Café Castel

A beautifully made place. It feels like sitting on a cozy street in old Europe. A little balcony with coffee cups hanging from it, a dark wooden chair, sipping coffee while watching a busy Montreal street go by. They have sweet, as well as non-sweet options

Came for the atmosphere and an espresso. The inside decore is cozy. The doppio tasted like a classic Italian dark roast- best with sugar or milk. The music doesn't fit the vibe. The staff neither. Rap and sweatpants. Christmas decorations are lazy. This place could be so much more if attention was paid and effort was made.

Im always a fan of places that are a cafe and also a bar. Cafes naturally close in the afternoon and bars start then so it makes a lot of sense to use the same space for both. Places like this usually have a good mix in their atmosphere since it needs to work for both. This one has a vary italain style with walls that look like you are walking down a old city and warm lighting to match it. The coffee itself was nice and earthy and when we came back the esspresso martini had a similar earthy and creamy flavor. Overall a nice little coffee shop.

We ordered the ham and brie sandwich and it was delicious. The coffee was rich but smooth at the same time, but what was really outstanding about this café was the service. Best service that we’ve had at a coffee shop ever! Highly recommend it. Extra tip: The espresso martinis here are from another world and they are only $10 during happy hour. Will definitely come back

Since 2022 every time that I went to class or to McGill’s library I would passed by this cafe and thought how beautiful it is. Finally today I decided that I could scoop some time and enjoy a moment there. It is precious! The ambiance and the chocolate mousse that I had was extraordinary, so soft and rich and not at all too sweet (even though the slices are big) there were cute little birds all around ❤️ like a daydream. Love it, great place!

Really nice cafe, especially for it being attached to a hotel. For some reason, by hopes were low but my expectations were for sure exceeded. The coffee was a very reasonable price, and very delicious. The croissant was also good. Service was good, nothing incredible but nothing below good. I would be willing come back here again if I return to Montreal, and I normally don't repeat coffee shops unless the quality is incredible.

Let me start by the ambiance, it is just one of those cafés you fall in love with at first glance. Right from cobblestone flooring to pale ochre walls, a balcony and beautiful lamps/ chandeliers. Than comes the great coffee. The Lebanese know their craft and this doesn’t disappoint at all. Best flat white in town. A perfect pit stop for your daily caffeine need.

A cozy place with delicious tiramisu. I went there with my friend on her graduation day, and when the owner found out, he kindly gave us a discount for the occasion. Thank you so much!💛

Talk about ambience, I can't imagine a place with more than that of Cafe Castel. Quaint, comfortable and a warm staff. Offerings include breakfast sandwiches, glorious croissants, salads and cake slices to name a few. My egg and cheese croissant sandwich had lettuce on it, which was unexpected, but easy enough to remove. Coffee and latte were both marvelous, as reported by the drinkers of these beverages. Very centrally located and on the bus line.

I am disappointed I didn't try any of their desserts! Their cakes and pastries all looked so yummy! I did enjoy the oat milk latte that I ordered and it came with these cute latte art. Service was ok. It's mostly self-service: you order from the counter and get your food and drink from the counter when ready. Ambiance was a mix of hip and chic. It's a small space with limited seating.

This place is fine just overpriced coffee. Went here thinking I would get a great latte but got a Tim Horton latte instead. It's fine to sit but don't expect anything great

A great place to sit and drink coffee or have a light lunch. There is a woman barista who makes amazing latte art. I've never seen a coffee bunny before and she is a true artiste. They have a mint chocolate and a caramel chocolate latte but the best is traditional cappuccino. The coffee is smooth. So good. The cafe is in an atrium on Peel and Sherbrooke in the bottom of the Best Western Hotel.

A decent cafe that has good cups of coffee & tea, with basic baked goods. I thoroughly enjoyed my london fog latte, which had the perfect amount of foam on top. I wish that my pain au chocolat had been a bit fresher. I had gone first thing in the morning and the pastry felt a bit stale already.

Good coffee, tasty pastry selections and a nice quaint ambience. That sums it up all. Stumbled across the place while walking through downtown and I'm glad we did. If you can find a spot to sit, definitely do so to enjoy the feel and ambiance of this café.

