Independent - and very different - coffehouses in the Montreal area - 1 of 2…read more A hectic transition to Montreal - first arriving at YUL and then on to Centre-Ville - called for a rest - a nap - which then brought on the need for a snack and coffee/tea late at about 11:00 p.m. Looking at the phone didn't provide much in the way of choices, and, at that, a place where one could sit. I looked at the listing for La Graine Brulee more than once and had to think about it. I finally went in. This place is indeed weird. However, it all turned out to be better than I thought. There are all these seating areas, with some on either side of the front door and then several on a circular bench radiating from the center and making for quite a few tables. That's where I sat. Take note that there is also a big wooden cube with a lot of graffiti on it. The service was pleasant. I ordered some hot tea and they made a vegetarian burrito for me at late hours. (There's no way in hell you'll find something with meat or poultry in here.) I'm glad I was able to eat something before turning in. The prices were acceptable for what I got and its location, between 2 and 3 blocks east of the city's main Metro station at Berri-UQAM. In looking around, there was a good cross-section of people. It's more about nearby UQAM (translation: students) than it is "Le Village," which is now mid-rise and high-rise condos ... and the cranes that go into making them. Tables with books and laptops were the norm which, in my mind, is a good thing. Either way, there wasn't anyone over 40 here as far as I could see. That said, I don't know how willing I'd be to go back, unless in the same situation, and I have to joke that I don't know if personae who are middle of the road, and right of that, would like it here. However, if you are cut from the same cloth as the ownership and the other patrons, meaning bohemian and "new age-y," then I would strongly recommend it. I'm talking tribe! I will rate it within that context since they are not looking to serve the "mom, apple pie, and Chevrolet" crowd. Also, being on Saint-Catherine Est might foretell its personality, since Est and Ouest along this major thoroughfare can be two different worlds. However, La Graine Brulee delivered on a (vegetarian) burrito and some hot tea that I needed before turning in and did it well.

Sometimes when I travel, it's hard for me to branch out into the unknown, especially when it's in…read moreFrench. Luckily, this place was down the same street as my hostel so I made the trip and was greeted in French but they quickly made me comfortable when they realized my native tongue was English. How freakin' cute is this place ?! SO CUTE. So much to look at and do. Great place to dine alone or with friends. They have Nintendo that you can play with many games, fun booths you literally have to climb into and just so many apparatuses you can check out. Oh yeah! And my chai latte and breakfast burrito (suggested by the lovely barista) tied it all together to make a perfect experience here. Unfortunately, I lost most my photos from this trip but just trust me on this. Reasonably priced food for how dang delicious everything was! Can't wait to return back to Montreal one day, if I do, I'll have to bring in some of my friends to experience such an awesome, sweet place!

As like many other reviewers, this adorable cafe was next door to my hotel. I was craving a latte…read moreand croissant and got the most creamy, beautiful latte (with swan latte art) and a fresh, buttery croissant. I found the cafe a bit pricier than others I visited while in Montreal, but the size of the croissant and latte certainly made up for that. The place has a great vibe, is bright, and offers some local goods and crafts. I could tell many of the customers were likely students from the university across the street. I would definitely come here again if I am in the area.

This coffee shop was right next to our hotel. So we tried it and I got the regular iced vanilla…read morelatte and it was so good! Ask for half sweetened or it's way too sweet! And the staff was so nice. Especially to my 4 year old! We loved getting our morning coffee here.

This place is a must on your visit in Montreal. The location is an old bank renovated into a cafe…read more The architecture alone is worth the visit! The food was more pasties and breakfast items. They had a delicious egg sandwich that I recommend. The bagels are great! We shared an ice latte that hit the spot. Staff was patient and friendly- they provided recommendations and accommodated for any food allergies.

Crew Collective & Cafe was hopping busy on Monday: Victoria Day in Canada …read more Great, historic space converted to serve modern needs. I enjoyed a flat white. Service was fast (especially that it's busy) , friendly and efficient. Update: Weirdly??? I was told to put away my laptop. I have never been a recipient of this type of policy in all the coffee shops I've visited. This policy definitely detracted from my experience. Ce la vie!

Great little coffee shop. Only had Latte, but it was the best. Cozy place…read more Wonderful

I had a wonderful little lunch here the other day...perhaps the meal was enhanced by the company I…read morewas with and the news I received? Nevertheless, I like this place a lot. First off the ambiance is reminiscent of a cafe in France (minus the outdoor seating), very european and an intimate setting. This place will seat no more than 20 people, and that is on the high end. Secondly, the menu is full of great sandwiches, salads and pastas. I specifically started with the carrot soup, it was very tasty and very homemade. Accompanying the soup are some slices of baguette. I then had a sandwich, the Terra, which consisted of eggplant, egg, avocado, cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a nice panini styled sandwich. Each sandwich comes with a carrot salad, with a balsamic vinaigrette. In the end it was about $12. Highly recommended!

