It’s that dreaded time of year again: finals *cue Psycho shower scene music*. Does the thought of studying in another fluorescent-lit library make your brain ache? We suggest lugging your books to a late night café instead! Here are our top picks (don’t worry, they all have free Wi-Fi).
Café Résonance
Café Résonance is a vegan-friendly and gluten-free study spot. The café offers organic cow’s milk on request, but everything else is vegan. Study to live jazz music after 9:00pm in this cozy locale open until midnight. Although this is generally not the case, some nights have a cover charge (around 8$) so make sure to check their website.
5175 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2V 4G3
(514) 894-7543
Café Pi
Café Pi does three extremely interesting things: provides fair trade coffee, promotes local artists thanks to their art gallery, and hosts chess matches. If any of these intrigue you (including watching passionate older men engrossed in chess matches), Café Pi is the place to be. Open until midnight, this café will provide the perfect study spot along with some welcomed distractions.
4127 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1Y7
(514) 286-4828
Chai Tea Lounge
Chai Tea is an adorable little spot in downtown Montreal. There, you can enjoy specialty teas amongst a large selection of white teas, green teas, and black teas. You can also purchase your favourite loose leaf teas at better prices than what you’ll find in a chain store. Hungry for a snack? Try their decadent macaron, gluten-free brownie, or vegan date square to satisfy your sweet tooth. Open until 11:00pm, their cozy sofas are ideal for a quiet night of studying.
3506 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2X 2H7
(514) 507-1166
Café Bistro El-Mundo
Located in the McGill Ghetto, Café Bistro El-Mundo is a favourite study spot for many university students. Here, you’ll find a quiet space with a friendly owner and staff. In the summer, they open their terrace and you can take your pile of books outside for a change of scenery. Grab one of their many spacious booths for a group study session and enjoy a cup of coffee. Open until 11:30pm, El-Mundo is popular among university students for a good reason.
3500 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2X 2H7
(514) 303-8866
Lili & Oli
Lili & Oli is a café located in Sud-Ouest open until 10:00pm. It is guaranteed to provide a friendly and relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for that late night cramming session. Their velvety lattes are to die for (their secret: 3.25% milk, but shh) and their selection of sandwiches and other goodies are delicious and reasonably priced. If you can’t bear to part with your favourite furry creature, the café is also dog-friendly.
2515 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3J
(514) 932-8961
Shaika Café
Shaika Café offers organic and fair trade certified coffees, as well as delectable sandwiches, salads, and pizzas (and let’s not forget sweet treats like espresso brownies). On most nights, the café is open until 11:00pm or midnight, and you can expect to see patrons buried in a book or typing away furiously on a laptop. On some nights, after 9:00pm, they offer live music. Grab a spot on their hand-painted tables and enjoy Shaika Café’s international flair.
5526 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H4A 3A7
(514) 482-3898
Café Lézard
Located in the East End, Café Lézard is sure to offer you an authentic Italian espresso. Open until 11:00pm or midnight depending on the night, this café offers live music on occasion. For those of us who enjoy studying with a glass of wine (not to be confused with I-can’t-understand-this-math-problem binge-drinking), Café Lézard serves alcohol as well! Enjoy their nachos or their varied selection of grilled paninis while you study away into the night.
3119 Rue Masson, Montréal, QC H1Y 1X9
(514) 729-3777