Pigeon Espresso Bar

Pigeon Espresso Bar - world's worst coffee. Just kidding - but that is their tag line! I stumbled upon this new micro-café while walking to the Guy Metro a few weeks ago. This tiny spot serves coffee, pastries and cookies. I got a cappuccino and my friend got a mini loaf of banana bread to go.

This café is smaller than I expected and does not have any seating. The inside is very cozy with a lot of hanging plants and exposed brick walls. I thought it was cool that they had a variety of coffee condiments like agave etc. to add to your cup of joe. Check it out next time you're in the neighbourhood!

Café Replika

Café Replika is a Turkish café in the Plateau-Mont Royal neighbourhood. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. It was very busy when I arrived (not unlike any other café on a Saturday morning) but surprisingly calm, which made for a good working environment. There are a number of large tables and some counter space to sit as well. The café was filled with students and families alike.

I ordered a Café Turc Mastique which is a sweetened Turkish coffee. It was black, thick and delicious with a bit of a smokey aftertaste. I sipped it slowly but really enjoyed it. I can't compare it with anything I've ever had before. My Turkish friend suggested that I try the Tahini Pastry but unfortunately they were already out by the time I got there.

Replika is a trendy coffee shop and a great spot to either work or chill out. I loved the vintage Turkish decor and especially my cup and saucer! Make sure to visit this unique Montreal spot if you're ever in the Plateau area!

Arts Cafe

Art's Cafe is the coolest little spot on Fairmount in the Plateau. Art's cafe opened in 2002 and was renovated and revamped in 2012. You can find all kinds of food here and they're coffee is great too! The menu features homemade, local and seasonal ingredients. The food looks simple but absolutely delicious. I've been told that they are busiest during the weekends at brunch.

I visited this trendy spot after work one evening with Charlotte. Their cocktail menu looked delicious as well, but we were in the mood to order a coffee. My cappuccino was good and Charlotte enjoyed her Americano as well.

It's a great spot to hang out since it's open until 7 pm on weekdays. On the weekends they are open from 10 to 4. There is a lot of seating and WiFi is available as well if you need to plug in for anything. The atmosphere here is very lively and artsy (of course). I spent more time trying to take photos of the gorgeous spot then actually drinking my coffee! Check it out and let me know what you think of it!

The Standard

The Standard is a cute little café located in Westmount right on Sherbrooke. Aside, from the name, there is nothing standard about this café! They are a 4th wave coffee shop which is essentially a balance of specialty coffee, fashion and art. My favourite part of this café was the sleek black walls and the trendy metallic accents - very chic in my opinion! I also loved the couches and gold coffee table (which made for great photos!)

The Standard has a small selection of pastries from Hof Kelsten and I've heard they sometimes carry goodies from Trou de Beigne and St. Viateur bagel as well! I ordered a latté and my friend J ordered a cappucino, both of which did not disappoint. Although the spot is small inside, with one long table and just a few tables and couches, there is additional seating outside during the summer months.

I'd recommend this spot for your next date, catch up session or business meeting!

Caravane Café

Caravane Café is another cool spot right by the Cote de Neige metro. This café was founded by couple who at the time were students and wanted to create a meeting spot for other students in this area. Caravane café is a central meet up spot in a cool vibrant neighbourhood. The vibe is very much “by students, for students” but it attracts all types of people.

I really liked that Caravane is open late and has a lot of seating. There are a lot of large tables which makes it easy for students to work in groups. There are also some couches to lounge on. I loved the porch outside which I’m sure is packed in the summer. They serve all kinds of coffee and food including brunch, lunch, and dessert; they even cater. Their sandwiches and home-made soups smelled great. I ordered a cappuccino and set up my laptop for a few hours of blogging and working on my travel journal.

Carvane has rustic décor with wood details and long couches but is very cozy and modern at the same time with a lot of cool art work. This café attracts a large community who are interested in the same idea: drink, eat, and explore!