49th Parallel Micro-Torréfacteur Cafe opens its doors in Montreal at its first ever location outside of British Columbia in the summer of 2021. Finding and creating this space was a long, occasionally challenging but always interesting process that took over a year to complete!
The space itself, its location in the heart of Old Montreal and the building’s history were an obvious draw. This was a labour of love from all the people involved in the project, from the contractor to the designer – everyone came together to preserve the charm of the old building with its exposed 100 year old bricks and stone masonry while bringing it to life with a sleek retro design.
Our fourth Café features the 49th coffee everyone knows and loves, Lucky’s donut menu revamped with reimagined Quebec classics and a full kitchen featuring breakfast egg burgers and seasonal brunch offerings (coming soon).
Overall, reviews of the café known as 49th Parallel Café Lucky's Doughnuts describe a popular Old Montreal spot with strong coffee and a tempting pastry selection, especially its donuts which are large, indulgent, and often delicious, though some customers find them too sweet, dry, or pricey. Coffee quality ranges from well brewed, single origin and smooth to burnt or inconsistent, with reports of pastries not being fresh or stock from previous days. The atmosphere is repeatedly praised as cozy, stylish, and conducive to work or catching up with friends, with reliable wifi and ample seating, but crowding or loud music can detract. Service receives mixed feedback: friendly and efficient at times, sometimes slow or brusque, and a few disappointments with staff interactions. Location in Old Montreal is a draw, and reviewers linger for long stays or grab quick takeout. Overall, it is a beloved yet pricey destination that excels in donuts and ambiance more than uniform value across visits.
First time here today & Alex the manager is a super star! & His staff is super friendly & professional. I recommend this place for any time of day the sweets are phenomenal as Is the coffee.
Nice cozy cafe. I like the seating arrangement. There are some nice tucked-away tables in the corners around the cafe, less distraction.
I ordered a mocha to go. Unfortunately, it wasn't sweet enough to my liking. At first, I thought all the syrup was at the bottom & that the barista hadn't swirled/mixed thoroughly with the steamed milk... Alas, nothing there either. Tasted more like a regular latte. Also, not sure what the latte art design was supposed to be.....
Service was meh. Girl at the counter was very professional & helpful. The baristas making the drinks however were too busy chit-chatting with each other & not making any effort to acknowledge their customers. Simply called out the names & left the drinks on the counter without eye contact or greeting them.
I didn't try the donuts but I passed by the pastries & saw some really fancy-looking ones. Might have to give them a try next time I come back.
Mar 28, 2026
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Really nice coffee shop with solid drinks & a good selection of treats. The coffee was good, & I appreciated that they also offer matcha. They have a nice variety of donuts & pastries, which all looked fresh & tempting. Overall, a pleasant spot to grab a drink & something sweet.
Came with kids for quick snack & coffee. The baked doughnuts were not too sweet & the kids loved it. Lots of sets to sit & have a chat & take a break. Does not offer pour over. But their filter & americano were pretty good. Would come again for a coffee break if we're in the area.
49th Parallel came through with donuts so big they could probably qualify as real estate. I thought I was grabbing a quick sweet tooth snack, but one donut was enough to feed my whole family tree. Size aside, they're actually really good... like really good: fluffy, sweet, & worth every bite.
I paired mine with a regular coffee. Coffee was… fine. Standard fuel, nothing to write home about. The donut definitely stole the show.
I almost went for takeout until I saw those paper bags. Let's just say me vs. giant donut in a tiny paper bag would've been a public anger-management seminar, so I opted to sat down dine-in instead. Good call! the café has solid wifi, nice atmosphere, & I didn't have to battle pastry packaging.
Prices lean on the higher side, especially for coffee, but honestly, the donuts make it worth it. If you're in Old Montreal & want to test your sweet tooth stamina, this is the spot.
Relaxed vibe & friendly staff. The glazed donut was crispy on the outside & soft inside. Loved the maple coffee too - smooth & just the right amount of sweetness. Great spot to unwind.
