Montreal is a unique Canadian city that may be on your radar for many reasons: an unrivaled food scene (one of Bourdain’s favorites), stand-up comedy, jazz, sports, the impressive pipes of Celine Dion, or the beautiful poetry of Leonard Cohen. It’s a city of contrasts. Winters are bitterly cold, while summers are swelteringly hot. It’s known colloquially as “pylon city” due to its perpetual state of construction—orange pylons sprout from city streets like weeds. The city has a tumultuous political history, occasionally succumbing to corruption, but it’s also a hub of student activism and protests.
This place is a metropolitan center with a strong European influence that shapes the local culture and aesthetics. French and English are used interchangeably in rapid-fire spurts, and depending on the neighborhood, you’ll also hear Portuguese, Hebrew, Italian, and Arabic, among others. The city boasts an abundance of parks, public art, and green spaces. Its unique architecture spans many styles, reminiscent of Prague or Brooklyn, with a bike culture equal to that of Copenhagen or Portland. The coffee scene is unsurprisingly outstanding, too; much like the city’s culture, coffee in Montreal is complex, diverse, and always interesting.
Montreal’s modern coffee scene can be divided into two eras. The first strive towards specialty coffee began in the 2010s, spearheaded by a few progressive cafe owners who introduced fruity, specialty-coded beans to uninitiated palates, often imported from coffee roasters located in British Columbia and Alberta, or from the United States. The second wave came in 2018 with the founding of the Canadian Roasting Society by Scott Rao and Andy Kyres. This cooperative roasting space serves as an incubator and hub for the scene, and has grown significantly as many local cafes began roasting their own beans. From there the roasting scene in Montreal has crown in leaps and bounds, and while this guide is focused more on cafe experience, there’s no shortage of exceptional coffee roasters in and around Montreal, including Zab, Escape, Traffic, Rabbit Hole, Trillium, Colorful, Za & Klo, Jungle, Balam Sacred and many more.
In this guide, we feature progressive multi-roasters, bakeries moonlighting as cafes, epic coworking spaces, and true neighborhood hangs to cover all the bases. Montreal is truly a wonderful coffee city teeming with cafe culture. And if you are the kind of person who enjoys pastries with your coffee, then outside of Paris, you’d be hard pressed to find better bakeries to scratch that itch. But with so many cafes, it can be daunting. This isn’t a definitive guide but rather a starting point. Talk to the baristas making your coffee, ask them where they go on their days off, and if you’re nice enough, you might uncover more spots. Don’t fear—read on for inspiration and guidance to navigate Montreal’s coffee scene, and do watch out for those pylons!
Eclair
Eclair often comes up in conversation among local coffee geeks. It’s the kind of place where you can order a pour-over without eliciting an eye roll from the barista. You’ll wait for your coffee knowing it will be made well, with quality ingredients. They’re exclusively using non-Canadian roasters, a choice that helps set them apart. Some recent features include Norwegian stalwart Tim Wendelboe, Berlin’s best The Barn, and Brooklyn’s finest Sey on rotation currently.
The space is open, long, and narrow, fostering conversation between baristas and guests. The layout, with its minimalist Modbar setup, might confuse some customers due to the non-traditional bar orientation. However, it’s elegantly designed with a stunning Silestone quartz countertop, emerald green velvet seating, and recessed shelving for merchandise. Though Eclair is primarily known for its coffee, it also offers a thoughtfully curated selection of mostly French books from small, independent publishers. Pastries are sourced from Hof Kelsten, but the food program is limited to just that—no sandwiches or donuts here. If you leave hungry, you’re in luck: Mile End is an incredible food neighborhood with many options mere blocks away. Don’t miss out on a visit to Eclair.
Aube Boulangerie
Aube, a relatively new cafe, opened in 2023 in the east-end neighborhood of Hochelaga. Technically a bakery with a cafe inside (or vice versa), Google lists it as a “pastry shop.” They are known to produce some of the tastiest sourdough loaves and viennoiseries in the city, which is really saying something for a sophisticated bakery scene like Montreal. From the same owners as the nearby restaurant Hélicoptère and sister cafe Hélico, this is a modern, bright and open space, and if you fancy a well crafted cappuccino combined with a pitch perfect pastry, Aube should be at the very top of your list in the east end of the city.
