Barley Bar à Céréales comes across as a stylish, cozy brunch spot with a playful cereal bar and a crowd pleasing display of flavors, where the matcha pancakes, halloumi plate, Turkish eggs, and crème brûlée French toast are frequently praised, along with fresh lattes and avocado toast. The vibe and friendly service are often highlighted, but experiences vary with several notes about slow or mixed service, long waits during peak times, and occasional missteps like missing cutlery or orders. Some guests feel the portions are generous and the dishes visually appealing, while others find certain plates smaller or pricier than expected, and a few mention changes to the menu that altered favorite items. Noise levels can be high and seating sometimes tricky, though reservations help, and some would like more beverage options beyond coffee and tea. Overall, it is regarded as a standout brunch destination with a distinctive concept and strong flavors, recommended for those who enjoy a lively atmosphere and creative plates, while acknowledging that service consistency and value may fluctuate.
Beautiful space & very friendly, accommodating servers! The food was delicious, but the almond croissant latte was a bit disappointing - the consistency of the foam/cream on top & almond flavouring were not great, especially for the price.
Regardless, I'll be back to give another drink a go!
We ordered falafel salad the $19 one & waffle with chicken & we had an offer for free dessert which we chose the matcha pan cakes.
We planned on ordering hazelnut latte but we were done before we reached that point.
Falafel eggs: I specifically asked wha is difference between the $19 falafel platter & $10 falafel egg I was told the platter is much more fulfilling & the description said it's felafel egg, falafel, salad & something else. Well it was just one eggs salad I paid $9 for just cut veggies. Just the egg was okay though
Chicken with waffle: that was okay it was good
Pancakes: we got burnt pancakes must taste good & that sauce is much thick see video
I know what this place can be but it's not there yet.. p.s I enjoyed it much better 2 years ago than now.
We had a generally pleasant experience at Barley Café. We ordered matcha lattes with extra matcha, but unfortunately when they were served, they were already cold. We kindly mentioned it & asked if it could be adjusted, but it remained the same.
However, the food really stood out. The halloumi plate was excellent & full of flavor, & the matcha pancake was absolutely delicious & well prepared.
The service was a little slow, but the staff were friendly, polite, & welcoming, which we appreciated. Overall, it's a nice café with great food, & with a bit more attention to drink temperature & timing, it could be even better.
Barley nous a été proposé dans un top des meilleurs brunch à Montréal & nous avons malheureusement été plutôt déçu. Le service était si long. On nous a proposé de commander à boire après 20 minutes (la serveuse a pris nos commandes de nourriture en même temps), & cela a pris 1h15 avant d'avoir nos assiettes. De plus, c'est nous qui avons dû demander à la serveuse, car elle n'est jamais revenue nous voir pour nous proposer de l'eau ou autres choses à boire en'attendant' ou tout simplement nous prévenir du temps que cela prenait. Les assiettes arrivées, nous n'avions pas de couverts. Nous avons dû attendre de nouveau 10 minutes, & comme de fait, c'est nous qui lui avons demandé. Nous avons pris le poulet-gauffre (très boff pour le prix, goût/quantité) & le pain doré (rien de fou non plus). À contre coeur, je ne recommande pas ce brunch, pour le manque de service, d'efficacité, pour le manque de quantité de nourriture dans l'assiette (rapport qualité-prix assez décevant).
Absolutely loved my experience at Barley!!! The vibe is so cozy & stylish, the food is full of flavor, & the lattes are top-tier. Definitely my new go-to spot in Montreal & can't wait to come back! btw the Matcha pancakes are a MUST
Such a great brunch spot! Went with friends & we ordered the Halloumi Plate, the Aylwin's Bacon Hummus, & the Matcha Pancakes.The Cereal Latte was also delicious & super fun to drink. The service was great & the vibe was amazing. Definitely recommend doing a reservation because it was busy.
Oct 12, 2025
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This place has such loud music no one could hear each other. At one point i could see a lady 2 tables over just covering her ears with it being so loud.
Ordered the matcha latte & it was very watered down. It needed more matcha powder for sure.
Our waitress was also wearing a bell sleeved sweater that kept grazing our food & waters that's we didn't end up eating it.
They had good mimosas & their beef bacon was good too.
Chouette endroit, bien situé!
Les plats proposés sont très bons, seul bémol dû à la popularité du resto, est qu'il faut être patient & attendre ses plats longtemps!
Très bon brunch, serveurs très sympa.
Copieux & bons
Ambiance 4/5 car volume sonore assez élevé
Terrasse ensoleillée disponible
Pensez à réserver une table car attente possible (30min).
This place used to be amazing, the type of place you would want to gate keep. However, my last experience was very disappointing, the main issue was our server. She did not use a pen & a paper to note my order with my friends (we are three in total). Each time we order, whether drinks or food, the server would come back at least 3-4 times for each step of the service just to verify if she took the proper order.
1. My friend A ordered a matcha. She ordered 2 because she thought that my friend B wanted to order one of her suggestions.
