Le Caravane Café

for anyone who’s versed in montreal café shops, this is the cagibi of the wild wild west. the only thing missing to truly make it like le cagibi, musicians otherwise, from the food to the coffee to the many students as well as the opening hours, its striking in similarity.
coffee: not the worst i’ve drank but its no better than mcdonald’s. mind you, they only had filter because part of their kitchen was missing electricity. their espresso machine is on that side. coffee had a barely perceptible cocoa note in it. you really had to pay attention otherwise you’d miss it.
what about food? well, they recommend one of their cookies as i just ate earlier so i asked what they had besides this display of chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookie and white chocolate cookie in the back. light bulb went ding ding ding, i heard about that white chocolate so i went with it. very crispy on the edge, tender in the center, contain nuts (almond to be more precise), has salted caramel and chunks of white chocolate. verdict? if you want diabetes, go ahead as its sweet on sweet and highly calorific. the saving grace for that cookie is the almonds as it gives it a textural contrast but most of all, some well needed nutty flavor. i mean, white chocolate is straight up tasteless fat, its not chocolate so forget about the rich velvety cocoa note you’d get from say a dark chocolate. the salted caramel is sugar with more fat. all in all, that’s what death must taste like.
if i have to guess, for better flavorful cookie, you’d be better off with the chocolate chip cookie. and the cookie is almost perfectly baked. a bit too crispy for my liking.
in short, coffee is no good. if filter is no good, espresso based won’t be that much better. cookie wise, depending on the flavor combo. highly packed with students. only reason: cheapest café in the hood. even on a early saturday afternoon, place was packed, only the sofa by the entrance was available.
there’s a superior café on the other side of the street, highly recommended but i understand, a dollar difference, especially for a student, its a lot of money. if i was still a student or if such café existed back in my university days, i’d be here too

Let me start by saying that I do not drink coffee.
If I were you, my next question would be, «why is this person reviewing a café?» and I wouldn’t blame you!
Le Caravane Café is a really nice place located on Lacombe on the corner of Gatineau, right around the corner from Cote Des Neiges metro.
Though I don’t drink coffee, I love any place that is open until 11 PM and serves food and excellent desserts. I don’t know if the term exists, but this place is basically the quadrifecta for me: open late, check; serves dessert, check; vegetarian food options, check; serves milkshakes??? OK, where do I sign? Please take my money!
Add to that the fact that the staff is always friendly and welcoming, and i think they’re starting to recognize me even though I’ve only been there a few times. This kind of personal touch goes a long way with me.
Now to the important bits, here are my recommendations for things not to be missed if you visit:
The salted caramel and white chocolate chunk cookie is a classic crowd pleaser here, and is well worth trying. The caramel saltiness is a perfect complement to the sweetness of the cookie and the white chocolate chunks. Your taste buds will thank you, trust me.
The White Chocolate Brownie Cake! The White Chocolate Brownie Cake! The White Chocolate Brownie Cake!!! Oh My God!!! Words cannot describe the decadence of this cake. When I first saw it, I was drawn hypnotically to the words «brownie» and «white chocolate» but I ordered it with some trepidation because it looked like a cheesecake, and I don’t like cheesecake. I could not have been more wrong — what appeared to be cheese filling was actually a white chocolate mousse, permeated with brownie bits! Topped with a mini brownie, and all of this on a base of brownie, I think I died and went to heaven, then I came back so I could do it all again!
Try a sandwich! So far I’ve tried the grilled vegetables and the tuna and avocado, and they were delicious! I can’t wait to get there earlier enough someday to be able to get an Eggs Benedict, that’ll be my next review.
Have a smoothie! There’s a choice of around 8 different fruits, but don’t be afraid to mix and match. My favourite is Banana, Mango, and Pineapple. I tried Banana, Mango, and Peach, but it was a little too sweet (a part of me just died for saying that, but it’s true).
Check out the bathroom (not in a weird way!), they’ve converted a bathtub into a planter with a few different trees, I got a real kick out of that!
Le Caravane Café! I can’t wait to go back!
See you there, maybe ;)

La raison du si petit nombre de cafés/​restos intéressants autour de l’Université de Montréal demeure un véritable mystère. Le Caravane Café est définitivement l’option la plus intéressante, et ce n’est pas un secret: le café est rempli, peu importe l’heure. On propose des cafés et thés qui sont excellents en plus d’un nombreux choix de sandwichs et de desserts qui sont très bons et offerts à prix raisonnables (le sandwich aux légumes grillés et morceaux de parmesan est définitivement un bon choix).
La décoration est belle (aux toilettes, un ancien bain a été rempli de terre et des plantes vertes y poussent — c’est très cool), la musique est bonne et les gens qui y travaillent sont sympathiques. On y retourne donc régulièrement, et avec plaisir.