Local roasters Jungle provide their beans, but you can also have a matcha latte or seasonal “coffee cocktail” if you’re feeling adventurous. Aube also offers a small selection of high-end pantry items, such as Spanish tuna packed in olive oil, fine wines, bags of beans, and tote bags. The cafe has a limited breakfast menu and serves a mean grilled cheese with sourdough baked on-site—doesn’t get any fresher than that. In the often overlooked neighborhood of Hochelaga, now arguably “up and coming,” Aube ticks a lot of boxes.
Savsav
Another brand new cafe for this guide is Savsav, located in the southwest corner of Montreal, on the border of Saint Henri and Little Burgundy. The space is airy and open, brimming with natural light and cool 90s furniture. It features two large islands for a pastry display and coffee bar, ad hoc plywood tables, an open kitchen, and cement floors, at the intersection of industrial and chic. Coffee geeks will instantly be drawn to the slick Mavam two-group espresso system (the only one in town), and a suite of Mahlkönig grinders. The area was in desperate need of space like this, where one can crush a few hours of work or unwind on a funky, low pink couch.
This cafe feels a bit hidden, almost like a speakeasy, which is by design: ”Savsav” translates to “if you know, you know” in French. You have to look for a specific entrance at ground level of a large old brick warehouse building (a former cookie factory!). Follow your senses down a white corridor to find it: you’ll hear the screech of milk being steamed atop an R&B playlist, then smell wafts of grilled cheese or a beetroot risotto cooking, depending on the time of day. Savsav could be classified as a restaurant, bar, and cafe all in one, so if you come for a coffee, you’ll be perfectly fine if you succumb to hunger or need a glass of vino or something stronger. They use local roasters Traffic and can accommodate a wide spectrum of coffee drinkers, offering specialty drinks (like affogatos with local creamery’s finest or lattes made with condensed milk) and solid washed Costa Ricans on batch brew, as well as decaf if you’ve hit your limit. Pastries are supplied by Louise, and the chef makes a solid effort to source as many local Quebecois ingredients as possible. Now you know!
Crew Collective
Few cafes in the world captivate like Crew Collective. It’s the kind of place that, whether you see photos or visit in person, instantly captures your imagination. The cafe and co-working space is nestled in the heart of Montreal’s Old Port, or “Vieux Montréal” (Old Montreal). This historic quarter is unique in North America, where any exterior shot could easily be mistaken for a European city. So it makes sense that you’d find a regal former 1920’s bank as the shell for what is now occupied by Crew, in this area.
The cafe is divided into two sections: a central space open to the public and a private rear area with two mirrored wings for coworking members. Founded in 2016 and boasting over 4,000 Google reviews, it’s no longer a hidden gem, but instead now feels like one of Montreal’s essential coffee bars. The cafe features 60-foot-high ceilings, deco brass accents, marble, chic furniture, moody lighting, and everything you’d need to fuel your workday. The food and coffee program are top notch, with Traffic supplying their beans and renowned local bakeries providing pastries. Crew Collective is a must-visit, full stop.
Osmo x Marusan
What do you get when you combine the architectural features of a soviet era bunker with a hifi sound system and Japanese inspired menu? Osmo x Murasan. The space has been occupied since 2016 as Osmo, with Marusan finally joining forces in 2021 to create something special. This quasi-underground cement bunker houses an impressive hi-fi sound system, which might cost the average barista’s salary. It serves as a platform for DJs and selectors by night, and thoughtful playlists by day.
During the day, finding a table can be challenging as local students often hunker down for marathon study sessions. The tables and chairs, supplied by local design studio and furniture company MDT, are made of welded metal, fitting well into the industrial cement shell. During the warmer months, you can escape the booming beats and clatter of keyboards by taking a seat on their outdoor patio in the rear, which features communal seating and umbrellas for shade. Local roaster Escape supplies the beans, while the Japanese influence means you can enjoy a hojicha latte, yuzu lemonade, and delicious tamago sando. If you’re into vinyl, they offer a small selection of both new and reissued LPs, with an emphasis on electronic genres.
