Come and join us in our charming and cozy gallery cafe, just a few blocks away from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Here, you can read books, mix and match your own tea, listen to music and enjoy the gallery. Café Aunja is a perfect hideaway for a meal or for a drink. Hope to see you soon!
Cafe Aunja is described as a cozy and vibrant Persian inspired cafe with warm, eclectic decor and intimate spaces that invite lingering over breakfast or a book. Reviewers praise the fresh, generous food such as mountain omelette, lentil soup, Persian style sandwiches, and saffron cake, with many calling the Persian fog and London fog standout drinks. The atmosphere ranges from quietly comforting to lively and crowded on weekends, with some tables feeling tight and the noise level high when busy; reservations are often recommended to avoid waiting. The service is generally friendly and attentive, though a few visits report a slower pace during peak times. Aunja is also noted for its extensive tea and dessert menu, bookish ambiance, and a sense of homey hospitality that makes it a go to spot for studying, meeting friends, or casual meals. Overall it is seen as a unique Montreal fixture with a distinctive menu, strong drinks, and a warm vibe, albeit at a premium price.
This café has such a warm, cozy, cultural, & colorful vibe. It's perfect for anyone who loves studying, working, or reading in cafés. The space is very aesthetically pleasing & instantly makes you feel comfortable. The food is healthy, though a bit on the expensive side.
I had one of their teas (Persian rose, orange blossom, orange peel, lemon verbena, & honey) & honestly, it relaxed me so much that I had to go back home just to sleep (it made so sleepy). It was incredibly calming & soothing (I would recommend taking it around your sleep time). I'd definitely go back just for that tea.
Under the first level, this café looks small from outside but reveals a AliBaba's cavern once inside. Café is good. Food portions are ample. The place is filled with clients at 12: 15am on this weekday, so arrive soon or your order can take time to arrive. Service is nice.
Dec 14, 2025
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Cafe aunja
This place left a permanent mark on my soul! Loved the all Persian breakfast here. The two ladies working there, make a huge effort to tend to their guests.
The omelet & the drinks are absolutely amazing! We went in a party of 8 people so we got to try many drinks. SO good! I will look for this place to go back multiple times on my next visit!
This café is truly a hidden gem! The food, the teas, the homemade cakes, the sandwiches, & the smoothies - everything is absolutely first class. You really have to try it!
Went here with a group with a reservation for 9am which is when this cafe opens. The reserved table didn't have enough chairs. We had to go up to the counter to order & prepay. Food was then brought to our table. I ordered a big pot of tea to share. Others received their meals but I had to go up to the counter to ask for the tea pot after more than 10 minutes. I was then told that they were waiting for the tea to steep. I told them that I didn't like strong tea. Once the tea pot was brought to our table, I had to go up to ask for milk, spoons. The milk container was tiny so I had to go up again to ask for more. When I went up another time to ask for more water to dilute the strong tea, the server made a face like I was being difficult. This teapot cost $15 which I think is too expensive for just some tea leaves & hot water & poor service. Also, I had ordered peach blossom & English Breakfast tea but my tea had what looked like rosebuds in it so not sure that I received the correct order. We had brought the 2 glass containers of teas that we wanted up to the counter.
The breakfast omelets looked good if a little expensive.
My friend paid over $30 for an omelet & a latte.
I find it strange that a place that serves breakfast would only open at 9am in Downtown Montreal.
The cafe itself was comfortable & had a nice view of a small courtyard. There seemed to be some regulars that don't mind paying the high prices.
I visited this cafe on two occasions since it is considered a very popular cafe & eatery within walking distance of my hostel.
When you walk in, the atmosphere is both cozy & romantic with its moody lighting & vintage furniture.
I've tried their highly coveted Persian London fog & saffron cake & falafel sandwich. While the falafel was made fresh, the flavors were unfortunately lacking & dry that I finished more than half my beverage to help wash it down before finishing my sandwich. The saffron cake was sweet & 1-dimensional & the London fog tasted nothing more than sweetened milk.
One of the best cafes in Montreal! The food & drinks here are always amazing - the coucou, cake with rose water, & Persian fog are some of the best things I've ever had. The vibes are immaculate, it's a super cosy spot. The only issue is that it's always full (fair enough), so I wouldn't recommend it for studying or working.
Sep 6, 2025
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Several vegetarian & vegan options, which you hardly find in a Persian cafe/ restaurant. I had the kuku sibzamini, which is one of my favourites of our cuisine. They were definitely different than my mom's but really good. If your mom does them like small little kottles & not so mushy inside, you will find something different here, but still very delicious. Maybe it's also a regional thing I don't know enough about since I was born & raised outside of Iran.
They also have kuku sabzi & some other kukus which they serve on Iranian bread. You will also find shole zard & Persian drinks.
The service is also super friendly & nice to speak to. The cafe itself is very comfy. I wish there were more places like this which represent our culture, & do not only specialise in a pile of rice with kabob.
I had a very nice experience & would definitely come often if I lived here.
Cozy nice cafe, local gem, the Persian Fog would be amazing if it wouldn't be served so scorching hot, have to wait for long time to cool it down. The drinks should be served with drinkable temperature, it is always possible to balance boiling water with a cold one after brewing a tea.
Easily my favourite cafe in Montreal. Lovely ambiance for a date or meeting friends, & great for studying or reading as well. Food & drinks are perfect. Thanks Cafe Aunja!
Quaint cafe with good Persian food. We had our breakfast here & thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast sets - full breakfast which came with lentil soup & mountain omelette. The Iranian bread that came with the sets were really good. Great service from the team as well!
May 3, 2025
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Cafe aunja offers a very delicate & elegant Persian-inspired environment. It's a perfect place for afternoon tea. I tried their specialty tea - Persian Fragrance. An amazing combination of different flowers, a bit sourness from the lime, & a bit sweetness from honey. Highly recommended!
I came to the cafe with my little daughter, how much I enjoyed & it reminded me of my memories in Iran, wonderful cake & tea, I am very excited to come again. Highly recommend everyone to try this beautiful cafe.😊
This café has a very unique atmosphere. I love having London Fog here, it tastes really great! It has a lavender taste to it which is quite unique too.
My first time in Montreal didn't go exactly as planned-my girlfriend (she's from Toronto) & I (from Vermont) were hoping to spend most of our time exploring Old Montreal, but the weather had other ideas. So we pivoted, looking for a cozy café where we could stay warm, write, & enjoy good food, & that's how we found Café Aunja.
From the moment we walked in, it felt like something special. Our visit ended up being so memorable & romantic that we now think of it as'our' place.
The seating is abundant, & while the lighting leans dim, it's adjustable, which makes it ideal whether you're writing, chatting, or just people-watching with a cup in hand. The staff are warm & extremely welcoming, & as someone who's been a barista for 15 years, I can honestly say the drinks & food were made with real care. You can taste the pride in every detail-from presentation to flavor.
Café Aunja has Iranian roots, & it was my first time trying items like the Kereshmeh & Nargoun smoothies, both of which were bright, fruity, & refreshing. I also had a slice of their blueberry cake, which looked beautiful & tasted even better. On the more traditional side, I tried their moka latte, while my girlfriend went for their floral & herb-packed teas, which were as pretty as they were flavorful.
We ended up coming back two more times during our trip to write & relax, & I actually started my next novel there. She left equally inspired. Even if we stay in a different part of the city next time, we've already agreed: we're coming back to Café Aunja.
It's not just a café-it's a creative sanctuary, a cozy escape from the weather, & now, a cherished part of our story.
