Your Key To A Caffeinated Itinerary in Montréal 

Some people use coffee to wake them up.  Not me.  It is hard to believe that for the first 30 years of my life I never drank coffee (or very occasionally).  But now it is a different story:I enjoy ¨good¨ coffee but not served in a paper cup. I need a nice cup, a beautiful location and if possible a design on my foam! I recommend it as a reason to visit our beautiful city. Here is your caffeinated itinerary! 

Coffee: A reason to visit our beautiful city! 

Day 1: Take the metro to Jean-Talon Station and head over to Café Larue & Fils.  This is a cozy, friendly, neighbourhood café.  Their cappuccinos are some of my favourites in town! 

Just a few blocks south, you will find the famous Jean-Talon Market.  If the weather is nice, pick up a baguette, some paté, a great local cheese, fresh fruits and follow the path from the market to Shamrock Square.  Relax and enjoy your lunch sitting on a swing. 

If the weather is not agreeable, perhaps a visit to Marché des saveurs, one of Quebec’s finest artisanal food shops, for some delicious jam, ice wine, maple syrup and other local specialties and enjoy them back home.  

www.facebook.com/caffedellavia/ 

Day 2: Your excuse for shopping! Try the latte at Toi Moi Café on beautiful Laurier. I always go for the bowl… a huge one! Laurier avenue is a paradise for local and high end boutiques as well as great restaurants.  Established in 1995, Toi Moi Café was a pioneer in the fair-trade commerce.  

www.bistrotoimoicafe.com 

Next, head over to the hip and artsy neighbourhood of Mile-End and here you will find the Arts Café.  I love how they serve desserts in different color plates.  On the weekend, they serve a great brunch, but you must arrive early as they fill up very quickly. 

Finally, you cannot leave Fairmount Street without tasting a Fairmount bagel.  Even astronaut Greg Chamitoff took the famous products to space during the mission STS-124 in 2008!  

www.artscafemontreal.com  

http://fairmountbagel.com/bagel-in-space.php 

Day 3: You do not need an excuse to visit old Montreal as it is a must when visiting Montreal.  Our hotel happens to be located conveniently at the gateway of downtown and Old Montreal so you simply cannot miss it.  On the charming St-Paul cobblestone street, you will find the fancy version of a convenience store. They called it Le Petit Dep (dépanneur being convenient store in French) and the latte is excellent there! 

However, if you are visiting Montreal for work (sadly it happens…), I recommend La Finca or Crew café for your coffee break.  For just a few dollars, you can use one of the private cubicles for you and your colleagues and even hold a small meeting.  At La Finca, all the pastries and baked goods are made on-site.  Another popular spot for local office workers is the Café Différance.  It is located really close to our hotel and serves great coffee; however, they have just a few seats and it is always crowded, so not really a place to relax, but rather a grab and go coffee shop.  

www.lafinca.ca 

www.crewcollectivecafe.com 

www.cafedifferance.ca 

I hope to see you soon at the InterContinental Montreal.

Meet the Author
Chantal Beaudoin

Chantal Beaudoin has been a passionate concierge for more than15 years. After obtaining a degree in Communications, Chantal stepped into the tourism industry as a tour guide on sightseeing cruise boats and an event supervisor at the Montreal Olympic stadium. In 2002, upon a friend’s suggestion that he could easily see her as a concierge, Chantal, curious by nature, investigated about that profession and decided that it would suit her perfectly. Chantal started her hospitality career at the Montreal Crowne Plaza where she fell in love with the concierge profession and two years later, she joined the Hilton Hotel where she served her guests for more than12 years. In 2010, she was chosen among hundreds of candidates across the country to be the Workopolis Ambassador during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Since July 2016, she proudly represents the Montréal InterContinental Hotel. Chantal was the Regional Vice-Director of Les Clefs d’Or Canada from 2015 to 2016. Her passion: food. Her addiction: travelling. Her goal: make her guests happy.

InterContinental Montréal

The perfect blend of intimate boutique hotel atmosphere and the peerless service of a luxurious Four-Diamond hotel, the InterContinental Montréal offers the best of both worlds.  Elegantly overlooking the international business area with its 26-storey turret, the hotel is located above the Montreal World Trade Centre between Old Montreal and the business district - ideally positioned for a business trip or cultural getaway!   Osco! : Warmth, elegance and mouth-watering flavors are always on the menu at Osco!  True to his Occitan roots, our Chef Matthieu Saunier offers a menu full of sunshine, including creamy risotto dishes and delicious grilled steaks.  And of course, fine cuisine isn’t complete without fine wine!  The Osco! wine cellar consists of around 600 hand-picked bottles, including a large assortment of enticing private imports and wines made in organic and biodynamic wineries.   Sarah B. This atmospheric absinthe bar is inspired by, and named after, the divine Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), the queen of the French tragedy.  The Sarah B. will no doubt be a favourite meeting place for business or for pleasure.  You will discover Sarah’s cocktails, as well as a variety of flavourful Provencal hors-d’oeuvres.  For intimate occasions, reserve the Green Fairy alcoves and you too, will be charmed by Sarah Bernhardt.  

www.montreal.intercontinental.com

+1 514-987-9900

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