Daniel B.
Yelp
According to Yelp and what I've read on the internet, Pikolo is considered by many, including cafe owners, to be one of the best cafes in Montreal. This place was close to our Airbnb so we stopped by here to grab some coffee on our way to an early lunch at Schwartz's. Pikolo is located in the Milton Park neighborhood of Montreal (a.k.a. the McGill Ghetto), very close to McGill University, downtown Montreal, and the borough of Ville-Marie.
Two things stuck out about this place to me:
1. There's no Wi-Fi, at least, not during our visit. A couple had just placed their orders and settled in at a table upstairs, with their laptops out and ready to work, when they found out there's no Wi-Fi. Needless to say, they were upset. Annoyed, one of them said words to the effect of, "Is this place so hipster, they don't feel the need to have Wi-Fi? We should have gone to Starbucks."
While I didn't have a need for Wi-Fi in this instance, I do think all cafes should offer Wi-Fi. It seems pretty standard to me, especially nowadays. I searched Pikolo's Yelp reviews for "Wi-Fi" and it looks like Pikolo offered it years ago, but apparently not anymore.
2. There's no air conditioning. We visited on a warm day and it was uncomfortably warm/hot inside, especially upstairs.
This coffee shop is tiny. I guesstimate there's seating inside for about 25 customers max, mostly at small two-tops. Even if they had Wi-Fi, I don't think this place is conducive for work/study. It's just too small and, when busy, too cramped. Some of the tables are right next to the ordering line. This place is best for a quick meetup or on-the-go coffee/a bite to eat.
Criticisms aside, I did like the look and feel of the place. It's got a distinct, throwback, worn-and-weathered, warehouse/loft style to it. My matcha latte ($3.70) was good. It was served hot and unsweetened in a glass. The latte art was beautiful. The quality of the latte and ingredients was very good. My friends got various espresso-based drinks and snacks. Pikolo uses single-origin coffees. Most of their drinks, one size only, ranged in price from $2.61 to $3.70 each. Their coffee (and tea) selection spans the globe from China to England to Ethiopia.
There was a small display at the counter with some French and Jewish pastries and artisanal breads from local bakery Hof Kelsten; things like cookies, croissants, muffins, and scones. Pikolo also sells coffee-making products or related accessories like the AeroPress, Hario V60, and reusable KeepCups.
Service was fine. Some employees were friendlier than others. We didn't stay long so I had my latte poured into a disposable cup on the way out. I'd come back, but would prefer to check out other coffee shops in Montreal first.