50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

“We loved our dinner here tonight!! The place is super cute and cozy. I love that it’s small but does not feel crammed. The staff is so friendly and it feels like you’ve known them for a long time!
We shared the tartare with fries, then we got the puttanesca pasta and the pork chops, which were all delicious, but the fried (if I remember from the menu) bread pudding with raspberries and chocolate was just mind blowing. I need to go back and order 10 of those. We will certainly come back!! :)“

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

“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! ❤️“

“Fun place! The game wizard was very helpful to fuide us through new games.
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The Thai nachos were really really good.
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*** Not a dan of the mixed bathroom if the urinals are all open and stalls are not from floor to bottom. Felt unsafe and the dudes with us felt weird about it too.

Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible yes.
Not the bathrooms though.“

“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!“

“In a word, this place is spectacular!!! The chai is perfectly prepared, and the sandwiches are some of the tastiest I have ever had, anywhere. *Anywhere*. Not only that, the portions are substantial, the prices reasonable, and the staff is lovely. Great food, great prices, great service. The trifecta, and that is increasingly hard to find in Ottawa. Run, don't walk, and enjoy a great meal here. My new favourite place to eat in Ottawa.“

“Great spot for a good cup of coffee! People I was with said the food was great!“

“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“

“This is a nice little spot for a coffee and desert. The coffee sure was great!! They do serve alcohol and have some other food options as well. It’s nice atmosphere especially on the patio deck which overlooks Preston Street. It’s a pleasant place and I definitely will return ??“

“Their scones were really good! We tried different favours like orange and cranberry, lemon and popperseeds, vanilla and cream, cheddar and scone of the month -peach crumble. They were all so yummy!

We also tried the "salmon sconewitch" and it was a refreshing experience!

Staff was friendly and helpful and we will definitely recommend this store to our families and friends.“

“I find it tough to find good take-out salads. I just had a delicious spinach with feta, pumpkin seeds and cranberries salad from Pop’s. So good!“

“I went to this cafe while visiting with my family. It is such a cute little spot. The food was amazing. The coffee was good. It was quite busy when we went and the service was fantastic! I would definitely go back!

Dietary restrictions: Non-dairy“

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

“Le meilleur petit café du centre-ville d’Ottawa. Il y a beaucoup d’ambiance.“

“I was the “crazy” lady who came in earlier this afternoon absolutely flustered and frustrated that I couldn’t find any public washroom for my 78 year old mother to use. Huge thanks to the owner for letting her use your washroom. People like you are the reason I still have hope in humanity. Rock on.“

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

“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.“

“What a wonderful and fun place!“

“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.“

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

“service, quality, fresh to order, tasty, value“

“Hey there, I was in a few weeks ago with my film camera and three members of staff told me to submit to your photo zine- they showed me photos on the wall as well of other photos submitted. Could you remind me of the name of the Zine / publication / thing to which I would be submitting? They gave me a pamphlet but I lost it... Thank you!!

Also of course food and service here is too tier. :) and a classic piece of Ottawa punk history.“

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

“Wonderful coffee and very attentive and cheerful barista I think his name is Aidan?“

“We but the frozen foods here and take them home. They're reliably fabulous. A favorite at our house are their scones cooked at home from frozen

Dietary restrictions: One of my children has a peanut allergy. They cannot guarantee their frozen foods are peanut free as they are prepared in a kitchen where peanuts are used, however, they "say" that they do make efforts not to cross contaminate their foods

Parking: I've never had any problems with parking here. There is a large free parking lot“

“We had a grade 12 twins graduation and 18th bday party catered. Both families from out of town and food was delicious! The samosas were adorable appetizers and the chicken satay was best we ever had! They had GF dairy free options for guests. The rainbow kebab was fresh sweet fruit and lovely dip. Everything was hot and fresh! The wild rice salad was a huge hit with picky teens. Will definitely order again! The service was top notch!“

“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.“

“Great place! Clean and delicious food 10/10 �“

“good and healthy food.“

“Cute small local shabby chic décore and ambiance. Nothing fancy but rustic shabby flare.I do like their cups as they are of descent weight and the barrister prepares the drink with added cream/ milk/ sugar according to your need. Although they don’t have a self serve counter, it is environmentally friendly.“

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

“best bubbletea and awesome drink“

“This is a great, quiet cafe. Plenty of space inside, and a calm, pleasant atmosphere.
The coffee is solid, I believe they sell The Artery Community Roaster coffee which I really like. The cafe has savoury options but I always come here for the desserts. The muffins are my go to. There’s a nice variety of squares and bars that I also like to pick from, including these really great lemon blondies.“

“Had a great interaction with a kind woman who made me two beaver tails quickly and they were great! Thanks again for the good attitude! Would definitely recommend“

“This cafe has a great location in Byward Market & is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
We enjoyed breakfast in 2 mornings of our visit; the breakfast options are good, fresh & tasty.
We also enjoyed a light dinner one night; it was nice to have a fresh sandwich & tasty salads.
Definitely visit this little cafe when you’re visiting Ottawa.“

“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!“

“Babylonia Cafe in Ottawa is an oasis of relaxation, offering an exquisite range of hookah, tea, and coffee. The welcoming ambiance paired with top-notch service makes for a truly unparalleled experience. A must-visit for anyone seeking a serene retreat!“

“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 recently attended the Annual General Meeting for the Egyptian Canadian Cultural Association of Ottawa ECCAO at Queensview Cafe, and it was truly an amazing event. The cafe organized the hall seating impeccably and even provided a projector and screen for the meeting presentation, which was incredibly convenient.Not only that, but the quality of the snacks provided for the attendees was top-notch, and all at a very reasonable price. The management and staff at Queensview Cafe were exceptionally friendly and accommodating, making everyone feel welcome and well taken care of throughout the event.Overall, our group had a fantastic experience at Queensview Cafe and we are already planning to hold future events at this wonderful establishment. I highly recommend Queensview Cafe for any gatherings or meetings - you won't be disappointed!“

“First time here.

The cheese cake is very good.

But the canele seem not fresh make ? Because it is very soft outside… usually I have is very crispy outside and soft inside.

The Croissant rolls are very good. May come back for this“

“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.“

“Fabulous tea and delicious snacks“

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

“This is my go-to-spot for any of my coffee needs. I love their centro house blend and the smiles of the baristas. They really make the place inviting! But recently, I have noticed the lack of chalkboards and makes the place really dull. The vibe without it is really impersonal and sad. Bring back the chalk board!“

“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.“

“Our experience at Dreamland was amazing! Everyone at my table ordered something different, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The vibes were immaculate and I can't wait to go back again. The only thing I'm sad about was that I was too full for dessert, which is a shame because the dessert menu looked AMAZING. Can't wait to go back!“

“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.“

“Delicious coffee, sandwiches and treats! You need to check them out!“

“Beautiful atmosphere, calm and relaxing, impeccable and very kind service in English and French. The chocolatine and the latte are really excellent <3Other pastries, sandwiches and healthy brunches are offered and look just as good. I will come back :)“

“So happy to finally have an amazing coffee shop in old Ottawa East!!! ❤️ the ? I just really wish it opened a lot earlier. We need our coffee in OOE at a civilized hour like 6 AM!!! lol ? would love if they changed the hours and opened before 8am everyday.“