2. My friend A & I ordered an appetizer to share. The server never ordered it. Finally we received our main meals, then that's the only moment when the server realized we never received our appetizer. It is notable that her excuse was:'The kitchen's receipts are currently not functioning, so I must write everything for them to do the orders. I forgot to write & send the appetizer.'
3. I said I was thinking of ordering something savoury as main. She suggested the chicken with a waffle. I ended up choosing the halloumi, but I received her suggestion instead.
4. It is important to also note that we were the first & only customers at that moment. It took at least 5-10 minutes for me to receive my cereal latte, which was the first order made, nothing else.
5. When we were about to pay, there were 3 bills in total. The server forgot to take off the appetizer we never received. When she took it off my bill, she never gave me the corrected copy. Instead, she gave me the old one, & simply applied my new balance in the payment terminal, as she said:'I remember the amount by heart.'
All of these back to back issues could have been minimized if the server had a pen & a paper in the first place. It was upsetting when it happened way too much. The only reason why we even tipped 15% was because the server seemed nice, & it's a restaurant I used to enjoy visiting. I hope such calamity wouldn't happen again, specially when there's only one table in the restaurant.
Jul 27, 2025
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The food is not bad, but not great either. A friend & I had the chicken waffle & fatteh. We had also ordered a flat white & a matcha latte which only arrived while we were already halfway through our meal. It's a shame since the place & vibe is nice.
Très bruyant, on ne s'entend pas vraiment parler. Le service est amical. Cependant, les plats mettent en général 30min à sortir - allant jusqu'à 40-45min lors des moments de rush. Il ne faut pas être pressé. J'ai pris la tartine aux champignons qui n'était pas franchement bonne, accompagnée des pommes de terres qui semblent être du surgelés. & puis malgré l'attente, les plats n'étaient pas chauds.
From the moment we stepped in, everything exceeded our expectations. The food here is truly phenomenal-each dish bursting with flavor & prepared to perfection. We couldn't stop raving about how delicious everything was! & the service? It's on another level. The staff are not only attentive & friendly but go above & beyond to make you feel welcome & special.
We're traveling all the way from Australia, exploring Canada, & so far, this has been by far the best dining experience we've had. Every detail-from the atmosphere to the presentation of the food-has been top-notch. This place has certainly set the bar high, & we're so grateful to have had the chance to experience it.
If you're looking for a fresh & exciting brunch spot in Montreal, Barley Bar à Céréales is a must-visit. From the moment you walk in, the stylish yet cozy atmosphere sets the perfect tone for a laid-back meal. The staff is warm, welcoming, & attentive, making sure every guest has a great experience. Even during busy hours, service is efficient, & the team is always happy to offer recommendations.
The food? Absolutely fantastic. Their pancakes are beautifully presented & packed with flavor, while their avocado & beet hummus toast is a standout-creamy, fresh, & perfectly seasoned. Their halloumi platter is another crowd-pleaser, offering a delicious balance of textures & flavors. Of course, the main attraction is their cereal bar, where you can mix & match classic & unique cereals with various toppings for a fun, customizable treat.
Barley isn't just about great food-it's about the whole experience. Whether you're there for a quick coffee, a leisurely brunch, or to get some work done in a welcoming space, this spot delivers. If you haven't been yet, you're missing out!
Mar 21, 2025
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What a fantastic experience at Barley Bar! From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel right at home. Everyone was incredibly friendly, attentive, & made sure we had everything we needed. The food was absolutely delicious-creative, flavorful, & beautifully presented. Each dish was executed perfectly, & you could tell the chefs put a lot of thought into the menu. The service was top-notch as well. Our server was knowledgeable, efficient, & made great recommendations, ensuring we had an enjoyable & seamless dining experience from start to finish. Highly recommend Barley Bar for anyone looking for excellent food, great service, & a welcoming atmosphere. Can't wait to return!
We walked in with birthday balloons, & right off the bat, Youssef was so accommodating - suggesting where we can put them for the birthday girl. We felt right at ease, with his kindness & banter. Once the birthday girl arrived, he offered her a birthday drink. It was very sweet & thoughtful. We ordered our food & drinks & everything was absolutely amazing. I had the fried chicken waffles, while the rest had the fried halloumi dish & the avocado toast. The coffee was also so delicious. Afterwards, Youssef brought over a taste of their caramel-hazel nut pancakes, & the matcha pancakes. It was such a wonderful treat. It was so wonderful feeling their hospitality & their attention to detail, & Youssef just wanted us to have a great time. He also gave us a tour of their speakeasy - we can't wait to come back!! We had the best experience, highly recommend!!
Superbe expérience. Superb experience. Great menu Bon menu Great latte, take it with cereals Bon late, prenez le avec cereales. Matcha is great too Le matcha est bon aussi.
Halloumi plate was great! Matcha pancakes are a bit salty, & the taste of matcha is really subtle, but it isn't too sweet, which is good. The portion for the pancakes is really big, it gets a bit boring so in my opinion it is best shared. Chai latte has ginger, which feels great to have in winter. It's sprinkled with cinnamon on top. We reserved for 3 people at 9:45am on a cold December 23rd, Monday, but there was no need to.
