Montreal’s Best Cafés for Good Food: Our Suggestions
Montreal’s culinary scene is world-renowned for its impressive variety of restaurants, its specialties unique to the region, and its flavors shaped by diverse cultural influences. Over the past decade, the city’s coffee culture has grown exponentially, making Montreal a prime destination to explore countless coffee styles from around the world. From traditional Italian espresso bars to third-wave cafés, the city is brimming with spots to sip an excellent cup. And at Tastet, since we love to drink well and eat well, we’ve put together a list of cafés where you can truly enjoy both in Montreal!
Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite, looking for a satisfying lunch during a study or work session, or just craving a little something to go with your coffee, it’s always nice to find a place that serves food as good as the coffee.
And for all you coffee lovers, Tastet has also prepared several guides to help you pick your next caffeine fix. On our site, you’ll find lists of places to enjoy an authentic Italian coffee, guides to the most beautiful café terraces in the city, and roundups of the best cafés for getting work done in Montreal.
Here’s our list of Montreal cafés where you can eat well:
Helico
Hélico Café is a charming spot in the Hochelaga neighborhood. Run by a young, talented duo of former Bouillon Bilk alumni, this café-pastry shop is both dynamic and creative. The menu is short but carefully curated, offering fresh, flavorful, and simple dishes for lunch and brunch. Expect refreshing salads, chilled soups, and other tasty plates. On the sweet side, Hélico shines with exceptional artisanal treats: chocolate chip cookies, one of the best brownies in Montreal, kouign-amann, brioches, and much more.
Montréal
Monopole
Monopole is a café and wine bar in Old Montreal that brings a unique offering to the neighborhood. By day, you can enjoy delicious seasonal dishes that change with the arrivals and the harvests. The menu usually features simple yet refined plates such as toasts, sandwiches, soups, and salads. On the sweeter side, Monopole serves morning pastries sourced from the acclaimed Hof Kelsten bakery, making it a go-to spot for both savory and sweet cravings.
Montréal
Café San Gennaro
San Gennaro is a cozy café and pizzeria on St-Zotique Street that opened in 2015. It’s the perfect spot for a great Italian coffee, but also ideal for lunch — with fresh juices, salads, and about a dozen options of pizza al taglio, served heated or not. Alongside this simple yet thoughtful menu, you’ll also find house-made pastries, baked goods, and gelato that will transport you straight to the sunny streets of Italy.
Montréal
Café Parvis
Café Parvis is a stunning establishment where you can enjoy a coffee, sip a drink, or savor an excellent lunch or dinner. Its large windows and lush greenery have made it one of the most beautiful cafés in Montreal. On the menu, you’ll find daily pizzas and a variety of salads offered in small, medium, or large portions, along with a soup of the day and a few desserts. Warm, inviting, and delicious, Café Parvis is a spot that never disappoints.
Montréal
Le Café Bloom
Located in the heart of Pointe-Saint-Charles, Café Bloom is a little gem that has quickly become a favorite hangout for local artists and neighborhood regulars. This charming spot is also ideal for spending a few hours working: guests enjoy plenty of natural light thanks to the large front window, along with several spacious communal tables. Beyond the excellent coffee, the menu features seasonal tartines, sandwiches, salads, waffles, pancakes, and grilled cheese. For those with a sweet tooth, the house also prepares delicious pastries. Whether you’re in the neighborhood — or even if you’re not — Café Bloom is well worth the detour!
Montréal
La Bête à Pain (Griffintown)
La Bête à pain Griffintown is one of our absolute favorites in the city! Part café, part organic bakery, part mini-restaurant and catering service, this bright and welcoming spot is owned by the talented baker Marc-André Royal. Walking in, you instantly feel like you’ve stepped into the baker’s home. Alongside excellent coffee, it’s the place to enjoy one of the best breakfasts in Montreal, as well as exceptional breads, pastries, viennoiseries, and unforgettable sandwiches. The house also features a small counter with take-home items — soups, charcuterie, cheeses, and a few homemade dishes — perfect for neighbors and locals on the go.
Montréal
Café Dei Campi
Owned by barista Nicola Vardarro and pastry chef Isabelle Deschamps (formerly of H4C), Café Dei Campi is a truly one-of-a-kind spot. It’s also home to some of the best Italian coffee in Montreal! The café is well known for its pastries made without eggs, butter, or milk — yet they taste as if they did (!). On the counter, you’ll also find delicious pizzette and vegetarian sandwiches. Everything is homemade, and the café is a welcome addition to this rapidly developing neighborhood.
Montréal
Café Constance signé BAZIN
Located in the heart of the Édifice Wilder, Café Constance by Bazin is the stunning café of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. After being closed for nearly two years, Bertrand Bazin has given it new life, elegantly enriching the culinary offerings of the Quartier des spectacles.
Montreal
Le Butterblume
Butterblume is a charming little café-restaurant-boutique tucked next to La Maison de l’Aspirateur and the Rosemont viaduct. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy a good coffee with a few small bites. The menu is short but filled with delightful items. The cuisine is refined without being overly sophisticated — accessible, with almost everything made in-house. With its thoughtful décor, friendly staff, and absolutely delicious dishes, this welcoming address brings a refreshing touch to this stretch of the Main.
Montréal
Club Social PS
https://tastet.ca/en/reviews/elena-saint-henri/Club Social PS is the beautiful café of restaurant Elena. Beyond serving excellent coffee, the house also offers homemade Italian pastries — including one of the best cannoli in town — as well as the exquisite pizzas that have made the place so famous. This Saint-Henri spot is one we truly love.
