The days are getting shorter, students are moving back into their rooms in shared apartments on the Plateau, it’s the start of apple season—it’s back-to-school time. And this back-to-school season, like all of them, is going to be delightfully serious.
The first thing we do to get ready for the new school year is make a list of our favorite coffee shops.
Montreal has plenty—maybe even too many—cafés. There are the big cafés with velvet couches and stainless-steel mugs, the small cafés with bamboo stools and ceramic mugs you can buy afterward, the cafés where the chairs creak, the cafés that are sort of like restaurants because the sandwiches cost $30. You can get a matcha with nitro foam every 800 meters.
But what always seems to be missing in Montreal are the cafes where you can bring your laptop to work.
THE PRETTIEST CAFÉS IN MONTREAL FOR WORKING ON A LAPTOP
CREW COLLECTIVE CAFÉ
For those writing a play or working on their Ph.D., we recommend the Crew Collective. It’s one of the most beautiful cafés in Montreal, right in the heart of the Old Port neighborhood and located in a stunning building—the former headquarters of the Royal Bank of Canada.
The vibe is a little college-like, a little cool, like in a 1980s New York indie film.
The café has 100 seats, each equipped with an electrical outlet. Plus, we can rent a bench or a conference table in another area of The Crew (which members have access to) for our more formal meetings.
Where?Crew Collective & Café, at 360 Saint-Jacques Street
When?Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. / Sunday and Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What? Coffee—no reservation required / Workspaces—$20 daily pass, $15 afternoon pass, meeting room $45/hour
OSMO X MARUSAN
For those who don’t like working in silence, we recommend OSMO x Marusan. There’s alwaysan excellent playlist, plenty of students cramming for group projects at the last minute, and purists staring into space while munching on asandwich.
There’s free Wi-Fi, you can work on your laptop, and for a(not-too-serious)meeting, the large tables under the skylight are pretty much perfect. In the summer, you can even work on the patio…
Where?Café OSMO x Marusan, at 51 Sherbrooke Street West
When?Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What?No reservations?
CAFÉ PAPER HILL
For bookworms and the coolest girls we know, Café Paper Hill is perfect for working and reading a book with a signature latte or a black coffee.
It makes you want to go there to work with a very chic notebook, put on a little scarf, and go there to think, or to do research for your thesis. It’s also a great café for group work.
Where? Café Paper Hill, at 1030 Saint-Alexandre Street
When?
Monday–Tuesday / 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Wednesday–Thursday–Friday / 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday / 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
What? No reservations?
SAVSAV
For those who like to work as if they were at home, but without having to answer to anyone, and for those who like to think while looking out the window, we recommend SavSav.
In addition to the restaurant’s ultra-cool architecture, ultra-cool menu, and ultra-cool music, it’s one of the most pleasant places to work because of its large windows that let in just the right amount of sunlight.
Where? SavSav, at 780 Brewster Avenue
When?Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What? No reservations?
