Café Olimpico

Very cheap and very friendly. Guys picked up on my buddy’s Buffalo Bills cap and proceeded to talk up the no huddle offense. Well done Canada. 5 out of 5 bearded baristas.

I came for the first time a few months ago. My experience was awful, but was back in Montréal at a friend’s place nearby and thought I needed to give the place another try since its rating is so high and pause seems almost universal. Unfortunately, this second experience perfectly reflected the first. The gentlemen working were cold, rude and condescending. Perhaps i should come back during the day instead of evening as they must have 4.5 stars for a reason, but I just can’t figure out how. Both times I’ve come here the staff behaved as if they were doing me a favour by even taking my order (last time they wouldn’t let me order unless I took my tea to go… 40 minutes before closing…). This time the person in front of me was also greeted with rudeness, so at least I feel less alone in my bad experience with this place. I’d love to say «third time’s a charm» but I think I’ve given up.

Worth the walk in freezing temps for warm café au lait and delicious chocolate pistachio biscotti. The staff was super friendly and they like to sing (on this particular morning 80s hits). This place is a like a bar with no booze. I want to chill here all day.

Really fun Italian café. Great coffee, equally great ambiance. Fabulous, real service. Décor (and the ceiling!) very cool. A true Italian Café in the Mile End district.
CASH ONLY!

Cute little coffee shop in the mile end. Prior to coming here, I’ve never understood why people called this place an coffee institution and upon arrival at the coffee shop, I couldn’t agree more.
It’s quite different from all the other indie coffee shops I’ve been to, Olimpico resembles a Italian bar/​coffee shop, frequent by people of all ages.
Now for the actual coffee: truly worth the hype. I had a cortado latte (introduced to me by my friend Ann) and it was probably one of the best coffee experiences I’ve had to date. If I dare to say, it may be even better than the latte I had at Dave’s coffee in San Fran.

Really good coffee joint that didn’t disappoint particularly having such a high reputation with the locals. Great taste, good pricing, fast and friendly service. All the fixings. I enjoyed my cappuccino so much that I even bought a bag of their coffee beans and have been grinding away at that bag over the last few months. 5 Stars!

I have only nice things to say about this café with exception of– I wish I lived closer to it! Perfect latte, in every way. The most delicious little donut. A long line that moved quickly. A good amount of seating both inside and outside, though I don’t know when is a good time to arrive for indoor seating because the place was packed when I was there. This place is going to make it hard to drink coffee anywhere else!

I went in tonight at 11:30pm to sit down for a quick cup of coffee. Seeing as they close at midnight, and there were half a dozen tables seated with full drinks, I thought I had time to sit down.
I was told they close in 10 minutes, not in 30. I asked if they stayed open until midnight. I was sarcastically told they close «whenever’, and «that’s just the restaurant business.»
Having worked in the restaurant business myself, there were some better ways to deal with this situation, none of which involve sarcastically snapping at the customer. He could have recommended to get my drink in a to-​go cup so I could leave with my drink if I wasn’t finished before they closed.
I my experience, we wouldn’t turn away customers if the restaurant was pretty full close to closing time.
I understand the staff wanting to go home after a long day, but it never justifies a snarky attitude.

This place is awesome! After stuffing my face full of Wilensky Specials down the road, I was in need of some rest and relaxation. It was unseasonably warm out, so the outdoor patio was perfect and the WiFi allowed me to check some emails on the go. They only take cash, but luckily I had enough on hand my for my friend and I to squeeze out a couple espresso drinks along with a modest tip. The tip was well deserved as the baristas are obviously getting high on their own caffeine supply. One of them was even singing along to DMX «Where my dogs at?» as though he himself was an aspiring Rough Rider. This prompted the waiting customers and other employees to respond with a resounding «Right here dog!».
DMX, Italian machismo, delicious espresso… what more could you ask for? Ride or Die bitches!

Great ambience — the staff are very friendly.
Nothing bad to say about this place.
I simple had a tea and a piece of tiramisu — which was yummy and so cute packaged!

Bön café et ambiance de feux ! Ce petit café de Quartier, vous mettra dans l’esprit du Mile End! De plus, il diffuse des Événements Sportif.

Stopped by here on my way for some fresh bagels and the coffee didn’t disappoint. What sticks out about this café and this neighbourhood is the very apparent culture in the way shops are set up, the way people act and dress, and the distinct attitudes of almost everyone. This place reeks of Montréal and it’s fantastic. So if you’re from out of town, waltz on by this place on a Sunday morning to do some people watching and make sure to stop by here for your coffee needs.

Avec le Pikolo, meilleur espresso en ville. Attention, ce n’est pas un endroit reposant! Événements sportifs diffusés en tout temps sur les nombreux écrans de la place, discussions animées entre habitués et visiteurs, décor qui sort de l’ordinaire (on se croirait dans un vestiaire de foot d’une équipe italienne) ! Super terrasse qui permet de profiter du soleil en se gâtant les papilles gustatives. À voir et surtout à savourer.

