My pastel de nata quest continues, although I ordered to go and had them later. The natas here are okay and well-executed but not spectacular. The crust was the right thinness (I ate it hours later so it may have gotten soggy from that), and the custard was very eggy. I didn't think it was caramelized enough, it was missing a certain edge to the flavor. read more

I really like Café Vasco da Gama. This must be my third or fourth time eating here and I could swear I must have done a review before. It's right in the center of Montreal on Rue Peel one block south of Rue Sherbrooke. It's cozy. The food is great (breakfasts plus soup and sandwiches for lunch). And the young people working the counter are invariably welcoming in French or English -- and probably Portuguese as well. And it's fast. The added treat are the Portuguese tiles decorating the walls. read more

Great Portuguese spot for an espresso. Close to the hotel we were staying. I was happy to see the pastel the nata, it's ok not authentic as it would in Portugal. If you are going to serve something, I feel you need to out in the effort to make it authentic, serve it warm w powdered sugar. It was soggy, not good. N like $4! You order at the register n they'll bring you thd good. read more

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The Portuguese egg tarts are so good! Not too sweet, flaky and the perfect size (I could eat 2?in one sitting though since it's that delicious)! The chocolate chip cookie is also so underrated! Perfectly gooey with a slight crunch on the outside. It's sooo buttery and has the perfect amount of chocolate. Service was actually nice the day I came! The cafe is well decorated as well. Conveniently located near metro Peel! read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Pastel de nata, Portuguese custard tarts, are having their food moment in 2025. Cafe Vasco De Gama's pastel de nata is as good as the pastel de nata we ate in Lisboa. read more

I love the atmosphere of the cafe, which was relatively quiet and had nice music. Unfortunately, most of the pastries were out by the time we got there, but the croque matin was still good with a fresh croissant. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafe Mocha and Croque Marin - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

One of the oldest coffeeshops of Montreal. Same decor and same menu. Same average service by the employees. I don't know, if it's hard for the employees to be little warm towards their guests. Otherwise, their coffees are first class. Over the time, the prices have risen. I have been coming here for the last 15 years , so the only evolution I saw is in the prices. I recommend the cafe au lait or cappuccino. The texture is smooth and the taste is super delicious. Beside the service, I enjoy the rest of the experience. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - two cups of coffee - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

It is situated in the heart of downtown Montreal. The café itself has a very charming ambiance. In the summer, they have a lovely patio outside, but due to constant construction, it can be quite loud. Depending on the time of day, there are various options for brunch and lunch. The prices are reasonable, and the staff and service are average. During my last visit, I had a cappuccino, tosta mista, and pastel de Nata. They were all okay, but the pastel de Nata didn't quite match the ones I've had in Portugal. Saying this, I miss the ones from Belém. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Tosta mista - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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If we were locals, this place would be on heavy rotation. Just a few simple dishes on offer- omelettes and sandwiches, with nice choice of side salads, like kale with quinoa, or cucumber/ tomato. A number of sweet treats and the usual suspects for beverages, hot and cold. Do not miss the pastel de nata, the ubiquitous Portuguese sweet treat- to die for yum. It's a well oiled machine in this petite and humming space. High quality, friendly service. Love it! read more

Passing through this great city for a short, unexpected, and complicated stay required that I eat a few times, and that included some regular meals and some coffee, tea, and dessert type places. Having visited Cafe Vasco da Gama before, it was already on my short list. Not only that, being west of Saint-Laurent in Centre-Ville is usually nicer than being east of it. Unlike what others report, I did not encounter any difficulties with the service whatsoever. They were slightly busy and the person helping me took their time, answered my questions, waited for me to decide, and was very pleasant. It looks like I ordered the same thing I had once before - the Vasco da Gama omelette. It came with a baguette and some fruit. I should have asked what kind of fruit I was going to get, but it must be a seasonal issue, and I didn't like or eat most of the fruit. The baguette was fine, as was the omelette. In looking at my photos, the omelette I had had before was round and flat, so "bigger." During this trip, it was folded and sort of small. I counted how many bites it took to eat. It was six or, if I miscounted, seven. I was still hungry. As for their coffee, they feature the Illy brand and it was excellent. The issue today is that prices have gone up, which is the case everywhere and for everything. This then raises the question of how much of it is reflects the conditions at hand and how much of it is a little "extra." I pose that question to myself at a lot of places, since the jumps are all over the map. At Cafe Vasco da Gama, I wanted to add mushrooms to my omelette and also get a pastel de nata, but held back this time. One has to look at the context - it's a Portuguese cafe' that leans trendy (and under the Ferreira umbrella), has French(-Canadian) and European sensibilities interwoven, and sits in the Financial District in a popular city, so it's priced accordingly. And, albeit small, they've managed to create a very nice locale. What I'm thinking is that, going forward, I might opt for typical breakfast grub elsewhere in a more down-home scenario - if needing breakfast - and then getting a typical Portuguese meal in the seemingly growing number of Portuguese restaurants in this city and its suburbs, and for which going further out offers a better price-quantity situation. I feel that it's probably a 4 star situation for locals, and especially people employed in the area, but I'm at a strong 3 stars with Cafe Vasco da Gama. read more