The doughnuts here are really good. They're kind of like a rice dough, soft & chewy with a thin layer of frosting. Best to eat there a of you touch it or if it touches the bag, the frosting rubs off so easily & it's less sweet & less enjoyable. I've come several times. They also have a great ambiance to work, wifi, & good drinks. Service is more on the friendly, casual side.
Jul 22, 2025
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Fantastic Coffee & Cozy Atmosphere at 49th Parallel!
I recently visited 49th Parallel, & it was an incredible experience from start to finish! The moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile & the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The atmosphere is cozy & inviting, perfect for catching up on work, reading a book, or meeting friends.
I tried the flat white coffee, & it was absolutely perfect-smooth, rich, & expertly crafted with a velvety texture. Along with it, I had a choco caramel donut, which was the perfect balance of sweet & indulgent. The combination of the creamy coffee & the decadent donut made for an amazing treat.
The staff was friendly & knowledgeable, happy to recommend drinks based on my preferences. The attention to detail in both the drinks & the customer service really stood out.
If you're looking for a great coffee spot, I highly recommend 49th Parallel! I'll definitely be coming back.
I really like this café & try to visit on weekends to enjoy their coffee. They use single-origin beans, which makes for a high-quality brew. However, I find the donuts a bit too sweet. If the sweetness was slightly reduced, they would be absolutely perfect!
The coffee & sweets are of good quality. Personally, I like bright places, & this place is as brightly lit in the evening as it is during the day. I will visit again.
Jan 25, 2025
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A vibrant & quite energetic looking cafe, i went looking for some donuts & found some really great looking ones here. The staff was okay, straight to the point, i got my donut & left, eager to eat it once i got home just a mere walk away. I realised though, that the donut's icing was quite.. moist? For lack of better word, & the fact that its put into a paper bag foretold a disaster! & as was foretold, the donut did not intend to provide me with a satisfying experience, as pictured. I tasted the icing though, & it was sweet! It would have been really good if it wasn't... like this. I tried a bit of the donut as well & it was already quite stale. Perhaps this was never meant to be a good experience to begin with :( a true shame. I would have loved to try their other flavours at the time but it was already empty at around 3pm. Would have given another chance if i were still in montreal
Top coffee & donuts, staff is real friendly, probably one of the best places downtown. I really like the Venezuelan coffee, it's a bit sweet but a must in my opinion. The food is pricey I find but it never disappoints. The donuts & croissants are standouts. The atmosphere is great, lots of room to sit & it's very clean. Definitely a must for downtown coffee drinkers, there's a lot of good options & this one of the best.
The donuts were awesome. The sandwich was amazing. I find it very hard to find a decent apple fritter as most places either make it wrong, burn it, or don't cook it enough so it ends up being raw in the middle. This place nailed it & not only that but throw some bacon on top & it's the perfect sweet & savory combination. I only wish I had more time to visit there. They did a bang up job on the coffee as well. Very friendly staff. I cannot recommend this place enough.
We stopped by for a quick bite for breakfast/brunch. They only have a few items for dining, but it was still worth the visit. The coffee was fantastic, & the breakfast items (mainly breakfast sandwiches) were yummy. The donuts were also delicious: perfectly soft & not too sweet. They were also massive! We saw them being made fresh in-house. The space is bright & airy with a decent amount of seating, but it can get busy. There was a line when we went, but it moved fairly quickly.
On a cold winter morning, I decided to order a hot chocolate here. I also took the opportunity to taste their vegan donuts. They have assorted flavours (matcha, rainbow sprinkles, red fruits & flowers, sprinkled candy, triple chocolate, vanilla). I'm so delighted, the vegan donuts are also gluten-free! They are baked instead of fried. The glaze is sooo sweet, it feels heavy to eat these for breakfast. 😵💫 The hot chocolate came out with pretty latte art. 😍 However, my throat felt scorched dry for the rest of the day after drinking it. 🔥 I suspect the roasted cacao to be the culprit.
