50 Best Cafes in Ottawa

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

“Food is pretty alright. My mileage varies for what exactly I like to eat here(you have to follow the seasonal menu). Cocktails are pretty fun - I personally like the ones where they add candy to the mix haha

I think there has only been one time where service was slow, but she luckily put it on the house since I had to go upstairs (I was seated in the basement with my friends) and grab her attention.

Fortunately, the games are pretty well organized and well-kept; I think every game I've played with my friends has had its pieces mostly in tact.
I also enjoyed the video gaming experience; nitpick: the games have no sound. Not a huge dealbreaker(especially since game sound might negatively add to the pub's noise levels) but just something to know.
Washrooms are great - I believe they are mostly gender neutral? Otherwise, they are at least well cleaned.“

“Amazing sandwiches, amazing atmosphere, and an amazing owner—couldn’t be happier with this spot. Everything is fresh, welcoming, and done right. Definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to.“

“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! ❤️“

“A cozy diner-like atmosphere in the heart of Chinatown. Corner Peach is a lovely restaurant that features homemade meals that have a nice zip, tang and variety. In particular, the chicken liver mousse on bread with sour cherry jam is a delight. The desserts are nice, but perhaps a touch over-sweet. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this casual eatery with upscale cooking.“

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

“Full bodied coffee and grrreat bakery goods - especially sweet and savory scones and huge, yummy cookies. ♥️“

“A small spot, but everything here is impressively well organized and thoughtfully run. The coffee is genuinely good, and the food feels fresh and intentional. The staff are super friendly — the kind of warm, genuine service that makes the place memorable.

A great little downtown stop with consistently positive experiences.“

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

“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“

“Both a bike (repair) shop and a café.
I've been a client of both services with great satisfaction. Great cozy place to have a coffee, inside or on the patio.
The seasonal drinks menu is always amazing.
Also offers goods from patners small local businesses.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Great place for a top quality coffee or latte and awesome pastries.“

“The latest experience was that I ordered an Easter meal for loved ones. They enjoyed it so much two people are actually going to have him cater dinners at their homes. The food is excellent. The story behind Chef Ric and his mission is inspirational and extraordinary. He has made a difference. So is this team? Thank you“

“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“

“Best. Coffee. Ever! Little Victories Coffee Roasters offer light roasts full of fruity, complex flavours. The team is super friendly and the subscription and delivery service, timely and personalized. LOVE LVC!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“One of the coffee shops in this area i love to frequent! Usually there's a nice spot to sit and sip on your coffee. I've done some work here on my computer and also used the space to read a book!:) The shop is very cozy feeling, especially in the wintertime!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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!!“

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

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

“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.“

“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. :)“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“good and healthy food.“

“Besides the best people working at Caddy Cafe, I was fortunate enough to go in on smoked meat week! The smoked meat was so tender, and the fries rival any chip stand around. Can't wait to get there again.“

“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 service is top notch, the bar tenders are so skilled, and the cocktails are amazing“

“Great choice we made this morning to eat at the Best Western’s attached restaurant.
Service was amazing, she was on her own and did an fantastic job. The food was hot and fast. I would come here even if I was not staying at the hotel. Thanks for the wonderful start to the day. Thanks again and see you again. Was special to be able to speak to the owner earlier that morning since I was in the lobby and he spoke to me since we are both very early risers !!!!!“

“The service is top notch, the bar tenders are so skilled, and the cocktails are amazing“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Hot Figaro Club, cappuccino and almond croissant were five stars. Thank you for the delicious lunch!“