Café Saint-Henri Mile-Ex: Headquarters in the Mile-Ex

The popular Café Saint-Henri recently moved their headquarters and roastery to their new location in the Mile-Ex. Established in a beautiful space with an industrial feel, here you can savour unique coffees and great food prepared on site.

The Saint-Henri family is growing

As of 2018, there are six Saint-Henri cafés between Montreal and Quebec City, with Café Saint-Henri Mile-Ex being the newest addition. Not far from the latter is Café Saint-Henri at the Jean-Talon Market, with one of the most beautiful café terraces in Montreal. All of these are owned by Jean-François Leduc, who started this business almost five years ago. Today, the Mile-Ex location responds to a particular need of the company: to give an operating space to the whole brand, where the production and roasting of the coffee can be centralized. This headquarters operates under the watchful eye of Virginie Desgreniers, manager of the establishment, and Julie Audet, responsible for quality control and the purchase of the beans.

With its red brick exterior, this Saint-Henri café blends in perfectly with the architectural style of the street, lending it a warm and inviting air. Only the name of the establishment, written in its original font on the walls of the café, indicates the presence of the café in the building. Inside, we discover a spacious location mixing modernity and restraint. The space was designed by the Gauley Brothers; they recognized the industrial charm of the location and skilfully added personality to the space. Concrete structures are omnipresent throughout the space; from the floors, to the counters, to the seats, tables, and the café’s large circular seat that meets you upon entering. While the plumbing on the ceiling remains visible, it is enhanced by the space’s lighting, dominated by warm tones. The volume of the location has allowed for the creation of a roasting centre, which can be seen through the large glass windows that divide the space. At the back of the café, a mezzanine is discreetly illuminated by small hanging gardens.

Laid-back quality

The dishes here are prepared by chef Sandrine Fafard Soucy. Sandrine, who recently returned from two years working as a chef in Australia, was inspired by this experience to build the menu of the new location. The menu is short and simple, always well executed, and features fresh products. At the moment, the baked egg dish is a head turner; served in a little ramekin with Gruyère, chorizo, and homemade tomato sauce. The freshness of the vegetables is guaranteed, as they are grown on site in one of the location’s hanging planters. On weekends, the café offers its very good brunch menu, which can be savoured with one of the coffees roasted on site, and a Maesmi pastry. We also recommend the falafel, the potato pancake and the chicken sandwich.

Of course, the coffee is a menu essential, and is a guaranteed cup of quality. Saint-Henri is particularly known for two of its coffees: the “Holy Cow” blend, whose caramelized notes get customers excited, and its “God Shot” espressos; named for their perfect taste and masterful execution.

Café Saint-Henri Mile-Ex is a superb café, and if simplicity tastes better, this place is a great example of it. It’s an excellent place for a simple, unpretentious brunch, to study with a good coffee, or to chat with friends. We always appreciate its relaxed atmosphere.

Written by Sophie Monkman
Photography by Alison Slattery —

Last update: April 09, 2022

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