Best Cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa That Change Rhythm From Morning to Night

Updated November 2026

The best cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa offer way more than just a quick caffeine fix. This pocket of the city blends historic charm, tourist energy, and local hangouts all within a few blocks. You’ll find everything from French bakeries spilling onto the square to quiet corners tucked inside stone buildings. Some spots are built for people-watching, others for slowing down with a laptop. It’s one of the few areas in Ottawa where cafe hopping actually makes sense. Whether you’re grabbing something fast or settling in, ByWard Market has a rhythm that changes from morning to night. And the cafe scene reflects that perfectly.

Quick picks for cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa

If you’re short on time, these are the best cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa that stand out right away.

1. Moulin de Provence

This French bakery and cafe has been inside the ByWard Market building at 55 ByWard Market Square since 1998. It is best known for the Obama Cookie, the maple leaf shortbread Barack Obama bought on his 2009 visit. The case also holds chocolate almond croissants, macarons, opera cake and artisan breads, and the kitchen makes quiche and sandwiches. Seating fills fast, especially when the patio opens up in warmer months. It’s lively, a little chaotic, and exactly what a classic ByWard Market cafe experience should feel like.

2. Planet Coffee

Planet Coffee has served from the Clarendon Lanes courtyard at 24A York Street since 1994, when two friends opened it as one of Ottawa’s first coffee bars. The beans come from Fluid Coffee Roasters, which roasts using solar power. Seating is indoors and in the courtyard, and the cafe is cash only. It is the pick if you want to sit outside and have coffee in the ByWard Market and not stand on the square.

3. Jackson Café

Jackson Café is inside the Ottawa Art Gallery at 50 Mackenzie King Bridge. The coffee is from Café Saint-Henri, a Montreal micro-roaster, and the pastries are from Maison Oddo, a Gatineau bakery that made its Ottawa debut here. It suits a coffee before or after a gallery visit.

4. I Deal Coffee

I Deal Coffee at 176 Dalhousie Street roasts its own coffee in small batches and says it has done so in Ottawa for over 20 years. The menu adds homemade soups, sandwiches and sweet and savory scones. It is a neighbourhood spot on the Lowertown edge of the Market, so it is less crowded than the square.

These are some of ByWard Market’s best cafes, but the full Ottawa cafe map, with every standout worth your time, is here → Best Cafes in Ottawa

More cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa worth exploring

Here are more cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa worth checking out across the neighbourhood.

1. Planet Coffee

Planet Coffee has been serving from the Clarendon Lanes courtyard since 1994, when two friends opened it as one of Ottawa’s first coffee bars. Its beans come from small-lot farmers and are roasted by Fluid Coffee Roasters using solar power. The menu covers espresso drinks and baked goods as well as light meals like avocado toast and breakfast paninis, and oat milk is available. Seating is indoors and in the courtyard, which is the draw in summer. The cafe is cash only, so bring bills.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A flat white, the avocado toast or a breakfast panini, or the signature Maple Way
🔥 Known for: Three decades in the Market, solar-roasted Fluid Coffee beans and a courtyard patio
📍 Location: 24A York St (Clarendon Lanes courtyard), ByWard Market
⭐ Vibe: Relaxed courtyard cafe where reviewers praise the atmosphere and staff. Cash only.
⏱️ Monday to Friday: 7 AM to 7 PM ; Sat and Sun: 7:30 AM to 7 PM

2. Jackson Café

Jackson Café sits inside the Ottawa Art Gallery, so a coffee here comes with gallery surroundings. The coffee is from Café Saint-Henri, a Montreal micro-roaster, and the pastries are from Maison Oddo, a Gatineau bakery that made its Ottawa debut here. Reviewers mention croissants, pain au chocolat, scones, sandwiches, salads and a gingerbread latte. It is a good stop before or after a gallery visit, or on its own.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A cappuccino with a croissant or pain au chocolat
🔥 Known for: Café Saint-Henri coffee and Maison Oddo pastries
📍 Location: Ottawa Art Gallery (50 Mackenzie King Bridge)
⭐ Vibe: Calm, art-filled and well suited to a quiet coffee or a meeting
⏱️ Monday: Closed, Tuesday: 8 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday – Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM, Saturday: 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM

