50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

“Amazing little place!! Very friendly and delicious waffles.“

“Great place for a date or rendezvous with friends, if you like excessive noise. Imcredible selection of games, however 3 we played were incomplete or broken. Service was good, very game knowledgeable staff but drink delivery was slow... food was very ordinary.“

“Geoff and his staff at Morning Owl Woodward prepared a delicious sandwich, veggie, fruit and pastry lunch for our staff at Halpenny Insurance. Morning Owl is a real gem in the Carlington community. Amazing service, exceptional coffee and food, and wonderful catering. Geoff and his staff always greet their customers with a smile and bend over backwards for anyone who visits. Many thanks!“

“I enjoyed a fantastic raspberry and Brie crepe with a delicious caramel macchiato. It was my first time trying Luna, and I’ll absolutely be back! ❤️“

“What a 'peach' of a place.....wonderful food, such lovely staff and great, warm atmosphere. We were visiting Ottawa from UK and found this 'peach' while walking on a cold evening having arrived at our 'guest house' which turned out to be a horror! We both feel it was worth staying there just to have had two wonderful meals here..the cocktails were fab!! Thank you for lifting our spiritsxxx“

“Great and quiet place in the Heart of downtown Ottawa for you to enjoy a cup of coffee and that strawberry scone hmmmmmm Ok my favourite is their Moka“

“Very welcoming, great place to grab some fresh baked goods that taste amazing!“

“Best salads ever - authentic, creative and satisfying. Recommended!“

“Found my new breakfast place! I got the business grilled cheese, and I can honestly say that was the best grilled cheese that I have tasted in a while ! Highly recommend!!

Friendly staff, good atmosphere, great vibes all around!“

“If you are a tourist in Ottawa definitely walk to this cafe . The vibe here is amazing with a lots of bikes inside the cafe , and the place smells like a new bike shop with amazing coffee.

Thier desserts menu is also great . We tried a
Afagato which filled us with energy to continue our walk in streets of Ottowa.“

“Wonderful, inclusive folks! Very nice staff, who were very helpful. This may seem like an odd thing to say, but it was really great that they made sure they rented an accessible portable washroom for their large market event. As I was sporting crutches (I recently broke my ankle), it was a total life saver that I didn’t need to take the stairs! Not sure if the port-a-potty is an “always” thing, but just the fact that they had it for their street market when so many folks wouldn’t even think of it made me grateful. Thank you for being the loveliest hosts! I’m not a coffee or tea drinker, but I’ll certainly tell all my friends about how kind the staff were!“

“This place is truly one of a kind—unforgettable, in the best way. As visitors from out of town, we immediately wished we had somewhere like this back home, especially one that opens this early. Their breakfast, brunch, and lunch portions are just right: enough to keep you full and energized without feeling heavy.

The standout for me was the café au lait—milk coffee, or Milchkaffee in German. Paired with their breakfast options—bacon, cheese, eggs, or any of their fresh sandwiches—it was perfect. We even grabbed a bag of day-old scones (half a dozen) for the three of us on the way out, which was half price and still delicious.

The whole experience was exquisite. If you’re in the area, this place is absolutely worth a visit. We only wish something like this existed in Calgary, Alberta.

And one more thing: they sell farm-fresh jams in jars, and they are every bit as divine as the place itself.“

“The atmosphere was lively, and there was no wait time. Classical piano music filled the air as we were greeted by the owner. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee was inviting. We decided to order toasted deli sandwiches and freshly made smoothies. It’s a great place to catch up on some work while enjoying delicious food. I would rate the Green Bean Cafe a 6.9 out of 10.“

“Anni's Cafe is my new favourite study spot; a quiet, safe space, clean facilities and outstanding service! I highly recommend for any student in the area or just anyone who wants a cozy space with good coffee to get work done or get together. Shout out to the staff who make this place my home away from home!“

“We have been to Chef Ric’s a few times. It is located in our daughter’s neighbourhood. The staff is lovely, the food is fresh and very good and the value is amazing. Love how welcoming and inclusive it is. Congratulations to the entire Chef Ric’s team! Keep making yourselves proud!“

“The coffee and especially the espresso-based drinks, are absolutely fantastic, and some of the best I've ever had! Aside from the drinks being top-shelf, the staff are wonderful. Very friendly, helpful, and genuine. Thanks for making my day, see you soon.“

“I cannot go on enough about the food, the service, the location, the atmosphere - all outstanding!!! Compliments to the WHOLE team, from the chef to the servers. Love everything about this café. Highly recommend for any and all occasions. #localguide“

“Wonderful place to have authentic experience and see all the First Nations, Métis and Inuit artwork and gifts. Fantastic selection of items to purchase. Miigwetch.“

“A cool modern cafe that serves up a great Cappuccino.

Right downtown, but this place has a great little vibe and it always seems to be busy. There are some window/bar seating along with some table and chairs to set up to do some work.

The coffee is great but there are also lots of great treats. This place is perfect for an upscale place to grab a coffee to go or to meet a friend for a quick java.

