I visited Les Alchimistes last weekend with my friend Farzy, & it turned into one of those café experiences that stays with you long after you leave.
Formerly known as Les Impertinentes, the café was reimagined about a year ago by its new owner, Mathias. He comes from a real estate background with no formal coffee experience, but you can feel how personal this place is to him & his wife. The name, logo, & overall concept were changed to reflect a theme that is closer to his heart, & that intention shows in the details. When we met him, he was incredibly kind, effortlessly charming in a full Canadian tux, & genuinely excited to talk about the café & what they're building.
The space itself feels warm & creative, with a youthful, community-driven energy. Les Alchimistes shares its space with a ballet school, Ballet Hop, which gives the café a really special rhythm. Kids play games at the tables while parents sip coffee as they wait for class to end. It feels lively, wholesome, & lived-in in the best way.
Food-wise, everything we tried was fresh & thoughtfully made. The sandwich menu is fairly new, about three months old, & all sandwiches are prepared fresh. We shared the Flamel & the Cléo, both named after famous alchemists, along with a tartine saumon. The Cléo especially stood out… soft, moist, & melting in your mouth. The bread across the board was excellent, pillowy & flavorful. We also shared a slice of Persian love cake, which felt like a sweet nod to the owner's roots. I'm usually not the biggest fan of floral desserts because they can taste a bit like perfume, but this one pleasantly surprised me. I really enjoyed it.
Matcha lovers should absolutely try the drinks here. Mathias is a true matcha enthusiast & takes it seriously. They always source ceremonial-grade matcha from the same farm & company to keep the flavor & quality consistent, & they aim to respect traditional preparation methods. I don't know much about matcha myself, so I appreciated him explaining that soy or almond milk works best with it, which convinced me to switch from my original cow's milk order. I had the red fruit matcha with soy milk, & it was incredibly refreshing & well balanced. Farzy ordered the pistachio matcha made with pistachio milk, added an extra shot of syrup to suit her taste, & loved it just as much.
Service was also a highlight. Our barista, Clem, was warm & attentive, & it happened to be her last day. I was lucky enough to witness a really touching moment of her saying goodbye to the team while preparing her final latte. She's amazing at latte art, & watching her hug Mathias before leaving perfectly summed up the café's energy… sweet, sincere, & community-focused.
Les Alchimistes is the kind of café that feels intentional without trying too hard. A place to slow down, connect, & enjoy something made with care. I'll absolutely be back.
I'm just a foodie who loves trying new spots & sharing my experiences. If you enjoy discovering places like this, come hang out with me on TikTok @foxy.appetite & IG @foxyappetite 💛
Les Impertinentes might just be the sassiest little coffee spot in Montreal. The espresso hit harder than my last breakup, & the croissant was so flaky it could've ghosted me afterward. The vibe? Effortlessly cool - like everyone there already has a published poetry book & perfect hair. I came for caffeine, left questioning my life choices in the best way possible. Would 100% go again just to feel mildly inferior & highly caffeinated.
I felt like a hipster. Very cute place, very demure. Got a Iced coffee, barista made it just for me. Price is reasonable, taste is ok.
Great place, but the coffee could be better. They only use 1 coffee shot for their latte/flat white (as opposed to 2 shots in every other coffee shop), & milk is often overheated. Food is good. I'd recommend if they could up their coffee game.
