The 11 Best Cafés in Little Italy

Caffè Italia is a Little Italy institution. If you can’t tell by its storefront sign, with red script lettering and bookending Italian flags, then its steady stream of regulars sipping espresso and playing Briscola leaves no doubt. The authentic Italian cafe serves up coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and more from their 70-year-old home on Saint-Laurent—a third space for many Italo-Montrealers. A no-frills spot with chalkboard menus and shelves of imported goods, it has a way of transporting locals and tourists alike to the streets of Italy.

Brewing third-wave coffees in the heart of Little Italy, Café Caron & Frères is the spot to go when in search of flavours from an array of roasters (six, to be exact). Their menu is simple, defined by cafe classics and enhanced with a few salads, sandwiches, and pastries. In the summer, their iced tiramisu and matchamisu coffees take centre stage, though they evoke the season year-round, with a sunny yellow-and-white-striped awning and a space that draws in ample natural light.

The charming family-owned Caffè San Simeon opened in 1979 and has been serving patrons of Little Italy ever since. With jars of biscotti lining the counter and the smell of freshly ground beans permeating, as with most traditional Italian cafes, San Simeon runs on quality coffee, baked goods, and conversation. Open until 9 PM, it’s a reliable destination for an after-dinner espresso, once the third-wave spots close for the night.

Conca d’Oro’s leather chairs, dark wooden counters and tables, cases of refrigerated beers, and televisions airing sports, brings a taste of Italy to the city. While the spot opened in 1963, it’s been managed for decades by Gino Dini, who has family roots in Tuscany and Uruguay. From Dini and his wife Line Champagne, Conca d’Oro blends traditional Italian cafe culture with Uruguayan and Argentinian influences. Beyond coffee, they serve drinks (best paired with a game of soccer or hockey), and host karaoke every Saturday and Sunday.

Noble roasts Third Wave brews at their royal blue counter, in their quaint storefront on Alexandra street. With a small seating area, and picnic tables outside when the weather is warm, it’s the perfect place to grab-and-go, or sit and sip for a few minutes. While their coffee is a standout amidst a cafe-heavy city, they’re perhaps best known for their summertime soft serve floats, which mix vanilla soft serve with cold brew, matcha, and earl grey tea (to name a few).

A fixture in Little Italy for over a century, Café Union is known for its hold on Montreal’s coffee scene and its dual commitment to tradition and evolution. Owned by the Kouri family, owners who follow in the footsteps of Union’s initial founders, they roast a variety of beans, sourced from multiple countries, on-site, and offer barista certificate classes. Their cafe projects a menu of brew-focused simplicity, as visitors choose from a selection of different beans, and typical cafe offerings like teas and juices are omitted.

Kahéra is the multi-hyphenate of Montreal cafes. It’s part dépanneur, part restaurant, part cafe; part Egyptian and part Montreal. Uniting the classic Montreal dep with Egyptian streetfood, owners Michael Mankoura and Sandra Besada created a space that reflects who they are—Egyptian roots, Montreal home. Inside, typical dépanneur products line the shelves. Behind the counter, they cook up dishes like shakshuka and shawarma, and coffee and smoothies. Take it to go, or grab a seat at the counter.

Brume is a place built on community—evident in the fact that it’s the kind of place you could stay all afternoon. With natural light illuminating the interior and plants hanging from the ceiling, it’s a homey spot to chat or work, especially with a coffee or tea in hand. Everything in the menu is made in-house, with local ingredients, from a hearty breakfast sandwich to a full English tea service with Fortnum & Mason teas imported from the UK.

As hinted at in its name, Bar Sportivo is a known venue for watching sports, with large screens, soccer balls and Italian flags lining the top of their wall, and a patriotic green and red bar. Though they serve typical bar food and beer, Sportivo also has the cafe classics, namely espresso in its many variations. Open from 8 AM to 12 AM, the bar shifts effortlessly from breakfast counter to rowdy match-night.

San Gennaro is an Italian cafe focused on the cuisine and coffee culture of Southern Italy. Beyond having the typical coffee (espresso, macchiato, latte, etc.), they serve a wide variety of Roman-style pizza, gelato, and traditional desserts. Favourites include the bombolone (a filled Italian doughnut) and the Margherita pizza. The perfect place to stop for a coffee, a treat, or a proper lunch.

The very first place in Canada to sell espresso machines, Café Lino has become a Little Italy mainstay. Both a café and a boutique, they’re dedicated to the craft, stocking a range of coffee makers, grinders, moka pots, and more—in addition to brewing, roasting, and grinding their own coffee. The space is minimal, with only a few tables and chairs tucked among machines and merchandise. This is the spot for coffee purists, those who skip alternative milks and syrups.