Dreamy
The Canadian Roasting Society is where you’ll find Dreamy, a pop-up turned fully functioning cafe by local coffee OG Andy Kyres. Located in the southwest corner of the city, on the south side of the canal, it sits among old warehouses converted into sleek offices, breweries, and restaurants. The cafe provides a hangout space with communal seating, allowing patrons a perch to watch how the coffee in their cups was roasted. There are vantage points to the three Probat roasters (a P12, P25, and G75) behind the bar, providing a symphonic mechanical hum inside. These machines are shared by 34 co-op members, allowing both seasoned veterans and newcomers the support they need to roast effectively. There are countless burlap sacks of green coffee adorned on pallets, a full production area for labeling and packaging needs, and lots of tattooed coffee professionals strutting around. The vibe is fun and laid back, offering a rare opportunity for both coffee geeks and casual sippers to see behind the curtain.
Kyres is always experimenting and tweaking his proprietary roasts under the “Colorful” imprint, and there’s always a rotation of in-house roasters featured on bar. The baristas are cheerful and accommodating, with weekends being prime time for many local condo dwellers to enjoy a coffee followed by a canal stroll. Dreamy still flies under the radar, but it’s worth the trip for a unique coffee experience.
Dispatch
Dispatch first launched as a cold brew project in 2012, then a coffee truck in 2013 (a first for Montreal), before getting into roasting in 2014, then finally opening their flagship shop on Montreal’s busy St. Laurent Blvd. in 2016. This cafe serves as a place to showcase their roasts, with a massive circular bar inviting conversation. You can chat up the barista plunging your brewed-to-order AeroPress, or ask for advice on the myriad of retail brewing equipment on display. They use local tea supplier Camelia Sinensis, and will often have vegan-friendly snacks on deck and healthy juices as well. Single origin coffee is a focus here but ask your barista for recommendations and you’re bound to make a friend.
Once you’re seated the real fun begins: people-watching. From a cozy perch in the cafe–or during summer, their ad hoc patio–you’ll get a taste of Montreal society passing by. The space itself exudes a minimalist, open, airy vibe, with birch plywood seating, white walls, and cement floors. With communal seating and an inclusive, diverse customer base, you might find yourself striking up a conversation with your neighbor. But you could also easily lose track of a few hours with a good book. Given Dispatch’s central location, you are bound to pass by it at some point when touring Montreal, but could easily start your day here as well.
White Heron
White Heron has two locations, with the first opening in 2019 on Prince Arthur Street in Montreal’s Plateau neighborhood. The newest location, which we will focus on here, opened last summer in the Griffintown area. Owner Emily Wang practically lives at the new location, which bodes well for your next visit. There is a strong emphasis on quality control and execution here, combined with a progressive multi-roaster approach. You will see beans from Toronto’s Hatch Roasters to Edmonton’s Rogue Wave both on their shelves and in their hoppers. The featured roasters can change from month to month, but White Heron’s tea program is fixed with the local Thés Gurus Teas supplying a selection of incredible matchas, Japanese greens, and more. These wonderful teas might also find their way into your cup via some thoughtful iced tea cocktails like sencha passionfruit and hojicha lavender.
Their coffee menu is simple and focused on classics like flat whites, cortados, batch brew, and espresso. White Heron is known for their cakes, which are all baked in-house, incorporating many Asian ingredients such as sencha, matcha, ube, and black sesame, in addition to seasonal fruits that pair well together. The vibe is very light and bright as this particular location has natural light in abundance, combined with lots of white facades. It’s very clean, chic, and modern yet comfortable with nooks you can share with a friend or disappear into on a project. This is one of the most exciting cafes in the city today.
Jon Dempsey is a coffee professional and freelance journalist based in Montreal. This is Jon Dempsey’s first feature for Sprudge.
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Jon Dempsey
August 12, 2024
