after dinner, we took a short walk over to rue mackay and somehow decided we still had room for…read moredessert. apparently, there is always a second stomach when dessert is involved. we ended up at matcha zanmai, a small japanese dessert spot specializing in matcha based treats. even on a wednesday night after 9:00 pm, there was still a lineup stretching out the door, a pretty good indication that we weren't the only ones looking for a late night sugar fix. the setup is pretty straightforward: line up, order and pay first, then find a table and wait for your number to be called. the space is definitely on the cozy side, tight quarters, limited seating and not much room to maneuver when it's busy. we got lucky and snagged a table just as another party got up, then waited for our numbers to be called before heading over to pick up our orders. there was plenty to choose from on the matcha heavy menu, including parfaits, soft serve, shakes, floats and other japanese inspired desserts. i went with the shiratama parfait, while the others in our party opted for the matcha soft serve and a matcha float. my parfait came layered with soft serve matcha, chewy shiratama mochi and red bean paste. the shiratama itself had a pleasant, chewy texture, but i wasn't a fan of the red bean paste, wish they had black sesame instead. i also found myself wishing there was something crunchy in the parfait, like corn flakes, to break up all the softer textures. the matcha flavour was surprisingly subtle too, more earthy and delicate than a strong green tea hit. the matcha soft serve looked smooth and creamy, while the float added another fun take on the classic matcha and ice cream combination. between the three orders, we got a pretty good sampling of what matcha zanmai does best. the concept is refreshingly focused: matcha is the star of the show, whether it's in a parfait, soft serve, float or drink. and judging by the lineup still stretching out the door after 9:00 pm on a wednesday, there's clearly no shortage of people willing to make room for it. the tiny dining room and late night lineup may require a little patience, but when you're already committed to dessert, you might as well embrace the wait. after a full dinner, somehow we still managed to make room. apparently, the second stomach is real, especially when matcha is involved.

The matcha flavor in the soft serve is super strong and flavorful. Other ice cream places I've…read moretried in Montreal that offer matcha have very subtle green tea flavors rather than matcha but this is the pure stuff. The price is totally worth it with all of the toppings (red bean, mochi, kinako, matcha brownie, Rice Krispies). It's comparable to matcha maiko in the states, but much more reasonably priced.

I was in need of a strong wake me up and I got one here…read more There's a professional tea slinger (I didn't get his name) here slinging tea from one can to another. This action aerates the tea giving that smooth foamy texture. The combination of strong black tea with a balanced mix of aromatic Chai spices along with frothy whole milk was smooth, smooth, smooth! Definitely a kick in the pants that I needed early afternoon. The service was thoughtful and informative as well. There's another version of this tea with saffron that I'll try before I leave Montreal on this trip.

TL;DR/The Short Version: Can't speak about their teas but…read moretheir cookies are thick, heavy, rich and buttery. The Slightly Longer Version: Plentea is a tea shop that also sells cookies! I didn't have any tea but had their matcha cookie which had large dark chocolate chunks in it. The matcha flavour was strong, which I liked. The cookie was really thick and felt heavy in my hands, lol. It was rich and buttery and oh so decadent. They had lots of varieties of cookies and several with Middle Eastern influences, like Kunafe and Baklava cookies. I heard they had an Um Ali cookie too, but this wasn't available when I went. Staff were pleasant. I took my cookie to go but there's seating in the cafe. Review #9 (2025)

The workers were very kind. The crown jewel of this place is the coffee slushies - the best coffee…read moreI've ever had to be honest, the orange blossom coffee slushy here was the best ever. I will make a trip back to Montreal just for this. The cafe itself is quiet and cute, clean and lots of seating.

Nice cozy cafe serving coffee and pastries. We grabbed lattes which were pretty good and enjoyed it…read morewhile strolling on the streets.

My stepson and I came in for a quick break. He got a coffee and I got a pastry…read more The coffee was not fresh nor good.... My pastry was good but I've had better. It was a convenient place right in the middle of the Plateau, but next time I would stop somewhere else for a quick break.

Nice little corner cafe. We stopped by for a coffee ahead of some vintage shopping and word had it…read morethat the chocolate chip cookie was a must! I got that, my friend got the chocolate croissant and she said it was one of the best she's ever had (even comparing to the ones she had in France). Friendly staff, onesie bathroom!

