Anticafe Montreal- best place in Montreal to work, study or chill. Coffee shop concept upside-down. You only pay for the time you spend inside, everything else comes free! Coffee, large selection of tea, snaks, fruits and veggies, break, condiments, bowl of rice... Everything is free. You pay 4$ for the first hour, 2$ every hour after, maximum 12$ for the day. We take care of the rest. You get a great view of Place Des Arts square with endless festivals, concerts and events. We are 200 steps away from the metro Place Des Arts. This is a fantastic place for students to study, for self-employed to do some work, and for others to chill and enjoy a coffee or tea, while looking at Place Des Arts, or reading a book, playing chess or take a nap
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Anticafé Montreal offers a unique pay-by-the-hour concept with unlimited coffee, tea, and snacks, plus a range of rooms and cozy decor that make it easy to study or work while staying comfortable. The atmosphere is welcoming and notably friendly for students, with comfortable seating, good views, and helpful staff, but some reviews note that the space can get loud for conversations and that service can be slow at times, and that for a short visit it may feel pricey compared to a traditional cafe; overall it stands out as a flexible space that blends cafe and coworking, attracting those seeking focus with plenty of refreshments close at hand.
I went there for about an hour & ended up paying $10 because they didn't have change, even though it's supposed to be $7.50 per hour.
The place is very dusty… it looks like it hasn't been properly cleaned in months. The air quality is also poor, likely because the building is quite old. I found it hard to breathe while I was there.
As for snacks, the options are very basic: plain toast (no butter or cheese, just jam & peanut butter), some stale chips, & instant noodles.
I won't be going back. For the same $10, I'd rather spend time & work in a nice café where I can stay longer & enjoy a cleaner, more comfortable environment.
I absolutely adore Anti-café & everyone who I've recommended it to does too!
I've been going for the past four years pretty consistently, & I am obsessed with the place & the concept.
For about 22$ a day (or hourly rate up until 5h) you can have unlimited tea, coffee & snacks + access to a kitchen for hummus, pancakes, & grilled cheese.
The design is also so fantastic & fantasy coded! I feel like I fell down the mad hatter's coffee shop. The bathrooms are awesome, & they have so many plants :3
They have also a ton of activity, like drawing, movies, & board games, among many others! You can also play a vintage Pac-Man game upstairs.
It can get crowded & loud, especially when big groups have activities planned, but I still really enjoy the place.
Overall I think this is so worth the price. I recommend it to anyone looking for a cram sesh!
May 3, 2026
on Google
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The second floor has mice, the food is Dollarama chip/cookies, the place is overall dirty. They expect us to clean our own plates & silverware & on top of that they make us pay 🤣... The girl with the nose piercing brings all her friends & they are loud & annoying around people who try to work & study. Unprofessional & not worth it. Farewell 👋
Le barista nous a accueilli en anglais alors que nous l'avions tous salués en français. Il dit qu'il parle français mais quand il baragouine des explications on ne comprend absolument rien. C'est comme s'il répétait une formule par coeur sans en comprendre le sens. Nous étions incrédules car nous avions l'impression d'entendre un language extraterrestre. Il était gentil, mais pourquoi avoir une personne qui ne parle pas la langue officielle au service à la clientèle….
Wow, juste wow! L'ambiance est très chill & le concept est vraiment intéressant: on paye a l'heure, café & snacks a volonté! & c'est super raisonnable comme tarif. Vraiment une belle place.
We had a bad experience here. I brought a large writing group here & encountered a staff who was off-putting, hostile, & made several of our members uncomfortable. I had to accompany one to the kitchen because she felt uncomfortable with him around. When it was time to pay, he overcharged the price. Then, he attempted to provide a lower amount to refund.
It's an interesting concept & the drinks were not bad, but I will never come back again.
Used to be a regular, but won't be returning. The staff's floor management is unprofessional & disrespectful to solo workers. I was'instructed' to move out of a quiet room with zero explanation, only to see a group (who clearly didn't have a prior booking) rushed into the space immediately after. I was displaced to a loud, unusable area just because a larger group arrived. If you're looking for a guaranteed place to focus, go elsewhere-this place prioritizes the loudest group over paying individual customers.
Cet endroit est spirituellement dérangeant. Si vous tenez à préserver votre lumière que vous soyez en Jésus Christ ou pas, n'y allez pas. Ou si vous le découvrez hasardeusement, ressortez direct. Je n'ai aucun problème avec le personnel de l'endroit & d'ailleurs ils devraient démissionner. Il y'a des choses dans la vie qu'il ne faut simplement pas faire, voir ou découvrir. À bon entendeur…
Dec 20, 2025
on Google
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Very, very, VERY cute spot, & no shortage of places to sit or outlets. However people like to come here to have loud conservations it seems, so not the ideal space to work/study unfortunately.
One of the best places to study in downtown as a student. Such a great concept to have a decreasing price by the hour & unlimited coffee/tea & snacks. Amazing vibe inside as well.
I was in Montreal for a month & the Anticafe was my co-working space for all of that time. It took me a while decide if it was a cafe masquerading as a co-working space or a co-working space masquerading as a cafe but in the end it doesn't rate well as a cafe (for me at least) but it is pretty awesome as a co-working space. It is missing things from more regular co-working spaces like phone booths & lockets but it has a nice vibe, the staff are great & the art decorating the walls is fun & quirky.
Oh... Tea, (barista) coffee & snacks are included in their curious pay for the time you're there scheme. & if you're there all day it is VERY affordable.
La décos y est ADORABLE & l'ambiance me rappelle vraiment les maisons de nos grand-mamans. Le concept des salles privées fait changement & permet une plus grande intimité lorsqu'on travaille ou discute. Par contre, bien que vous pouvez commander des boissons à volonté & vous servir des petits snacks autant que vous voulez, je trouve que 14,50$ pour deux heures c'est légèrement élevé. Ça ne rentabilise pas vraiment mon unique consommation... Overall, un bon spot pour faire changement des cafés classiques pour étudier, mais un peu cher.
Oct 7, 2025
on Google
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This place is so unique. You can just focus on your work & not worry about how hungry you get because you can have as much snacks & drinks as you want & you only pay by the hour.
I definitely recommend this place if you want to just focus on your work & have anything you might want close by.
The cafe itself is very cozy & nicely decorated, helping me enjoy the little breaks as well with a nice view & air conditioning on hot days.
The staff are super friendly & helpful.
I highly recommend & will myself stop there more often to support such unique & valuable businesses.
Wowow! I am amazed. I have never experienced something like that before. This is such a welcoming place & I felt really comfortable. You can order as many drinks as you want & they even have snacks. You pay for the time you spend there. Anticafe has different floors & many different rooms to choose from. I would definitely come back!!😍
Un très bon endroit à visiter pour étude ou travail seule ou equipe .
Tu payes l'entrée selon le nombre d'heure que tu as besoin & la consommation est gratuite .
J'ai aimé l'expérience & je la recommande.
Plusieurs coins de différentes styles: Chine, qc,…
Je suggère de mettre des lampes pour ceux qui aiment plus de lumière.
Great food, vegetarian, & vegan options available, which is rare in Montreal. The service is crazy slow.. & even if you don't get a meal, you should stop in for a drink & enjoy the ambience. It's a super cute spot & would make a great casual date spot or a hang with your friends.
