Café Bloc

In a former peep show on Saint-Laurent, two lifelong climbers turned entrepreneurs rebuilt community from the ground up: Jean-François Gravel and Sébastien Aubé opened Café Bloc as both a bouldering gym and a social hub, channeling the camaraderie of outdoor climbing into the city.

Inside, nearly a hundred routes test every level, while a rooftop terrace, café, and microbrew taps keep the energy easy after the send. The founders’ respect for nature carries through the space—local suppliers, minimal waste, handmade furniture, and a sauna for tired hands. It’s part training ground, part hangout.