Montréal
Tabac Villeray
A café by day and wine bar by night, Tabac Villeray is a true neighborhood gathering place. Locals come as much for a great coffee as for a festive, food-filled evening. In the morning, you’ll find delicious viennoiseries from Automne bakery, along with a weekend brunch menu featuring fresh, local ingredients. Come evening, the vibe shifts to shared small plates — think cod fritters, seasonal salads, oysters, foie gras, and classic ham-and-butter sandwiches. There’s truly something here for every craving!
Montréal
Le Bar Darling
Well known for its evening menu as well as its delightful wines and cocktails, Le Darling also serves excellent weekday lunches and indulgent brunches (Friday through Sunday). Everything on the menu is fresh, with plenty of vegetarian options — plus homemade pastries to sweeten the deal. And yes, the coffee is delicious too. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in to work during the day, then transition seamlessly into drinks and small plates with friends at night. Perfect for lingering or grabbing a glass at any time of the day, Le Darling truly has it all.
Montréal
OSMO X MARUSAN Café-Terrasse
By day, Osmo × Marusan is a specialty café serving simple yet outstanding Japanese-inspired cuisine. Think ebi curry, Japanese sandos (like the egg tartare and ramen egg sandwich, or the pork cutlet sandwich) — everything here is delicious! The café also offers a selection of tempting pastries, perfect either as a complement to a meal or alongside a cup of coffee for a quick bite. To round it out, Osmo × Marusan features an impressive selection of coffee beans from different roasters, available for customers to enjoy at home.
Montréal
Café Santropol
For nearly 50 years, Café Santropol has been serving joyful, comforting food at the corner of Duluth and Saint-Urbain. Joyful in many ways — whether you’re a devoted vegan or a more easygoing omnivore, you’re sure to find something to love here. Nothing overly complicated, just simple dishes made with care: soups, salads, sandwiches, and other little bites of happiness for big appetites.
Montréal
Edmond Café Cantine
Located at the entrance to Parc Jeanne-Mance and Mount Royal, Edmond Café Cantine is a go-to spot for a great morning coffee, an excellent sandwich at lunchtime, or even a bottle of privately imported wine to take home for your 5 à 7.
Montréal
Café chez Téta
The establishment has become a timeless classic. In Lebanese, the word “Teta” means grandmother, and it’s often associated with warm memories and comforting food. The owners wanted to create a space that embodies that spirit — a welcoming place serving delicious, homey dishes.
Montréal
Ohayo
On Avenue Mont-Royal, Café Ohayo serves up flavorful Japanese small plates and excellent coffee in a bright, modern setting. A standout is the spicy vegan tantan ramen with its sublime white miso and sesame broth — one of our absolute favorite ramen bowls in Montreal!
Montréal
Arte & Farina
Since 2022, Arte & Farina has been welcoming guests to its beautiful new space on Sainte-Catherine Street, offering a true taste of Italy right in the heart of the Village. This bakery-pastry shop brings a refreshing breeze to a neighborhood that needs it now more than ever.
Montréal
Olive et Gourmando Royalmount
Good news for fans of Olive et Gourmando in the north of the city: the iconic café-bakery-restaurant from Dyan Solomon now has a new outpost at Royalmount! While the menu here is slightly shorter than at the original location, rest assured — all the beloved classics are still on offer.
Montréal
Junco – Buvette italienne & café de quartier | Rue Ontario Est
By day, Junco serves coffee and pastries, along with a selection of Italian sandwiches (mortadella-pistachio, caprese, truffle ham, and more) and a daily pasta. “It’s an Italian-style café that stays open late, with a friendly, no-frills approach. A place where you don’t overthink things — you know it won’t cost too much, and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.”
Montréal
September Cafe
Serving some of the best coffee in town — from Anchord Coffee — September Surf Café offers a stunningly bright space with minimalist décor and even a small boutique corner. We love everything about this spot: the energy of the place and its clientele, the exceptional natural light, and the kindness of the staff!
Montréal
Savsav
Tucked away at the end of a maze of hallways in the Brewster Building in Saint-Henri, Savsav is an insider’s secret… though it’s becoming less and less of one. Starting at 11 a.m., Vincent and his team get to work in the kitchen, preparing a lineup of mouthwatering bites. Think breakfast sandos with homemade sausage, grilled cheese on Pullman loaf with tomato soup, apple and fennel salad with Nordic shrimp, golden beet salad with buffalo mozzarella, and more. Fresh, tasty, and thoughtfully prepared — that’s the Savsav way.
Montreal
Sunday Cuisine Café
Located on Rue Centre, Sunday Cuisine et Café is a true ode to wellness and healthy living. Led by a young couple well known on Montreal’s culinary scene — Lélia Vincent (Buvette Pastek) and Thomas Vernis of the Tomahawk Group (Santos, Uniburger, Mignon, Buvette Pastek, June Buvette) — the café opened on May 7, 2024, and has already been turning heads.
Montréal
BarBara
BarBara is a lovely spot that opened on Notre-Dame Ouest on January 26, 2021. Its concept is intentionally multifaceted. First and foremost, BarBara is a wine bar where good bottles flow generously at affordable prices, complemented by a dispensa (Italian-style mini grocery) and a café for early risers.
Montréal
Station W
Station W is a cozy café on Wellington Street in Verdun — whether you’re here to chat with friends, grab a coffee, enjoy a great grilled cheese, or get some studying done without breaking the bank, there’s something for everyone!
Montréal
Nonnina
Nonnina is a charming Italian café in Lachine delighting visitors with delicious sandwiches, pastries, and viennoiseries. Since opening, this spot has been buzzing with life, drawing in food lovers from across the neighborhood.
Montréal
Amea Café
Located in Montreal, Amea Café is a cafeteria-style restaurant-café offering a wide menu inspired by Mediterranean flavors. With its spacious, light-filled dining room, it serves absolutely delicious dishes along with traditional Italian pastries.
Montréal