Fun latte art is the reason I came. Grab some coffee on the way to Grand Staircase of Mont Royal.

The ambiance is beautiful, the drinks are top tier, and the food looked amazing. Five stars for all of that. However, the older lady serving the food was coughing openly on the food before serving. No mask. Didn't turn her head away or cover her mouth. Just blatantly coughing on the beautiful food and ruining it. Even if we weren't on the heels of a global pandemic, this is behavior that should have been corrected in her early childhood. It was an unfortunate turnoff so I had to take away 2 stars for lack of sanitary food practices. The baristas were not coughing and did an excellent job with the beverages.

An amazing little spot. Has the ambiance of a real European café. The coffee - excellent and full of robust flavor ! The sandwiches and pastries ( gotta try the croissants) are all made fresh daily and do bot disappoint ! Will be back.

I had cafe latte which is average taste. Some people ordered croissant sandwich with egg looks yummy.

So we walked all the way here with high hopes of having some good coffee with extraordinary latte art. Arrived at 630 when they were supposed to close at 8, but were told their coffee machine was cleaned up for the day as it was a holiday and they were closing for 7 instead. Despite that, the staff offered to make us our coffee which we excitedly accepted. That was when the nightmare began. Little did we realise that because the coffee machine was already cleaned, the staff had pre-prepared a few shots of coffee contained in the little paper cups circled in my pictures. They then poured that into another cup together with some steam milk and voila, that was our coffee. I have no issue with them closing early on a holiday but ending your coffee service as a cafe 30mins early is just bad business. And to use premade shots (god knows how long ago those shots were prepared) for customers' coffee is just unbelievable. I have attended artisanal coffee appreciation classes and the rule has always been "grind on demand" to ensure freshness in your coffee. Well clearly this wasn't even close, as it's not just the grinding but they went ahead with the brewing. I don't even need to touch on the disappointment of the failed latte art as well.

Pleasant Cafe next to my office. I particularly like their lunch deals. I either get their half sandwich + large salad (if hungry) or large salad (if medium hungry). For the salad, you can select 3 different choices. I'll usually take one option pasta based, another quinoa based, and another green leaf based. None are a masterpiece but everything is decent. Most importantly: I find things reasonably priced. (Remark: If you are McGill affiliated, they'll give you a free beverage or coffee with your order). Staff is friendly (with little turnover over the years). This place has apparently been next to my work building since the mid-90s at least!

I'm so happy that this place has remained kind, quick, and super tasty over the years. It hasn't turned into a chain, it hasn't lost its heart, it hasn't gotten crazy expensive or anything. And crucially its huge windows remain open on the beautiful buzz of Sherbrooke (beautiful now that the construction is done!) and the ceiling is all skylight, and man at the counter overhead my name and remembered it and made me feel right at home. This is no third wave cafe, but the filter coffee is strong and fresh and good. The lentil salad is delish with generous amounts of crispy onions, the baked goods are tasty, and the egg sandwich in a croissant was premade but didn't taste gummy and corpses and heated up nicely in the panini press. I also tried a strawberry smoothie with ice cream and yogurt that was delicious. Castel is a kind of adult stop near McGill university, with profs and grad students and travellers grabbing bites and chatting before heading on to their lives. It's been this way for at least 20 years and I hope it never changes.

We came on a weekend afternoon and was a little surprised to find it rather empty. I ordered a medium hot latte and even though I requested some cute latte art (after seeing some of the designs from Yelp pictures before), I was very disappointed with what I got. The actual drink itself was wonderful though. There are plenty of small tables which usually sit 1 to 2 people each, making them perfect to work at. There is free wi-fi for customers, so just ask the barista at the counter for the password. There is an assortment of baked pastries, savoury goods, and sweets also for sale at the counter, so this could be more of a lunch spot too. The wi-fi wasn't that great, but considering it's a cafe, the fact that they have wifi is good already. I wouldn't say this cafe is great for working just because I only saw one set of outlets in the corner. I can see this as a nice, quiet cafe for catching up with friends, and maybe reading a book or newspaper. There isn't officially any outdoor seating, but all throughout summer, they open up all the glass patio doors/walls facing the street, so there's plenty of fresh air and sunshine either way.