Paquebot is a great little coffee shop in the Vieux Montreal area. I was visiting Montreal and…read morestumbled upon it. Staff is friendly and helpful. There's a great menu of coffee options and bites. I had a cortado and it was delicious and well balanced with the milk and espresso. I also bought a chocolate chip cookie that was one of the best I've had. Chewy with crispy edges and plenty of chocolate. I also bought some of the chocolates they sold there, which were top notch. Sad I visited this coffee shop on my last day because I would have definitely come back!

I searched for coffee shops with unique drinks nearby and saw this place had a "curry coffee" on…read morethe menu which intrigued me! I would describe it of more of a nutmeg+cinnamon coffee rather than golden milk or curry powder (missing the fenugreek maple taste) but it was still yummy and fun to try! I topped it off with a savory cheddar onion scone and sat on their mezzanine people watching. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - limited street parking nearby

I found myself at Alphabet Café (aka Café Alphabet) while exploring Mile End. I was with a group of…read morepeople for a bachelor party weekend but we had broken out into smaller groups and were planning to reconvene in the area. One of my brothers let me know he was grabbing a coffee here, so I decided to head in and get something for myself. Alphabet Café sits close to several other business on the outer edge of Mile End. I had been in this area during my last trip to Montreal but for some reason had missed it. Anyway, this place was poppin' - it sits on a corner and has a typical coffeeshop setup; the place looks great - bright and airy with the typical production counter and some seating on the opposite side. They also have some outdoor seating which is a nice touch. I did some reading and found out that the place is owned by two Greek brothers, who operate the cafe and serve brews from Ambros Coffee - also owned by them. Looking at their social media, I'm pretty sure at least one of them was behind the counter when I was there. Anyway, they serve typical coffee beverages, but have a few matcha options as well. Their signature drinks are their freddos which is a Greek beverage made by shaking ice and espresso together until it becomes foamy. This foam is served atop several drinks they offer. I decided to get the Freddo Cap, which was quite good - the coffee was smooth and had great flavor. The Freddo added an interesting layer (pardon the pun) to the drink and really elevated it to another level. I'm only sorry I didn't pick up some merch while I was there - next time though! Overall, Alphabet Café is a yes - they serve up unique drinks as well as the classics, I can tell they put a lot of love into their product. I will definitely be back to explore more of their menu the next time I'm in Montreal.

Very friendly customer service, clean modern atmosphere. Every time I visit Montreal, I'll come to…read morethis cafe for their drinks! My fav has been the espresso freddo and matcha freddo! Just wish the portions were a tad bit more! But definitely recommend!

Stopped by to grab some pastries and they were so delicious. Tasted fresh with just the right…read moreamount of sweetness.

Loved their ambiance and latte!! They had great coffee, a warm environment to chat or study…read more Service was great, seating was a bit limited.

Cozy coffee shop! Fast, friendly service. Location just off of Saint Laurent Blvd, so very easy for…read morea pick-me-up while shopping or out for the day. Barista knew his coffee. They had a single origin Colombian bean on espresso today, which made for wonderful latte and cappuccinos for us. They also rotate a Tanzanian blend on espresso, which according to the barista, is slightly weaker in milk-based drinks, which makes sense. They also source a decently strong matcha, which our daughter enjoyed as a latte, but might be better straight, without milk, to really taste the pure tea. Also, the Cinnamon roll was delicious. For fun: they have several different sizes to-go cups for different espresso drinks. I've rarely seen this. The latte paper cup is larger than the cappuccino paper cup! Love the attention to detail, even if it's just for aesthetic purposes!

My favorite cafe while I was in Montreal. The vanilla latte was excellent - smooth and light with a…read morehint vanilla. The pastries were also incredible. The rolls are where it is at. The Cardamom roll and Cinnamon roll were light, fluffy with great flavor but not too sweet. Great coffee shop vibe that i would describe as cozy hipster. Feels like a spot of Brooklyn. The long dark wood tables and bookshelves made it a great setting to work. There were people working on their laptop and reading here. The staff was so friendly and great to have a chat with. I can't recommend this spot enough.