This was my favourite café until the other day, now I'll be going to different ones in the neighborhood. I took my sister Harte and ordered coffee. I went to use the hand sanitizer and didn't notice that some of the hand sanitizer had dried up and clogged the opening. The hand sanitizer shot out from a small hole and went directly into my eyeball, which hurt a lot. I asked the barista for some help and she just pointed me to the bathroom. Didn't even come out from behind the counter, she didn't clean the sanitizer. I almost got the impression that this had happened a couple of times already and pointing to the bathroom was her stock response. If this happened at my work I'd be mortified and would have offered some kind of help and apologized but I got none of that. Bad experience. read more

Face meltingly good coffee and espresso. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that this is the best coffee I have ever had. They have multiple grinds available every day and the barista can tell you the details of each without batting an eye or pausing to think. Words can't really express how good the drinks are here, but I'm about to try. Espresso drinks are complex beasts. The espresso shot needs to be good, which means your grind must be good, which means your roast must be good, which means you actually have to care about your product and put a ton of effort into it. If you can pull a good shot, you still have to get the milk right. I know that seems like it should be the easy part, but it's a detail that you can't overlook. Most places, even dedicated independent coffee shops (not just Starbucks/Dunkin/Tim Hortons), get their milk too hot; when you overheat your milk it gets bitter and acidic and no longer serves as a foil to the bitterness/acidity of the espresso, but instead it amplifies all the bad flavors you don't want. When I placed the mug between my hands and they were warmed but not scalded I knew I was in for a treat. My expectations were exceeded in ways I couldn't have imagined in my wildest caffeine fueled dreams. After I scraped my face off the table I finished my mocha (not too sweet, not too milky, jusssssst right). On top of crafting amazing drinks, Tony the barista is super friendly. I felt welcomed the second I walked into the bar. On my first day in Montreal he gave me a sample of their freshly delivered baked goods (the onion tart was AWESOME). Then he recommended I try a few things and when I came back the next day he not only remembered my name but asked how my day had gone and had a few more suggestions. Nicest guy I met on my whole trip. The interior space is limited but I'd say it's more "intimate and cozy" than "cramped." They don't have wi-fi but there are a few plug sockets if you're desperate. After you finish your drink, try their water. There won't be a bitter taste in your mouth that you need to rinse out and your mouth won't be burned but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't try their super delicious water before you leave. No, I'm not joking. The water pitcher is filled with lemon peel and fresh thyme sprigs which is the dopest water combination ever. When I return to Montreal, this is my first stop. read more

See all

I felt like such a cool Montreal local when I stopped in this groovy little coffee shop one morning while on holiday ;) There was only one dude managing taking orders, making coffee, and taking payment. He was kind, spoke both French and English, and oh-so efficient! My latte was robust and full of body to give my day the boost it needed. Bonus points for getting to grab a healthy to-go juice for a snack later! Inside there is a large table and a few other spaces fit for catching up with a friend of efficient working. Next time I'm back, I want to be able to order in French to feel like a true local at this gem! read more

See all

What an amazing cafe in Montreal. I'm so glad I found this place through a suggestion for best cafe spots in Montreal. The space and ambiance is beautiful and more importantly, their coffee is top notch. I can't believe they make their own coconut and almond milk! It's unbelievably tasty and its heated at the right consistency to get the nice foam on cappuccinos and lattes. Mum got a cappuccino and I got a cortado. Both were excellent and I would definitely recommend it to a friend who's visiting Montreal. The cafe is located in the heart of the LGBT community there and its a quiet and respectable neighborhood. Very easy to get to by the metro system. It's been a couple of months since my Montreal trip, but I still dream think about that cortado from time to time. Staff was very nice and just as you interact with them, you know they can make a mean coffee drink for you. read more

See all

Best oar flat white with a wheaty perfume. A regular here for a while. The shop is cozy as a working place as well.

Have I been hiding under a 'coffee trend rock' - as someone (not even from this country) told me about this café, and their Dirty Chai beverage offering. Two times espresso infused into a Chai Latte (in my case ordered with oat milk); now that's cool but hot. They also have homemade almond and another type of fresh pressed milk from what I was told. I'm still trying to process this 'newfangled' drink - a perk up with extra taste - well then; what's not to like? read more