Cons: Potato salad & pastries taste like overnight leftover. Over-priced place. ATTITUDE of this owner. I'm not high maintenance, especially just a quick bite before the night class. Just I don't think I deserve being screamed at "WHAT'S THE PROBLEM OF YOU?" when the owner misunderstood my order (I ordered a latte and later I wanted one EXTRA Decaf for my friend, and this aged gentleman thought I wanted to change the previous latte to decaf). Probably I was not good at communication but at least should be respected as a customer or a human being. My first time and last time here.

I've never been one to care about latte art. I think it's borderline stupid to be honest. However this being said, my macchiato was extremely well made and pretty to boot. I like that they aren't using the super light roast acidic beans that are quite common in Montreal. We will be back.

Super expensive for what it is. I ordered a sandwich and it was super tiny for $5 - check my pix. Jeez, I can still order an entire sandwich for that price in those hippie cafes back in Toronto lol. Taste was meh, nothing to write home about. The latte was overly sweetened, like someone just dumped sugar in it. Ordered another drink - Milky Way and it was still too sweet. Fine I like the decor but terrible drinks won't make up for it.

Cute café on the corner of Sherbrooke and Peel with lots of windows and seating. Only had a tisane so I can't vouch for the food. That being said, there's some serious coffee art going on here (see pic) which was impressive! Overall good place to grab something quick - nothing bad to report :)

Cafe Castel is a life saver especially if you are a McGill student, and on top of that if you are a Management student. It's location is great, and you would never get sick of this place. I usually come here to study or work, or to meetup with friends, as it's pretty convenient for people living downtown. They always make these cute dog or cat faces in the coffee if you drink it there, and their coffee is pretty good. In the mornings they have breakfast menus, with either bagels, sandwiches or even regular 2 eggs with bacon, toast etc. breakfast. They have really nice deserts or cakes as well, and they have fruits so basically you could find anything you want here. For lunch they have salads, pasta etc. so if you are looking for something simple, not too pricy and a place to get your work done go here! P.S. during summer, when the weather is nice, they open all the windows, which kinda becomes a terrace

I admit I was first drawn here because I heard of their amazing latte art and needed to check it out for myself. I ordered a cafe ole, which is like a latte, but with even more milk. I enjoy milky lattes though, so I was content with my drink They have great service here. When I first came, I was unaware that they didn't take credit cards (and debit had a minimum, I think) and ordered before I realized ! Luckily, the server let me run across the street to take out money from RBC I came here to study for one of my exams, but it's not the best place for studying if you're using a laptop because there's no wifi and no outlets. Still, they have good drinks with cute latte art, and lots of sunlight streaming into the cafe, so I would still come here to chat and catch up with friends, especially since it's so close to the mcgill campus too! (Literally right next to bronfman)

Cafe Castel is the place to go for an amazing tasteful coffee. It's located few steps away from McGill's campus and you can go there via metro station Peel. The interior decoration looks like a very old castle and the tone of the ambience is quite acceptable. How would I describe their staff? Friendly, positive, helpful and awesome coffee makers . The artistic designs in your cup are original and very well done. The least I can say, it levels up my spirit. I ordered a large latte which came back for around 4.50$ and that's tax in. I'd recommend this coffee shop for take-out, studying solo or catching up with a friend. Ps: They do have free WIFI (You have to ask for the password). Minimum Interac payment is at least 4$. I found one power outlet but it was already occupied.

I heard about the latte art of Café Castel since a long time, but I was a bit disappointed by my latte, I asked for an animal pattern and the barista said he will do something more original, but the result was not so nice. The staff is very friendly, but I have the impression that they always try to hint me to leave when I am done with my coffee because it is a busy spot. I think that the interior decor of the café is very nice but since so many people walk around, the floor is often very wet and dirty, so I don't feel very comfortable there. I think that their latte tastes just okay, no surprise at all.

This cafe has been around for many years and has been catering to the clientele of the Best Western Hotel, McGill students and anyone living or working in the area. They have pretty decent lattes and salads if you're around the McGill Campus.

