50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

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

“Without a doubt, one of the funnest evenings I’ve had in years. Food and drinks were reasonably priced delicious and well versatile for any pallet. Hundreds of different styles of board games and game consoles to choose from. Enjoy laughing stories and games with up to four people. Definitely would recommend they open more locations across Canada. 🇨🇦“

“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“

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

“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“

“Love MCC! i work on Laurier few days a week and love going there for coffee and especially their croissants (they can probably guess who this is since i never change my order). The staff are absolutely welcoming and friendly. I can only hope this company grows even more. Definitely recommended!“

“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!“

“Next Level scones, order a dozen for take out after you eat here and you won't regret it. Who knew scones could be elevated to replace sandwich bread? This witch did, that's who! Friendship is magic? More like missing this place is tragic.“

“What a wonderful little spot. The atmosphere inside is so inviting and hip - makes you feel like you're in a hidden gem of Ottawa. I had a peppermint hot chocolate and it was delicious, paired with a tasty chocolate croissant. I was very pleased that I had wandered in this place and I will definitely be returning. Maybe even during the summer...to get my bike fixed!“

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

“Dining experience: Casual lunch with freshly prepared sandwiches and smoothies

The atmosphere at the Green Bean Cafe was vibrant and welcoming, and we were pleased to find that there was no wait to be seated. Classical piano music played softly in the background, creating a calm and pleasant environment. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the owner, which added a personal touch to the experience.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately caught our attention, making the cafe feel cozy and inviting. For our meal, we decided to try their toasted deli sandwiches paired with freshly made smoothies. Both were flavorful and satisfying, making it a perfect choice for a light lunch or an afternoon snack.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“A huge thank you to the team for helping us host such a successful business event. The café is absolutely beautiful, and everything was set up perfectly according to our requirements. The food was excellent, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was ideal for our gathering. We truly appreciate your support and professionalism.“

“Awesome spot!
Cozy and cute, decor is nice and tables well placed. Music was low or off, perfect for reading.
Brownie was sooo oowey gooey
Cappuccino was well made but beans are VERY dark and no choice of lighter roast.
Will come back“

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

“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!!“

“I’ve had my morning Thai tea latte almost every day for the past 2 years here. The staff are lovely, welcoming and attentive. The pastries aren’t bad either! I bring my friends all the time and they see why I’m always here. The owners are lovely people, 10/10 would recommend. :)“

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

“good and healthy food.“

“Hidden coffee shop located inside a free Ottawa museum. A nice welcome stop after visiting the museum.

Note: You order at the bar and the server brings it to you at your table. I recommend making the customer wait at the bar until the order is ready - simply put, when its busy the staff sometimes takes longer to bring the order at the table.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“I ordered the Chicken Alfredo and the food was excellent. I would recommend serving a larger piece of bread to better enjoy the sauce. I ended up with a small amount of delicious sauce left over, but I was extremely tired from a long overnight road trip and didn’t think to ask for extra bread.

I deducted one star solely due to the bread, or because a bit more pasta could have balanced the dish better. The chicken-to-pasta ratio was perfect, and overall it was genuinely delicious.

I would definitely order it again if I’m back at the hotel or nearby.“

“In true Iraqi fashion, you’re treated like a guest in someone’s home.
This place offers a beautiful slice of culture. It’s the perfect place for a nice conversation.
If you’ve never tried Iraqi coffee (often referred to as Qahwa), you are missing out on one of the most aromatic and soulful coffee traditions in the world. It isn’t just a drink; it’s a gesture of hospitality.
The owner offer sometimes free
warm, spiced chickpeas (Iraqi Lablabi) or a chopped fresh fruit platter.
Highly recommended coffee shop.“

“Always good food. They never let me down“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“My favorite bridgehead in Ottawa! I have had many moments at this special locations with both my private and work life. The service at this location is amazing and well managed, it’s usually busy as it’s at a very convenient meeting location near the highway!“

“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!“

“Thyme and Again has lots of great things, I personally mostly enjoy the baked goods. The sandwhiches are a bit expensive. But the lemon squares, Nanaimo bars, and the raspberry chocolate tarts are amazing. Some of my favourite desserts in Ottawa.“

“Service was friendly & quick,great food and delicious pies.“

“My wife and I by chance had an appointment in the building and decided to have lunch. We split the 2 egg Masala sandwich and the butter chicken poutine…wow! Just wonderful, amazing flavours, pleasant friendly staff too. We’ll be going there again even if it’s out if our way, highly recommend Chai Talks.“