Coming up on their 1 year anniversary, Tony & his small crew are cranking out top notch espesso drinks matching the best in the city (Myriade, Névé/Flocon, Café Plume, Pikolo). Good bean, grind, machines, and baristas. All you need for fantastic espresso. Beans are from Te Aro (Toronto based kiwi Andy Wilkins), meaning Pourquoi Pas is skilled enough to earn the right to buy their roast. - Te Aro has one 24kg roasting machine = capacity to support ~ 30 cafés - Canadian roasted coffee is duty free to US So, one can infer that Pourquoi Pas is judged by Te Aro as one of the top 30 cafes in the ON, QC, and possibly IL, NY, MA area (the reasonable shipping cost area) Wow... too much caffeine = crazy tangents. If you're gonna get wired, why not do it with the best? p.s. their wifi is up and running read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Open the door to awesome espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Fabulous Coffee and Friendly Atmosphere are the answers you'll find at Pourquoi Pas. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon treats and down time at this special little neighborhood café. This is clearly the place where regulars drop by to get the latest tea, an impressive list of coffees, and sweet treats. This will become a regular stop on my trips to this beautiful burg. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Location: Just off Ste. Catherine Est, in the Village. Street parking available [metered] and the closest subway stops are Berri and Beaudry [green]. The place: Very small with a communal table and bar-type seating right in front of the window. Obviously I chose the window because I like to look at people look at me when they walk by. It's a super casual atmosphere and there's no pretentiousness of any kind. Also, I didn't see any hipsters. I did stop in on a Tuesday afternoon so the place was quiet. I'm not sure how it looks on the weekend. The goods: I ordered a Macchiato with the home made almond + coconut milk. The milk is awesome and totally worth it. These guys use Pilot coffee, which I sometimes like, while at other times, it leaves me indifferent. I had a custom blend that was roasted specifically for a café in Québec City that was awesome. The blend used for this Macchiato was OK but it was a little bitter for my tastes. I still enjoyed it though, and I'd say these guys are in my top 6 coffee spots. Yes, that's right, SIX, not five! Service: The barista was so, so nice and friendly. Price point: $3.50 for the Macchiato, though I think there might be a surcharge for the home made milk. I forgot to ask. All in all, a very respectable coffee joint in this part of town. Check it! read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Is a good coffee to study quiet. I like coffee's like this one! And the cappuccino is delicious. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I am quite particular about coffee and love some independant coffee shops.... and this is on my list of top 3 for Mtl with Myriade and Olympico.... Each has a different vibe... Pourquoi pas has super friendly staff... some decent space to sit... location is smack in the gay village... artwork on the wall is always interesting. The treats seem to look good - they seem to have gluten free or vegan options but I never tried any. Their speciality is their own mix of coconut and almond milk but I prefer cow milk in my cappucinos.... you need to ask for it though because the default is their own mix. Great opening hours during the holidays... read more

I loved this place! I wanted a good coffee spot near our hotel in Montreal and I found this cute little spot thru Yelp. The set-up is really laid-back and the barista was very nice and friendly. He even gave us recommendations for our stay. And the cappuccino was great so we came back again while on our short trip. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar serves hands down one of the best lattes I've had in Montreal so far! Located in the Village, it is easily accessible to downtown dwellers, workers, tourists and passersby. The only downside I find is that it closes so early (6PM everyday). Small and simple, the venue is decorated with cutesy works of art for sale. The barrista was very nice and produced a killer frozen latte. What more could I possibly ask for? read more

Located a bit further east than I usually venture, I had to come here after reading the reviews... And the place did not disappoint! First of all, although I love plain ol' cow's milk, almond milk is my default for coffee, so I loved the house blend of coconut and almond milk. The coconut milk added an extra je ne sais quoi that worked perfectly with the nuttiness of the almond milk and the toasty notes of the espresso. They have a variety of baked goods on offer. I chose the banana-chocolate square, which was on the dry side, but it was pleasantly banana-y and had just the right amount of chocolate. The seating isn't the most plentiful and the arrangement isn't the most inviting, but it isn't terrible either. The window seats are perfect for people watching, but they're also up on a platform, so you do need to have some sense about you when going up and down - especially when you have one of their precious lattes in your hands! Will return for sure. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Banana-chocolate square (rectangle). Latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

As good as Piccolo's Espresso Bar, and slightly cheaper. My go to coffee shop if I'm staying in hostels around St Catherine's, or indeed when I'm willing to walk for it. Choice of daily roasts (Ethiopian and Colombian when I was there). Serving staff were great, and price was right ($2.75). Had free wifi and you could sit at the window looking at the world, or at the bar chatting. A must go. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Need coffee first thing to make sense of the map! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I LOVE THIS CAFÉ! I saw that they were doing personalized latte art (basically they would make a tulip and write whatever word you want inside), so I got my "Cindy" latte from them and it was amazing! The café is really cute and has great ambiance, the interior decor is lovely and there are plants everywhere. I would come back to study and talk with friends! read more

See all

A good latte is hard to find and they make a good latte. They also have pastries to satisfy your sweet tooth. read more

Such a cute little place! I think what really set this one over the top was that they had "house milk" that was a combo between coconut and almond. Super unique and we loved it. We both got iced lattes with the house milk. Would definitely come back again! read more

