In my month of hanging out in cafes in Montreal, this place takes near to the tippy top of experiences. There are a lot of cafes in Montreal. But Mariani hits near all the high notes. The design of the place is tres belle - both the inside, with their mix of 50's modernist chairs and Louis XIV vintage pieces...combined with a really clean kitchen and competent counter staff...great selection of teas, coffee roasted by Cafe Union...and the insanely beautiful terrace with a view of a huge amazing park...the Saint Zotique church on the square, and a modernist masterpiece of a Dejardins bank right next to the church. Yes, the crowd is cool, the neighborhood is totally off the beaten path (for the NYers visiting, I liken the area to Prospect Heights...serene, and transitioning, with a mix of the most artistic hipsters in Montreal and immigrants)...c'est parfait.