Au Coin: a sublime café and wine bar, open seven days a week.

Au Coin is the kind of place that perfectly lives up to its name. Located literally on the corner of Fairmount and Jeanne-Mance, this new neighborhood café–wine bar arrives with a simple but well-executed idea: to create an accessible, welcoming community hub… and it’s already off to a great start.

Behind the project are three industry veterans: Jean-François Gervais, Nicolas Urli, and Mathieu Keyser. Nicolas and Jean-François bring over 15 years of experience and are also the minds behind the much-loved BarBara in Saint-Henri. Mathieu, a partner at Doubles, is a longtime friend of the duo, as well as a DJ and music producer. Chef Julien Navarro—also a neighborhood resident—rounds out the team. They all share the same vision: to give something back to the neighborhood, for the neighborhood. Simple, genuine hospitality, without pretension. “Au Coin is a very neighborhood-driven vision of hospitality,” as Nicolas puts it so well.

Open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., Au Coin adapts effortlessly to every moment of the day and every type of guest. A quick matcha before work, a weekend coffee date, lunch with friends, a relaxed dinner, or a late-night glass of wine—everyone has a place here. The atmosphere shifts naturally: calm during the day, livelier as night falls. No reservations, but a clear promise: this place is meant for everyone. With deliberately approachable prices designed so you can come back often without breaking the bank, the mission is clearly accomplished.

On the food side, the menu is divided into three sections: pantry, pizza, and hot dishes. The pantry highlights fresh, local products—salads, charcuterie, and small plates—perfect for aperitif time. The pizzas are worth special attention: sourdough crust, a house recipe developed by Julien, who trained in Neapolitan pizza with true pizzaioli. Passionate about baking and flour (he talks about it the way a sommelier talks about wine), Julien works his doughs with precision. The pizza oven, imported directly from Italy, sits proudly in the space and brings an almost instinctive warmth. “Humans have always gathered around fire,” Nicolas tells us—and here, you really feel it. That said, Au Coin isn’t a pizzeria. It’s first and foremost a neighborhood café–wine bar, where pizza naturally fits into the experience. The hot dishes section will evolve with the seasons and the team’s inspirations.

The cuisine, with European flavors at its core, beautifully showcases local products. But while Europe anchors the menu, influences from around the world also weave their way onto the plate—a cuisine that truly reflects Montréal, its diversity, and its openness. To drink, the excellent wine list is curated by Florence Pelland-Goyer (formerly of Bar à Flot and Pinot Boutique Hôtel), the sommelier and maître d’hôtel on site throughout the week. Cocktails are intentionally simple: no flashy mixology, just quality ingredients, well executed.

And then there’s the décor—the true star of the space—designed by Jean-François himself. Warm wood, vintage pieces, and a completely open layout invite you to linger, chat, and strike up conversations with the table next door. The open kitchen feels like having dinner at someone’s home while they cook at their island. Visible fridges display the products used, with nothing to hide. It’s a philosophy they fully embrace: what you see is what you eat. Come summer, the terrace will wrap around the corner, the windows will open Italian-style, and the space will come even more alive.

Au Coin is human, accessible, and never stuffy—a Montréal address that makes you want to stay forever, because it truly feels like home. Enjoy the discovery!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet