Stash Café! Discover an Old Montréal institution serving up traditional Polish cuisine in warm, inviting surroundings that showcases stone walls and a mix of Polish art and convent furnishings. This Polish restaurant offers a big selection of traditional foods. The specialities of the house are roast duck and wild boar Polish style. Spend an evening at Stash's, and discover a small corner of Poland!
Stash Café in Old Montreal is described as a warm, cozy spot serving authentic Polish comfort food with a lively yet intimate atmosphere highlighted by live piano and red lamps. The menu earns praise for generous, hearty dishes such as pierogies, kielbasa, cabbage rolls, golabki, schnitzel, and potato pancakes, along with soups like barszcz, zurek, ogorkowa and pickle soup, and desserts such as apple and peach cobblers. Drinks are enjoyable, with solid cocktails, vodka options, and memorable shots that friends remember. Service is repeatedly called friendly, attentive, and welcoming, though a few reviewers note slower service during busy times and occasional missteps or pricing concerns. Reservations are often recommended due to popularity, and many leave feeling they discovered a true Polish home away from home with strong atmosphere, live piano, and generous hospitality. Overall, the restaurant is described as a standout in Montreal for Polish cuisine, delivering consistently delicious food, a comforting vibe, and a memorable, live music driven experience.
A perfect find on a snowy evening. The live pianist was great. The barszcz was a great start to warm up, the pierogi & golabki were both excellent, & we finished with the krokiety crepes - a great closer to a really satisfying meal. Honest Polish cooking at a fair price. We'll definitely be back.
We loved the Stash Cafe! The food was so great. We had the side salad, potato pancakes & perogies. I also tried my first Polish beer. The live piano music enhanced the experience. I would definitely recommend it!
We had a fantastic culinary experience at Café Stash & would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for comforting, authentic Polish cuisine in old Montreal.
The atmosphere immediately stood out - warm wooden tables, cozy bench seating, & those iconic red hanging lamps that give the dining room a lively but intimate feel. A live piano player during dinner added a wonderful touch & made the whole evening feel special without being overwhelming.
Food-wise, everything delivered. The beef stroganoff was rich & deeply flavorful, perfectly paired with crispy potato pancakes. The kielbasa was juicy & nicely grilled, served with tangy sauerkraut & mustard that balanced the dish beautifully. The breaded pork cutlet was classic comfort food done right.
Both soups were highlights: the pickle soup was surprisingly bright & addictive, while the mushroom soup was earthy & satisfying. Desserts - apple & peach cobblers - were excellent, pleasantly flavoured & not overly sweet.
Drinks were equally enjoyable. The cocktails were solid, & the raspberry & tobacco vodka shots were memorable & fun.
Great food, lively ambiance, & genuine hospitality - Café Stash is an easy recommendation.
Among the top Polish food I've had (& I lived in Poland). The atmosphere was also great with the live piano music & red-ish lights, & service was top notch! My friends & I ended up ordering entrées family style so we could try more things.
I was so impressed with this restaurant during a visit on a Friday for lunch (only day M-F that they serve lunch). I had visited Poland earlier this year & really enjoyed the pierogis & other items. This cozy restaurant was so true to Polish cuisine that I'll return in March when I visit Montreal next. I overdid it in order to try pierogis (they have a mixed platter of 4 total with each filling represented), golubki (stuffed cabbage), dessert, an excellent rioja, & finally a shot of vodka. The pianist was a fantastic touch for lunch. Don't let my spend scare you. I had everything & 3 glasses of wine. You could probably get out for less per person.
Jan 11, 2026
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Stash is the reference for polish food in Montreal. It sure brings back good childhood memories of me waiting fork & knife up at the kitchen table of my Polish Lithuanian Grandma. Some of you won't be able to pronounce the original names of each of the plates at Stash, but your taste buds will happily tell you in a familiar language. From Bigos & Perogies, & across the many soups like the Barszcz (beet broth), the Ogorkowa (pickle broth) & the Zurek (sour rye malted broth), to something more filling like the Kielbasa (sausage), the Krokiety (meat pancake) or the Goulash/Strogonow (beef stew) with Placki (potato pancake), don't stand bewildered by what might seem too exotic. Jump headfirst, it's worth the adventure. If you can't make up your mind, try the beginner's plate, as it should satisfy the most skeptical amongst us, or throw in 1 or 2 Zubrowka shots, then the inspiration will come on its own ! Polish cuisine is very tasty, yet not spicy. It is hearty, however very healthy. It's the comfort food you wished your grandparents would bring you 3 times a day, or your significant other so to entertain the relationship for many more years. Once you are done with starters & main courses, I suggest pursuing with the awesome desserts & a kawa (coffee). Do keep some room for a couple of vodka shots; it'd be insulting the traditions not to take at the least two, & Stash does keep a stash of vodka (get it?!) in the freezer. After that, what else ? Maybe walk a stretch of a couple of miles so to lose the calories. Na Zdrowie (Cheers)!
Nov 29, 2025
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A friend & I visited Montreal for just the weekend, both for the first time. We had heard of Stash Cafe by word of mouth, but I'm sure like many, hadn't thought often of Polish food. We happened to be in the area on a Saturday night so we thought we'd give it a go. I have to say I was initially convinced by the charming & warm interior. Every aspect of the space looks thoughtful, & each table lit with a sweet red lantern.
