Olive et Gourmando comes across as a beloved, busy café in Old Montreal with a reputation for fresh pastries, coffee, and comforting sandwiches. Reviews highlight standout items like the Cuban and the chicken melt, the grilled cheese, and the mac and cheese, while many note a lively atmosphere and friendly service when not overwhelmed. The place is popular and operates on a first-come basis, with lines that can be long, and some value perceptions are mixed with prices described as high for certain dishes. Despite occasional glitches and crowded moments, the overall quality, creative twists on classics, and welcoming vibe keep people returning for brunch or lunch.
Had a great time at Olive Gormando! The coffee was amazing, the food was fresh & delicious, & the dessert was so good. Cozy atmosphere & definitely worth visiting 🤍
The food is fresh & delicious, their salmon bowl is the perfect blend of flavor. I went back for breakfast, their chia breakfast bowl had fresh fruit, their homemade granola & a little custard. Their coffee is good too, great location in Old Town Montreal, pretty setting. The staff is friendly, I was traveling on my own & really enjoyed the food & atmosphere.
May 2, 2026
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Coffee/espresso was excellent. However staff were rude from the outset. Had some sort of egg sandwich that was disgusting & greasy. Given the price I'd expect much better.
Phil Rosenthal (Somebody Feed Phil) visted here, so it was on our'must visit' list for our trip to Old Montreal.
Food quality & taste were beyond our expectations. Service was excellent. It was very busy when we arrived, but we were told it would only be a 10 minute wait. We sat outside on a bench, & waited to be called.
I admired the ambiance as we were shown to our table. It was full, & noisy, but so much that we couldn't talk to each other. Bonus points for whoever designed the sound system that played 80s music during our visit. Enough speakers to fill the room with sound, & the system didn't need to played loud to be enjoyed. Coffee was superb. Just the right strength, with lovely notes of chocolate. I had the chicken melt, which was incredible. Real chicken pieces, sauce with a touch of heat, & toppings with just the right amount of savoury. Her panini was equally good. The star of the meal was the french roast. Heated all the way through, with the right balance of fruit, cheese, & syrop.
Final day in Montreal had us come across this lovely cafe. Wonderful staff & delicious food. The coffee was the best we had in our short stay in Montreal. Picked up some granola & Muesli as well as the delicious pastries on the way out
Quaint & charming atmosphere.
We had the chicken melt sandwiches, way overpriced for a simple sandwich on a brioche with no side.
We paid $67 plus tip for two chicken sandwiches & a drink. Not worth it at all.
Bathroom right next to dining tables is quite unpleasant.
Overall probably best for a coffee & pastry to enjoy the charming atmosphere.
Mar 21, 2026
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A lunch well spent at Olive & Gourmando in downtown Montreal on Wednesday; July 1, 2025; which happened to be CANADA DAY. It was a planned school friend's reunion, & it turned out absolutely perfect.
It's easily one of the best brunch/lunch spots in the city. Even when it's busy, the line moves quickly, & the atmosphere is bright, cozy, & full of energy with a lively open-kitchen vibe. The staff are warm, attentive, & efficient, which made our gathering even more enjoyable.
The food was outstanding across the board. The sweet ricotta was a standout, & everything else-from the fresh, well-balanced plates to the ultra-flaky pastries-was packed with flavor. The coffee is top-notch & pairs perfectly with their baked goods. Prices are on the higher side, but fair for the quality & central location. Overall, truly worth the visit & a place I'd happily return to again.
Really lovely little spot that felt very welcoming with a friendly team. I ordered the banoffee French toast & it was really, really good! The ricotta so perfectly balanced the intense sweetness of the caramel & banana, & the crunch bits of seeds & nuts made the whole thing a textural joy. The coffee was pretty good as well, although not quite in the same league as the food ⭐?⭐?⭐?
Such a lovely brunch spot in a perfect location in Old Montreal. The menu is simple but still offers plenty of options for different tastes. The sweet ricotta was amazing & definitely a highlight. They also make excellent coffee & pastries, which makes it hard to go wrong with anything you order.
The atmosphere is cozy, the service is kind & attentive, & everything felt welcoming. We were very happy with our experience. They do not take reservations, so it can get quite busy depending on the day, but it is well worth the wait.