Awesome place with awesome staff and great espresso. I really liked this spot. Everyman type of coffee shop, cool but not pretentious. With the open windows on a beautiful September day made it even better. Also had a couple of TVs on with sports and news. Staff was very friendly and upbeat, made you feel welcome.

A classic in the Mile-​End.
Very friendly & knowledgable staff when it comes to anything coffee or coffee-​related. Lots of Italian specialities and a very tight-​knit, community-​oriented space. Always worth a visit in the area.

After 2 years in Montréal, I finally made it to Café Olimpico. I ended up going on what was quite possibly the hottest and most humid day in recent memory, so I ditched my usual latte, instead getting a delightful treat called a crema di caffè, which is something between an espresso mousse and espresso soft serve. Yum!
The atmosphere is lively, so this isn’t the place to get serious work done, but it’s perfect for an afternoon of people watching or catching up with friends.
I will definitely be back.

C est le meilleur endroit pour débuter ma journée
L ambiance est sympas
Les croissants tiède, le rock, jazz, le matin .
C est simplement bon
C est ½ heure de détente

Café Olimpico (@cafeolimpico) was opened back in 1970 and I’m sure there’s a reason why it remain so popular. This was another recommendation from friends as the best coffee in Montréal and it was only a few steps away from our lunch spot here, so just had to drop by.
As per their website :
Café Olimpico’s strong heritage and authenticity is mirrored by it’s house-​blend coffee that has remained a family’s secret recipe for nearly half a century. Our coffee offers a selected balance of Arabica coffee beans from Central and South America, roasted to perfection and brought together to give you an irresistibly smooth and sweet taste. Its fine aromas and intense flavours will be sure to tantalize your taste buds.
As I step inside I was totally taken aback form the huge line up but fortunately, it does move fairly quickly. With the huge tv, it’s perfect to hang out if you want to catch a game or hang out in their fairly large patio on warmer days. Plus they open until Midnight 7 days a week.
No fancy flashy coffee machine here, just the old sturdy block.
Cappuccino
~ We each got a cappuccino and this is was a fairly «old-​school» foamy version without the cute latte art. I found the foam/​milk to airy for me which resulted in a not as smooth creation as I prefer while the coffee/​espresso itself was slightly aromatic, I would prefer a darker roast.
~ On a side note, I also noticed that all coffee places in Montréal will ask if you want sugar in your espresso drink while none will ask here in Toronto and most other places I visited (maybe Montrealer like sweet coffees)
Verdict:
~ I would say it’s not my cut of coffee but I’m still glad I tried.
~ But would love to come back just for the atmosphere and since we didn’t get a chance to sit down this time.

awesomely great caffè at extremely ridiculous price just the way we like!
yes, service can be less than desired during high season but if you head there after work in the middle of fall season? no complaints whatsoever.
i wanted a freddo but they were out so settle for a cappuccino. with the perfect weather, the cold drink would have been better. anyway, caffè was luscious, silky smooth, no strong aftertaste and the little cloud of love? heaven! took it sugar free since i had a cinnamon brioche with it. perfect complement to the caffè. would have love a trou de beigne smores donut but they were out of that one.
loud r&b music in the evening though. if you’re planning for a quiet study night, better bring some headphones.
not a big fan of tv but then, its part of the italian caffè charm i guess. and free wifi. and ridiculous italian baristas banter about celebrities, sex and whatnot. what’s not to love?

What a great local coffee shop in Montréal. In a city located with tons of coffee shops and bakeries, Café Olimpico stands on top of my list.
Drinks:
— cappuccino made from fresh beans was really good
— café au let was delicious
Likes:
— it’s nice to see people hanging out watching the football games sober :)
— great place to hang out, drinking coffee and watching the games
— good assortment of hot beverages
— 4 to 5 TV’s with a large drop down projector
— barista staff is entertaining and friendly
— staple coffee shop in Montréal
— free wifi
— outdoor seating
Dislikes:
— a bit hot inside
— line to get a drink can get long especially on a Sunday afternoon
I would definitely come back!

