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Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar

4.5 (95 reviews)
InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Cafes
Closed • 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar Photos

POURQUOI PAS ESPRESSO BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Quiet
Good for working

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Recommended Reviews - Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar

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Jason C.

Face meltingly good coffee and espresso. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that this is the best coffee I have ever had. They have multiple grinds available every day and the barista can tell you the details of each without batting an eye or pausing to think. Words can't really express how good the drinks are here, but I'm about to try. Espresso drinks are complex beasts. The espresso shot needs to be good, which means your grind must be good, which means your roast must be good, which means you actually have to care about your product and put a ton of effort into it. If you can pull a good shot, you still have to get the milk right. I know that seems like it should be the easy part, but it's a detail that you can't overlook. Most places, even dedicated independent coffee shops (not just Starbucks/Dunkin/Tim Hortons), get their milk too hot; when you overheat your milk it gets bitter and acidic and no longer serves as a foil to the bitterness/acidity of the espresso, but instead it amplifies all the bad flavors you don't want. When I placed the mug between my hands and they were warmed but not scalded I knew I was in for a treat. My expectations were exceeded in ways I couldn't have imagined in my wildest caffeine fueled dreams. After I scraped my face off the table I finished my mocha (not too sweet, not too milky, jusssssst right). On top of crafting amazing drinks, Tony the barista is super friendly. I felt welcomed the second I walked into the bar. On my first day in Montreal he gave me a sample of their freshly delivered baked goods (the onion tart was AWESOME). Then he recommended I try a few things and when I came back the next day he not only remembered my name but asked how my day had gone and had a few more suggestions. Nicest guy I met on my whole trip. The interior space is limited but I'd say it's more "intimate and cozy" than "cramped." They don't have wi-fi but there are a few plug sockets if you're desperate. After you finish your drink, try their water. There won't be a bitter taste in your mouth that you need to rinse out and your mouth won't be burned but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't try their super delicious water before you leave. No, I'm not joking. The water pitcher is filled with lemon peel and fresh thyme sprigs which is the dopest water combination ever. When I return to Montreal, this is my first stop.

Sarah M.

I felt like such a cool Montreal local when I stopped in this groovy little coffee shop one morning while on holiday ;) There was only one dude managing taking orders, making coffee, and taking payment. He was kind, spoke both French and English, and oh-so efficient! My latte was robust and full of body to give my day the boost it needed. Bonus points for getting to grab a healthy to-go juice for a snack later! Inside there is a large table and a few other spaces fit for catching up with a friend of efficient working. Next time I'm back, I want to be able to order in French to feel like a true local at this gem!

Hayong L.

What an amazing cafe in Montreal. I'm so glad I found this place through a suggestion for best cafe spots in Montreal. The space and ambiance is beautiful and more importantly, their coffee is top notch. I can't believe they make their own coconut and almond milk! It's unbelievably tasty and its heated at the right consistency to get the nice foam on cappuccinos and lattes. Mum got a cappuccino and I got a cortado. Both were excellent and I would definitely recommend it to a friend who's visiting Montreal. The cafe is located in the heart of the LGBT community there and its a quiet and respectable neighborhood. Very easy to get to by the metro system. It's been a couple of months since my Montreal trip, but I still dream think about that cortado from time to time. Staff was very nice and just as you interact with them, you know they can make a mean coffee drink for you.

Open the door to awesome espresso
Ben L.

Coming up on their 1 year anniversary, Tony & his small crew are cranking out top notch espesso drinks matching the best in the city (Myriade, Névé/Flocon, Café Plume, Pikolo). Good bean, grind, machines, and baristas. All you need for fantastic espresso. Beans are from Te Aro (Toronto based kiwi Andy Wilkins), meaning Pourquoi Pas is skilled enough to earn the right to buy their roast. - Te Aro has one 24kg roasting machine = capacity to support ~ 30 cafés - Canadian roasted coffee is duty free to US So, one can infer that Pourquoi Pas is judged by Te Aro as one of the top 30 cafes in the ON, QC, and possibly IL, NY, MA area (the reasonable shipping cost area) Wow... too much caffeine = crazy tangents. If you're gonna get wired, why not do it with the best? p.s. their wifi is up and running

Ann T.

Location: Just off Ste. Catherine Est, in the Village. Street parking available [metered] and the closest subway stops are Berri and Beaudry [green]. The place: Very small with a communal table and bar-type seating right in front of the window. Obviously I chose the window because I like to look at people look at me when they walk by. It's a super casual atmosphere and there's no pretentiousness of any kind. Also, I didn't see any hipsters. I did stop in on a Tuesday afternoon so the place was quiet. I'm not sure how it looks on the weekend. The goods: I ordered a Macchiato with the home made almond + coconut milk. The milk is awesome and totally worth it. These guys use Pilot coffee, which I sometimes like, while at other times, it leaves me indifferent. I had a custom blend that was roasted specifically for a café in Québec City that was awesome. The blend used for this Macchiato was OK but it was a little bitter for my tastes. I still enjoyed it though, and I'd say these guys are in my top 6 coffee spots. Yes, that's right, SIX, not five! Service: The barista was so, so nice and friendly. Price point: $3.50 for the Macchiato, though I think there might be a surcharge for the home made milk. I forgot to ask. All in all, a very respectable coffee joint in this part of town. Check it!

Antonio B.

Fabulous Coffee and Friendly Atmosphere are the answers you'll find at Pourquoi Pas. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon treats and down time at this special little neighborhood café. This is clearly the place where regulars drop by to get the latest tea, an impressive list of coffees, and sweet treats. This will become a regular stop on my trips to this beautiful burg.

