On Bélanger Street, a few steps east of Saint-Laurent, Café Caron & Frères opened in September 2022 as a third-wave anchor for Little Italy. Simon-Pierre and Xavier-Bertrand Caron, veterans of other neighbourhood cafés, rotate a carefully curated selection of beans across their grinders, sourcing from five roasters in Montreal and beyond. The result is one of the city's more serious whole-bean programs. Beyond coffee, the kitchen produces house-made soups, salads, sandwiches, and a breakfast sandwich that has quietly earned a devoted following. The Ivy Studio-designed space runs to about fifteen seats spread across tables, a front counter, and sofas, with a courtyard and a bench out front when the season allows.

Honestly, it's the kind of neighbourhood café that makes a block feel complete.