A small white espresso cup and saucer with a spoon resting on a dark, worn wooden table, shot with a soft film-like blur

Café / Mile End

Café Olimpico

THE ESPRESSO INSTITUTION

Mile End espresso institution since 1970, soccer flags on the walls and a café crème in hand.

From home: 13 min drive; 5.55 km. Walk 73 min
Spend: $$$$
Our dates: Open Tue-Thu. Mon holiday hours unconfirmed; Give it 20-40 min

Mood photo, not this exact place.Photo: Chris Weiher, Unsplash License

The verdict

Go for the coffee stop between bagels and a Mile End wander. Order a café crème and a cannoli, stand or grab a seat, and soak up the football-café atmosphere. It is a quick, cheap stop, not a destination meal.

Founded in 1970 by Rocco Furfaro
Listed in RestoMontreal's classics guide (July 2026)
Open daily 6am to midnight

Order this

Tap the circle to want it. Tap again once it's eaten.

Café Olimpico, the short list

Must order
Café crème
The house coffee drink the guides single out.
Recommended by RestoMontreal and Tastet.
Critic pick: RestoMontreal. Official menu not accessible
Cannoli
Suggested pairing with the café crème.
Pairing suggested by RestoMontreal (July 2026).
Critic pick: RestoMontreal
Iced coffee
Summer drink made from the founder's old recipe per Tastet.
Mentioned by Tastet, less relevant in October.
Critic pick: Tastet. 2021 article; seasonal

Menus change. Prices are from the posted menu, before tax and tip.

What people actually say

Recurring themes, not cherry-picked quotes.

Love

Authentic Italian espresso at modest prices
Unchanged old-school sports-café interior with football flags
Staff treat regulars like family
Gathering place across generations

Know before you go

Prices reportedly creeping up
Terrace is seasonal, so indoor seating in October
Thanksgiving Monday hours not explicitly confirmed
Official menu and prices not found online

Dishes that keep coming up

Café crème, Cannoli, Sorbets, Iced coffee

Room: Classic Italian football café, flags and Habs memorabilia, lively.
Service: Described as friendly and familiar.
Value: Described as affordable, single $ marker.

Synthesized from two RestoMontreal pages and one Tastet review (2021); no community or platform reviews accessed; no official menu seen.

Vibe check

old school/casual/lively

Best forespresso, a quick Mile End break

How much we'll spend

$$$$

Tastet lists a single $ marker and describes prices as affordable; no official menu prices seen.

Our estimate from posted prices, CAD, before tax and tip. Québec purchases carry the 5% federal GST plus the 9.975% Québec Sales Tax (QST, TVQ in French): 14.975% combined on taxable items. Tourisme Montréal: it is customary to tip restaurant servers, taxi drivers and hairdressers 15% of the bill, before taxes. Bellhops, porters and doormen generally get at least $2 per bag or service; coffee and food counters often have a tip cup by the register.

On our dates

Daily 6am-midnight

Mon 12Maybe6am to midnightThanksgiving: holiday hours unconfirmed
Tue 13Open6am to midnight
Wed 14Open6am to midnight
Thu 15Open6am to midnight

Thanksgiving MondayOfficial page lists daily hours with no holiday notice; a Sept 2021 Tastet article says open every day of the year, even Christmas Day, but that is old and not a current statement from the venue. Likely open, confirm.

Full week