We found Lili & Oli on Yelp while exploring Atwater Farmers Market. Lili & Oli was busy but we…read morefound a decent table to enjoy our well prepared oat milk latte. Ambiance was busy but not noisy. Service was (very) fast, friendly and efficient. Great stop for good coffee especially while visiting the canal area and Atwater Market.

Nice and quaint cafe. We went for a Cold Brew and a Petit Cafe Glace (which wasn't so petit!) on a…read morehot day. Loved them both. Interesting idea of coffee infused ice cubes, so more coffee as the cubes melt. We didn't try the food as we weren't hungry. The staff was nice and friendly. A couple of parking spots on the other side of the street. Definitely recommended.

Saturday morning in Montreal began with something called an Adventure Walk. "Adventure" is…read moreapparently human terminology for making a small Italian Greyhound exercise extensively before brunch. By the time we finished with our walk, I had earned a meal. Or so I thought. Next stop: Maman in Griffintown. Mom already knew Maman because apparently they have one back home on the Upper East Side. Yet somehow, despite living on the Upper East Side myself, I have never been taken there. Interesting. We will address this upon our return to New York. The Griffintown location has a really nice outdoor seating area running alongside the building, with blue café tables, big wooden pergolas and planters. Under normal circumstances, this would have been perfect for me. Unfortunately, it was raining. The staff very kindly told Mom and Dad that I could come inside as long as I remained in my carrier. Terms accepted. After an entire morning of adventuring, I had absolutely no objection to being carried around like important cargo. Mom ordered eggs Benedict and an iced latte. Dad went with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast plus a Diet Coke. I stayed tucked inside my carrier and monitored the bacon situation. Very closely. No further comment at this time. The humans declared brunch a success, and I appreciated having a warm, dry place to recover after my morning excursion instead of sitting outside contemplating my life choices in the rain. Dogba's verdict: 3 paws out of 5. Rainy-day hospitality: very appreciated Dogba welcome: kind and accommodating Carrier accommodations: cozy Outdoor patio: saving this for a sunnier day Mom's eggs Benedict: big success Iced latte: Mom approved Dad's bacon: closely monitored Classic Dad breakfast: successfully demolished Post-adventure recovery: excellent Dogba brunch supervision: impeccable Would I return? Absolutely. In fact, I've recently learned that Maman has a location in my own neighborhood in New York City. Mom has some explaining to do. See you on the Upper East Side, Maman. I know where you live now.

we managed to squeeze in one more brunch on our last day, making our way to maman in griffintown…read more walking in felt like stepping into a little rustic farmhouse tucked into the city, exposed brick, weathered wood, whitewashed furniture, vintage blue and white plates, hanging greenery and a beautiful tree like arrangement covered in delicate blooms. every corner had a story, with little details that made the space feel warm, inviting and effortlessly charming. we were a party of three and arrived around 11:00 am. before the food arrived, i couldn't resist trying one more fun drink before leaving montreal, the peach pie iced matcha latte with vanilla cloud. it was such a pretty seasonal creation, with fruity peach notes layered with creamy matcha and topped with a soft vanilla cloud. refreshing, a little indulgent and the perfect drink to sip while settling into our final brunch of the trip. for my meal, i ordered the eggs ratatouille, stewed eggplant, squash, peppers and tomatoes topped with two over easy eggs, herbed feta and served with toasted country bread. the dish was colourful, comforting and full of fresh flavours. the slow cooked vegetables gave it a homey feel, while the runny yolks and herbed feta added just the right amount of richness. it felt like the perfect brunch after days of exploring, satisfying and flavourful, but still light enough to leave me feeling good. the toasted country bread was perfect for scooping up every last bit of the vegetable mixture and egg yolk. but what made this brunch special wasn't just the food or the beautiful setting. it was the chance to slow down and take in everything we had experienced over the whirlwind trip, the neighbourhood walks, incredible meals, rainy adventures, festival memories and all the unexpected little discoveries along the way. we sat, chatted and laughed, replaying our favourite moments and realizing just how much we had packed into a few short days. our server was friendly and never rushed us, allowing us to enjoy those final conversations before heading home. there was something cinematic about that last morning, sunlight filtering through the windows, flowers blooming indoors, plates arriving at the table, and three friends taking a quiet moment to appreciate the adventure before it came to an end. a beautiful space, a memorable meal, great company and one final chapter to close out our montreal adventure. au revoir montreal...until we meet again.

Super cozy little spot. These ladies are on a mission to…read morefill your belly with wholesome, flavor-packed Iranian fare, and they know what they're doing. We walked in to a line (always a good sign), and we were right, totally worth the wait. Service is almost magical, they somehow memorize every face, no table numbers needed. Move around if you want, they'll still find you. Our Vegan friend raved about the lentil soup. J crushed a chicken sandwich. E went falafel and loved every bite. And the other J declared the classic Iranian "meat" sandwich amazing, we have no idea what the meat was, but honestly, who cares when it tastes that good! My eggs were cooked to perfection, and they cheerfully handled all my picky substitutions. This place is a true hidden gem, and when I say hidden, I mean blink and you'll miss it. So...don't blink. Highly recommend.

