Stash Café serves traditional Polish cuisine within an interior defined by exposed brick walls, dark wood accents, and an intimate, rustic atmosphere. The kitchen specializes in authentic staples such as handcrafted pierogi filled with various savory stuffings, hearty cabbage rolls, and rich, vinegar-forward borscht. These dishes emphasize robust flavors and traditional preparation methods that mirror historical Eastern European culinary practices. The menu features an array of sausages and comfort-focused platters designed to provide a substantial experience for those seeking classic regional fare. Patrons occupy tables set amidst a collection of vintage decor elements that contribute to a distinct, storied setting. Every plate reflects a commitment to preserving the integrity of Polish recipes through careful sourcing and preparation, ensuring that each component contributes to the overall cohesion of the meal.
Stash Café is widely celebrated as a premier destination for authentic and traditional Polish cuisine in Old Montreal, offering a menu filled with hearty, homemade-style favorites like pierogis, schnitzel, and stuffed cabbage. Guests frequently highlight the cozy, rustic atmosphere, which is elevated by the presence of a live piano player and tasteful, tavern-inspired decor. While some reviewers note that the space can become quite crowded and loud, leading to potential wait times for service, the overall consensus is that the generous portions, reasonable pricing, and welcoming hospitality create a memorable dining experience. Reservations are highly recommended to secure a table in this popular spot, which many visitors describe as a must-visit for anyone seeking comforting food in a unique and soulful setting.
First visit to Stash, can't wait to go again! Superb, delicious, authentic Polish food. We had krokiety, potato pancake, beetroot salad, pierogies, bigos & schnitzel followed by peach cobbler for dessert. Wonderful! Wine & mixed drink selection is good. Pleasant atmosphere & service was excellent.
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.
Feb 21, 2026
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Definitely add this to your list. The ambience was quite cozy & romantic. They had a pianist playing music & it was a the right level. We tried the mixed perogis, crepe, & the potato pancake. The food was absolutely delicious & we will definitely be coming back.
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)!
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!
Whenever my family & I travel to Montreal, we always like to come here. They have pianists who are good. The food is very good, as are the drinks. My personal favorite drink is the Czechvar. When it comes to food, the Placki (potato pancakes) are nice & crispy with the sour cream on the side. I love the Krokiety (fries crepes? Stuffed with mushrooms & beef with mushroom sauce, green salad & potato salad)
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!
Delicious food, cozy atmosphere.
Best perogies I've ever had.
Must try the potato pancakes!
Pictures of beef stroganoff & chicken escalope, teens loves it.
Pierogies (potato & cheddar) & potato pancakes were very tasty. Pierogies were freshly made & boiled (I prefer fried to get the crusty outside) with carmelized diced onion on top served with sauerkraut & sour cream. The potato pancakes (4) were served with choice of apple sauce or sour cream. I ordered them with apple sauce so I can use the sour cream from the Pierogies combined with the potato pancakes so I can have an apple sauce/sour cream combo on potato pancakes. They also had live piano music as well. Great atmosphere!