What an absolute gem. This is my second trip to Montréal. I set out to find a nice little café with wifi and some food. The atmosphere seems to mostly be students with friends. At lunch it becomes crowded but still friendly and relaxed. My French is not so good but the staff was patient and helpful in English and French. The food was amazing! L’envie and most sandwiches come with a fruit salad and potatoes. Everything was fresh. Definitely recommend this place.

Endroit chaleureux et convivial, mais bondé d’étudiants venus pour travailler, du coup c’est très difficile d’avoir une place (en tout cas, le jour où on y est allés mes 5 amis et moi).
Sinon l’établissement est vraiment sympathique, la déco est cool et on s’y sent plutôt bien. On a goûté aux pâtisseries, j’ai pris le cheesecake brownie, il était bon, mais pas forcément le meilleur que j’ai goûté non plus. Dans l’ensemble c’était quand même très bon.
Un endroit qui me donne envie, pourquoi pas, d’y retourner pour un goûter entre ami.

C’est selon moi le café le plus sympathique de l’arrondissement Côte-​des-​Neiges. Pour les étudiants et étudiantes des écoles avoisinantes, c’est très facile d’y accéder à pied et c’est l’endroit parfait pour un travail en équipe ou pour réviser seul. Le décor est super et l’ambiance est géniale.
Le menu est simple et exquis. De bons grilled cheese, de bonnes salades et des desserts à vous en faire saliver.
Moi qui suis une adepte des cafés latte, je né manqué pas une occasion d’en commander un. Excellent, mais pas constant. J’ai été déçue à une ou deux reprises par son goût fade, et d’autres fois j’en aurais pris un deuxième. C’est le seul point qui fait que le Caravane Café né se mérite pas la note parfaite.

An excellent little coffee shop slash restaurant that I had the chance to visit a few times with my husband and friends. I would add that in my opinion, they serve one of the best coffee in the neighborhood.
Service so far has always been amicable. Café Caravane also has a good selection of food including fresh sandwiches, as well as some vegetarian options.
The interior is decorated with colorful revolutionary and political art, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. Wooden chairs and tables are mismatched but all very comfortable. Prices are fair and the food is affordable.
Overall a nice place I would recommend in a heartbeat.

I don’t come here as much as I’d like (because it’s way far away from my part of town) but whenever I’m in Côte des Neiges I stop by. The food is great, I think it’s reasonably priced. Sandwiches, soups and salads. Definitely enough pastries to satisfy. Coffee is amazing. Service is good. Ambiance is outstanding — I really love their outdoor seating in the nice weather. And I love love love that they do Kusmi’s organic Lov tea. Switch up your coffee for a tea sometime — it will not disappoint.
Lots of great space for sitting — you can see why it’s a favorite for students in all seasons.

Espace bien pensé pour les étudiants avec une bonne qualité de nourriture.
Le prix du brunch est très raisonnable et après on a plus faim.

Endroit idéal pour étudier ou travailler sur son ordinateur. Tables profondes qui permettent de bien s’installer.
Le prix des plats est très raisonnable. J’ai mangé les mignonnettes:
3 œufs cuits au four avec bacon +
Bonne quantité de fruits frais +
Salade verte au vinaigre et huile +
Baguette et confiture +
Un petit café latté pour 11.50 $
Vraiment contente d’avoir trouvé cet endroit j’y reviendrai!

Excellent endroit pour manger un sandwich (leur sélection est variée et délicieuse), et le décor en vaut la peine. Difficile de trouver une table par contre, et le café n’est pas excellent. Le café du Méchant Café juste en face est de loin supérieur. Sandwich au Caravane, puis traversez au Méchant pour un café!