While travelling to Montreal, this establishment was near my hotel and decided to give it a try…read more The servers were all polite and patient while i was struggling to find something I wanted to try. I decided to try the iced cafe mocha, the chocolate was not melted enough to have ice in it yet but it was overall a good drink. It was a little pricy but I would definitely come back again, next time I'm in the area.

A great spot we found on our trip to Montreal! Love the house music that frequently plays and their…read moreespressos are so good particularly cuz of the ice they use. The Nutella cappuccinos were a big hit w my friends too.

I loved this coffee place! Quick service, cool ambiance, and effortlessly trendy. I've tried the…read moremarocchino, the granita, granita al caffe, and the bastion virgin and everything has been good! I've also had a handful of the pastries and my favourite is the small sandwich that has this meat and pistachio spread in it. So good!! The inside is quite small and the outside terrasse fills up quickly on a nice day so if you want a sit down, make sure to arrive early! A hip place to grab a coffee with friends when I'm at the office

Super cool vibe here, felt super old-school. The berry cake was super good, I think it was a…read morecheesecake? But the berries were perfectly tart paired with the creamy sweet cake. Service was super fast, girl knew her stuff.

My friend and I stopped by here because there is an ATM, which was clutch because the one at St…read more Viateur was out of service. It also had a bathroom for customers! We enjoyed a coffee at one of the tables. Decent service and a good place for a short stay. It gives off dive-bar vibes + cafe haha.

An intentionally funky place with a refreshing iced matcha latte. The barista recommended their…read morebrownie, but it was disappointingly dry.

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.

Amazing place for studying/working, quick brunch with friends, taking a break from shopping in…read moredowntown, etc Think: wework meets cafe. It's a huge space with plenty of seating and even booths/areas that could be good for having meetings. Seriously, a lot of the furniture/chairs looked similar to what I've seen in my office/weworks. We came around 8:45 on a Saturday and learned that while the cafe is open early, the kitchen opens at 9am, but they still let us preorder something. We got a pastry, matcha latte, and shakshuka. The pastry was delicious. It was a tomato and pesto pastry with goat cheese. The pastry was so flaky and soft at the same time. My mom ate the tomato lol but the goat cheese and pesto combo was chefs kiss. Lots of other sweet pastries looked decadent. The matcha latte (unsweetened) was shockingly great quality. Dark green color, strong matcha flavor, probably the best in the area (though I've only tried a couple matchas). I would highly recommend if you want something that's not grocery store bought quality. Shakshuka was also one of the best I've had. A lot of times it's watery but this tomato base was thick and flavorful. Little seeds of pomegranate were a nice surprise. The (sourdough?) bread that comes with it was also so good, but it only comes with two slices and since the shakshuka was pretty big portion we had to order more. Not sure if this is also a public space, but if so it's even better as a place to rest between shopping! Has WiFi, outlets, and restrooms. Note: I tried to come back a couple days later but on Google Maps it said closed everyday. Not sure if it's bc of vacation.

During the busy weekday lunch rush, this cozy, nicely decorated spot fills up fast with nearby…read moreoffice workers. We arrived just in time before a long line formed. You order and pay at the counter and food is delivered to your table. While the coffee, cappuccino and pastries are just decent, the food is fantastic. My friends enjoyed their avocado crostini with smoked salmon and eggs, while I had the roasted chicken and pesto sandwich in fresh baked focaccia served with a yummy side salad. It was both filling and delicious. I also enjoyed the blueberry almond croissant, which is unlike any I've had before.

The coffee and light fare here are truly top-tier. We had a cappuccino and a Cortado as well as…read morethree different pastries. We agreed this is five stars. Fast and friendly.

Let's start with the good: the restaurant is very appealing to the eye, the seats are comfortable…read moreand not crowding. The ambience was great. The plating and cutlery are well thought out with great textures. My flat white was pretty tasty, and the bacon was savory and thick. The bad: my Shakshuka was subpar. I ate it because I was hungry and the service was so bad I thought I'd never get another dish if I sent it back. It lacked flavor and cohesiveness. In comparison to those I've had in the past, this was far and away the worst. I've never had to add salt and pepper to Shakshuka. The Ugly: the service was the worst I've had in years. Maybe ever. It took about 10 minutes to get greeted. The place wasn't crowded. Half the staff just stares through you. My wife had to wait an additional 5 minutes for avocado toast and smoked salmon, dishes that require no cooking. We have our toddler son with us, and when we asked for a bowl and hot water we were told they didn't have bowls. Only to serve the bread for my dish in, you guessed it, a bowl. Next to a bowl of bacon. When we scanned the room we noticed the other table with black patrons hadn't been served and they got here before us. You couldn't pay me to come back here.