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.
Cafe Aunja is truly one of the most unique & charming cafes in Montreal. From the moment you walk in, you feel transported into a warm, cozy space filled with Persian culture, beautiful details, & a relaxing atmosphere.
The drinks are exceptional especially the famous Persian Fog, which is unlike anything else in the city. The food is fresh, flavorful, & thoughtfully prepared, the saffron cake & lentil soup are absolute must tries.
The service is warm & welcoming, with a well organized system where you order at the counter & everything is brought to your table. Even when it gets busy, the team remains attentive & kind, making sure guests feel comfortable throughout their visit.
Overall, Cafe Aunja is not just a cafe it's an experience. A little piece of Persian warmth in the heart of Montreal.
The brunch was ok. It gets busy in the afternoons, so finding a table on weekends can be tricky. I like the cozy decoration, though it can get noisy when crowded. I especially enjoyed the desserts with their teas.
The baristas were very helpful in finding me a table & suggesting tea blends.
The place was extremely busy & quite loud. Since they do take reservations, I strongly suggest making one if you do not want to have to wait standing in a drafty doorway 😉
A wonderful Persian café with a fabulous brunch, fragrant teas, & truly delicious sandwiches. Everything feels fresh, generous, & made with care. A place that quickly becomes a favourite.
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.
Cozy place but low standards for food & service. We were served cold food (eggs, omlette). The falafel sandwich was dry (imagine felafel in thick barbari bread with a bit of mayo!). Tea was impossible to drink in the jars they served them in & tasted like hot water (because they are not properly brewed & leaves float on top). You pay for food & tip before you get food & service so they don't care when you tell them about your experience. One of the orders came with soup, but we were told after that they didn't have any & they just added more potatoes to the dish which already came with potatoes. Overall disappointing experience. My advice if you end up there is: order coffee & cake & go somewhere else for food, it's not worth it. Don't compromise on your standards.
Edit: Thank you for the reply. My review was not about misunderstanding your concept. I know what quick service means, & I know what tisanes & barbari bread are. The issue was the quality.
Many people think they created something new, but there is a reason no one eats falafel in thick barbari bread. You use it because it is the only bread you have, which is convenience, not ingenuity, & it makes the sandwich dry.
If a tea or tisane tastes like hot water with honey, it is not well prepared.
Requiring customers to tip before receiving food or service creates responsibility. If the service does not meet expectations, the simple solution is to apologize & offer a refund, or remove the pre tip option & let people tip at the end.
Regarding the soup, the problem was that you knew it was not available at the time of ordering. I asked for the soup of the day, & you serve only one soup, so the shortage was already known but not mentioned.
You may win awards for decor or menu photos, but the food quality did not match that level.
My review reflects the experience we had.
Nov 11, 2025
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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.
Been wanting to check this place or for awhile. It's so nice. Great atmosphere inside. It's really cozy, vibey & intimate. Saw some people studying, couples in a lunch date, & solo eaters... so people of all kinds. I ordered the tuna sandwich & it was very fresh & delicious. It is a bit pricey enough $20. They also have teas & desserts so good place for this.
Amazing food & tea! I enjoyed a delicious rice pudding with my Persian Fog. Ideal place to relax after a visit at the MBAM, cozy relaxed atmosphere & friendly service.
A nice & cute spot. We came for a late brunch & shared two drinks & plates for two; the food is good, the drinks are great.
An interesting menu with unexpected beverages, both hot & cold. Personal highlight: the Persian Paradise, a drink featuring saffron, orange blossom, & basil seeds, which is surprising (in a good way) in both taste & texture. Many other teas, smoothies, & milkshakes I'd love to try.
Only minor drawback: you order & pay at the counter, though the food is brought to your table. The ambiance is pleasant, the decor is great, & the staff is nice. Would come back.
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.
I love the Persian fog. It tastes just amazing. The saffron cake is also another to go option for me. We also tried a new tea which tastes so refreshing, but I forgot the name. The atmosphere is very nice very cosy & welcoming. I'd recommend it.