The place was bustling & we were lucky to snag a couple of bar seats. Long story short, we spent maybe 4-5 hours eating & drinking what I'd have to describe as upscale, tasteful, comfort food. Everything was beautifully presented & delicious. But what kept us there for so long was the hospitality. If you're dining in & come across Adam & Nicolas, send our hellos. Not only attentive hosts & mixologists, but two people with a clear love & respect of Polish cuisine & the hospitality. After hours of great food & great conversation, set to live piano, we left full & warm, with new friends & a new respect of polish cuisine. I can't recommend Stash for just the great food, or great service, or great ambience, but a mix of all. This meal was the highlight of our time in Montreal, & if you can stop in, I recommend you do.
Imagine us- two friends roaming the cold streets, cold, hungry & yet wanting something new during our visit to Montreal.
Imagine what Stash Cafe must've seemed to us as we stepped in through the heavy door & into its warm threshold! Warm & inviting, with gentle chatter from pleased patrons & lovely piano music trickling through the air. We did not have a reservation but luckily there were two seats left at the bar which we gratefully sat down at.
Straight away we ordered cocktails. I got the Bloody Polak, which I felt a little bad to order out loud but any guilt was washed away with the first sip. Finally, a Bloody Mary with enough horseradish! Do you know how far I've traveled to find one? I do not remember the name of my friends drink, but I think it was somewhat cherry forward & I know she thoroughly enjoyed it.
From our bar seat vantage point, we watched the bartender Nicolas mix & pour a great variety of drinks. He was extremely skilled & knowledgeable & treated our questions with kindness & patience. I wonder if Montreal knows that the maker of the best Bloody Mary in the world is hidden right here. He is also studying for his doctorate in medieval pilgrimage literature & let me tell you, one sip of his drinks & you'll beg to read the full dissertation. He's not finished yet, but that'll just give you the excuse to return to Stash Cafe.
We ordered a starter- I had the soup of the day, a barley soup, & my friend had a salad. Both delightfully fresh & appetizing, they only made us more exited for our main course to arrive.
I had ordered four perogies, a little doubtful that I would want the whole eight offered in the bigger size dish. Oh boy was I wrong. Each was a delightful little pillow ready to introduce me to the flavors of Polish food. When I finished them, I had no choice but to order four more, & I swear our waiter Adam had a knowing twinkle in his eye. He said the perogis were the same as his grandmothers & I do not doubt that for a second.
Speaking of Adam, what hospitality! He was so kind to us & we felt so lucky to be his guests! I do not doubt each customer there that night under his care felt the same way. He introduced us to a world of flavors we were not overly used to or even aware of, explaining the culture & history around different traditions & dishes at our request. & he also introduced me to the joys of pickle juice- never before would I want to reach for a sip of the vinegary juice. Now? Yes please!
I believe my friend got the Stroganow for her main course. I feel I can review it for I kept sneaking bites when she wasn't looking. The meat? Tender! The beet salad? Fresh! The potato pancakes? Crispy! All the flavors & textures came together in a lovely melange.
When our plates were scraped clean & you could see rings on condensation marked all over our placemats from our drinks, the inevitable question of whether we wanted dessert was asked. Reader, is the earth round? Of course we wanted dessert! Now I don't remember the name of either. I don't think we let Adam get to that when he was describing each dessert. We heard farmers cheese & apricot & said yes please, one of each! The folded crepe with the sweet cheese filling reminded me of my grandmothers blintzes on the first bite & the crumbly peach delight brought memories of summer to mind.
We left Stash Cafe warm & full, with new friends & new favorite foods. I cannot understate what a lovely experience we had! Thank you Adam & Nicolas! Dear reader, if you are scrolling through Google maps, a little overwhelmed by all the choices on here & can't make a decision let me make it for you. Go to Stash Cafe! Quick! Before the line is out the door!
I had a wonderful experience at this Polish restaurant when I went there for supper. The ambiance is very chill & relaxed which was enhanced by a dim lighting setting. The food quality is top notch & one could feel the freshness of ingredients used. In addition, the variety of alcoholic beverages is to be noted. My favorite was the bloody polak cocktail. My assigned waiter was Adam & he greatly adds a welcoming atmosphere. His respect & attention to the customer's needs/requests is phenomenal. He made sure that everything was served to the highest standards. I definitely recommend people to try this place as it has the best value per dollar spent.
My hubby's favorite place for cabbage rolls. I love the debutant dish that has a variety of foods.. the ambiance is cozy with live piano music… it's always consistently delicious & we save this for very special occasions or when we have guests coming from out of town who want to explore old Montreal & try Polish food (something different)
Love their apple cobbler & service is always on point. Highly recommended!
Nov 15, 2025
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Had a great time at Stash Café with my party of four. We all had different options from the table d'hôte & everyone was satisfied.
There was a little bit of a mix-up with the reservation at the start but the staff were more than accommodating & made sure that everything worked out.
This is the second time I've gone in around two years & I only have good things to say. This is the place to go if you want try try traditional Polish food in a cozy environment.
Food was delicious. Traditional Polish dishes served in a home type setting. Very nice decor & overall presentation. Portions were OK & prices are reasonable.
Excellent variety of Polish dishes to choose from. Food, service & atmosphere were great! Chose to return to try different dishes & we were so pleased we did. We had the Zurek soup, Barszc (beet soup), Golabki (stuffed cabbage), Sznycel Wiedenski (veal), Placki, (potato pancakes) & Pierogi, & all were all delicious. This is a definite place to stop to enjoy a fabulous meal if you are ever in Old Montreal!
