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A complete guide to Laurier Ouest’s best cafés & pastry shops

Published on: August 9, 2025

By: Avenue Laurier Ouest

Cafés and pastry shops along Laurier Ouest in Montreal, featuring Parisian-style terraces, elegant tarts and mousses, cozy brunch settings, Italian espresso bars, and Lebanese-inspired baked goods.

On Laurier Ouest, caffeine is rarely served solo. Instead, it's paired with Italian sandwiches, Middle Eastern-inspired delicacies or a soft stack of waffles. The cafés in this Montreal neighbourhood put as much thought into their treats and meals as they do into their choice of beans. Interiors range from bright and spacious, built for long work sprints, to quaint and Parisian, made for delicate pastry runs. For weekdays when you’re in the mood to indulge in extravagant tarts or Monday mornings when you want to grab a cappuccino to go, here is a round-up of our favourite spots.

Pâtisserie Mélilot

Blue storefront of Pâtisserie Mélilot in Mile End, Montreal, with large windows and patrons seated inside
Hand holding a spoon over a decorated tart with edible flowers and poppy seeds on a pink glass plate at Pâtisserie Mélilot

When wandering down Laurier Ouest, Pâtisserie Mélilot is incredibly hard to miss—its bold blue exterior and bistro-style seating transport you to a slow-paced day in Paris. The bakery is run by a trio of chefs with fine-dining backgrounds, and it blossoms through their innovative tarts, floral mousses, decadent cookies and top-notch espresso. Though some of their creations are inspired by the seasons, others—like their signature melilot tart—stick around for the long haul. When the weather allows, their outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to savour every bite and every sip.

Toi, Moi et Café

Street view of Toi, Moi et Café with green patio railing, flower boxes, and a pedestrian walking by under the café’s black awning.
Hand holding half of a crusty baguette sandwich filled with chicken and greens, served with a fresh salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and radishes.
Hands holding a large cup of latte with heart-shaped foam art, resting on a white saucer atop a wooden table.
Close-up of the hanging sign for Toi, Moi et Café, showing a coffee cup logo, under a black-striped awning with leafy branches overhead.

A spot as versatile as its menu, Toi, Moi et Café isn’t limited to drip coffee and croissants. Think soups, salads, staple brunch picks and a variety of freshly brewed beverages, like a macchiato latte (don’t forget to ask for their unbelievably large biscotti). With salmon benedicts and berry waffles on the menu (plus an unbelievable assortment of cakes to choose from), this all-day café is a go-to local joint for a reason. Its large, casual interior makes it ideal for getting work done, catching up with a friend or settling in with your next current read.

Café Novanta

Barista wearing glasses and a blue shirt preparing coffee at an espresso machine inside a café with exposed brick walls and shelves of coffee bags.
Hand holding a small red espresso cup in front of Café Novanta’s black sign and red patio umbrellas.
Close-up of a barista’s hands steaming milk with a stainless steel pitcher at an espresso machine.
Foamy cappuccino topped with cocoa powder served in a bright red cup and saucer with a small spoon and sugar packet.

Café Novanta keeps it classic—fresh paninis, breakfast bagels, Italian espresso and a selection of sweet treats (cannolis included, of course). Less focused on trends and mostly set on keeping their praised americano as perfect as can be, Novanta balances great coffee with an even better crowd. Inside, you’ll find exposed brick, casual wood tables and a handwritten board. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming to both regulars and out-of-town visitors. Fair warning—enter for a cortado and you may end up leaving with an assortment of Italian pantry staples.

Maison Halwa

A metal tray filled with rectangular pastries topped with piped cream, crushed pistachios, whole pistachios, and dried rose petals.
Sunlit interior of a bakery with green-trimmed door and windows, bench seating with green pillows, and small round tables by the entrance.
A white frosted layer cake decorated with fresh pastel roses, greenery, and silver sugar pearls, placed on a white cake board.
A smiling woman in an orange skirt and black tank top holding a takeaway cup, standing outside Halwa Pâtisserie.

With a focus on fresh, new creations that you can’t find anywhere else in the city, Maison Halwa holds strong to its Lebanese roots while uniquely incorporating modern and local flavours. On rotation: orange-cardamom cheesecake, za’atar focaccia sandwiches, sweet sumac palmiers and limited-time specials like pistachio baklawa croissants. Their drink menu goes beyond the usual, though you’ll still find delicious matcha, lattes and hot chocolate—we recommend trying their specialty beverages like the vanilla-rose latte or Lebanese lemonade. Maison Halwa is the kind of place that feels like home, only sweeter.

Tags:

PastryFrenchCoffeeRestaurant