The Best Coffee in Montreal

Montreal is a town given to the enjoyment of life—what the French call joie de vivre. As such, lounging in a café with a cup of well-made coffee and a pastry, watching the world go by, has always been simply the way things work here. Even before the corporate chains showed up, Montrealers have been lingering over books, chatting with friends, and getting to know their lovers in cafés across the city. It’s romantic, it’s cheap entertainment, and it’s a great way to get to know both old friends and new acquaintances.

Coffee aficionados will argue amongst themselves as to which cafés are truly the best, but despite the bickering, all locals have their own favourites. We all know exactly where to go for the best cup in our own particular ‘hood, and likely have mental lists of various spots around town, so as not to be caught without our caffeine!

This is by no means the only guide to the Best Coffee in Montreal, but it’s my personal selection of some of my favourite places to grab a cup from an independent café. (As a rule, I try to avoid chains and prefer to buy local whenever I can.) Use this list to find some of the tastiest lattés, mochas and ordinary filtered coffees in town, all broken down by neighbourhood. Enjoy!

DOWNTOWN

Though there are plenty of chains competing for your attention, some of my favourite cafés are downtown, right near Concordia University. Most will let you stay for a while and study, what with the huge student population in the city, but you may get dirty looks if the place is particularly busy. Remember: there’s always the library for serious studying!

Café Myriade

Artistic java at Café Myriade (photo by John Kenney, via The Gazette)

Producing some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted, Café Myriade takes an artisanal approach to brewing up your favourite cup. You can try selections from their espresso machine, a French press, or served up all fancy-like in a glass decanter from what’s known as a siphon pot (see Maeve Haldane’s article in The Gazette for more info on that). They also offer coffee tastings for those looking to try new beans and become true coffee gourmets. This is a great little café with a new terrasse for people-watching, coffee savouring, and straight-up lingering.

Café Myriade
1432 Mackay
Metro: Guy-Concordia
(514) 939-1717

Nocochi
Another favourite of mine, Nocochi offers great-tasting Illy coffee, along with their trademark tiny cookies (which you can order by the pound). Great for sharing with a friend or lover, the cookies are all made from chickpea flour and have a definite Middle Eastern flair to them. If you get hungry, they’ve also got fancy sandwiches and soups available. The décor is all white, which gives the place a very clean, minimalistic feel, and you may be able to score free wifi if you sit at the end nearest the windows (which open right onto the sidewalk in the summertime).

Nocochi
2156 Mackay
Metro: Guy-Concordia
(514) 989-7514

Kafeïn
If you’re looking for a place to lounge, you should definitely check out Kafeïn. Located right across from Concordia’s Library Building, this is a very student-friendly hang-out, complete with shisha pipes full of flavoured tobacco and furniture that looks like it came from your grandparents’ basement. Downstairs is the lounge, and in the evenings the bar is open to serve up all manner of beer and mixed drinks. Upstairs is a full-service café, offering everything from espresso to smoothies and even Kafeïn’s delicious home-made lasagna. Drop by to take in the atmosphere, to study with cup after cup of coffee, or to make new friends.

Kafeïn
1429 Bishop
Metro: Guy-Concordia
(514) 904-6969

PLATEAU / MILE END

I have a confession to make: I have no idea where the Plateau ends and Mile End begins. As both have become hipster central during my time in the city, they tend to run together in my mind. And, not being a hipster, I also tend to avoid this area for personal reasons. Maybe this means I’m missing out on the best coffee the city has to offer, but let’s face it: I live in Verdun and don’t like trekking that far out of my neighbourhood just to grab a coffee. Nevertheless! I encourage all Montreal visitors to check out these cafés, which are some of the best in town and not nearly as distant a hike for you as they are for me.

Café Olimpico
Café Olimpico (also occasionally known as Open Da Night) is always winning the Best of Montreal award for being the Best (Non-Chain) Coffee in town. And it’s true: their lattés are quite delicious. The atmosphere is decidedly hipster in nature, which takes a few points off, but if you’re looking for a nicely-made latté in the Plateau, this is the place to be.

Café Olimpico
124 St-Viateur West
Metro: Laurier
(514) 495-0746

Café Central
Some people in Montreal swear by Café Central. Others view it with suspicion, distrust—even outright fear. What goes on in this place? Why does it always appear to be packed with older gentlemen? Is it a social club? Are outsiders welcome? There is a vibe there that suggests the answer is no. But, as Midnight Poutine poster Christy has proven, the coffee there is truly awesome. You’ll probably opt to take yours to go, though.

Café Central
4051 St-Dominique
Metro: Sherbrooke
(514) 289-9367

Le Cagibi
Formerly known as Café Esperanza, the most recent incarnation of this local favourite is similarly decorated with chairs, tables and couches directly from your grandparents’ house. (This is, for whatever reason, the style of choice for Montreal’s hippest hang-outs.) Vegetarian food is served with a no-nonsense attitude, along with some mighty fine coffee poured into china straight out of the 1970s. A great place to get some reading or people-watching in, or to check out one of their live shows in the evenings.

Le Cagibi
5490 St-Laurent
Metro: Laurier
(514) 509-1199

NDG and VERDUN

Yes, Virginia, there are cafés in NDG, and even Verdun! Though some claim the acronym NDG stands for “No Darn Good,” it’s actually short for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (Our Lady of Grace), which makes sense given Montreal’s Catholic history. Though it’s a bit off the beaten path, as is Verdun (which locals keep irritatingly try to christen “VerFun”), the cafés below are worth the trek for their small-town vibe and great coffee.

Shäika

Shäika Café interior (image via shaikacafe.com)

Just off the Decarie Expressway, across from Park Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, you’ll find Shäika—the café that’s bringing sexy back to NDG. Encouraging local artists with their monthly art installations and live music performances, the café serves up culture as much as coffee. Take advantage of their free wifi and get a bit of work done, or enjoy a cup on their terrasse. You can even get your joe to go and savour it in the park across the street for a truly relaxing experience.

Shäika
5526 Sherbrooke West
Metro: Vendôme
(514) 482-3898

Mémé Tartine
Conveniently located right across the street from the Verdun metro, Mémé Tartine caters to a rush-hour crowd either on their way to work or popping in on their way home to grab fresh bread for dinner. They also happen to serve up a tasty latté, and some delicious pastries like their huge, sweet almondines. Luckily for regulars, they also have a loyalty card that gets you one free coffee at the end of the week (presuming you buy one a day, that is). In the summertime, they’ve got a miniature terrasse where you can catch some rays in the Adirondack chairs as you slurp a cold coffee beverage. (For more info on Mémé Tartine, check out my review on Shoestring Montreal.)

Mémé Tartine
4601 Verdun
Metro: Verdun
(514) 762-4624