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Their egg custard tarts were amazing! It took me right back to Spain. I also had their Chai and it was ok. Not bad but nothing to write home about. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Chai Latte and Egg Custard Tarts/ Pastel de Nata - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Extraordinarily pleasant, helpful people. Their English was limited but they were very acceptin. Efficient, quick service with very straightforward , tasty and fresh food. read more

The pastries were okay...I tried the croissant and Portuguese egg tarts. Service could be better. Cashier looked angry and no one had a smile read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Portuguese egg tarts - too sweet, tart is not puffy, flaky, just a thin layer - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This was my second visit to this Ferreira owned business (they seem to own the corner of Peel & Maisonneuve). Barb and I met our nephew for breakfast and sat on the terrace. The menu is small but has great omelette options and a nice selection of pastries and Illy coffee drinks. I really like the Portuguese ambiance of the cafe with yellow walls, blue and white porcelain accents and Portuguese music playing in the background, very cool! We all had various types of omelettes, coffee and fresh out of the oven Natas (yum). The Natas were probably the best I've ever had, makes me wonder if I could get away with a small platter of them with some coffee for breakfast...just don't tell Ms Barb... What a great cafe, like all things Ferreira you should check it out! read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Omelette with chorizo - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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The service from the young ladies was five stars. The atmosphere is quaint with Spanish music, even though it's a Portuguese cafe base on the name? I waited 20 minutes for this simple sandwich. The server apologize and offered us complimentary pastry and coffee. I was hoping the Pastéis de Belém would taste similar to Lisbon, but the custard was way too thick and sweet. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Egg custard tart, Double espresso, Cappuccino, and fresh squeezed orange juice. - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Summary: Decent (small) menu Lovely outside Super sweet friendly server Appalling ordering system/ service. Looked for a brunch place this morning. Walked past and were attracted to sit outside in the covered area in a busy side street. Sat in a nice area with cushions. We ordered lots, coffee, croissants, yoghurt and fruit, chorizo sandwich with salad, croque matin, bagel with cream cheese. They make you order inside and pay up front. Then they give you some items and you await the rest (which may or may not ever arrive...) My kids loved the food and it was nice outside. Our waitress was very sweet, and bought some ice for my wife who had hurt her ankle. However, after around 25 mins only a few of our food items arrived. We politely asked for the rest. The chorizo sandwich finally came out. After 50 mins still missing items and various other people had arrived, ordered, eaten and left. We were still waiting for a bagel and 2 croque matins. Had asked inside and asked the waitress. They basically admitted that tickets were getting lost. So eventually after an hour we had our final items. Quite painful. The food was nice and everything apart from the chaos and wait was very nice. If they get new management this place could be excellent. read more

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Amazing presentation pastries and coffee Cheerful staff and great breakfast bagels . The outdoor terrace is pretty too read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

