The proprietor hails from eastern France, near the Swiss border. “Magnifique!” he nodded when I asked if it was beautiful. 

  The Saint-Louis is my favourite cafe these days, tucked away on a side street straddling the funky neighbourhoods of Mile End and the Plateau here in Montreal. 

  Inside a creative looking clientele work on laptops, write in notebooks or doodle in sketch pads. There’s a twelve foot mural on the end wall resembling the above photo and more paintings on canvas adorning other walls and displayed for sale on shelves. The music is hip and unobtrusive too!

  But that’s not the best of it. 

  Turns out the washroom is secreted away behind a bookshelf! 

  For me who has spent a lifetime reading the surprise and delight this fact affords never flags. 

  In truth once I’ve ordered my savoury black coffee and cranberry cookie I head to the toilet and spend the rest of my cafe time there. Admittedly it can be a little annoying to the other cafe customers, but I don’t care.

  After all, when you’ve spent your entire life hiding behind books it’s not easy to change.