Calling Crew Collective & Café a café somehow doesn’t do it justice. This may genuinely be one of the MOST GORGEOUS spaces I have ever had coffee in.
It’s inside the former Royal Bank of Canada headquarters in Old Montreal, and the building is absolutely breathtaking. The massive ceilings, marble floors, huge brass chandeliers, grand staircases and original brass bank teller areas are incredible. You honestly don’t know where to look first.
And somehow everything works together perfectly. The architecture, the lighting, all those beautiful original bank details, even the music playing in the background — it all just fits. You don’t just come here for coffee. The whole place is an experience.
We went around 10am on a Wednesday and there was already a LONG winding line going up the stairs. We probably waited about 30 minutes, but honestly, it was totally worth it.
We ordered the Fairmount bagel with artisanal smoked salmon from New Victoria Fish, cream cheese, cucumber, dill, onion and capers, along with an almond croissant, an Americano and a cappuccino.
The food was INCREDIBLE. The smoked salmon bagel was so fresh and beautifully put together, and you could tell how much care went into it. You can actually see the chefs working in the open kitchen, which I loved. Watching everything coming out made me want to order half the menu. 😂
This isn’t just typical café food. It genuinely felt like a culinary experience.
The almond croissant was delicious, the coffees were excellent, and I could NOT stop looking at the Shokupan French toast coming out of the kitchen with Québec strawberries, whipped yogurt, maple and hazelnuts. That’s 100% what I’m trying next time.
Is it expensive? Yes. Would I make this my regular everyday coffee spot? Probably not. But for the experience, I honestly think it’s SO worth it.
It’s also such a great date spot. This is somewhere you actually want to sit, talk, eat and take everything in rather than just grab a coffee and leave.
If you’re visiting Montreal, this is a MUST. Even if there’s a line, WAIT. Go for the incredible building, stay for the food and take the time to enjoy the whole experience.
I would absolutely go again — and next time I’m getting that French toast. 😂