Best espresso in Canada yet, friendly welcoming service and copious seating available. Went back…read morethe day after for breakfast; better deal and coffee quality than hotel haha. Recommended

What a little oasis in the city, loved my experience here!…read more I stumbled across this cafe while visiting and I could tell it looked like a popular local spot. There was a small line but the wait was short. I ordered a cappuccino and a BLT bagel sandwich. Both were really great. The cappuccino was one of the best ones I've had on my trip. The beans they picked were good, and the milk was steamed perfectly. The BLT bagel sandwich really caught me by surprise. I honestly wasn't expecting too much. They did such a good job balancing all the flavors and it didn't feel like a heavy sandwich like some BLT sandwiches can be. The general feel of the cafe is very cozy and comfortable. The window in the front let in amazing light, making the cafe such an inspirational spot (would be amazing to spend a day in there working). There were also plants everywhere and the greenery is such a nice touch. They even had fresh flowers on every table (so rare to find these days). The staff were super friendly. You ordered at the counter, get your number for the table, and the staff members would bring you your food. I was there in the morning and everyone had a smile on their face. The space seemed to uplift everyone's mood in there. I had such a great first time impression of this place and I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area.

Very unique with tasty baked goods. Perfect stop to warm up. I enjoyed one of their tasty hot…read morechocolate with bourbon

Ne vous laisser pas influencer par le nom ou bien par la devanture de se resto car une fois s…read morel'intérieur on est ailleur. Une fois a l'intérieur c'est vraiment charmant. Je suggères le bar car on peu voir un des chef a l'oeuvre. Le resto se spécialise dans les Sashimi et ils suggère dans prendre entre 3 et 4 pour deux personnes. Je suggères fortement le magret de canard servit en fine tranche rosée, il es marinée avec du miso, un rub d'épice et fumée. Wow un mélange de 4 saveurs. Je m'en veux je n'ai pas prit la photo. J'ai ensuite prit des assortiment de Sashimi vraiment bien présentés. Excellent service

This is one of the best restaurants in Montreal! We went in without a reservation, but I'd…read morerecommend making one. It was 5 on a Sunday and it was already full! The staff was so friendly and very accommodating to allergies! Everything we ate was absolutely delicious and it was so cool to sit at the camera and see it all be prepared!

Best way to describe this place is 'lovely'. Amazing attention to details and full of design…read moretouches in every corner, including the ceiling. It's almost being in a museum. The food was excellent, great healthy selection focused in breakfast and salads (they also have a selection of sandwiches). Breakfast plates come with fruits. Polite and helpful staff.

After walking around old Montreal for two hours, my husband and I agreed we could not walk another…read moreblock without some coffee and refreshment. We had a list of cafés that were highly rated on Yelp, but none of them were right in front of us, and this one was. So we walked in without having checked any reviews first. Sometimes we get lucky that way! This time, we did not. First, we really just wanted a cup of drip coffee. That was not offered here. The only options were various espresso drinks, starting at $4.50. We each got a café Americano. They were ok. None of the food in the display cases looked that appealing, so we picked a large chocolate cookie with a fudgy center to share. Can't go wrong with a chocolate cookie, right? Wrong. It was dry and lackluster in flavor. There was only one person working there, and he was surly. We thought perhaps he was just annoyed with us for asking for wifi (not offered) and regular non-espresso coffee, but we listened to him interact with customers who came after us, and he was short and abrupt with them too. The back part of the store sold souvenirs, but nothing unique or exciting, just mugs and magnets and stuff you could get anywhere. The decor was eclectic mix of antique furniture, which seemed kind of funky and fun, until I sat down. The seat part of my old wood stool wobbled and tilted and I slid right off because some screws were missing. I had to catch myself along the counter and regain balance. I was fine, but this would not have been a safe situation for someone less steady on their feet! I liked the pressed tin ceiling and the chandelier. There were different books on the counter available for public browsing while we drank our coffee, which was nice. The windows were large and the potted plants seemed to be doing well in their sunny spot. I liked looking out at the sidewalk passersby. I would not come here again.

Nice atmosphere.. this place went the extra mile to be inviting. I had the Mac and cheese and it…read morewas yummy. We tried the poutine and the gravy was delicious. The club sandwich my husband had was prepared with fresh meat sliced so you know he enjoyed it. Finally we ended the meal with a piece of homemade maple pie topped with whipped cream. So very good. The staff and owner were lovely. Highly recommend

New cafe - good food and friendly staff. The pastries are delicious and the tea selection is…read moresuperb. I've already been here twice in 2 days

My favourite climbing gym so far. It's big, doesn't get too crowded, has a nice open cafe area, a…read moregym area to warm up, and lots of challenging climbs. I really enjoy coming here with friends. The staff is very friendly and if it's your first time they explain the rules and guide you on the different areas of the gym. You can rent shoes and a chalk bag, they have a nice shop area as well if you want to buy any of your own gear. Their entryway could use a bit of a change since in the winter I find it gets really wet with all the boots and they run out of hangers because of the heavy winter coats, but other than that it's good!

A good, small climbing gym that's on the outskirts of Montréal. They have two indoor bouldering…read morewalls and one outside, but we weren't able to check out the latter as it was raining pretty hard. We were only able to climb the top out bouldering wall on the lower floor as they were changing the routes on the bouldering wall upstairs (not top out). There're more top-roping options than bouldering, and lead routes have the least available (understandable). I find it more worth it top-rope, so if you're new to the gym or visiting I would go with someone who can belay. As for the boulders themselves, they are graded based on circuits (V0, V0-V2, V2-V4, etc.; the grading scale is accurate). There were no V0s when we went, and there were 2 V0-V2s and 2 V2-4s, so if you're looking for a place more beginner-friendly, I would look elsewhere. Most of the climbs were advanced, so I would recommend being around V4 and above to make your visit(s) here worth it.