Fast. Friendly. Delicious.
Came here with a few friends for a late brunch. When we got to the register, there were two minutes left in their breakfast menu, so I quickly ordered the brie, bacon and avocado benedict. It was absolutely delicious. They were out of mashed potatoes before I got there, which is not a big deal because they subbed it out for some fruit.
We ate outside in the sunshine but the interior looked like a great place to grab a coffee or a meal and catch up on some homework.
I’m surprised this place doesn’t have more reviews but I was thoroughly satisfied with my meal and the staff was extremely friendly as well.

J’adore étudier au Caravane Café. Tout près de l’Université de Montréal, c’est un endroit génial pour les étudiants qui ont besoin d’un petit lunch ou d’une boisson chaude pour se motiver. Les panini sont excellents et le café est bon. Toutefois, si vous êtes un fan d’espresso qui donne des sensations fortes, ce n’est peut-​être pas l’endroit pour vous. Décor charmant, serveurs attentionnés, ambiance agréable à toute heure… et comment résister à un bol de café au lait en étudiant dans l’espoir de né pas échouer la majorité de nos cours? Merci, Caravane Café.

Warm, charming and inviting Le Caravane Café gives you a buzz, in a good kinda way, not just from caffeine but from the energy that this place emanates!
Open from 7am to 11pm during the week and 9am to 11pm on weekends, this café has soul and a beat that never seems to stop! Drowning in a sea of pen & paper, notebooks, pads, mobile devices, you’ll see students studying, heads down with headphones, some others are chatting away and others are furiously working on group projects. This said, not to worry, you’re almost always assured to find a spot to sit as there seems to be a decent amount of turnover.
Surrounded by vintage elements such as tape reel typewriters, tungsten light fixtures, beautiful woodwork, I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic but then snap right back when noticing the modern power outlets essential to fuel our highly coveted electronics.
Needless to stay I stopped by for a yummy cup of joe and could not resist to the callings of the decadent chocolate chip cookie that was gazing at me as I was being served by a very charming and friendly barista. I am told that the breakfast, sandwiches and soups are all very tasty not to mention very reasonably priced too!
Congrats Karim and Valérie for opening this little haven for UofM patrons! I’m intrigued by how you’ve helped Côte-​des-​Neiges blossom and will return to try out the ratatouille and perhaps a classic Jambon & Emmental cheese melt!

Great service. Gentleman who waited on me was very polite and patient. The atmosphere is very relaxing. Almost feel asleep on couch. At the time of my visit there were a lot of students working in their laptops and a lot of in and out traffic of people passing by to grab a beverage. Bathroom was in decent shape all things considered but not spotless. Wifi also tested at about 6gbs. I see myself being a regular here.

Le Caravan Café, j’en avais déjà beaucoup entendu parlé de la part des étudiants et étant à quelque pas de chez moi je me dis: Go, il est temps de tester ça !
J’arrive, je trouve le décor directement sympa, attirant et chaleureux ! Le tout en bois, façon vintage, tableaux stylés (pas du style Ikea non), quelques vieilleries comme une machine à écrire.
J’y ai passé plusieurs heures lors de ma période d’examen, j’ai donc eu l’occasion de tester plusieurs choses, notamment les œufs bénédictines, dont je né suis pas fan à la base, mais là, première bouche et waw je me régale, je vous conseille le Coquet à base de shutney de figues, ce qui amèné la parfaite petite touché de sucrée, le tout accompagné d’une belle salade et d’une purée comme celle de maman ! Quantité et qualité assurée pour un prix dérisoire.
J’ai également testé l’un de leur sandwich, c’était bon et frais également mais pas assez garni selon moi.
Ils ont aussi un vaste choix de boissons chaudes ou froides, ainsi que différent choix de gâteaux, dont j étais un peu sceptique à première vue, mais au final j’ai goûté une petite bouché, je m’attendais au gâteau industriel et pas du tout, ça goûte le fait maison !
Personnel agréable, souriant et de bon conseils. De plus, ils disposent d’une belle terrasse, de quoi profiter lors des belles journées ensoleillées !
Bref, on y retourne quand vous voulez que ce soit pour étudier, pour petit-​déjeuner ou encore bruncher !

Update: They added lots more space, and a terrace! Yay!