Bonjour Montréal! I found this charming coffee place on a Unilocal search. Only one opened at 7am on a Sunday morning. Great croissants, amazing coffee. Oui, Madame! Ca va bien!
Super funny and charm, yes, the two super stars baristas… you guessed it right!
My only complaint: AC was too cold, when the outdoor temperature was chilly. Or maybe it was just me that still had the tropics running through my veins.
This place was so good, me and my friend came two days in a row.
I’m going to miss their coffee. And the Barista with the Salvador Dali mustache…

Meh! I’ve had good caffè experiences but let me tell you something. If you have not made it to Olimpico yet then your are missing out on genuine greatness — I mean it!
Paesan, after briefly waiting in line for a few minutes, distracted by the soccer jerseys and hockey banners, a masterfully prepared and aromatic cappuccino was laid down on the counter, just begging for me to enjoy. Without hesitation I proceeded to the best seats at this fine establishment, which in my opinion are the tall bar stools behind the granite counters facing out the street in the wide open patio windows. Here you can breathe in the fresh spring air and watch early risers walk on St-​Viateur street in the Mile End district for hours.
Here’s a secret tip for you… to avoid the line ups, come here on Saturday mornings! The hustle and bustle atmosphere is intoxicating with baristas calling and whistling at their guests, gorgeous donnas lining up for their preferred coffee to go, 80s tunes playing in the background, young parents with their bambinos chuckling along, regulars chatting across the coffee bar and bursting into passionate conversations next to the monstrous coffee machine, what’s there not to love?
Me I’m convinced in my brain that this place will be here for generations to come — that’s for sure. The talented baristas here serve great coffee, the people are friendly, the location is central. Sometimes we forget that the best things in life are simple and we should remind ourselves to stop and savor the moment.
Vince and Forde, molto grazie (thank you) for keeping it real and helping shape this Montréal institution for all to enjoy. Now I go to my next destination but I swear, I will come back, perhaps with my buddy Alessandro. Hope to see you again soon soon!

Café Olimpico represents a cornerstone of Mille end Montréal! Every great urban neighbourhood needs a great coffee bar/​hangout/​local establishment/​place to watch Habs games/​place to watch World Cup or Euro football.
Donald Trump is a fervent preacher of location… location…location! You can’t get a better street corner location in the heart of Mille End (quickly becoming one of my favourite neighbourhoods)!
On this fine spring day I came here after a lunch down the street and wanted to pop in for a Cap (Cappuccino) to go. Well, to my amazement game 2 of the second round playoffs of Habs vs. Bruins was on and the place was packed to the gills! With every move or mistake you could hear the crowd cheer or moan! Awesome atmosphere! The crowd was mostly men some sportin Canadiens Jersey’s some just looked like they woke up! Awesome energy!!! The corner café represents an important place in many people’s lives as it provides the fuel to keep many of us going!
Back to my cap, for $ 2.50 you can’t go wrong! Flavour is medium… not too strong. and even though I waited in line for a while it was well worth it! You don’t experience the feeling that you get at Café Olimpico at a Second Cup, Tim Horton’s or Starbucks! These mega corporations strive to bottle and sell what CO can deliver and exceed!
A true institution! Come by… you shan’t be disappointed!

Tres bon café. Ambiance relax. Prix abordable staff chill. Rien de superficielle. Excellent piur l’étude, discuter entre ami et meme rencontrer du nouveau monde !

Je suis entièrement #TeamOlimpico, bien que je me fasse souvent rabrouer par les fans du Club Social, un peu plus loin sur St-​Viateur.
On n’y va pas pour s’asseoir à l’intérieur, mais bien pour profiter de la grande terrasse où les gens sont assis côte à côte (parfait pour un bain de foule) ou sur notre chemin pour se promener dans le Mile End. La queue est toujours longue, mais elle rapetisse en un clin d’oeil tellement les baristas sont experts et rapides.
Les prix sont extrêmement bas, et le café, furieusement bon. Un incontournable du quartier.

Rares sont les commerces où l’on rentre et on sent immédiatement l’esprit communautaire d’un quartier. Ben, au Café Olimpico, c’est le cas! Un excellent lieu de rassemblement en été, sur la terrasse, comme en hiver, c’est un commerce qui exude la nature même de la communauté du Mile End.
Et le café? Malade! Leur latte fait facilement mon top 5 montréalais. Et à $ 2,50, comme l’émission le dit, «The price is Right»!
p. s. Amateur de foot? Ici, tu pourras écouter toute coupe et chaque match de l’Italie.

Un café classique du Mile-​End, bon latté abordable servi dans un verre. L’été vous avez une terrasse sur le côté. Sympa !

Je n’en reviens pas que personne ai écrit à propos de Café Olimpico en français! Je sais, je sais. Le café est dans un coin un peu plus anglophone de la ville, mais c’est quand même une institution du Mile End qui aide d’innombrables caféïnomanes à survivre!
La file a beau avoir l’air d’être très longue mais ça vaut la peine car elle passé très rapidement. Ils sont des experts en espresso donc ils sont facilement capables de préparer les boissons pour 5 à 6 personnes à la fois. C’est un café qui dégage tellement d’énergie, que simplement d’y entrer vous donnera un «boost» pour bien débuter votre journée.
Les cafés sont bons, les prix bas et même facile à mémoriser (2.50 $ pour un latte). Pour faire avancer les choses encore plus facilement, je recommande d’emmener la monnaie exacte.