A great little cafe. It's exactly what you expect and need it to be. I came here purely because it was opened early and close to my hotel and that's okay. It wasn't too touristy and was not hotel food. I ordered the Fisherman's wrap which is essentially lox and eggs in wrap form. It was great and the cream cheese tasted very light. It came with a side of fresh fruits which were out of this world. I also ordered a Portuguese egg tart and grapefruit juice. Everything came promptly and the service was great. I'd come here again for my breakfast. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Summary: ok food, unpredictable service, awesome window seats. I've dined at Vasco da Gama several times, for lunch and for coffee/pastries. The coffee is good (they serve Illy). The pastries I tried have been consistently mediocre. The sandwiches are mostly tasty but overly greasy. The soups are usually delicious. The service here is very unpredictable. Sometimes it is normal, but, gosh, I've been unlucky at least half the time. They have table service, but there is no one to seat you or notice you if you take your own seat. They also serve you at the counter, but most of the time they lose track of the order and who ordered what. I've had mixups even when ordering at the table. This is worst at lunch times. I will come back here because of the window seats. They open the windows during the summer and there are seats right up to the edge. You can enjoy a little breeze along with your coffee and watch people hustle on Peel or Maisonneuve. Vasco da Gama is best for a late afternoon visit when you are in no rush. It is not a place to go if you are visiting from out of town. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Good cup of coffee, pleasant cafe. Very busy. Great sandwiches, wonderful side salads. Chocolate chip cookie was delicious! Coffee was outstanding and cappuccino well made. Chocolates were a bit overpriced and not exiting. The croissant can be skipped. Play to their strengths-- go fresh food and desserts. Manager on duty (or at least she seemed in charge) was a bit rude. read more

Vasco the Explorer @cafevascodagama is deep in the D-town ocean, so forget parking. The look & feel takes Jacky on a voyage to Portugal. Staff is friendly, and coffee is fresh & of good quality.Price is high but typical for the location. Can't go wrong with a nice latte and pastel da nata. If Jacky sets sail for the city, he's dropin' that anchor like it's hot at Vasco's. Follow @JackyEatsMTL read more

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Belle terrasse. Beaucoup de personnes au midi. Par contre, j'ai commandé le sandwich agneau effiloché et je suis déçue. La boulette est minus dans un pain tranché en deux avec deux tranches de mozzarella. La salade orzo avait des saucisses tranchées qui n'étaient pas fraîches. Je ne les recommanderais pas. Sinon, je pourrais vouloir essayer quelques choses d'autres la prochaine fois. Il semble y avoir un choix de petit déjeuner. read more

After an ill-fated attempt to grab breakfast at Universel - tip: don't go to this place at around 11:00 on a Saturday - we were wandering around trying to find somewhere else to eat. We stumbled on Café Vasco da Gama and were drawn in by its homey, intimate vibe. We were quickly shown to a small table near the front, and I began scouring the menu for something appealing. I eventually settled on the Vasco da Gama wrap ("egg, chouriço, São Jorge cheese, spinach"), because how can you go wrong with those ingredients? The answer is you can't, not really. And while this very simple wrap didn't blow me away, it's nevertheless a solid dish that I enjoyed eating. The ingredients all worked quite well together, and the food arrived hot (which meant that the cheese was still delightfully melty). I was admittedly a little disappointed in the lack of bold flavors, but this is a mild complaint. (I should note, too, that the backless stools get pretty annoying after a while.) read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Vasco da Gama wrap. - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Great lunch option for folks working in downtown Montreal. There's a good mix of hot + cold dishes; lots of soups, salads, sandwiches and my favourites - the burgers. I had the tuna burger; it's seared and topped with spinach, tomatoes + caramelized onions. It was tasty and filling. My partner got the Burger of the month, a chorizo burger topped with egg, thin French fries + mixed greens; it was massive and very very filling. Both dishes came with a choice of soup or salad. We both got the Greek salad. Everything tasted fresh and flavoured to perfection! My only (minor) complaint is that when you walk in, it's not intuitive what to do next. First, you're assigned a table. Next, you go to the counter and place your food order. Then, you go to cashier and pay for your food and order (and pay) for your drinks. After this, you sit at your assigned table and wait for your food to be brought out. I would have appreciated verbal instructions or signage re: this process rather than fumbling around like a major clutz. I would recommend and will definitely be returning! read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Tuna Burger - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Cafe doesn't have big tables - only small round shaky ones that can barely fit breakfast for three. Several tables can be put side by side, but seating is better suited for singles or couples. I've ordered fisherman's omelette with Viennese coffee, latte and biscotti. Both beverages were rather good (they use Illy beans), I've easily consumed two cups, but I can't commend the omelette. While I really like Egg Benedict with salmon, their salmon omelette didn't work - two tastes just doesn't match each other. Biscotti wasn't impressive, but it was good enough - not too sweet and not too crumble. My wife has chosen Mediterranean omelette with americano. Her omelette was much better than mine. Would've call it good if not for the olives. Daughter got grapefruit juice, which was awesome, and chocolate croissant, which was good but a bit weird. Overall, a nice place for breakfast if you just happen to walk next to it. read more