Fast service, their espressos were tasty and the barista was extremely friendly. He was nice enough on a busy day to recommend us more third wave coffee shops and we gave it a go and he was absolutely right about things he said! read more

A great little spot with an impressive selection of coffee to choose from...perfect for 1 on 1 meetings. A noteworthy mention to the "screw head" Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar signage in the storefront window. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Lovin' my office this morning... No more meetings in monotonous conference rooms. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This is one of my favorite cafes in Montreal! It was a random find, but it's lovely. The coffee is superb and the guy who works here is super nice. He recommended oat milk and now I love it. read more

Such a cute little cafe! Loved my hot coco! It was fairly priced and tasted delicious!!! There are cute little pastries. And gluten free options!!! Cáfe had a clean restroom and free WiFi! The owner helped me and my friends find a place for dinner and was so kind! Loved this place! read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

For someone who drinks as much coffee as I do in as many cafés as possible, it's rare for a café to truly surprise me. Pourquoi Pas did, and in a very good way. It started with ordering a latte. I was met with a simple question: what kind of milk? The options that followed were not the "skim, 2%, whole" that I'd expected, though, but rather, "house-made almond/coconut, soy, or cow's milk". Hearing "lait de vache" come across, with a slight prickliness to it, caught me off guard. (Of course I know milk comes from cows, but never when ordering a drink does that fact come to my attention.) I stumbled. I fumbled. "Regular, you know, um, milk." Herp de derp, smooth move, Katie. After tripping over my obviously non-vegan beverage order (callous carnivore as I am), I looked at the menu more closely and noticed that cow's milk carries an extra surcharge, and is indicated by a weepy broken heart on the chalkboard. I was tickled by their apparent display of ethics (and judgment?), and determined to try their lait maison the next time, so I could be a cool and compassionate coffee snob, too. I also noticed that their standard coffee was an Aeropress, which gets props from me (I love my home Aeropress), and also noticed the striking lack of other options on the menu. This is, uncontestedly, an espresso bar. A one-trick pony, perhaps, but that one trick is a showstopper. The latte set before me -- made with creamy dairy goodness stolen from the mouths of bleating calves at their mothers' teats -- was phenomenal. Perfectly balanced, not bitter in the least, and made with a perfect microfoam swirled into lovely latte art. Mmmmm. The next time at Pourquoi Pas, not even a week later, I tried their house almond and coconut milk, and was impressed. It made great foam, and had a rich but sweet nutty flavor. But, for all that, even with the added bonus of self-righteousness for not exploiting our bovine friends, I regretted not getting cowmilk. Sweet, delicious, calorific, uncompassionate cow's milk. I'll placate my conscious by imagining that the extra charge goes toward buying the most wonderful, single-origin, free-range, fair-trade, grass-fed, eco-conscious milk from the happiest cows in Quebec. Or one can hope. read more

Come for your caffeine fix, but that's all she wrote. Any place which serves you different beans based on you having either a black it white (milk) coffee is doing a good thing. The place itself is nice and obviously new, but I wasn't such a fan of the seating arrangements - it's very much a coffee bar, not a cafe, so don't come planning to spend a long time here. I was going to give this place 3 stars because they also have no food available (none at all!), but in the end I decided the coffee was good enough to warrant 4 stars. I ordered a flat white and it came out more like a piccolo latte, but maybe that's just an Australian opinion. This is the kind of place I wish I lived next to, so I could hit it up on the way work everyday. read more

Pourquoi pas? We ordered Americano and it tastes amazing. The atmosphere is very cozy and friendly. They have some magazines and books to read while you are in the coffeeshop. No muffins, no croissants, just amazing coffee. read more

Not fully convinced. We had a mint tea and a filtered coffee which were good, but not out of this world, and a bit expensive. Bonus point for the raw sugar though. The place itself is very cool, a bit hipster (all light wood and white walls, robot paintings for sale on the walls). But it was soooo silent when we went. Admittedly, it was on a weekday afternoon, there was only a few people and most were on their computers, but a bit of music would have been nice - we felt a bit weird actually having a conversation out loud. read more

I had an excellent latte and scone here. When I ordered the scone, the gentleman behind the counter asked, "Do you want me to 'eat it up for you?" Not sure why he wanted to eat the scone I just purchased... read more

Had the NICEST barista today!! He gave us vegan recommendations in Montreal, a free sample of their carrot cake & house milk. Such a great experience and amazing coffee :) read more

I really liked their cappuccino. It's a small cozy coffee shop. A lot of people were studying, the noise levels were pretty low when I went, on a Sunday in Spring. Would definitely visit again read more

