Éclair is described as a standout destination for specialty coffee in Montreal, delivering a memorable pour over experience with a broad bean selection and tasting checks before serving. The baristas are consistently praised for their knowledge, friendliness, and careful guidance, while the atmosphere is noted as cool, cozy, and social with a central bar that encourages sharing. The space is small and sometimes crowded, with long waits when busy and limited seating, but the quality and craft of the coffee are seen as worth it. Some reviews mention price and value, calling it pricier but fair for the experience, and a few notes point to occasional inconsistency in drinks. Across the board, there is a strong emphasis on top-tier coffee, international roasters, and a Montreal vibe that makes this place feel essential for serious coffee lovers. Overall, Éclair is regarded as among the best in the city, a place that draws devoted fans for remarkable pour overs and a welcoming, communal vibe.
Best pourover coffee experience I have ever seen. The baristas are very knowledgeable on all the current offerings for beans & are happy to help find a coffee that you will like. I have never seen a place that has you smell the beans & tastes the coffee as qc before serving it to you. This is a full experience - be prepared to wait if it is busy. Actually not overpriced for the experience you are getting, especially compared to a coffee in the states.
Feb 5, 2026
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Five clients to take care of, the guy takes my order & says to go sit down (he'll bring the coffee over he says). Waited 20 minutes, looked up from my book, he's sitting at the bar chatting with some girl, I make eye contact with him three times, I don't exist. Is this a self serve café? I don't get it.
Beautiful café with a great atmosphere. I really liked the central bar & how it encourages people to share the space & enjoy a coffee together. Service was very good, & the coffee itself was solid. A pleasant spot to stop & take in the vibe.
We had a fantastic experience here!! Love all the different options they had available for pourover, & they brewed a delicious cup of the wilder lasso gesha. Cool ambience, vibe, & friendly people. We would highly recommend - this & escape lab a cafe were our favorite coffees in MTL.
Nov 30, 2025
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Really excellent cafe. Pour over is excellent & they have a really wide selection of coffees. The baristas are also really friendly knowledgeable. Great atmosphere too.
Café Éclair
This little spot was right across from where I parked, near all the vintage shops I started exploring. It looked tiny-a hole in the wall-but packed with locals, so of course I had to try it. Inside, everyone seemed to know what they were doing, most of them gathered around a big table that looked like they were all doing their homework. I ended up at the only other table with a few strangers, & we all enjoyed our coffee together. This, to me, is what Montreal is all about. Top points for that Montreal vibe.
I did not know this was a serious coffee shop for real coffee drinkers. It was cold, I wanted something warm, & this cafe was across the street. I have learned words I did not know existed
But, I am pleasantly surprised!
Very cool place. I'm a little too socially anxious for a wrap around bar in a cafe, but I have never seen the concept before, & I thought it was pretty interesting
Chai latte was nice & spicy how I like it, without being overpowering. I got mine with some simple syrup (I'm a fake coffee drinker sorry y'all) & it was tasty. One of the best I've had if I'm being honest (they're pretty much all I order… I've had many). So I decided to try their matcha & it was actually good??! I say this with shock bc I usually find that matcha tastes like grass… this one was yummy though. I'm beginning to understand the matcha hype.
Staff are kind people too. It seems like they actually like their job, which says something about management. Customer service is stressful! They clearly knew a lot about coffee. I heard them using several very important serious sounding words. The coffee people nodded sagely. Be sure to arrive early if you want a pastry!
The best coffee in the city. They put quality over everything & take time for each cup. The staff will treat you with respect but not kiss your butt. Entitled people don't come back so the atmosphere is really good.
If there exists a better coffee shop in Montreal, with smoother steamed milk & more dynamic & expertly roasted beans, then surely it is on some other plane of existence - accessible only through absolute divine transcendence. For a mere approximation of that, a sip of the sublime - there's Café Éclair.
Sep 19, 2025
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Amazing coffee. We'll curated, definitely underrated. The shop owners & workers here are sincerely nice & they all compete in coffee in some way. I visited here twice on my visit to Montreal but wish I had come earlier to be able to visit every day.
I had some of the best coffee of my life here as a pour over & as a oat latte. It was full of fruit (strawberry) flavor that I rarely find in coffee shops (& I've had specialty coffee beans from all around the world). Of course the flavor depends on what they sourced at the time I visited, but no doubt they know how to brew a fine cup of coffee. Worth a visit or more.
As far as I know, the only coffee of its kind in Montreal. Coffees from internationally renowned roasters, the pour over card is akin to the likes of Subtext in Toronto, the staff is very friendly, & there is Gesha on the menu.
This is what 3rd wave specialty coffee is about.
Got myself a top shelf sidra, one gesha & something less fancy but still worthy a typica.