Jan 13, 2026
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A place where time slows, coffee warms the hands, & the city softens into something intimate. Familiar, grounding, & quietly generous , like returning to a thought that always knows you.
I have been to o+g on average once a year since it opened. I brought family visiting last week & I will not be doing that again. It was embarrassing, 25$ for the most basic panini grilled cheese, 25$ for the'Cubano' I had with one slice of pork & a few pea sized chunks of pickle, not even a slice of pickle. Bill was 125$ for three paninis & three coffees.
Sep 13, 2025
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Absolutely delicious brunch spot. Very, very. Dowsed so we were told we'd wait 30 minutes but ended up waiting about 20 minutes total on lovely outdoor benches. The cocktails are tiny yet adorable, & the food was clearly local because is was very colorful, bright, & fresh. The pastored & coffee looked like a serious business. I did not partake myself but could see myself returning for that.
What a place.
Packed. Clean. Friendly. Delicious.
Very well oiled machine. Staff was fantastic as we're the pastries & sandwiches. Coffee was the best in all of Montreal. Can see why after almost 30 years it's still going strong.
I recently visited Olive & Gourmando during my trip to Montreal, & overall, it was a delightful experience that definitely lived up to the hype. The place has a warm, bustling atmosphere with a cozy, rustic interior that instantly makes you feel welcome. We were served by a friendly & attentive waitress who made sure everything went smoothly throughout our meal-excellent service really elevated the experience.
We ordered a variety of dishes to get a good feel for the menu: the Grilled Cheese, Tex-Mex Baked Egg, & the Melted Chicken Sandwich with a side of chips & grilled chicken. I also had a cappuccino, which was smooth & perfectly balanced-not too strong, not too light.
Out of everything we tried, the Grilled Cheese was hands-down my favorite. It was rich, cheesy, & perfectly toasted-a comforting classic done right, & I would go back just for that. The Tex-Mex Baked Egg came second; it had a nice depth of flavor & a good balance of spices, though a bit on the heavier side for my taste. The Melted Chicken Sandwich was my least favorite-it wasn't bad, but I'd give it a 5/10. It felt like it was missing something in terms of flavor or texture.
What I appreciated most was the quality of ingredients & the care put into the food. Everything tasted fresh & thoughtfully prepared. The vibe of the café was lovely-lively without being overwhelming-& I can see why it's a staple for locals & tourists alike.
While Montreal offers a wide range of incredible food options that I still want to explore, Olive & Gourmando was a great stop. I'm glad I visited & would recommend it as a one-time must-try, especially for brunch or a light lunch. It's a spot that combines good food, good coffee, & great service-all the things that make for a memorable café experience.
J'ai récemment visité Olive & Gourmando lors de mon séjour à Montréal, & dans l'ensemble, ce fut une très belle expérience. L'endroit a une ambiance chaleureuse & animée, avec un décor rustique & accueillant. Le service était excellent - notre serveuse était souriante, attentionnée & vraiment professionnelle. Cela a rendu le repas encore plus agréable.
Nous avons goûté plusieurs plats : le grilled cheese, les oeufs Tex-Mex au four, & le sandwich au poulet fondant avec des chips & du poulet grillé en accompagnement. J'ai aussi pris un cappuccino, parfaitement équilibré, avec une belle mousse & un goût riche sans être amer.
Parmi tous les plats, mon préféré a été le grilled cheese - croustillant à l'extérieur, fondant à l'intérieur, vraiment délicieux. Je le recommande sans hésiter. Les oeufs Tex-Mex étaient également bons, bien assaisonnés, avec des saveurs intéressantes. Le sandwich au poulet fondant m'a un peu déçu - je lui donnerais une note de 5/10 ; il manquait un peu de caractère ou d'équilibre dans les saveurs.
Ce que j'ai particulièrement apprécié, c'est la qualité des ingrédients & le soin apporté à chaque assiette. On sent que tout est préparé avec attention. L'ambiance du café est conviviale, animée sans être bruyante - c'est un lieu très agréable pour bruncher ou déjeuner.
Même si Montréal regorge de bonnes adresses à découvrir, Olive & Gourmando vaut vraiment le détour au moins une fois. J'ai adoré l'endroit & je le recommande à ceux qui veulent vivre une belle expérience gourmande dans le Vieux-Montréal.
