Some trips are all about ticking destinations off the list. Others are about the people you meet, the connections you make and what you learn along the way. The French word for memory is souvenir, and it feels especially fitting for the Mazda Coffee Tour in Montréal. From meeting local business owners and learning the art of coffee design to discovering some of the city’s most iconic eateries, the itinerary offered a fresh perspective on the city and the people who bring it to life. Over shared cups and new experiences, language barriers faded, and connections came naturally.
Coffee Culture: The Mazda Coffee Tour in Montréal
We immersed ourselves in the neighbourhoods and embraced the variety of cultural influences on everyone’s favourite cup. The city is a borough of very different neighbourhoods, all leaning into its unique heritage and local ethnicities. Like most North American cities, you’ll find pockets that feel like a portal to another place.
Mazda CX-90 in Saint-Henri within Les Quartiers du Canal.
But this city is so different from NYC or Toronto. Thom Seivewright, founder of Montreal Expert, walked us through some of the city’s history. “Montréal’s cafés, like its neighbourhoods, each have their own vibe, their own community, and their own specialities. Every stop on this route offers a different perspective on the city and the people who shape it, revealing the stories, cultures, and connections that have defined these communities for generations. The Mazda Coffee Tour brings that to life, one cup, one neighbourhood, and one drive at a time.”
Café Olimpico boasts four neighbourhood locations built for lingering.
Shaped by French, British, and, of course, Canadian influences, Montréal has evolved into a city with a uniquely layered character; some might say main character energy. Each era has left its mark, creating a city that feels like a constant evolution of cultures, architecture and attitudes, all coexisting in a way that is distinctly Montréal.
But where to begin?
La Cave à Manger in Old Montréal is a family-run eatery and depanneur that features a bit of French everything!
We charted our path, led by the built-in maps in our fleet of Mazda CX-70s and Mazda CX-90s. If you’ve driven in Montréal before, then you might understand a little more of the city’s character. Beyond the no-right-turns-on-red rule, we revelled in the real-time notifications and roadwork updates brought to life on the dashboard. Navigating Montréal is an experience in itself, where historic streets, bustling intersections and ever-evolving construction make a little local guidance go a long way.
Owned by brothers Tony and Tom Argiropoulos, Alphabet Café offers nouveau takes on classic coffee creations.
☕ The Mazda Coffee Tour: A Suggested Itinerary☕
- Café Olimpico– Mile End – A Montréal institution since 1970. With four distinct cafés, Italian coffee culture comes to life at each distinct outpost.
- Alphabet Café (Mile End) – This luxe café introduces Greek coffee traditions with creative speciality coffees with Mediterranean influences.
- Café Saint-Henri (Mile-Ex) – Québec’s very first micro-roaster and a pioneer of Montréal’s speciality coffee movement. Coffee nerds adore the hands-on coffee workshop with Breville.
- Arthurs (Saint-Henri) – A local favourite known for its deli-style approach to comfort food, and queues around the block in any weather.
- La Cave à Manger (Old Montréal) – A family-run café celebrated for its exceptional baked goods and affogato in limestone-walled Old Montréal.
- Café Social B Hive (Griffintown) – Part community hub, part live music venue, this space is as energetic as the coffees and cocktails it makes.
Learn beyond bean basics at the never-boring Café Saint Henri.
The Mazda Coffee Tour is built around a simple idea: coffee and cars are both vehicles for connection. One brings people together. One brings neighbourhoods closer. Getting safely out of the downtown core and engaging in communities is a splendid way to learn about the city as we explored. Driving can be stressful, particularly in a new city, but with all the safety inclusions, like Blind Spot Monitoring, Smart Brake Support and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, I was sitting pretty, both as a passenger and driver.
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Barista classes at Café Saint Henri unlocked new fine motor skills. Guests and coffee nerds like me can book Latte Art and more to hone their skills at home. The sensory activity guided us to honour our individuality, engaging with each step with purpose and intrigue. Breaking bread at beloved institutions like Arthurs only deepened our love for the city.
Arthurs is a destination for pancakes, smoked meats and fresh juices.
We saved Café Social B Hive in Griffintown for our last stop. The energetic space operates at its own pace, buzzing from morning to night with everyone from local politicians to impromptu paint-and-sip crowds. Owners Mazen and DJ/producer Jares (Mo) set out to create an eclectic gathering space, bringing music, people and coffee together through a concept shaped by Mazen’s roots in Beirut. The result is a place that feels less like a traditional café and more like a community hub with a personality all its own.
While fall supplied the perfect backdrop, Montréal is a perfect city to unravel, one road at a time, anytime.
Thank you, Mazda Canada, for the invitation. Learn more about the CX-90 and the Mazda Canada fleet here.
All images by Libby Roach.