One of my favorite spots to go for coffee or grab a bite for breakfast, lunch or early dinner. Their omlettes, burgers, salads and pastries are great! Every time I am there, I feel like i am in Europe. This place has a charm and keeps drawing locals and tourists. It's usually pretty packed. In the summer, they have a lovely terrasse on Peel. You will enjoy whatever you end up ordering! read more

Coming from a Portuguese family, we ate at this place while visiting the city. Sandwiches are good, but the ham and cheese baguette would taste better if it was warm. But I really came for the "pastéis de nata" and they were great. read more

Ambience is what you pay for here - trendy vibes and crowd, good music. Everything was overpriced. I had a mini almond tartine that was straight up brown sugar. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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This is a great little cafe. It's in an area where there are many nice stores and things to do. They have tables and a couch/booth area. We came in for lunch and I ordered the Kobe beef burger and my wife and kids each had the burger of the month which was a cod burger. My burger came with soup or salad and I chose the broccoli and cauliflower soup. The soup was excellent and it was definitely something I haven't tried before. The burger had the works and had blue cheese on it. I loved the burger and it filled me up and made me feel great. The atmosphere was nice. You could order food or get treats. They had a decent sized case with brownies and cookies and other treats. It wasn't crowded but wasn't empty either and the waiter was attentive to our needs. I would definitely stop here again. It was a little pricey for a cafe but it was expected given the area and the food ended up being well worth it. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Kobe beef burger - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Amazing breakfast omelette! It may be a cafe, but the food was also delicious. I had the Mediterranean omelette which came with a side of fruit and a toasted baguette. The flavors and veggies in the omelette created an awesome flavor and the inside of the omelette was perfectly cooked. A great place to stop and escape the cold, especially if you can grab a window view. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Mediterranean omelette with fruit and toasted baguette - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

The food here was fine, but the service was beyond awful! I would definitely pick one of the neighboring restaurants next time.

So, it was my last day in Montreal and I wanted something with a French feel. I had eaten poutine. I had eaten crepes. I wanted to go to a real French restaurant, but many of them were only open for dinner and were very pricey. So, of course I turned to yelp and I saw pictures of the beautiful baguettes and I was sold! As, I approached the café I was already happy with my choice. It was quaint and had the feel of some of those great cafes in Paris. There were people dining on the sidewalk and the place was hoppin so I knew it must be good. So I walked in and asked for a table. I was given a table and then told to go to the counter to place my order. Now, unfortunately for me the menu was completely in French. It definitely gave me the French feel I wanted, but made ordering a little more difficult for me. Luckily, the young lady behind the counter came out and walked me through it. I was already thinking about a baguette and I could read enough French to kind of figure out what I wanted. I asked if there was a ham and cheese sandwich on a baguette and she said no, it's prosciutto, cheese, and butter on a baguette. Well, that sounded right up my alley. The sandwich came with a choice of salad or soup. I chose the tomato soup. Once I ordered I still had to wait in line to pay. This gave me time to look at the desserts. There were so many and they all looked fabulous, but in the end I went for portability so that I could take it with me for an afternoon snack and ordered the blondie. As soon as I paid and sat down my food was brought out. The soup was very good, but the baguette, well that was a thing of beauty. It was soooo good. I live in Florida where the humidity seems to destroy any attempt at delicious crusty bread, so I was in heaven. I ended up taking 1/2 the sandwich with me to eat on the train to Toronto later that day and ate my amazing blondie as an afternoon snack. If I am ever back in Montreal, this place is on my list. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Baguette with cheese, butter, and prosciutto with tomato soup. - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

