The Nation’s Capital is home to some of the best coffee shops in Ontario! If you’re planning to travel to Ottawa you’ll find a ton of great restaurants. However, if you are in need of a caffeine fix then you’re in luck! There are a ton of great coffee shops in Ottawa. In every neighbourhood across the city, there’s a cup of Joe waiting to be found. We always believe that the best way to explore a city is through its coffee shops! So, if you’re looking for fuel for your adventures we’ve compiled a list the crème de la crème coffee shops in Ottawa.
Best Coffee Shops in Ottawa
Most people in Canada say their favourite cup of coffee is from Tim Hortons. But we believe that the best will always come from a local café! And the people of Ottawa have proven that local coffee shops are better. So much so that many of Ottawa’s coffee shops can be found in multiple locations across the city. We here at ELO love when local small businesses are able to grow and thrive! So, move on over Timmy, here are the top must-visit coffee shops in Ottawa.
Happy Goat Coffee Co.
Who can resist a name like Happy Goat Coffee? J.S. Bach said, “Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of goat.” That is not the case at Happy Goat Coffee! The story of the name is also the story of where coffee originates from, the Ethiopian Plateau. If you’re curious about the story behind the name you can read the adorable story on their website here.
Happy Goat Coffee Company’s story started in 2009 with coffee roaster Pierre Richard. The first location opened on Laurel Street in 2011. Now there are over a dozen locations across Ottawa and one in British Colombia. They’re all about small-batch roasting, partnering with local farmers, and providing quality, fresh coffee. Happy Goat also is very environmentally conscious. They strive to make their coffee production create a net-zero impact on the environment as much possible.
You’ll find a range of incredible coffees using house-roasted, fair-trade beans. A couple of crowd favourites include their Nitro Cold Brew and their cherry blossom lattes. However, if you’re looking for a bite to eat as well, Happy Goat Coffee Company has something to feed your cravings. They serve a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and vegan options too! So, if you’re looking for one of the best coffee shops downtown Ottawa has to offer then pop into one of the Happy Goat Coffee locations.
Multiple Locations including: Laurel cafe is located on 35 Rue Laurel St, Elgin Cafe is located on 326 Elgin St, Westboro cafe is located on Richmond Road at 307 A, Rideau/Cumberland cafe is located at 229 Rideau Street.
Equator Coffee Roasters
One of the best Westboro coffee shops is Equator Coffee Roasters! The flagship café and roastery is located just outside Ottawa in Almonte. They’ve been roasting and serving fair trade, organic coffee since 1998. Equator Coffee is one of the most beloved coffee shops in Ottawa! It all started with a passion to ‘Equate’ the benefit of drinking coffee to not just the consumer but to everyone along the path of the bean. They are conscious about their impact and work to ensure that farmers are compensated fairly and that their beans are grown in an eco-friendly way.
There are three Equator Coffee Roasters locations, one in Almonte and the other two can be found in Ottawa. One Ottawa location is in the National Arts Center of Canada while the other is in the Westboro Village neighbourhood. A few of their most popular roasts include North Star Espresso, Sweet Justice, and Freakin’ Good Coffee. To see the rest of their coffees check out their website here. They also serve a variety of tasty treats and small meals, including vegan and gluten free options.
Insider Tip: Check out the upper café lounge at the National Arts Center of Canada for incredible views of downtown Ottawa!
Locations: 451 Ottawa Street in Almonte, 1 Elgin Street and 412 Churchill Ave. North in Ottawa
Little Victories Coffee Roasters
Travel inspired the pair behind Little Victories Coffee to bring a new force to Ottawa’s coffee scene. As small, independent roasters they use ethically sourced beans from direct trade companies. Little Victories is one of the cutest coffee shops in Ottawa! Actually, two of the cutest coffee shops! They now have two locations! In the heart of Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood, on Bank Street, you’ll find the first location. With an adorable converted shipping container in the back alley, it’s the ideal spot to grab one of Ottawa’s best specialty coffees to go!
Now, they’ve expanded to a new downtown location on Elgin Street. The Elgin Street spot is set in the over 100 year old Central Chambers building, which is a National Historic Site of Canada. Here, you can enjoy a fabulous coffee and the company of your friends or family. Why? Because they’ve opted to not offer Wi-Fi in the hopes that the café will be an environment where people can come together and connect beyond the virtual world.
