50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

“Absolutely incredible experience at Corner Peach. The staff are very attentive and knowledgeable but this does not get in the way of good humour and natural charm. Every staff member we interacted with made the experience that much better and the food was perfectly portioned for a dinner for two. Really impressed with the service, especially navigating a gluten and dairy free menu“

“Great little place, super friendly staff, some electrical outlets, open late.

It was nice to work from a coffee shop at a time when most other coffee places are closed. Although, wifi is only available for guests of the hotel.

I do understand why, but I'd love to have access to the wifi as a client who purchases drinks.

It wasn't an issue for me because I used my phone for hotspot, but beware if you depend on wifi!

That's the only reason I didn't give 5 stars.“

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

“Visited while on a trip to Ottawa, so glad we did. Staff are super friendly and accommodating, lots of games to choose from (although we brought our own from a recent purchase at Imaginaire and they charge you less if you bring your own games so, bonus!). We didn't have any food but the cappucino I had was fabulous (and a great portion size). The nerd trivia upstairs on Monday seemed fun, although not our topic (Star Trek not being either of our forte). This is a great place, highly recommended.“

“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! ❤️“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“Dispute being full and having high ceilings w/ hard surfaces, it wasn't very loud, which is makes enjoying the food much more enjoyable.

The coffee is delicious, it's always such a treat when a restaurant has an actually good cup of coffee.“

“This is very much a hidden gem! I stopped by to pick up some sweets for work and fell in love with the cafe-definitely not what I was expecting. The decor, comfortable seating, music, lighting, extra room in the rear of the cafe, selection of sweets, coffee’s, etc.. is spot on. A lot of time and love went into designing this cafe and it’s very obvious. There were two younger employees when I visited and they were incredible! If I’m being honest, had it not been for them I would have admired everything and left because there was a middle aged woman who added nothing to our experience. We felt she was looking us up and down-very obviously, no smile, barely answered our questions or engaged with us as we gushed about how incredible everything was. This sort of exchange usually compels me to not visit an establishment twice, however perhaps she was having a bad day herself. This is a beautiful spot and very welcoming (mostly). ;) Higly recommend.“

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“💞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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“good and healthy food.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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 ❣️“