Café In Gamba: A staple café on Parc Avenue

“The name of our café is a tribute to Italian coffee culture. The expression ‘In Gamba’ can mean several things. For us, we translate this motto as: doing things right,” explains Dominic Drouin, owner of In Gamba.

In Gamba is a lovely specialty coffee shop on Parc Avenue in Montreal. The café always has around thirty coffees on offer from six Canadian roasters. “We have coffees of every style. We sell darker, chocolatey, intense coffees as well as very fruity third-wave products. Our baristas rotate the beans in our grinders regularly so our customers can discover them.” The term “third wave” refers to an expertise that developed in the early 2000s. In short, the third wave treats coffee as a gastronomic product: the focus is on the origin and quality of the beans, the precision of the roasting and brewing, and the skill of the barista. In Gamba is, in fact, on our list of the best third-wave cafés in Montreal.

Speaking of skill, Café In Gamba is known for winning La Presse’s best latte in Montreal contest in 2018. You will surely be impressed watching the experienced baristas work to serve every customer the most beautiful cup possible.

The owner wanted to create a welcoming, comforting atmosphere. “The goal was to recreate the feel of the eclectic lofts of the Mile End. We wanted customers to walk in and feel at home. That’s why we went with couches and a lounge vibe,” he says.

In Gamba also has something to nibble on. If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll always be happy with their selection of paninis, salads and soups. Pastries from Hof Kelsten bakery are sold on site, to go with the range of coffees and drinks In Gamba offers. Their homemade lemonade is also on our list of the best lemonades in Montreal!

Dominic Drouin has since opened two other locations: one on Saint-Viateur Street East and the other on Laurier Avenue East. You’ll find the same expertise and the same love of coffee there as at the original café.

Every visit to Café In Gamba is a little lesson to deepen your knowledge of this delectable, comforting and energizing drink.

Written by Gabriel Belzile
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on September 11, 2026

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