#mtlcafe

Leaves Cafe

Location:  2051 Rue de la Montagne

Metro Station: Peel or Guy-Concordia

Hello!!! I know I’ve already posted about this spot, but since I come here a lot, I felt like updating my pictures for you guys! I first came here when it had just opened and it has evolved since then. 

If you haven’t read my old post about this place, worry-not! I’ll give you a nice little summary of this wonderful cafe. 

First off, this cafe is located very close to Concordia University (and relatively close to McGill University). I enjoy the short walk through downtown to get here from my school. Especially if you have classes in Hall building (Concordia students), Leaves is about 3-4 block away. 

What I love about this place is its peacefulness. Every time I come here, I feel instantly relaxed. Their playlist includes relaxing acoustic songs (a lot of them I listen to regularly myself). Their simplistic and minimalist decor strips down your stress and reveals peace of mind. Almost everything here is white, with touches of pale wood and plants. So many plants. And cacti. Leaves is here to satisfy your love for cacti. Mini plants fill the cafe and introduce color and nature to their little space. A lot of the plants are planted in little white coffee cups with their logo printed on them. Perfect for Instagram.

An interesting aspect of this cafe is that it is the only all vegan cafe in Montreal. Yap, no milk. Any lactose-intolerant person’s dream. And paradise for vegans too, of course. But don’t worry, if you order a latte, you won’t just get latte minus milk (basically an overpriced espresso). They have some yummy substitutes: Almond milk, Soy milk and Coconut milk. I find that the coconut milk tastes best but almond milk results in better latte art. So for your Instagram junky (like me), get the almond milk!!!

Cafe Larue et Fils

Location:  405 Rue Jarry E

Metro Station: Jarry

My midterms just ended and I’m finally taking a breath of fresh air. I’m claustrophobic in this structure we call reality and I feel like I can peep my head out of the prison a bit.

I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed with school and general real-life pressure. Don’t get me wrong, I love life and I feel lucky to be able to go to University. But it becomes a lot of weight on our shoulders. Work can pile up pretty quickly. There’s no more time for drawing or painting, playing music or doing anything hobby-like. There is time for doodles and iPhone photography, but nothing in a form of a project. And I sort of miss that. I miss being able to pour out my emotions to create. It’s too risky now. Once I rediscover the passion to make art, I’ll never go back to science again. But it’s all about balance, right?

Just a few days ago, I had the chance to go to one of my favorite bands’ concert. The Lumineers. I was looking forward to the date, but was too preoccupied with all my plans and assignments to really take a moment and realize just how excited I was for this show. I had bought the tickets a while ago and the date sort of creeped up on me a few days before the concert. 

But let me tell you, this concert gave me something I was longing for such a long time. Pure, raw, simple emotion. Music in its simplest form: an acoustic guitar, a tambourine and a cello. Beautiful melodies that made me feel so much - so much that I had repressed for the past few years in order to concentrate on school. 

I felt like I was out of my confined office for once. I realized I had put myself there. And as a consequence, became claustrophobic. 

Life is all about balance. And it’s also about survival. 

We all need those little things in life that keep us happy and keep us motivated to carry on and live through the hard steps. 

I need to play music, I need to doodle because it’s the way I preserve my true self. It’s easy to be confined. As much as we hate it, we put ourselves in that claustrophobic situation because we think it’s the most secure option. We destroy our true essence because we think it’s not good enough for the real world. 

Truth is - we need to get out of confinement - we need to breathe. We need to breathe to function and live and thrive. Without our pure happiness, who are we? 

I realized that going to coffee shops is a survival instinct. It’s my way to escape from reality and find happiness in a cup of coffee every morning. Yes, it’s disguised as my “spot to study” or my “spot to only get coffee before school” but it’s also my “spot to escape”. I may not go to concerts every day, I may not draw anymore, I may not pick up the guitar every weekend. I unconsciously prohibited myself from enjoying life that way in order to be a grown up. But the real human in me craved escapism and needed to get out of the little box. And if that’s in the form of coffee - so be it.

This cafe shown above is one of my favorite spots to go to before school. It’s on my way to Concordia and it’s also right in front of the metro. It’’s not time consuming to get here. The people are very nice. The playlist playing in the background is almost always swing music and it relaxes me each time. The lighting that comes in the cafe is like a glimpse from heaven - so nice to sit next to the huge windows. Their decor is warmed toned and also makes you feel warm inside. They always have beautiful plants and flowers around the cafe. PS: Try to look for some mini hidden origami in their plants... :)

The latte is amazing and their latte art is on point every single time. Plus, it’s on the coffee passport, so for you Indie Coffee Passport holders, don’t miss this place! There’s a Larue & Fils at Jean Talon also, but I haven’t been to that one yet.

So if you’re like me (and you probably are), get your daily fix here. We all need time to unwind.

More and more do I consider coffee as more than a beverage. It’s a way to keep us sane. It’s our daily routine that gives us some time to think about a simple cup of coffee. It’s a way to bring people together, it’s a way to enjoy yourself. 

Currently listening: Flapper Girl - Lumineers