Locations: 44 Elgin Street and 801 Bank Street in Ottawa
Planet Coffee
The Planet Coffee motto says it all – ‘locally sourced, crafted with love and served with care‘. If you’re looking for an Ottawa coffee shop ByWard Market has a few, but one of the best is Planet Coffee! This women-owned coffee shop is located in the NCC Courtyards, between York and George Streets, in the famous ByWard Market. It all started with a dream that two coffee-loving friends had to start their own coffee shop. In 1994 they did just that, creating one of the first Ottawa coffee bars!
Planet Coffee uses Fluid Coffee Roasters, a fair-trade coffee roaster in Honduras. Incredibly, Fluid is a “solar roaster coffee”, meaning that they use renewable resources like wind and solar power. Fun fact: For every eight pounds of coffee it takes eleven minutes to generate the solar powered electricity needed to produce it. Beyond where the beans come from, Planet Coffee is one of the top coffee shops in Ottawa for many reasons. They have a lovely little courtyard patio, make all their baked goods in house using local and fresh ingredients, and have fabulous coffee! Sounds like a winning combination to us!
Address: 24a York Street in Ottawa
Bridgehead Roastery and Coffeehouse
One of the most popular and well known coffee shops in Ottawa is Bridgehead! With over a dozen locations across the city, there is bound to be one you find on your travels! For over 20 years, Bridgehead continues to bring fair trade coffee to the Nation’s Capital. Their roastery is located in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood has an on-site café and offers free tours on select days. If you’re only going to visit one Bridgehead location make sure it’s the Anderson Street one.
You can always expect quality, freshness, and friendly service at Bridgehead. For their coffee they partner with small-scale farmers to source remarkable coffee. They also roast their own beans and have a kitchen and bakery where they make all of their fabulous food. Even their food is made from fresh ingredients from local farms in Ottawa, Ontario, and Quebec. There’s a reason this Ottawa coffee shop has multiple locations and is a staple in the city. It’s fabulous!
Multiple Locations including: 130 Anderson Street, 366 Bank Street, 282 Elgin Street, and 1024 Wellington Street in Ottawa.
Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar
Is there anything finer than warm brews and books? No, we aren’t speaking in Harry Potter riddles here. At Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar you can have both! This Ottawa staple, which celebrates 10 years in 2022, is both a beloved independent bookstore and a café. With two floors to browse, regular live music and events, and close to Lansdowne this a must stop on a tour of Ottawa!
Black Squirrel Books & Espresso bar is local gem! They serve up coffee from local roasters like, Little Victories and Cloud Forest in Ottawa, as well as Blue Barn from Wakefield, Quebec. You’ll also find delicious locally sourced baked goods to pair with your coffee. Fun Fact: This espresso bar also has beer, wine and cider on the menu! So, grab a book, brew and a bite to eat at Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar, it’s the perfect trifecta!
Address: 1073 Bank Street in Ottawa
The Ministry of Coffee & Social Affairs
This independently owned coffee shop all began in 2013 with their first location on Elgin Street! Now there are three more locations in Ottawa as well as two in Qatar! The Ministry of Coffee & Social Affairs’ goal is to roast and serve the best coffee, while showcasing the best coffee roasters from Canada as well as the world. It’s all about the details at Ministry! They roast their own coffee and all of the syrups that go into their drinks are made in house and with no artificial junk!
I fell in love with their Wellington Street West location with its edgy boho vibe. Inside you’ll find a massive black and white mural of robots and coffee and along their window bar sit a host of green plants for a pop of colour. A few favourite drinks include their Vanilla Latte, Nutella Latte, and Cortado. If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat with your coffee be sure to try one of their fresh breakfast sandwiches or the Ministry Salad. For giveaways, events, and overall coffee inspiration follow them on Instagram!
Locations: 274 Elgin Street, 18 Beechwood Avenue, 1013 Wellington Street West, and 200 Tremblay Road in Ottawa’s VIA Rail train station.
Red Door Provisions
Another great place to grab a coffee in Ottawa is at Red Door Provisions! The first Red Door opened in 2012 in Chelsea, Quebec. Then they were selling a selection of preserves and the like, all produced from a small farmers’ field. After expanding into markets and grocery stores they opened a coffee shop in Ottawa’s New Edinburgh neighbourhood.
