Éléphantine: A Café-Buvette in the Faubourgs

Éléphantine is “a small space with big ambitions,” says co-owner MJ Déziel of this new café-buvette in the Faubourgs neighbourhood of Centre-Sud. Espresso is the drink of the morning, then the cup gives way to a glass of wine as evening sets in, all inside a converted garage that brings a real breath of style and freshness to a corner of Montreal where this kind of spot is still fairly scarce.

The Elephant in the Room

At first, they wanted to call the place “the elephant in the room,” an expression they loved but found a bit long to say. Éléphantine took over while keeping the paradox: the biggest animal there is, for a 50-square-metre space. Elephants also live in matriarchal communities, which suited this trio of owners well. MJ and Kellyane Pépin make up two-thirds of it, and have co-owned Apart Studio since 2019, a well-established hair salon known for its bold, playful styles.

Joining the duo is Catherine Lamarre, a longtime friend of MJ, who brings her expertise in service and coffee, honed at micro-roasters in Paris and then in Montreal, at Olympico and Au Coin.

“The café, the wine bar, it’s really an excuse to host people,” says Catherine. Éléphantine’s opening hours don’t quite stretch into the evening yet, but the buvette will be up and running in all its glory very soon.

Whether you come early for a coffee or to toast the evening a little, one thing is clear: the hospitality will be there, Catherine promises. On the food side, the viennoiseries and pastries come from Feuilleté Café. In the evening, the menu will shift toward Mediterranean snacking inspired by her Paris years: focaccia, stracciatella, small salads, olives, things you can eat standing up.

Tuned In to the Neighbourhood

The neighbourhood also shapes Éléphantine’s identity. MJ had their first apartment here when they arrived in Montreal and studied at the École des métiers des Faubourgs, a 30-second walk from the space: “socio-economically speaking, the Faubourgs is still very working-class.” It shows in the wine list, put together with a sommelier friend around one clear rule: affordable bottles. “Wine doesn’t need to be pretentious. Everyone can want to drink good wine, and there’s good wine out there that doesn’t cost much,” adds Catherine.

The garage, turned into a gym before they moved in, keeps its industrial look but has unmistakably gained charm since Éléphantine arrived. Charred-wood accents, comfortable banquettes and funky lamps lift the space.

“Three Crazy Girls in a Garage”

One Google review once described them as “three crazy girls in a garage.” Far from being offended, they embraced the phrase, which sums up the energy and creative spirit they pour into the project rather well.

Plenty more craziness is on the way: DJ nights, 5 à 7s that turn into dance parties, pop-ups with chefs, it’s all in the works. The rest will be written by staying tuned to what the community they’ve already built in the neighbourhood asks for.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on September 28, 2026

Make a suggestion