Pourquoi Pas is hands down my favourite espresso bar in all of Montreal. They do everything right - from the source of their coffee beans to the way they make their coffee; the simple atmosphere of the store; and the welcoming personalities of every one of their owners and staff. To be honest, I would give them more than 5 stars if I could. It's no accident that their coffee is so well-made: the owners Tony and Tyler have a real passion for creating great coffee, and the quality of every cup of coffee matters to them in a personal level. They charge a pretty standard price for coffee. Each cup of coffee is topped off a nice little latte art as well (as shown in the photos). read more

Trying out thus place first time. Ordered two latte one of each of their daily espresso roast. Both I love. Friendly staffs here made a perfect latte with their house milk (mixed of coconut milk and almond ) very pretty latte art. Which made the latte looks and feels extra special. ^_^ Will definitely come back to this little place of heaven when I am back. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Lattes with house milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I normally don't post one star reviews but today's encounter was really off-putting. I visited this coffee shop twice. The first time, I was recommended a drink by a friendly male barista which was really delicious. I went back the next day and there was a female barista there. I asked her to make the same drink and she immediately goes off into a rant complaining about the male barista from yesterday and how he's making her do extra work, all the while telling me "I'm not mad at you" to justify her rant. She continued to rant in earshot as I drank my coffee, making me feel uncomfortable. Sorry, but I came here for the coffee, not the drama. Furthermore, there is only one person working both the cash register and the espresso machine which makes the line move very slowly. The whole experience left a sour taste in my mouth. read more

I was in the area, so I just stumbled onto this new place. Based on the name, I figured, why not? Once inside, it looked pretty nice and "cool" as a design. I had some tea and it was good. I feel like this would be a good place to hangout for younger people. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar is a great place in the village for anyone anyone that wants a great cup of coffee (They serve other stuff but their speciality is coffee). I came of couple of times before. This time I ordrered a Flat White, a hot cocoa and one of their homemade yogurt. The decor is standard for a coffee shop. Which means that you can either sit at a table, at the bar or closer to the big bay window giving a great view of Ahmerst. The service was laid back and professional. All of my questions were answered quickly and I was even asked some more. I was offered to either have my Flat White with home made almond milk, soy milk or with cow milk. All of the options were nice little options that made my experience even better. The coffee was obviously the star of the afternoon! I had a Flat White which was totally different from the one you can get at Starbucks. First it wasn't drowned in hot milk. Second, it tasted like actual coffee. Third it was totally delicous. My cocoa was also very good. It wasn't overly sweet and the cocoa tasted a bit like cinnamon. The yogourt was served with dried fruits. It was as delicious as it was healthy. Will I come back? For sure I will! read more

Still great to have the best coffee in the city. Was amazing to see that the book 300 Reasons to Love Montreal rated this café and the best coffee in Montreal. I love it. Back in town for the weekend. Going to see Queen and Adam Lambert at the Bell Centre in Montreal this coming Monday The new colors look great at the café! People always as nice. Keep it up! read more

What I like about Pourquoi Pas: - Serious espresso drinks - Delicious almond+coco milk - Friendly owners and baristas - Free wi-fi - Te Aro (Pilot) fresh beans on sale. Must try the ViIla Donia! ;) Enjoy! ^_______^ read more

Totally underrated in my opinion! One of the best cups of coffee I've had in MTL and the baristas are really friendly. I highly recommend trying their house-made coconut almond milk. Trust me, even if you hate almond milk in coffee (which I do) you will like this - it makes lattes super creamy and there isn't an intense fake almond milk flavour. They carry several flavours of kombucha, and some vegan treats as well. The vibe in here is super chill, it's decorated with plants and work from local artists on the walls. This is a good place to bring your laptop and work, or to just sit down and enjoy your drink. read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Latte with their house-made coconut almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We ordered a mocha latte and a cappuccino both were perfectly prepared. The cappuccino seemed a little bit more like an espresso I know it's not supposed to have much milk in it but this had a very small of milk in it. Yet it was so smooth and not acidic at all that it was very enjoyable. The mocha latte was perfect as well. Would definitely order both drinks again. They have a few tables inside with a different one right at the front window you do need to be careful so you don't fall off and get hurt. We couldn't get the Wi-Fi to work but it looks like other people were if we were staying longer were. Would have asked for assistance but we weren't staying that long. Definitely recommend. read more

This cafe is so homey. It's not the best place to show off on instagram but it gives such a homey vibe that I wanted to stay there all day. The barista was super knowledgable and helpful with what I should order. He was super talkative and it was nice to interact with such a friendly barista.They do change their blends all the time which is great if you love coffee as much as I do. There isn't that much seating so don't bring your whole study group here. They also sell Pilot beans in bags, thermoses and this really cool aero press coffee maker. read more

The soy latte I got was good if a bit too foamy. The lemon-berry bar was delicious. The space is cramped but the window seats overlook the street. The location is just off the Main Street through the Gay Village. And yes they have soy milk! read more

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar - Banana chocolate and lemon berry bars - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all