Historically a working-class neighbourhood, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has seen slow gentrification in the past few years, the Montréal district now brimming with an eclectic mix of pawn shops and dive bars located alongside high-end furniture shops and en vogue restaurants.
Bridging this gap is Supernat, a café cum wine bar serving up coffees and sandwiches by day, and a changing series of natural wines come dusk. Designed by Montreal-based architecture and design studio, MRDK, the neighbourhood spot is housed in an open light-filled space with views toward the beautifully landscaped Morgan Park. Upon entering, a large monolithic terrazzo bar, crowned with sleek modbar espresso heads and a series of wine taps, greets the customer; the central location of the bar providing views of the baristas or sommeliers at work.
Bespoke furniture and vintage picked tables and chairs can be found dotted around the inside, whilst a concrete patio outside features terrazzo flooring, additional seating and integrated corten planters that create an urban oasis without obstructing those fine views over the park.
Raw and contemporary elements were chosen to create a well balanced and refined atmosphere, whilst at the same time remaining casual and familiar. Custom light fixtures, designed in collaboration with Lambert & Fils, contrast and coexist with industrial pendant lights, the masonry walls discovered during the demolition were preserved and restored to add a unique and quirky character, whilst framed mirrors add a sense of grandeur. Lastly, a large bookcase with rolling library ladder displays the various wines and coffee for sale. Oh, and there’s that beautiful dog.
Leaving snobbery and pretentiousness at the door, Supernat Montreal is an inclusive space aiming to bring people together and to provoke chance encounters over great coffee and natural wines. Cheers to that.
Supernat Montreal Photography, David Dworkind
