Café Milano in St-Leonard is a popular Italian bistro with café. The specialties are sandwiches (Salcicia/ Steak/Chicken), submarines, soups and salads. Open late for the late night diners and offers what many say is "the best Italian espresso".
Reviews describe Café Milano as a legendary and historic spot with an old school vibe and a reputation for great Italian sandwiches, cannolis, and espresso, plus strong value and a welcoming atmosphere that invites conversations and late night visits. The coffee and desserts are frequently praised, with several describing the café as a reliable place to meet up or grab a bite, and the sandwiches and cannolis often highlighted as standout items. The ambiance and a large terrace are noted positives, though some reviewers warn that the interior can be noisy or dim and that cleanliness needs attention, with one or two saying the place isn’t as fresh as in the past. Service is described as friendly and prompt at times, but other comments point to inconsistent experiences, long waits, or miscommunications during busy periods. Parking is occasionally mentioned as a challenge, but the overall sentiment remains affectionate, presenting Café Milano as a classic, comforting Italian cafe that draws visitors for coffee, paninis, and sweets despite the caveats.
Its been nearly 15-20 years since I used to frequent Milano's. It used to be much smaller & run down. Kind of a greasy spoon type of place that made the best sandwiches & salads. Its a lot different now. Its been redone, doubled in size & has a modern cafe bistro vibe. I ordered the 7' chicken cutlet sandwich. The smaller chicken salad, an aranciata & cappucino. The bill with tip was $40. The sandwich was good, but small. The chicken cutlet & toppings much thinner than I remember. The salad also okay. The chicken a bit dry & the dressing not as good as I remember. It needed also salt, which was not provided on the tables. Everything tasted fresh. The coffee was amazing. I should have asked for chocolate on top of my cap. Very clean inside the resto but the bathroom was not. All in all, I enjoyed my meal. It was a blast from the past with a bit of nostalgia mixed with some disappointments.
Our every moment coffee & food ! One of the fewer in the city that keeps open late night. The latte is perfect the canoli the sandwich. We love it & strongly recommend. Des années après & c est toujours aussi 5 stars .
Feb 22, 2026
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Café Milano is definitely a legendary & historic spot in Montreal. 🇨🇦 The atmosphere & the'old school' vibe are great, no doubt about that. It feels like stepping back in time which is the main charm of this place. ☕?🇮🇹
However, I have to be honest about the cleanliness: the place is unfortunately not hygienic. 🧼❌ While the history is impressive, the lack of basic hygiene really pulls the experience down. Great vibe, but needs a serious deep clean! 🧽🧹
⭐⭐
Le Café Milano est sans aucun doute un lieu légendaire & historique à Montréal. 🇨🇦 L'atmosphère & l'ambiance'vieille école' sont superbes, il n'y a aucun doute là-dessus. On a l'impression de remonter le temps, ce qui fait tout le charme de l'endroit. ☕?🇮🇹
Cependant, je dois être honnête concernant la propreté : l'endroit n'est malheureusement pas hygiénique. 🧼❌ Bien que l'histoire du lieu soit impressionnante, le manque d'hygiène de base gâche vraiment l'expérience. Une super ambiance, mais un grand nettoyage en profondeur est nécessaire ! 🧽🧹
The cheesecake tasted like it's been in the fridge for days & the cannoli shell tastes burnt with a lumpy cream filling. The hot chocolate was tiny & when I told the staff I ordered a large hot chocolate he looked annoyed & ignored me. The only saving grace is that giant chocolate chip cookie.
Chaque fois que je passe près de Saint-Léonard, je ne peux pas résister : un arrêt au Café Milano s'impose ! Le café & l'ambiance me transportent directement en Méditerranée !
Jan 29, 2026
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Je ne pense pas que vous souhaitiez perdre votre temps & votre argent dans un café où le personnel ne respecte pas les clients. Il s'agit d'un café italien qui ne reflète ni le comportement des bons Italiens, ni leur respect envers les autres, ni leur culture.
Lors de ma visite en Italie, la nourriture était excellente, le café agréable & les gens très gentils. Or, dans ce café, c'est tout le contraire : la nourriture n'est pas bonne, le café non plus (froid ou brûlé), & il y a toujours quelqu'un qui vient vous déranger pour vous demander si vous avez terminé votre café, alors que vous venez à peine de vous installer.
En tout cas, je ne le recommande pas. Ne perdez pas votre temps & votre argent.
The zucchini sticks were otherworldly. So good. Everything we tried tasted great. It is a solid, simple spot for lunch with friendly, helpful service. There is a parking lot across the street, & the place is big & comfortable.