3. I Deal Coffee

I Deal Coffee roasts its own coffee in small batches and says it has done so in Ottawa for over 20 years. Its green beans come from partners who buy directly from farmers when possible. Alongside batch brew and espresso, with cow, lactose-free, oat and soy milk options, the cafe makes homemade soups and sandwiches and sells sweet and savory scones it calls famous. Reviewers mention a cortado and pastries including pão de deus. It is a neighbourhood spot for Lowertown regulars as much as for visitors to the Market.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A cortado with a scone, or a bowl of homemade soup with a sandwich
🔥 Known for: In-house small-batch roasting and scones
📍 Location: 176 Dalhousie St
⭐ Vibe: Easygoing local cafe that community ratings score highly for studying and working
⏱️ Monday to Friday: 7 AM to 5 PM, Saturday: 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Sunday: 9 AM to 6 PM

4. Wise Town Café

Wise Town Café opened its ByWard Market location in the Mercury Court building, in late January 2026. It serves coffee, tea and matcha, and its founder, Dhulfiqar “Duffy” Merza, says about 90 per cent of its products are roasted or made locally. This location is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and does not serve alcohol, unlike the Elgin Street location, which turns into a lounge at night. It is one of the newest cafes in the Market.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A matcha or a coffee made with locally roasted beans
🔥 Known for: Locally sourced drinks and a 2026 opening in the Market
📍 Location: 375 Dalhousie St (Mercury Court)
⭐ Vibe: New, daytime-only and alcohol-free
⏱️ 7 AM to 4 PM

5. Art House Cafe

This cafe is across from Dundonald Park in Centretown, a short trip from the ByWard Market. It is a cafe and gift shop that shows local artists’ work, with exhibits that reviewers say change monthly. Creative meetups run most nights, including clay sculpting, knitting, open mic poetry, life drawing and live music, and the venue serves coffee from Happy Goat, handcrafted drinks and cocktails.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A latte, which reviewers praise, then stay for an evening event
🔥 Known for: Local art on the walls and a calendar of creative nights
📍 Location: 555 Somerset West at Bay (near ByWard)
⭐ Vibe: Quirky, art-filled and cozy, popular with students and people working on laptops
⏱️ Monday to Saturday: 9 AM to 10 PM, Sunday: 9 AM to 8 PM, event nights can run later

6. Morning Owl Coffeehouse (Little Italy)

The Morning Owl Coffeehouse is in Little Italy, west of Downtown and a short trip from the ByWard Market, so it works as a coffee stop on the way to or from the Market. The menu centres on organic, direct-trade, house-roasted coffee, along with matcha and turmeric lattes, green juice, loose-leaf teas, hot chocolate and baked goods. Mini cakes and sandwiches are listed on Fridays.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A house-roasted coffee or a matcha latte with a baked good, and the Friday mini cakes if you go that day
🔥 Known for: Organic direct-trade coffee roasted in-house
📍 Location: 538 Rochester Street, Little Italy
⭐ Vibe: Small neighbourhood coffeehouse with a weekday daytime rhythm
⏱️ Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 2 PM, Saturday and Sunday: Closed

7. BeaverTails Cafe

Not your typical cafe, but it fits the ByWard Market Ottawa experience. BeaverTails is the most recognizable pastry stand in the ByWard Market. The stand at William and George streets was the first BeaverTails, opened in 1979, and it sells the stretched, fried pastries year-round. Cinnamon sugar with lemon, called the Killaloe Sunrise, is listed as the most popular, with maple, chocolate hazelnut, choco banana and Oreo among the others. Pair it with a coffee from one of the cafes above.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: The Killaloe Sunrise (cinnamon sugar with lemon)
🔥 Known for: Being the first BeaverTails stand, opened in 1979
📍 Location: 69 George Street, ByWard Market
⭐ Vibe: A take-away stand where you eat as you walk the Market
⏱️ Sunday to Thursday: 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday: 11 AM to midnight (seasonal changes possible)

8. Oh So Good Desserts & Coffee House

Oh So Good has served desserts and coffee in the ByWard Market since 1994, and its main draw is a case of more than 35 handmade cakes and cheesecakes. The list includes Black Forest, tiramisu, red velvet, crepe cake, baklava cheesecake and key lime cheesecake. It keeps late hours, open until 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday, which makes it one of the few late-night sit-down dessert cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa. It is also a place to pair a slice with coffee after dinner.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A slice of baklava cheesecake or tiramisu with a coffee
🔥 Known for: 35+ handmade cakes and cheesecakes and late hours
📍 Location: 54 ByWard Market Square
⭐ Vibe: Dessert-first, relaxed and suited to an after-dinner stop
⏱️ Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 12 AM