This quaint little café has come a long way from preserves, though you can still find them on the shelves. Red Door Provisions is local and community focused. They feature Canadian roasters like Little Victories, De Mello Palheta, and Phil & Sebastian’s. All of their delicious baked goods are made from locally sourced ingredients too! So, if you’re looking for a great place to grab a coffee and a bite to eat, Red Door Provisions will leave you nourished and fulfilled.
A few menu items you’ll want to try include their Flat White, Cappuccino, Salted Chocolate Cookie, and their Grilled Cheese.
Address: 117 Beechwood Avenue in Ottawa
Arlington Five
The millennials call it one of the best hipster cafes in Centertown! Us, we call it cute and quirky! One thing is for sure, Arlington Five is one of the best Ottawa coffee shops! Located off Bank Street, you won’t miss the big bold sign saying COFFEE on its exterior. Once you enter you’ll feel like you’re right at home in this cozy café.
The Arlington Five is more than coffee – though that’s a big draw! They are all about community and are full of warm welcoming vibes. With their friendly staff, local art lining the walls, and delicious smelling treats, this café is like one big hug! They serve Lulo Coffee and make a mean cortado, if I dare say so! However, you’ll find a bunch of other great beverages and food options like their creative sandwiches and soups.
Insider Tip: Don’t forget to pop into the alleyway next door to Arlington Five for a bunch of fun street art!
Address: 5 Arlington Avenue in Ottawa
Beandigen Cafe
The newest coffee shop in Ottawa is Beandigen Café. Owned and operated by Anishinaabe mother and daughter duo, the Beandigen Café is slated to be so much more than just a coffee shop. Beandigen Café is a pop up Indigenous business located at Lansdowne. Paula Naponse and daughter won the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group’s Lansdowne pop-up proposal competition this summer. It will be open for the next six months, but the pair hope to become a fixture.
The grand opening of Beandigen Café on November 12, 2021 was commemorated with prayer and music. Beandigen loosely translates to welcome in the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) language. And they will certainly welcome you in with a warm and inviting environment. The café is more than just a place to grab a coffee, it’s also home to Onzdarez Clothing and Goods, another of Paula’s businesses. In addition to coffee and Indigenous goods the café is welcoming visitors to experience the Indigenous culture through a variety of events and workshops.
Address: 106-900 Exhibition Way in Ottawa
More Coffee Shops in Ottawa for a Caffeine Fix in the Nation’s Capital
It appears that Ottawa is fueled by caffeine! The city is filled to the brim with amazing cafes and each with their own distinct style. So, if you’re looking for more incredible coffee shops in Ottawa then here is a few more because coffee is the best medicine!
Morning Owl – One of my favourite cute coffee shops Ottawa has is Morning Owl! You’ll find multiple locations across the city but the one that I adore is Morning Owl Coffeehouse + Parlour in the Hintonburg neighbourhood. They are all about serving quality, direct trade coffee, local homemade food, and supporting their community. The Hintonburg location is adorned with twinkling lights, plants, and even art by local artists.
Stella Luna Gelato Café – If you’re looking for coffee shops open late Ottawa has a few and one is Stella Luna! They have two locations, one on Bank Street and one on Wellington Street West, and are known for their award-winning gelato and sorbet. However, they have a range of European coffee specialties too and possibly the best cappuccino outside of Italy!
Corner Peach – Another of Ottawa’s cafes that screams attractive vibes is Corner Peach. This women-owned café oozes warmth and charm as soon as you enter. With an exposed brick wall, draping plants, and local art, it’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee and a bite to eat with friends and stay a while. Along with coffee and baked goods, Corner Peach serves some delicious food.
Oat Couture Oatmeal Café – If you’re looking for a great coffee shop in Ottawa that has great coffee and style then pop into Oat Couture Oatmeal Café. With multiple locations and a cozy mid-century modern vibe this café has some incredible latte art. Two of their baristas even won first and second in the Ottawa Latte Art Slam in 2018! Oat Couture Oatmeal Café serves De Mello drip coffee and make any espresso-based drink you desire! Be sure to try one of their incredible bowls of oatmeal that come in both sweet and savoury with your coffee.
During your stay in Ottawa, if you’re looking for the best coffee shops near me, we bet there’s one from this post that will satisfy your caffeine craving!
Do you have a favourite coffee shop in Ottawa? Share your favourite in the comments below or in our Eat Local Ontario Facebook group!
Looking for more coffee shops in Ontario? Check out the following:
9+ Brew-tiful Niagara-on-the-Lake Coffee Shops You Need to Visit
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