Crew Collective & Café is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful cafés in Montréal — a spectacular coffee-and-coworking space set inside a former bank hall in the heart of Old Montréal. Housed on the main floor of the old Royal Bank of Canada headquarters at 360 rue Saint-Jacques, built between 1926 and 1928 by the New York architectural firm York & Sawyer, it's a place that stops you in your tracks the moment you push through the grand revolving door: soaring gilded ceilings, an inlaid marble floor, ornate painted plaster overhead, and glowing brass light fixtures give it the grandeur of a cathedral or a great railway station — more than one visitor has likened it to Grand Central Terminal. When Crew took the space over, opening the café in May 2016, they were careful to preserve these period treasures, from the marble and brasswork to the original teller wickets, then had the hall thoughtfully redesigned by architect Henri Cleinge to serve a very 21st-century purpose. History and modernity meet here in the most inspiring way.
As a café, it's open to all, and the coffee is taken seriously. Crew's trained baristas work with local Montréal roaster Traffic Coffee to pull classic hot and cold espresso drinks and pour a custom filter blend — the Latte Dulce de Leche, cappuccino, and matcha latte are house favourites. The kitchen leans on some of the city's most-loved names for the rest: bagels from Fairmount Bagel, baking from Aube Boulangerie and Hof Kelsten, and more, turned into focaccia sandwiches, a smoked salmon bagel, chocolate banana bread, and a rotating line-up of pastries and light lunch fare. It's a lovely idea, really — a chance to taste the best of several beloved Montréal makers under one magnificent roof, with the convenience of grab-and-go alongside freshly made hot dishes.
But Crew is far more than a café. Founded as a Montréal tech company and creative platform connecting freelancers with clients, it opened this space as an answer to the freelance age — an all-in-one setting designed for people who want somewhere genuinely beautiful to think and work. There are open seats for the casually curious, day passes and individual workstations (each with the essentials, and even a nod to the building's past in the form of a safety deposit box for your valuables), and full Collective coworking memberships that unlock a private section behind the counter, complete with conference rooms, a kitchen, private balconies, concierge services, and other perks. Members working in the pods can even order online and have their meal delivered right to their desk — more time for creativity.
The heritage setting also makes Crew a dream venue for events, from galas and cocktail hours to business meetups and holiday parties. Bookable spaces range from the show-stopping Main Venue beneath the restored ceiling to the light-filled East and West Wings, the marble-balustraded balconies overlooking the grand staircase, the serene Zen Room (once the bank president's own office, all dark woodwork and a skylight), the mezzanine conference rooms, and the South Lounge with its majestic windows. What we love most about Crew Collective is exactly this: the rare pleasure of enjoying great coffee and good food in a space of such architecture and history — an inspiring place, made for productivity and creativity alike, in the heart of Old Montréal.