MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Wed Oct 15, 2008, 3:00am Subject: Going to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa!
Hey CoffeeGeekers in La belle province, and in Ottawa - I'm planning a trip to Montreal for early November, then 2 days in Quebec City, then four days in Ottawa, and I'm looking for
a) good cafes to visit b) recommendations on good shops to check out in Montreal for fashion, cool "Montreal" things, etc c) dinners at night (let's organize some group dinners out!) d) good clubs to check out, for dancing, lounging, etc (for those of us over 30 lol)
The above is mainly Montreal, but also for Quebec City and even Ottawa, my old home town (which is no doubt completely changed!).
Please respond to this thread, or email me at coffeekid at gmail dot com. I'd love to hang out with anyone who's really into quality coffee and who knows all the cool places to eat and socialise.
Cafe veritas is more the modern euro design... feels more like a restaurant than a cafe, and has the common Synesso and ever present 49th Parallel Epic in the hopper..
On the other hand, I think Gamba is a bit more interesting... More comfortable upholstered seating, retro Faema E61 replica machine, two daily espresso choices with two grinders (and NO decaf)... JF Leduc owner and barista (4th place Eastern Canada Champion) stocks about a dozen espresso blends from various North American (and some European) roasters in bags and even bulk.
Of course, Anthony Benda considered one of the best baristas in the city left Veritas to open his new shop, Cafe Myriade some time this month or so on Ma: check for more info: http://espresso-myself.ca/
Best restaurants in Montreal include Toque and Au Pied de Cochon. Pricey though, but you didn't state budget. Bunch of fun, loud restaurants on St-Laurent near Sherbrooke that are great for large parties with lots of eye candy.
For men's fashion in Montreal I like Boutique Mens and Holt Renfrew for the best in current fashion. The owner of Mens also runs a Hugo Boss (red label) store nearby.
Some great boutique hotels in Montreal include: Hotel Gault (old montreal), Opus on Sherbrooke/St. Laurent. The W Hotel is one of the nicest W I have ever stayed in.
As for restaurants in Quebec, the best I have been to include Panache and Laurie-Raphael. Quebec City has some great boutique hotels in the lower village (basse-ville), which is a great place to stay especially in the fall. They include Hotel 71, Dominion 1912, and Auberge Saint-Antoine. In terms of cafes, I don't recall finding any great espresso on my last trip last October.
Enkerli Senior Member Joined: 1 Aug 2004 Posts: 711 Location: Montreal, Qc Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: (At cafés, not at home) Grinder: Hario hand grinders Vac Pot: (Moka Pot) Bialetti Brikka Drip: Steep and release pour-over Roaster: iRoast-2
Posted Thu Oct 16, 2008, 7:38am Subject: Hanging Out in Montreal
It'd be really fun to gather Montreal's coffeegeek community to do at least a coffee jam if not a more extended Montreal-style fun-fest. One thing we haven't really done as a group, yet, but which can be quite fun is to do a pubcrawl-style "café crawl." Sample itinerary: Caffè Italia, Olimpico, Caffè in Gamba, ArtJava, Veritas, and Myriade. With a bus pass, this can all be pretty easy. We might mix in a few brewpubs/beerpubs here and there (especially Vices & Versa, Dieu du ciel, and Benelux). Mark, I know you also enjoy beer and Montreal's beer scene is somewhat linked to the coffee scene. For dinners, there's obviously a whole lot of options. If you have something specific in mind, it'd be very easy to give you recommendations. For danceclubs and shopping, others are probably better at making recommendations. My broad piece of advice is to make sure you don't limit yourself to the English-speaking part of town.
lsf Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Montréal Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Oct 18, 2008, 8:40pm Subject: Re: Going to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa!
Hi,
I would add to your list "Café Union" on Jean Talon street at the west of St-Laurent. They don't serve mind blowing espresso but they roast their coffee and have some good blends. One of the best place to buy fresh coffee in Montréal. Otherwise, I cannot add anything to others' suggestions about coffee.
My opinion is that you can hardly come to montreal without visiting the "Marché Jean-Talon". There are some really nice shops with good products. "Le marché des saveurs du Québec" houses a great range of alcool. You will find there a great selection of Quebec's micro-brewery beers as well as some really nice liquor. The one made with cassis (monet et ses filles) is just amaising. I defenitly recommend too that stop by "Dieu du ciel" to sample the home brewed beers (Laurier Street a bit passed St-Laurent). The best so far I found in Montréal.
For the food, I could recommend that you visit the "Dragon Rouge" on Lajeunesse street. It's a restaurant with a medieval atmosphere. For about 30$, you'll have good food, good beer, listen to music played by real troubadour and laugh at the staff jokes.
So that pretty much sums it up. Hope you enjoy some of those places. Let us know if you plan to do something with Montréal coffee community.
Jhn Senior Member Joined: 2 Nov 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Montreal Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: LaPavoni Pro - Rancilio... Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Posted Sun Nov 2, 2008, 7:57pm Subject: Re: Going to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa!
Hi Mark, First time poster, but I've been a long time lurker...
I don't know if your Montreal trip is already planned, but here are some restaurant recs to add to your list:
Wine bars: Pullman Bouchonné 3 petits bouchons Bu
Upscale joints: La montée de lait Brontë L'épicier (if you're in staying in the Vieux) Leméac (50% off on the tasting menu after 10pm) L'express Tapéo (if you're around the Jean Talon Market Area)
If any of you guys are planning a "café crawl" I'd love to be part of it depending on the date. I have yet to go see the Kes Van Der machine at myriade so it would be a good reason to go.
ChrisBisson Senior Member Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Ottawa, On/Goose Bay, Labrador Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Nuova Simonelli Grinder: Nuova Simonelli
Posted Wed Nov 5, 2008, 4:24pm Subject: Re: Going to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa!
Best place in Ottawa, hands down is Umi Café.
The baristas are very friendly and most are very skilled. The coffee is from a locally based co-op and all the coffee is roasted in Hull. Bridgehead used to be my favourite, but this is my new favourite place.
Another decent place is Francesco's in the Glebe, and of course there is Bridgehead is all-right. The coffee is consistent, but it does not leave a wow. It has also become way too corporate. Fair trade is one thing, but a neoLiberal institution still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Co-operatives and independent cafés gets rid of that greasy feeling of getting a coffee.
espresso_obsession Senior Member Joined: 6 Aug 2008 Posts: 76 Location: Halifax Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Nov 5, 2008, 6:39pm Subject: Re: Going to Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa!
So, can we expect a detailed review of the cafes of Montreal or will you rate the espresso among the new shops. Certainly, with the most recent arrival of Myriade, there are now quite a number of great cafes to enjoy espresso in Montreal as you have highlighted on your flickr site. They are all so different and gives the residents and tourists of Montreal quite a choice.
I hope to experience Myriade myself in almost a week.
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