2. Club Abierto: A Coffee and Sandwich Spot in Montreal’s Southwest

In a part of Montreal’s Southwest where lunch options can be counted on one hand, a small café has quietly settled in since mid-July 2025. Club Abierto is the natural extension of a wholesale bakery that already supplies several Montreal cafés — a project led by Andrea Ferrari and Diana Escobar, a Colombian couple who finally decided to open their doors to the public (much to our delight!).

Andrea and Diana are both originally from Colombia. Andrea grew up in Ottawa, while Diana arrived in Canada about seven years ago. Diana, who studied advertising and marketing, had no kitchen experience before Abierto. It was while testing recipes with Andrea that she discovered an unexpected passion for baking.

The story of Abierto began during the pandemic, in the kitchen of a small apartment in Villeray. Andrea, a trained chef, was starting to grow tired of restaurant life — the late nights and the stress of large brigades. She wanted something more human, more grounded in everyday life. “I had some free time, so I started making bread. I was a cook originally, but I was getting tired of restaurant life. It was too stressful and I didn’t like finishing late. I wanted something like a bakery, where I could work during the day or early in the morning.” She launched Abierto as a bakery, which soon became a supplier for a handful of addresses around the city — and it’s still running that way today.

An address for the neighbourhood

The opening of Club Abierto happened somewhat by chance. When the space became available, the two women jumped at the opportunity to finally offer their products directly to the public — something they had never done before. The result is a bright, minimalist 25-seat space where everything is made in-house. Bread is kneaded on site, focaccia serves as the base for generous sandwiches filled with seasonal ingredients, and pastries come out of the oven every morning. The café also serves filter coffee roasted by Melk, along with salads and a selection of sweets. “There aren’t many options in the neighbourhood. We opened this space for all the people who work around here. It’s a place where they can just come grab something to eat. Everything is handmade — we make our own bread. For us, that’s what matters.”

Simple food, done right

The sandwiches served on house-made focaccia are excellent — generous and well-filled, the kind of lunch that satisfies without feeling heavy. But at Club Abierto, our biggest crush is the brioche: honeyed and wonderfully soft, exactly what you hope to find when stepping into a café in the morning. It’s the kind of product that reminds you why homemade makes all the difference. The same goes for the drinks. The latte is smooth and well executed, and the matcha is just as good. The offering is simple but solid — exactly what you want from a good neighbourhood café. The menu is rounded out with dark chocolate and walnut brownies, banana and cardamom scones, and macadamia nut cookies.

A great spot for remote work

Beyond the food, Club Abierto has everything it takes to become a go-to work spot in the area. The space is filled with natural light, the atmosphere is calm, Wi-Fi is available, and the coffee is excellent. Whether it’s for a lunch break with colleagues, an afternoon coffee, or a day of working remotely, Club Abierto is well worth a visit.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on March 11, 2026

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