Cappuccino
André M.

Is a good coffee to study quiet. I like coffee's like this one! And the cappuccino is delicious.

Ryna D.

I loved this place! I wanted a good coffee spot near our hotel in Montreal and I found this cute little spot thru Yelp. The set-up is really laid-back and the barista was very nice and friendly. He even gave us recommendations for our stay. And the cappuccino was great so we came back again while on our short trip.

Banana-chocolate square (rectangle). Latte.
Carolyn T.

Located a bit further east than I usually venture, I had to come here after reading the reviews... And the place did not disappoint! First of all, although I love plain ol' cow's milk, almond milk is my default for coffee, so I loved the house blend of coconut and almond milk. The coconut milk added an extra je ne sais quoi that worked perfectly with the nuttiness of the almond milk and the toasty notes of the espresso. They have a variety of baked goods on offer. I chose the banana-chocolate square, which was on the dry side, but it was pleasantly banana-y and had just the right amount of chocolate. The seating isn't the most plentiful and the arrangement isn't the most inviting, but it isn't terrible either. The window seats are perfect for people watching, but they're also up on a platform, so you do need to have some sense about you when going up and down - especially when you have one of their precious lattes in your hands! Will return for sure.

Need coffee first thing to make sense of the map!
Keith O.

As good as Piccolo's Espresso Bar, and slightly cheaper. My go to coffee shop if I'm staying in hostels around St Catherine's, or indeed when I'm willing to walk for it. Choice of daily roasts (Ethiopian and Colombian when I was there). Serving staff were great, and price was right ($2.75). Had free wifi and you could sit at the window looking at the world, or at the bar chatting. A must go.

people sitting at tables
Cindy Feng Xin L.

I LOVE THIS CAFÉ! I saw that they were doing personalized latte art (basically they would make a tulip and write whatever word you want inside), so I got my "Cindy" latte from them and it was amazing! The café is really cute and has great ambiance, the interior decor is lovely and there are plants everywhere. I would come back to study and talk with friends!

Lovin' my office this morning... No more meetings in monotonous conference rooms.

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

Hop in for an incredible coffee. Expert baristas. They know their coffee. Highly recommend!

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2 years ago

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14 years ago

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4 years ago

Best oar flat white with a wheaty perfume. A regular here for a while. The shop is cozy as a working place as well.

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Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar

“I think what really set this one over the top was that they had "house milk" that was a combo between coconut and almond.”

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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Café Lulu - Bagel with cream cheese and salmon

Café Lulu

4.6(101 reviews)
0.2 km•Centre-Ville, Ville-Marie
•$$

Had delicious crepes on a whim at Cafe Lulu! We enjoyed the Nutella banana and ham egg and cheese…read more Super casual spot and even though they were busy, we didn't have to wait long on the food.

Our first stop, and first time at Cafe Lulu meant we needed a quick bite. We came in around…read more9:30-9:40 AM and the place was about half full, so it was easy to walk in and order. I liked that they had different items out on display that looked fresh. The menu was in French, but one of the women working there noticed we might need help and asked us what we were looking for. So friendly! She also helped us figure out what was gluten-free / gluten-friendly. We ordered a gluten-free avocado toast with an egg sunny side up (pretty solid) a ham and cheese croissant (they pressed it so it was dense and it was perfect) , and we had originally brought our own coffee in to-go cups, but they transferred it into mugs for us when we stayed. I was worried about an extra charge for doing that, but there was none, which was a nice touch. A couple notes: - They take credit cards - Wi-Fi is available - One weird/practical thing: you can't use a laptop until 3 PM so I wouldn't really come here in the morning if I needed somewhere to work. - They seem to be known for their crêpes, although we didn't try one, so I might come back! The total came out to $19.83 CAD. The tables weren't very clean, but overall, a nice experience and glad that the ambience was quiet and welcoming for the morning.

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Café Lulu - Inside

Inside

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Tommy - Sorry for the shadow on the bagel & lox.

Tommy

4.1(365 reviews)
1.6 km•Vieux Montréal, Ville-Marie
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Such a lovely cafe in Montreal! The interior is very nice and the vibes here are so chill. There is…read morea decent amount of seating but of course you can always take your order to go. They can be pretty busy so I suggest arriving early. You order your food at the front and pick up your drink on the side. If you're dining in and you've ordered food, they'll give you a number so you can grab a seat and they can bring your food to you. My cappuccino was good. :) We got the Suzy (Avocado Toast with Bacon) and the Aurora (Smoked Salmon Bagel). Both things were delicious and can even be shared if you normally don't eat a big breakfast. The breakfasts we got were around $20 and $22 each. With our one drink and tip, it ended up being over $60 for breakfast at a little cafe, which is slightly more than what I'd normally pay - but perhaps Montreal prices are a little higher? Either way, it was still a nice visit.

Tommy Café, despite all the hype, was unfortunately a bit of a disappointment for us. The café…read moreitself has an interesting vibe, with quirky bi-level seating and plenty of character, so we were excited to try it. Unfortunately, the food just didn't deliver. The salmon bagel was particularly disappointing and almost inedible. We also tried the spinach and feta scone, but it was quite doughy yet dry, and we couldn't manage more than a few bites. The coffee was decent and the service was fine, but neither was enough to make up for the food. Maybe we simply caught them on an off day, but based on our experience, Tommy didn't quite live up to its reputation. It's a cute yet lively spot to check out for the atmosphere, but I'd go in with tempered expectations when it comes to the food.

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Tommy - Seating area

Seating area

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Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - coffee - Updated October 2026

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