Café Leaves - Montreal, Quebec

While in Montreal last month, I made a point to stop by any tea place or cafe I walked by. Café Leaves was just a 10 minute walk from where I was staying downtown so it was the spot I visited the most. Before even visiting Montreal, this cafe was on my radar because of their Instagram. I took note of the beautiful aesthetics, the fun treats and drinks, and the luscious greenery that canvased the space. It is a small location (I walked by it a few times without realizing!) but the owners did a great job utilizing every area to make it welcoming and comfortable for customers. My first impression was that this cafe was made for plant and latte lovers.

Strolling down the street, you’ll notice a nice patio spot on the outside of the sidewalk with a couple of tables and bench seating. A sidewalk chalkboard stands near the seating with a few drink recommendations for the day. The front facing side of the cafe is all glass windows and door. When entering, you’ll notice the clean white space that is popping with greenery from a variety of succulents and other plants. To your left, there are ledges on the wall that display some merchandise for sale, such as tea accessories, plants, purses/bags, notepads, and more.

To your right, you’ll find the indoor seating and a vibrant, colourful mural painted on the wall. It’s a fun addition to the blank canvas. There is also window seating, but the time I visited it was covered with more plants! The plants in Café Leaves are potted in their white logo to-go cups, or plain pots.

Straight ahead is the counter to check out the drink menu, the fresh treats on display, and place your order. Below the counter is a fridge that has local kombucha and juices. Café Leaves is plant based, so you’ll have to venture outside of cow’s milk for your latte. Luckily, they have an extensive menu just for plant-based milks! The non-dairy milk options are included in the price of your drink, with the exception of two. They offer almond, coconut, soy, rice, oat ($0.22 extra), and macadamia nut ($0.43 extra) milk.

My first trip to Café Leaves was on my walk back to the hotel from hiking Mont Royal. It was still morning so I felt like a bold cup, but unsure of their menu. On the wall nearby the ordering counter are large white sheets outlining their offerings. The menu is divided into Latte, Super Latte (including decaf & iced) and Tea (including decaf & cold brew). You’ll find coffee-based drinks like cappuccinos and maple latte, and you’ll also find superfood-based drinks like turmeric cinnamon chili latte and matcha. Their tea menu was a decent size, but smaller variety as it was mostly green, black and herbal teas. Some teas are sourced from Kilogram Tea and the Montreal-based tea shop, Camellia Sinensis.
I opted for a dirty chai latte on my first visit which consisted of a masala chai with a shot of espresso, and my milk of choice was macadamia nut. I really enjoyed the macadamia nut milk, it was my first time trying this of dairy-free option. However, I would stick with a more subtle milk for this drink as I found it overpowered the spices. It did make the dirty chai latte extra creamy though!
On my second trip to Café Leaves that weekend, I ordered a London Fog with soy milk, and I couldn’t resist getting a croissant, too. It would have been a horrible mistake if I didn’t because it was one of the best I’ve had! The London Fog was well-balanced with the bergamot and vanilla notes. The croissant was incredibly soft, flaky and just a tad buttery. I would go back for 500 more of those alone. They also sell danishes, cookies and other small pastries.

Both my drinks were in a paper cup to go, but if staying, they serve drinks in ceramic ware. Their latte art is on point, too, and look especially cool with their colourful superfood lattes.

Café Leaves adds colour and greenery to lives and lattes. If you find yourself in Montreal looking for a quiet spot to get work done, meet friends, or just craving a delicious tea latte and croissant pairing, add it to your itinerary!