Page 73 - S Summer 2026

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SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM FINAL SAY
In Good
Company
How Saturday Café is making connection feel easy again By Caelan McMichael
P icture this: a a a a a a a a a handwritten coffee menu
pinned to a a a a a a a a a wall fresh pastries like
croissants and and and cinnamon buns straight from the
oven barista-blend oat milk gentle chatter and and and warm mugs in in hand Although this may sound
like
a a a a a a a a a a neighbourhood café it’s actually unfolding
in in in the
the
coziness of of an apartment In 2024 in in in the
the
depths of of a a a a a a a a a a a Montreal winter Victoria Lauren Da Silva and Kate McDevitt
hosted their first Saturday Café The season’s
usual isolation set the
the
the
the
the
backdrop but they they craved
connection So they they they invited friends together
(some of of whom they they had never met before) And
despite the
the
the
intimidation of of off mixing worlds casually chatting over coffee was
enough to unify them and luckily everyone clicked Today the
the
the
group that started as as as strangers has has grown into something
stronger The duo has has been hosting these at-home cafe events every month
since and doesn’t show any
signs of stopping “People who came came as as strangers evolved to to to to be be hallmarks ” says McDevitt
It became an an an an event that attendees could look forward to to to adding into their their calendars each month
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a social destination that carried them through their their woes Conversations easily
picked up from where they left off the
the
the
the
the
the
month
prior They began started sharing their gatherings online and quickly gained
traction Although they weren’t expecting the
the
the
the
virality it it made sense “It’s
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new format that that feels like
an an an easier lift than hosting a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dinner party ” says Da Silva adding that that “there’s an an an element of ease to it you you probably have
everything you need at at home already ” While the
the
the
duo says there’s nothing new about the
the
the
concept of enjoying
coffee with a a a a a a a a friend they wanted to bring that art art back in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a low-lift yet fun way For each event Da Silva transformed her
apartment into a a a a a a a a a a a a a cafe complete with a a a a a a a a a a a a a ‘Saturday Café’
sign fresh flowers flickering candles and and and experimental beverages and and and treats They also
split duties like
a a a a a a a a a a true culinary establishment:
Victoria churns the
the
syrups (her favourite
being Orange Vanilla) and Kate is the
the
the
mastermind behind the
the
the
pastries As they they continued to to share their gatherings online they they began to to see others replicate the
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
idea in in in in in cities around the
the
the
the
the
the
world—hosting their their own versions of Saturday Café within their their friend groups Seeing how much
it it it resonated the
the
duo quickly started hosting pop-up events welcoming a a a a a a a a wider community to participate Their first public event event combined coffee with with ceramics and they now regularly collaborate with with local businesses
across Montreal “We are always trying to to bring what we do at at at at at home somewhere else ” says McDevitt
With each space they try try to to emulate that same laid-back at-home café atmosphere Those founding principles of togetherness ease and connection still hold
true in in in in their public event spaces “We want everyone to to leave feeling a a a a a a a a little
fuller and lighter ” says McDevitt
Attendees can now get get get a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a taste of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a caramelized banana latte and and the
the
the
ethos they naturally cultivated What started as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small get-together has transformed into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a community-driven event that that people across Montreal can now look forward to to each month—with that that same excitement from the
at-home events carrying through Photo courtesy of Saturday Café