Arrived in the area looking for a local cafe with great espresso. It was quiet, later in the mid afternoon, and there were only a number of elder gentlemen each at their own table, just chilling out. It is a bit dark and under decorated, but perfect in its odd juxtaposition to the outside world. The espresso was strong and really delicious, and the vibe was so unlike other cafes that are usually young and hipster that I could easily see old man Leonard Cohen chilling out alone amidst others that also just wanted a bit of peace and quiet in what is likely, and underrated cafe. read more

So while we were driving on a road trip through Canada, we had a heck of a time locating free wi-fi. I did a random search for places with wi-fi on google and not much came up. BUT, Cafe Pi came as a result along with some reviews. I was forever grateful and happy to have found this place as I was able to book the hotel we would be staying at that day. =) Thank you, Cafe Pi! A-ok bordering I'm a fan because of the convenience of your free wi-fi. Tips: -Didn't seem to mind when we spoke English instead of French -This place is heavily involved with Chess. So don't be surprised with all of the tables and chess games out. -I had a Chai and it was decent for what it was. read more

Cafe Pi - Business Card - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

Very friendly ownership! My son noticed the chess set in the window and wanted to play, so we stepped in. The place seems to have local regulars who play chess, so we observed them and then proceeded to play ourselves. I had a latte, which was nice. The owner told us her son was the same age as mine and she offered him a free cookie. If she treats all her customers as nicely as us this would be a special place! read more

Cafe Pi is not your "generic coffee shop" expecting plastic wrapped paninis and cheap 24 Gallon drip coffee in Starbucks branded Grande sized corporate drive thru cups. It is a CAFE, it local with French servers in an area called the Plateau de Montreal. If the other reviewers expected the run of the mill coffee experience, which frankly you can get at any place in nowheresville North America, then this isn't your cup of non-fat latte with extra foam. You should be careful to judge a place after being there for only 20 mins, it is alive and has character and even though they were only reviewing, like a good wine, it takes more than just a sip to really appreciate it, or maybe just keep going to your local wifi coffee shop so you can enjoy the same experience, everytime, everyday. Cafe Pi is great, it local, it is French, and Montreal is better for it. read more

After a long day of skiing on Mount Royal, I was tired an hungry and just needed to relax with a nice cup of coffee. Searching nearby cafés, the Pi Café stood out to me as something extremely interesting so I headed on down with my chess-obsessed boyfriend. We didn't think there would actually be chess but sure enough, there it was! There were people playing chess games with a game clock and there were smaller games going on between other customers. The lady behind the counter was very nice and gave us a chess board after we ordered. She also made some very nice recomendations. The decor in the place is very nice; chess related and pi signs. The room is very comfortable an the red paint gives off a nice vibe. There are comfier chairs for lounging on too which are very nice. We tried their Vanilla Latte and couldn't stop ordering more! Easily the best one I've ever had! As for the food, there were many vegetarian options which I thought was nice. We ordered a Beef Panini and Chicken Panini. The lady at the counter grilled them to perfection and brought them to us at the perfect moment in our game of chess! They hit the spot and they were quite cheesy and filling. To top it all off, we had a lovely huge piece of apple pie, because if you're the Pi Café, you have to serve pie! The Pi Café is a great place to relax with friends or just meet new people and of course to play chess! Great food and drink, and a great place to take a break! read more

A local Montreal friend of mine recommended we stop in here for coffee, and we were not disappointed. This is a friendly cafe that appears to cater to students, nerds, or anyone interested in a game of chess. I liked the vibe the place had, and although we came by on a Sunday AM, it wasn't that busy. Didn't go for the baked goods, but they did look tasty. Coffee was well-made. Would return again! read more

Great retreat for chess lovers! Came here a few times and each time the staff was friendly, patrons were nice. Is it the best coffee? No, but it's a rare find and gets five stars because a chess cafe is a rare find. read more

What a great spot. Very friendly local crowd. Cool vintage atmosphere. Down home ambience. Nice crowd of friendly chess players. Comfortable chairs. Good service. Highly recommend. read more

Very strangly quite. No music, no one talking, the coffee was bad, served in 'ice rink' style cups and the food looked pretty bad too( I didn't try it). The place was absolutely packed though.... Must have something to do with the wifi and chest mentioned by the other review. if you absolutely need a coffee in this neighbourhood, this is unfortunately the only option that I could find. It feels like they are in definite need of a really good cafe around here..... read more

Extremely poor service, below average coffee quality. They will ask you to buy two items if you are in a couple. Plays smells old.

My son is 18 years old, and a passionate chess player. We discovered this place while vacationing from Florida. He was looking for a chess club, and came across a blogger who wrote about Café Pi. He thoroughly enjoyed the chess. He went for three consecutive nights, and said there was a steady stream of competitive chess players. We accompanied him the first time, and enjoyed the coffee. The place is well located, clean, and the staff is very friendly. This was a great highlight of my son's vacation. I highly recommend if you are looking for a place to play chess in Montreal! read more

Cafe Pi is a universe unto itself. The now previous owners were very tolerant of all sorts of people, so it was something of a haven or sanctuary for odd people. I have always felt comfortable there and have spent happy hours reading and hanging out. It is a bit down at the heels, but very, very comfortable. One can play or watch chess, read or just hang out. Not for everyone, but a great place for many. I feel that Montreal is a better place with Cafe Pi and I wish the new owner the best of luck. read more

Cafe Pi provides a strong americano with comfy seating. A coffee shop that serves good coffee. Cant ask for much more!

An amazing cafe because people are playing chess, backgammon and poker all the time! If you love games, you'll love hanging out here.

My least favorite coffee shop in a long time. It smelled bad and the service was pretty bad. There are other coffee shops nearby - pick any one of those instead! read more

My wife and i stopped for a coffee in a "neighborhood' coffee shop. A very unique atmosphere. Coffee was very good as was the apple pie. Only problem is we bought a bad of the fair trade coffee they sell. Back home we brewed it up and it was the best. Now how to get another bag? read more

The absolute best coffee, fair trade and at a good price, fresh apple pie, great music, and wonderful service. My favourite coffee shop in Montreal. read more