Overall reviews portray Café Santropol as a beloved, quirky Montreal spot with a lush garden, a serene courtyard and a lively terrace that shines in good weather, making it a favorite spot for coffee, lunch or casual meetups, yet it can test patience when lines are long and seating is slow during peak hours. Food and drinks are frequently praised for generous, well crafted sandwiches, solid soups and desserts, with vegan and veggie options readily available; the bread and fillings are often described as comforting and satisfying. The atmosphere is repeatedly described as cozy, bohemian and charming, with the backyard and decor contributing to a special vibe, and some reviewers especially enjoy the hibiscus lemonade and chai. Service quality is variable: many find the staff friendly, attentive and helpful, while others report slow service, miscommunications about seating or moments of cold or unfriendly service in busy times. Some remarks touch on cleanliness and restrooms and others note high prices though portions are large and value is fair. Overall Café Santropol remains a standout for its ambiance and generous, comforting fare, drawing people back again and again despite occasional delays or uneven service.
This was my favorite spot for amazing sandwiches & soul healing level plant life on the ceiling. Now you can barely spot a plant but I was delighted to see dogs. Even if I ordered the wrong sandwich option: the bread crust was as dry as day old, the chicken salad lacked seasoning of any kind & the itsy cup of dressing was utterly insufficient. The thrill is gone
A little gem... Santropol is a cozey & welcoming café where service is amazing. All members of the staff are attentive & pleasant. Sandwiches are huge & tasty. Plates are well presented. The Hot Spiced Quebec Apple Juice was a wonderful discovery & exactly what I needed to warm up on a cold winter day.
I would like to go back in the summer to enjoy the courtyard.
Dec 30, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
This cafe is an experience. The sandwiches are fulfilling & the beverages are on point. Reasonable quantity & price.
I'd definitely visit again to try something new but I'm more into the place & how it's designed. Loved it !
The sandwiches r so good the bread is so fluffy & fresh. I also tried the hot chocolate it was delicious not too sweet & the carrot cake was amazing as well. The place itself is so homey & cute, the staff were so kind thank you !!
MY NEW OBSESSION CAFE IN MTL! 😍 the employees are amazing & so friendly, the pumpkin spice latte is phenomenal, & so are the sandwiches. The outdoor vibe is so serene & really gives an escape from the city.
I saw a lot of reviews of this place that were positive so we wanted to check it out while visiting Montreal on our last day. We went to many other places with everyone being so polite. Anyways- Despite the service being slow, nearly an hour to get our sandwiches i would never complain because I understand things are out of people's control. The food was fine. Not amazing, but the vibe is what you go for anyways. However what really upset me was my friend who is foreign paid & couldn't realize the machine is touch screen- so she skipped tipping on accident. I know her well & she does tip normally at sit downs even though its not really common in her culture. Immediately after she pays the waiter asks if she has a problem with her service in which she confused, responded no. She then goes on about how tipping isn't included in the price & we're now extremely uncomfortable. If you want tip to be mandatory add it to the price. A tip is preferred but not enforced & being rude to customers is not the way to receive one. As someone who's worked in service id never say that to a customer. The rest of us tipped anyways but after that i really didnt want to, as we all always do at restaurants but if you want to go somewhere with kind staff I do not recommend it as I felt disrespected.
Café Santropol, nestled in Montreal's Mile-End neighborhood at 3990 Rue Saint-Urbain, is a beloved local spot celebrated for its cozy ambiance, diverse menu, & inviting garden terrace. Founded in 1976, it has become a staple for both locals & visitors seeking a relaxed dining experience.
What a cool place to relax & enjoy !
🥪 Menu Highlights
The café offers a variety of sandwiches, including the popular Duluth, known for its harmonious blend of flavors. Other favorites include the Killer Tomato & the Chaucer Salad. For those with dietary preferences, there are vegan & gluten-free options available.