What a fancy joint. Stunning tile murals line the back wall and the front is strategically packed with a wide selection of wine bottles, coffee and artsy ceramic items. There are a couple of enormous paintings (one of them looks like a classic depiction of Zeus) and massive mirrors on the wall that make the narrow cafe look more spacious than it really is. The staff moved a mile a minute to serve dozens of people waiting for their caffeine fix or sandwiches. Despite the pressure, they do an admirable job of maintaining composure and a genuine smile. There isn't much space between the seating area and the service area, so after paying for my meal, I stood around awkwardly, trying to avoid getting in the way of the many patrons behind me. The supervisor was extremely apologetic about the long wait for my sandwich - "Le Pecheur". This egg and salmon breakfast wrap is small and served with fruit. The thin slice of salmon was fresh and smoky, but also overly salty. The other ingredients include plain cream cheese, capers, spinach and barely seasoned eggs. Based on the price, I was underwhelmed by the wrap. Indeed, this upscale cafe charges an arm and a leg, but they certainly deliver when it comes to their drinks. I had a latte that was so bold, full-bodied and delicious, all my price-sensitivity melted away in the steam... I came back the day after for an iced coffee, which was creamy, rich and beautifully presented in 3 layers (whole milk, coffee and foam with chocolate sprinkles). The third day, I tried their mocha (along with 3 gourmet chocolates). The mocha is rich with a deep aroma and pleasant after taste of real cocoa. It was complimented well by the chocolates. read more

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Yesterday morning we tried this place with my friend. Both of us liked it so much. Delicious food, fast service, unique atmosphere. I've been in Lisbon 2 years ago and this place definitely reminded me Portugal. I'm sure I'm coming back. Highly recommend place!!! 5* from me. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I love this place and I have been way too many times! Their omelettes are great - my favorite is the turkey bacon omelette. I always get their perfection of a cafe au lait. Their lunch sandwiches are really good as well. 4 stars because the service is not very friendly or efficient. read more

Café Vasco da Gama - My favorite combo when I come here with my mom: turkey bacon Omelette, yogurt with fruit and granola, cafe au lait - Cafes Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I visited here twice while in town. The almond milk latte was good. I enjoyed it and would happily drink another...So Why such a low rating? Well the service and attitude of the staff was deplorable. I came in around 830am both days with my 4 and 2 year old boys. ORdered a drink for myself and a snack for them...Both days we were treated horribly. One woman actually came over and removed everything from the table (including my children's silverware) and rolled her eyes when I asked for them back. The next day while my kiddos were eating the gentleman working behind the counter came around and actually started to point at us and roll his eyes while speaking to someone else. Side note: My children were NOT being un-ruly, loud or rude. One was sitting in my lap and the other on his little stool. They said Thank you and were polite. read more

I love this little café! The espresso drinks are on point. The muffins and pastries are amazing. Bonus: The staff is always friendly, no matter the time of day. The vibe and ambiance is very chill and relaxing. Perfect for a break from the cold or rain. read more

I was excited to try this place out properly since I'm such a huge fan of Portuguese food & had ordered their pastel de natas for our office multiple times and they were always to die for. The location is downtown near peel , the inside is very pretty and airy and they have lots of indoor and outdoor seating. It's cozy and chic yet casual at the same time. the staff friendly and provided great service, the prices were affordable, so no complaints there either ! I had the bifana sandwich and a side of couscous shrimp salad. The sandwich was tasty , lovely fresh bread &flavourful pork. The side couscous and shrimp salad tasted so fresh and bright , subtle flavours and so well prepared. They had so many delicious sounding side salads to choose from it was hard to narrow it down. And obviously I couldn't leave without a pastel de nata , which was perfection as always , buttery flaky fresh crust and creamy yet not too sweet custard filling (definitely don't leave here without having one of these !) I really enjoyed this place, I would definitely recommend giving it a try ! read more

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I stopped in here after a day of walking around the city, desperate for something delicious. The Cafe is a cute little place - staff is friendly and helpful. I ordered the beef croquettes and the cheese plate. The beef croquettes were really really hot and really really good - deep fried deliciousness with tender meat inside. My cheese plate took a little longer to get out but was worth the wait as the cheese they had was really good with whatever jam it came with. I think this place is a solid lunch option at a good price point. read more

Great café spot! Nice for an afternoon merienda, prices are a bit high but great environment. I'd deff come back