Olive & Gourmando: the Best Cafe in Montreal

On a rainy, cold Montreal autumn day, we met Kit (you may know her as Seek New Travel) & her traveling partner Nick at a warm, welcoming cafe in Old Montreal for lunch. The line was out the door at Olive & Gourmando, but we had been reassured (by Chris, aka Packed Suitcase ) that it was worth the wait.

Finally, we made our way up to the counter to order, marveling at all the delicious selections scrawled on a blackboard menu. An apple, ham & brie panini for me, a caramelized onion & goat cheese panini for B. The sandwiches didn’t take long to arrive, pipping hot & quite large. As we dug in, the restaurant buzzed around us: a business lunch happening next to us, a couple holding hands over a chaud chocolat, young professionals popping in for a muffin over their lunch break.

Stuffed from lunch, but unable to pass up the baked goods tempting us from behind the glass, we ordered up some sinful desserts: a lemon bar, so tart it tasted as if the lemon had just been picked from the tree, & a gooey, fudgey chocolate brownie. Along with handmade lattes & cappuccinos, it was the perfect ending to the meal.

Olive + Gourmando
351 Rue St-Paul O
Montréal, QC H2Y
(514) 350-1083
hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8am-6pm
(closed Sunday & Monday)