I love this location to study! Makes you feel like you're in Europe. The windowed ceiling makes it very open concept and you get beautiful sunlight in while you enjoy your hot beverage ! The internet is not the best but I typically don't use it much. Food is pricey but delicious! I had the ham and cheese panini and they use quality ingredients so it is worth it. I would recommend trying it out if you want to relax, catch up with friends or do your work! Close proximity to McGill

Cafe Castel is an awesome spot! Be it for a quick coffee to go, a catch up with an old friend or a solo coffee + study session. They make the best cappuccinos and the adorable drawings they make on them are a life saver. If you're looking for a snack - their lemon poppy seed cake is a safe bet and always perfectly lemony, moist and satisfying. Their sandwiches are on the pricier side but are consistent, delicious and the ingredients are fresh. The staff is wonderful and the cafe is charming. The only downside is the outlets can be tricky to acquire - but alas not everything can be perfect!

We came here cause we saw in the window they do latte art. We came here twice a day during our weekend here. The sandwiches and pastries are really good! The coffee is also really good. Sam and George are really friendly and funny employees. Sam is a graphic artist, and whatever art we requested he executed beautifully. Would definitely come back if visiting Montreal again!

This is my second visit. I love the decorations of the place in the middle of downtown. It feels like you have been transported back into a new country, Italy or Spain. I ordered a cheesecake brownie which comes at 5.69$ including taxes. It was a bit pricey for my wallet. I love the taste of the cake as it has this home made feel that i have been looking around for. It tastes heavenly. Although, I am enjoying the view, i felt that their sandwich counter has better deals with drinks and dessert. The cost is about 13$ for a complete meal set. The internet is free here. Customer service is okay and it was really quiet at the time I arrived which is 6:17 pm. Great place to study because we don't hear the car from the outside of this place. Overall, lovely place to chill out and study.

So European and so beautiful. When the sun shines its brightest* the cafe looks like you're on the patio of a Paris cafe on a beautiful sunny evening. But it's in Montreal and it was quite nice to get away from the dangerous, sharp, skin-piercing knives that we call "the winter wind" to enjoy an expensive but only average coffee. The walls inside the cafe make it look like you're outside. It's really nice and romantic! Overall it was only ok here. They make smoothies and sandwiches too. I think the service could be better! *I'm talking about 4-5:30pm. This is the worse time to drive!

Fantastic food- especially the chicken pesto sandwich. Staff is super friendly also. Highly recommend for a great atmosphere to sit and have a nice sandwich and coffee! Free WiFi is a plus also in case you need to do work.

Great service, food, and ambiance! The coffee wasn't the best but the rest makes up for it. :)

We stopped by after lunch on a beautiful day, and they had the front of the cafe open, which was nice. I had a decent machhiato with cute latte art. Service was a tad rude but not terrible. I would stop by again if I were in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

In terms of coffee-making, they know their stuff. I came here twice: by myself for a latte before class, and with a date for a macchiato. Their drinks never disappoint me in temperature and taste. The art on the macchiato was so adorable. I think they created a cat on my macchiato. The cat's face could still be seen after I drank all of the macchiato. I should have taken before and after photos. The light streaming in from not just the sides but from the top really makes the decor seem all that more antique and intimate. I love the rustic yellow wallpaper. Their decor pays tribute to the Italian name of this cafe. The cafe feels like a place you'd go to for some quick coffee upon arrival at an Italian airport. Decent prices too. Cost no more than $2.5 for a short macchiato. My date and I stayed 'til the closing time, and even then, the staff did not pressure us to leave instantly. They reminded us that they had to close, but told us to take our time. This is to be expected of from businesses that value their customers' satisfaction highly. Good for them.

It's spring break at McGill University and one of my professors and I decided to go work elsewhere to grab a bite. She suggested Cafe Castel. It was my first time. Very nice interior design, huge windows all around giving on Sherbrooke st. and Peel downtown Montreal, the cafe is part of the Best Western hotel. The most delicious chocolate nut croissant, it was my first time having it. Very nice latte. My only dislike is that they do not take credit card, debit only and with a minimum purchase of 6$. Staff friendly, place clean. Got a little loud around lunch to do work, but overall good experience.

We stayed at the best western Ville Marie in the same building downtown where we wanted a light brunch before our hike up the mountain. The selection of sandwiches and salads are good and tasty. We ordered the soup, sandwich, and salad combo where the portion sizes were perfect. Atmosphere was good where the setting is spacious and clean.

