50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

“Came to Ottawa for a work trip and was pleasantly surprised by this gem of a restaurant. Great selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Got to go on Tuesday, where they have a special of tapas sized version of their main dishes. Servings are still good for 2 people to share. Great way to try a bunch of their dishes which were all very good. Service was amazing and ambiance was cute and cozy. Would want to check out their market in the day and co-restaurant cafe.“

“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! ❤️“

“From the beginning the staff were incredibly kind! They helped me understand everything because I hadn’t been there before and was very friendly! I had the teriyaki chicken poutine and it was very nice! I would’ve liked a bit more teriyaki sauce but that’s genuinely just because it was so tasty! The red wine base gravy was delicious with the dish. Even though I lost at Mario Party I think I definitely will be visiting again in the future! Shy guy will not be invited next time (Normal computer). If you get a drink and a meal on top of the 9$ cover be ready to spend over 30 dollars. It’s delicious food but I’m not huge on drinks so I’d pass on it in the future. Was definitely worth giving it a try!

Vegetarian options: They have indicators on their menu for what food is vegetarian!

Dietary restrictions: They have indicators on their menu for Gluten free products!

Kid-friendliness: There was a small family with a child and since the tables are all separate they were able to enjoy their time together as a family :)“

“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.“

“The best scones in town for sure. What a great selection and fair prices for their menu options. It was our first time there and we loved it so much we returned the next day. Staff are so friendly and you do have the option to dine in or take out as well as place orders for future pick up which is what we did for the next day. Definitely a must try. I hope they expand to Toronto! Would love it!!!“

“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“

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

“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“

“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.“

“Very generous portions, I got the smoked meat panini. I used to work in a very famous smoke meat restaurant in Montréal, let me tell you these guys get very good quality smoke meat, fat- meat ratio and flavour exceeded expectations. Very friendly waitress and service too. An overall very nice surprise“

“Amazing place for coffee, croissants and greatest service by the staff. We were there with our 7 months old son, and the staff asked if we needed a high chair and brought toys for him to play.
Thank you for brightening our day ?
D.B.D“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“best bubbletea and awesome drink“

“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.“

“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!“

“Although it would look like this could be a tourist trap, it really isn’t. Plenty of locals seem to be frequenting this cafe for their daily breakfast. The cappuccino was amazing, and it’s nice to be able to drink it out of a mug rather than paper cups, which seems to be the only option in a lot of places.
I had their chicken and bacon panini which was also really good.
Will be back for their cakes next time I’m in Ottawa.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“I've stopped by here a few times to pick up goodies - the pastries here have been fantastic. A friend and I tested out the supreme croissants, which were a fun experience - delicious fillings. At a different date, I picked up an almond butter croissant that blew me away. I look forward to eventually trying out some of their Financiers. I have never stopped to hang out in the shop but it's a cute place and I love looking at the painting they have at the front of the shop (apparently of the shop's namesake, the dog Hugo).“

“Having just landed in Ottawa during lunch time, I was craving a bite. I came across this beautiful café in Downtown Ottawa - Jackson Café (10 Daly Ave, Ottawa, ON, KIN 6E2) after visiting the Art Gallery next door.
At the café, I had ordered a roasted beef sandwich and my all-time favourite drink which was an iced matcha latte. I was in awe with the beautiful, sophisticated decoration of this café. The place was quite cozy and it was clearly the perfect place for studying as I spotted a few students from the University of Ottawa sipping their beverages while staring at their laptop screens.
The roasted beef sandwich was excellent it has the perfect ratio of meat and arugula salad piled on fresh bread. The combination of flavors was out of this world, and the beef was well cooked and tender. Every bite was a savory delight.
Then, I received my iced matcha latte, and I was in love!
As a matcha lover, this drink struck the perfect balance of matcha and milk-not too strong, not too weak.
Perfection!
This was the perfect place for a little pick me up before heading out and exploring more the city. I definitely recommend checking out this café, it also has some delicious pasteries and healthy vegetarian options as well. Recommended!

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“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“

“What a wonderful and fun place!“

“Fabulous tea and delicious snacks“

“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!“

“I heard alot about this place so I decided to give it a try.
The portion is small but tasty. The tiramisu is different...not your typical and not my favorite.
The beer options are mostly hoppy ipa. The garlic bread is 4 bites maybe 6, but it's only 1.50.
It is a nice place to try but for the money ? I don't feel that the dollar goes far at this location, you will most likely leave hungry.
It may look like you have a full bowl of food but the dish is shallow and deceiving.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Just had lunch at Bar Robo today and it was great! I ordered the mushroom melt and my friend got an iced coffee. Everything was delicious and prepared well. Super friendly staff. Attentive and cheerful. I’d recommend this spot for a nice, quick, and easy lunch or if you need an afternoon coffee hit.“