Opened in 1979 by Giovanni De Palma, nicknamed "Baffoni" for his mustache. The family held it for 46 years, from father to son.
Giovanni De Palma founded Caffè San Simeon in 1979 and named it after an Italian soccer club – allegiance obliges. The café was then a strictly male social club, where cards were played while smoking; the ban on smoking in Montréal establishments ended up opening the door to everyone, at any time. De Palma, nicknamed “Baffoni” for his imposing mustache, made it a family affair passed down from father to son; his grandson Nick De Palma was, until recently, the most visible figure, himself serving the long espressos on Wednesday mornings. The family also owned, in its time, a restaurant and a building on the corner of Dante and Saint-Laurent.
What hasn't changed: Fantini coffee, imported directly from Italy and served for more than thirty-five years; the choice limited to espresso, latte and cappuccino; the wooden benches at the entrance where the regulars reconnect with each other between two sips and an afternoon cigarette. “I’ve been coming here for almost twenty years,” says Tonie, a regular. Barista Tonino Naccarato, who grew up in the same neighbourhood as the owners, confirms having always known them. In the summer of 2025, the De Palma family sold the establishment to new owners — the quality of the coffee has not changed.