🍰 Desserts & Beverages
Café Santropol is also renowned for its delectable desserts, such as the three-layer chocolate cake & carrot cake. Beverage options include a selection of teas, lattes, & their signature Santropol Chai.
🌿 Atmosphere & Outdoor Terrace
The café's backyard terrace is a highlight, featuring a koi pond & lush greenery, providing a serene setting for patrons to enjoy their meals. It's particularly popular during the warmer months.
I've heard so much about this place I was so stoked to try it out!!!! Service was impeccable, friendly servers, great decor & atmosphere, & such a beautifully situated place. Sandwiches are to crave for!!! Super well stacked , fresh, & delicious. Drinks are great too!! Highly recommend their hibiscus lemonade :))
Tout simplement magnifique! L'atmosphère de la terrasse est superbe, paisible & lumineuse. Les sandwiches sont frais & super bons. Le Duluth & le Triplex sont wow! La salade mexicaine est énorme. Bref, une belle découverte.
& en plus il y a une geocache ici, ce qui a rajouter à mon bonheur :)
Jun 29, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Accueil chaleureux, service attentionné, menu de salades, soupes, sandwiches. Délicieux chaï glacé. Impossible de résister au pain maison & aux biscuits. Magnifique terrasse.
Don't be fooled by the pictures online, the sandwiches are huge! The food & drinks were delicious & the staff were friendly & polite. It did take awhile before they took our order, but we arrived right as they opened & we had a large group, so I think they were still trying to finish setting up before getting hit with our multiple orders. Wish we could've sat in the patio area, but it was a bit too chilly on the day we went, but we will return again because the back area looked beautiful.
Apr 21, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Food was spot on & atmosphere was on point. The service just wasn't. Not having been here before I had no clue what to do upon arriving. When my friend asked for a table of two, the girl at the front replied "Are you first in line?" Excuse me? How am I supposed to know that you have to wait in a line? That's not common for a restaurant, normally names are taken. & why am I track if I'm first in line? So we had to ask everyone where they were in the lineup. So strange...... The waitress never followed up after we received our meal. Only took our order & took our plates away. We're supposed to tip for that? These sandwiches are huge & they are messy, I had to use one single napkin the entire time because the waitress did not follow up. Honestly, probably won't come back.
Worth the wait! Primarily vegetarian &/or vegan menu, with options to add meat & dairy to some dishes. Huge sandwiches on fresh pillowy bread & hearty soups (ask about the soup of the day!) Charming & cozy atmosphere with expansive & secluded patio & curated decor. Will be back next time I'm in Montreal!
The place looks cozy, there is a colorful backyard with cute little elements put together, nothing authentic but still cute. We had 2 sandwiches, Olympic 76, & triplex something, really bad Sadwiches, & I mean BAD (tastes bad, too much runny sauce, everything falls off the sandwich, & worst of all just one type of stale bread for all) & quite expensive for the portion & quality. Service was ok, but remember you are not allowed to use your laptop in the Terrrase area, because the owner has said so! I asked one of the waiters & she said people using laptops tend to stay longer which makes sense but why not saying you can't stay more than 60 min or whatever instead of saying you are not allowed to open your laptop here? That doesn't seem reasonable or friendly specially for a casual coffeshop. But later the waiter found us a table inside with cable which was nice. We also tried the classic cheese cake, too sweet & average. Overal won't be going back & mainly because of food.
Fabulous sandwiches & soups The Triplex is a great combination of tastes... Only blah thing.... No coordination with kitchen../ Got the Sandwich before the soup....-& ordered 2 coffee's & dessert .... We finished dessert almost before getting the coffee Not your common resto ettiquette Staff was amazing & so on, just needs little tweeks... But an outstanding place to come & enjoy 12 months a year , always fresh & healthy combo's..
The sandwiches at santropol never miss ! Ile des piments is my go to & probably their best to me, I tried their spiced apple juice also which is just perfect to start up fall 🍎 love the way everything looks & the kinda eclectic decor the servers are also very nice