The trio of Little Victories cafes are a no brainer.“

“My new favourite hangout! The live music scene is top notch! Great that they are supporting local music! Amazing Scotch menus as well as fab cocktails! Love the ambience! The lighting is perfect. Great service! The music in between sets is perfect. Come out and show some love ❤️“

“Amazing Italian food from pasta, salad, panni to desserts - all incredibly delicious! This cafe style restaurant with its friendly and wonderful service has become a favorite lunch spot for our office. They also offer a gluten free pasta option.“

“Anabia has delicious cupcakes (even Vegan ones). Their sandwiches are fantastic and so is their coffee. The atmosphere is super friendly. Great place to hang out with friends or to make new friends.“

“What an incredible and hospitable couple that runs this restaurant. Food and coffee are fantastic!“

“💞Thank you guys ,for your hospitality, attentive attitude and kind atmosphere that you create with love for your work.
Here every guest feels welcome and special. Your service is at the highest level.

Sincerely, Olga.“

“Pleasant experience. The energy bites were a nice surprise.“

“best bubbletea and awesome drink“

“A quiet little hole in the wall place that makes you want to just bring a book and hang out in one of their recliners with a chai latte (theirs are amazing!). Their cookies are what Crumbl wish they could be. They are well cooked but still soft. Exactly what you want in a meal sized cookie.“

“Beautiful people excellent food. Worth every penny!!“

“Super fun ambiance - cozy hidden artsy space with comfy couches in behind. GF and veg options and community special evening activities. Great find and happy for this addition to the neighborhood!“

“This is the greatest little coffee shop. I made a mistake this morning in thinking that they opened at 8:30 when it is written 9:30, so I walked over from the Saint Paul's Library (been here since 6am) to get a really tasty americano. When I got there the door was locked, however, a very nice gentleman opened the door and I mentioned that Facebook said it was open at 8:30 (which was the mistake). No problem, a little frustrated I walk away but he calls me back in and makes me a very nice coffee to take back. Service like this is hard to find nowadays, so I am very grateful for the coffee and the kindness. Thank you!!“

“Pleasant experience. The energy bites were a nice surprise.“

“Great atmosphere! Great Argentinian cookie… so soft and sweet with a hint of orange. The barista at this local is exceptional. And they have classical music playing great local vibe and pleasantly of happy customers on a Wednesday mod morning.“

“good and healthy food.“

“I have been to Jackson at Night for dinner a few times and it is always so delicious!! The menu constantly changes, which means there is always something new and fun to try. It’s a great place to go with friends, so you can order lots of dishes and share. Everything is so reasonably priced and the staff are always so friendly. I highly recommend! My go-to spot!“

“Overpriced Sysco food, cocktail prices as high as a 5 star restaurant, cluttered interior, nasty kitchen with dirty dishes on food prep area.“

“Very impressed with this shisha lounge. Top notch service unmatched by any I have been to. Great atmosphere. Customer service is beyond amazing! The shisha, the tea and coffee were all top notch! Fresh and delicious appetizers. Hands down best in town!“

“On September 9at 2:40pm, I left my purse at Cafe Cristal, it had all my ID in it. To the person who toke it please send my ID by mail because I have a national board exam to write in 1 week. Please.“

“Always good food. They never let me down“

“Great atmosphere, lots to do for the whole family.“

“Won’t break the budget, good food, family owned. What is there to complain about at this place. A wonderful breakfast and dinner selection fresh from the kitchen. Every time I’m at the hotel above I will eat here! The crispy chicken sandwich is awesome.“

“Great location and patio at the Bank street location! Tasty coffees, treats and snacks! Friendly staff and lots of variety of places to sit at and work or read. Overall atmosphere and calm could be much improved for working, reading -!3 conversation with less distracting music choices. There’s lots of cool stuff out there that is softer and makes for easier listening. Just a thought, I like the spot anyway and visit regularly.“

“The food was absolutely incredible—authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every bite was a true taste of Arab cuisine, from the perfectly spiced kebabs to the rich, aromatic hummus. It’s the kind of place where you can truly savor each dish.

Not only is the food top-notch, but it’s also the perfect spot to sit and enjoy a meal with friends. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it ideal for gathering and sharing delicious dishes. Whether you’re coming for a casual meal or celebrating something special, this place is a gem. Highly recommend it!“

“We ordered philly steak and chicken fajita requested to make it spicy and they nailed it delicious corn and tea..keep it.up“

“I really enjoyed the environment, very quiet on Sunday afternoon, the food was okay: my ice mocha was a little sweet and the croissant felt fresh and crunchy.
My concern is the cleaning, I understand is Sunday and is a busy day but looked a little neglected, even so the workers are very friendly.“

“I'm going through some health issues and have a small baby, so I'd ordered a weeks worth of flash frozen meals. They are so, so good! They're healthy, tasty, and best of all no cooking involved. The portions are generous and I can feed myself, my Mom and my 16 month old loves them too. I'll be a returning weekly customer for sure.“

“Had the special BBQ Mushroom burger.....what surprised was the weight of the burger....it was a lot of burger. Flavour / taste was great....really enjoyed it. My wife had their liver and onions....which they are well known for and they did not disappoint....fantastic food and service.“

“The most beautiful view from the window. You can see the Parliament buildings, the National War memorial, and Chateau Laurier.“

“Excellent cafe, good vibes, good staff,good coffee...Only complaint is that the tables could be wiped down more often. And the black leather sofa is old and not what it used to be when they first opened back in 2014...Think it's time for a new one ;). I like the cappuccino and lattes,often made with a heart ❣️“

“Hubby and I's fave lunch spot :) We bring our two young kids here too from time to time and they love it too. Large portions, tons of nutritious options, and we love the bright and airy space too. Highly recommend!“