I went here just for the lovely latte art and the barista did not let me down! The environment of the cafe is quite good. It was not to noisy to talk to friend.

Great coffee and mediocre sandwiches. Good for when you're in the neighborhood and looking for a decent cappuccino, but not the best for a sit-down lunch. Staff is friendly and I love the designs they make on the foam!

Very nice spot where you can relax and have a slice of they cakes or a slice of their juicy flavoured breads. The staff is amazing, very friendly, I had so much fun over there. The range price is very low and the coffee is tasty. Lovely place.

This cafe is close to my place and offers good quick bite options. There is the regular coffees and muffins/cake options. The staff is helpful and polite. Ideal place to read or work as they have wifi. You will sees lot of students and entrepreneurs! Good place to meet up!

Came here with my partner and the man behind the counter was delightful. Swift and polite. I ordered a cafe mocha while my partner ordered the cafe latte. Great prices especially since we got beautiful art on our beverages! I was pretty floored seeing how fast he made it. Its a cozy place with more seats in side back. I absolutely loved my mocha. Smooth and rich. The cafe latte was not as special to me or my partner. Definitely would come back again though. Especially since they have stamp cards :).

Don't go in with another cup of tea in there, even if you're going to eat and drink more there with your friends because they don't let you drink it there. I had to actually leave the place and leave my friends to finish it outside. Ridiculous policy imposed by the owner. I'm never coming back.

Good place to hang out with friends over coffee. Nice atmosphere and consistent coffee. Expensive food, go to Super Sandwich just across if you are hungry.

cute spot close to mont royal. we had coffee here before we went on a long hike around the mountain. they had many non dairy milks and my oat milk cap hit the spot. the natural lighting of the cafe made for a nice place to enjoy my morning coffee.

Best coffee and latte art in town!!! A great variety of sandwiches and salads Amazing espresso bar !!! Highly recommend it

the food is good, but a little bit pricey for what it is.. But their coffee is amazing. Also, the customer service is very friendly, and it's always a pleasure to be welcomed by Sunny's big smile (I don't know his real name but everybody calls him Sunny) ! So much good vibes! :)

Coffee menu is rather basic. The food didn't look that appealing either. Very crowded because of the great location

Worst experience ever. The owner was completely disrespectful. He threw the loyalty card towards us and onto the floor simply because we wanted to accumulate the points on one card. We didn't know he would have a problem with this. No cafe ever had any problem with this! Who would have thought. It's just an extra cup of coffee after you make eight purchases! Seriously? You get mad because customers made eight purchases and simply wanted accumulate points? You could have explained if it annoyed you! That you could do and we are not unreasonable. We would even care? All you had to do is to explain your store's rules. No you didn't. What did you do? How did you choose to explain? You chose to throw the card towards us and onto the floor in the most contemptuous manner we wouldn't have expected in a thousand years. What's all this about? Seriously? A cafe that simply didn't care to lose a couple of customers because it's at a convenient location and people would come anyways no matter how you treat them! They think they can treat you in whatever way they like and still get away with it.

I come here everyday for a latte, and it's amazing! I admit, I'm a bit of a coffee snob, so it's a big deal for me to say that this place has one of the best coffee blends I've ever had. Also their breads are divine! The cranberry & orange one is the best. The staff is very nice and the different designs they leave on my lattes alway put me in the best mood.

The first night my family was here, we went to the food court at the mall and the food was less than expected. Today, we found this place next to McGill University and what can I say, wow! The food was what we expected. The kiddos loved the carrot 'soup du jour' special of the day, we had to order another bowl. The sandwiches were fresh and ingredients were chosen to match the favor of the other ingredients. We got there 10 minutes before the lunch rush hour. I was extremely pleased and have booked mark this place as a favorite to go back to. The atmosphere is pleasant and watching my family enjoy eating was a huge plus.

Cute atmosphere in a convenient location. Definitely better than Starbucks but they seem to be using a dark roast espresso. The macchiato I had was ok but the foam could have been better. If you're in the area not a bad option. They have a good sandwich and snack selection on the upside.