit any time of year and enjoy their seasonal menu, but go on a wintery day and feel like you’ve escaped the Montreal cold for somewhere inviting and tropical.
It is located on Mansfield and is close to the main shopping hub on Rue Ste. Catherine.
Maison Sauvage
Located on rue Bernard West in Mile-End, I visited Maison Sauvage Cafe to try their Cloud Latte. Imagine your favourite creamy latte topped with a toasted marshmallow—the perfect winter day indulgence.
But what surprised me was all the other things I wanted to try on the menu, like their Blue Matcha Latte and almost every cookie they had on display.
Can recommend their soft and chewy gingerbread and chocolate chip hazelnut cookies. Meanwhile, I’m dreaming of returning to sample more.
If you think that part of the fun of discovering a new city is checking out its cafes, Montreal will not disappoint. And if you want more help planning your trip, check out my post on the Ultimate Travel Planning Websites.
