Dans l'ensemble, Café Santropol est décrit comme un lieu chaleureux et bohème où la cour arrière et la terrasse offrent une ambiance apaisante et conviviale, idéale pour manger un sandwich copieux ou prendre un café en dégustant des produits frais et des options véganes; les plats phares, comme les sandwichs généreux, la soupe et le carrot cake, reçoivent des éloges, tout comme les boissons et le cadre unique. Cependant les avis signalent aussi des points négatifs récurrents: une attente longue et une gestion du flux de clients qui peut sembler lente, des services parfois distants ou inconstants, et quelques incidents isolés sur les commandes ou le service; certains visiteurs trouvent le rapport qualité-prix correct mais estiment que l'expérience peut varier selon l'affluence; malgré tout, l'endroit s'impose comme une véritable oasis urbaine où l'ambiance et le décor compensent les désagréments ponctuels et donnent envie de revenir pour essayer d'autres plats ou profiter du jardin à différentes saisons.
I had heard so many great things about this place, but sadly I won't be going back.
We (two of us) entered & were waiting by the wait to be seated sign for 15 minutes but nobody came to see if we needed a table (nobody was in front of us waiting, either). So after the full 15 minutes I tried to peak around to the garden to see if there were staff there (there were 4 people in the kitchen but I didn't want to bother them), & someone from the kitchen immediately came over & yelled at me to not seat myself. I said we'd been waiting a while & just wanted to check for someone, & they yelled no, someone will come. Well, a total of 25 minutes later someone did come & practically threw some menus at us & pointed to a table. Almost a half hour later someone strolled over to take our order. I had a question about salad vs sandwich & I got the full genz stare in return. The food came in about 20-25 minutes (we're almost 1.5 hours after arriving now). It was fine, nothing amazing tbh. The bread is unique but not very filling.
Then nobody ever came to check on us or see if we wanted anything else or to pay. I ended up having to ask the barista behind the drinks counter if we could pay at the front, & they said yes so we just did that to finally leave. They also made sure to check that we tipped - they have a sign about minimum 15% or something.
I have worked as a server & know what a tough job it is. But the attitude here is frankly unwelcoming bordering hostile. The food is ok, but the experience was so unpleasant & kind of made me feel bad for the whole day. The place wasn't packed or anything, either. Would not go back.
We waited about 15-20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us or the people in front. I layer learned thay was because they assume you want to sit int garden area & just wait to talk to you until a spot opens up but im use to waiters at least letting you know the wait time or checking if you want to sit inside.
Either way I see why the garden is the assumption. Its peaceful & funky with nice water features, art, & plenty of natural cover. Tones of birds fish & squirls are right next to you all the time & most of the seating seems like it has a good view of it.
The coffee itself was pretty good as well. The iced late was a nice fresh drink on the hot day & they even had a little strawberry on the straw.
Overall if you want a cute garden & dont mind a wait, its a good spot.
23 août 2025
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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.
Wonderful garden restaurant! You feel as if your in an enchanted forest. Interesting inside as well. The food is delicious & staff are very nice. A gem in Montréal!!!
I found my new favorite magical place in Montreal!
I saw their ad on Instagram & had to check it out.
It teleported me to a gem I love on Costa Rica, so for me, it was quote special.
There are several different areas to sit, each with its own style & ambiance. I sat in the garden in the back. The coy fish pond was a particularly magical addition to the place.
The food was great. I had Borscht soup. Brought me back to my childhood when my dad used to make this soup often.
Reasonably priced, too.
Will 100% come back ! Thank you for making the IG ad !
(Video has bad sound quality.. don't mind the sound)
My 🎂birthday was last Thursday, June 🌟5th. The weather was beautiful, a great day to enjoy the wonderfully funky garden at Café Santropol.
Of course, I had to tell our waiter that it was my 🎉 birthday! The ambiance is so friendly & festive (freylech).
Santropol has been open for approximately 50 years & I have been a customer for almost that long. I enjoyed the walk down memory lane.
The original founder of the restaurant still owns it, which is very cool.
For the first time ever, I did not order a cream cheese based sandwich (which I really like). Instead, I opted for
the tofu sandwich with marinated red pepper- delicious! My honey enjoyed the chicken salad.
My side salad & his full salad showcased a variety of vegetables & a tasty dressing.
The Birthday Cake (bread pudding) was a terrific surprise!!!!!
The wait staff were efficient, friendly, adorable & helpful.
We struck up a conversation with a nearby diner, a lovely samba dancer- & will try at attend upcoming performances!
Who knows? I may make lunch at Café Santropol a yearly birthday tradition!
However, I will surely be back before next June…
Someone at a nearby table had ordered a milkshake topped with whipped cream- it really looked tempting.😊
La prochaine fois?
7 juin 2025
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✅The place is beautiful, especially the garden, which is not something you often see in Montreal. ⚠️It's not really a spot to work. They don't have Wi-Fi, so it's not ideal if you're planning to get some work done. You can bring your laptop, but you're only allowed to use it inside, not in the garden. ❌The space didn't feel as cozy as I hoped, even though the fish & the sound of the water are somewhat relaxing. ✅They offer vegan options, which is nice, but I'm not sure if I would come back just for that. ❌I changed table because I felt so close to the others couples that I can hear the conversations & that made me felt uncomfortable. I think it's just about to improve the distribution.
The best sandwiches that I dream of between visits 💭 Get the triplex saint urbain if you are hungry & really want to be wowed! Backyard garden/terrace is a must, when the weather allows.
2 sept. 2024
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A wonderful little cafe with a big beautiful garden. They have a nice array of vegetarian options including the largest & most interesting sandwich I have ever seen. We had the vegetarian chili & it was excellent.
The garden & interior of this cafe are gorgeous, welcoming, & tranquil! Our server Mai was so friendly & helpful. The chaucer salad with tofu & chickpeas is so tasty & fresh!
I got a seat outside & the garden was really pretty & the sun was out too. The sandwiches were also bigger than I thought. I also ordered the chai santropol (iced) i like it, the spices just hit the back of your throat. All staffs were super attentive & everytime I threw a smile at them, they smiled back.
28 juin 2024
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Love the atmosphere here. We sat in the back patio which is a cute little garden & has a little pond. Good service, really good fresh sandwiches with vegan options.
My local friend brought me here! 1st it's a cute place from the indoor or the patio garden 2nd staff are nice & friendly, I don't feel rush to order thing or finishing the food, they gave us time to order & even check if we have question about the menu 3rd the food is great! It's not like a huge menu option like a chain restaurants but it have its charm! I would totally come back to try other food & drinks! Merci!
Always love this cafe ! A five minute wait to sit at a table in the garden but this is more than Ok - it's expected on a Saturday . Lovely menu & staff !!
We came here on purpose, it was rainy weather, & I wanted hot soup. I chose the place because of the reviews, which were really nice. Cuisine: basically the whole idea is for vegans, so they take vegetables from their own garden - I thought so, but I didn't find a garden, but there are also meat products, not a lot, but there are some. We ordered two soups of the day, two sandwiches & tea. The soup was too sweet because of the sweet potatoes, but overall it was okay. The sandwiches, for me, are too simple, I'm not saying simple is bad, I'm saying too simple. Interior: cozy & homely, we didn't sit in the garden because it was raining, but initially it was planned to be something in Japanese style, judging by the fish & sakura outside, overall 4. Service: there is a problem here, I won't go into details, but it's worth it grow & grow, thank you, but the place is not mine, again, I'm an absolute meat eater. but thanks