9. La Bottega Nicastro Cafe Counter

La Bottega Nicastro is an Italian grocer in a heritage building in the ByWard Market. The building housed J. Saso & Son from 1923, and Pat Nicastro took it over in 1995, so the shop marked 100 years of groceries in 2023. Inside, a small eat-in lunch counter sits beside the deli, with an Illy espresso bar at the back and a sandwich counter where customers choose the bread, meat, cheese and toppings. Reviewers describe the cafe menu as changing daily. It works best as a sandwich and coffee stop in ByWard Market Ottawa while shopping for Italian groceries.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: An espresso from the Illy bar and a sandwich built at the deli counter
🔥 Known for: A century-old Italian grocery in the Market with a lunch counter and espresso bar
📍 Location: 64 George Street (ByWard Market building)
⭐ Vibe: Busy deli and grocery with a small back-of-store counter
⏱️ Monday to Wednesday: 9 AM to 6 PM, Thursday and Friday: 9 AM to 8 PM, Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM, Sunday: 11 AM to 5 PM

10. Luxe Blooms Flower Café

Luxe Blooms Flower Café opened on July 1, 2022 and combines a flower shop with a licensed cafe. Owner Michelle Louis-Jean built the space around a floor-to-ceiling blush floral wall. The cafe serves espresso drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, sandwiches, avocado toast, pastries and macarons, with some gluten-free options, and high tea is on offer. Contact the cafe directly before planning a group visit.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: High tea, or a coffee with pastries or macarons
🔥 Known for: Its pink floral wall and the flower shop and cafe under one roof
📍 Location: 254 Dalhousie St
⭐ Vibe: Bright pink, photo-friendly and best for a planned treat. Reviewers mention slow service at busy times.
⏱️ Monday: Closed, Tuesday to Thursday: 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday – Saturday: 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM.

11. Les Moulins La Fayette

Les Moulins La Fayette is a family bakery in Hintonburg, a short trip from the ByWard Market. It describes a family history spanning five generations and bakes breads with slow fermentation, including sourdough, a Parisian baguette and a 48-hour sourdough baguette. The case also holds croissants, danishes and éclairs, and the kitchen makes sandwiches, paninis, salads and soups, with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Coffee and herbal teas are served alongside. It works well for brunch-style visits or a more relaxed coffee break. For more morning picks, see our guide to the best brunch in Ottawa.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: An almond croissant, a 48-hour baguette to take home, or a Reuben panini
🔥 Known for: Slow-fermented sourdough and French-style viennoiserie from a five-generation family bakery
📍 Location: 1000 Wellington Street West, #103, Hintonburg
⭐ Vibe: Bakery counter with a quick breakfast and lunch crowd
⏱️ Monday: Closed, Tuesday to Thursday 8 AM to 3 PM, Friday to Saturday: 8 AM to 4 PM, Sunday 8 AM to 3 PM

12. Byward Café

Byward Cafe at 55 Byward Market Square is a daytime stop on the square itself, with a bright interior and a patio looking onto the market. The menu centres on coffee and tea, sandwiches, paninis and wraps, salads, and cakes and baked goods. Reviewers mention a smoked salmon sandwich, a cappuccino and sugar pie. Uber Eats lists it at the lowest price tier, and it holds a 4.4 rating on Google from more than 900 reviews.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A sandwich or panini with a coffee, then a slice of cake or sugar pie
🔥 Known for: A patio on ByWard Market Square and an affordable menu
📍 Location: 55 ByWard Market Square
⭐ Vibe: Casual, sunny and busy with market-goers
⏱️ Sunday to Wednesday: 7 AM to 9 PM, Thursday to Saturday: 7 AM to 10 PM

13. Tea Store

Tea store has operated in the ByWard Market since 1996. It sells over 300 loose-leaf teas, and also serves tea in the shop alongside baked treats made in-house. Ottawa Tourism describes the setting as cozy. It suits visitors who want a cup of tea more than a coffee, and the loose-leaf range also makes it a gift stop.

Good to know:
🍽️ What to order: A pot of loose-leaf tea with a baked treat
🔥 Known for: Over 300 loose-leaf teas and 30 years in the Market
📍 Location: 53 York St.
⭐ Vibe: Cozy and quiet, aimed at tea drinkers
⏱️ Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM to 7 PM, Wednesday to Friday: 9 AM to 8 PM

Final thoughts on cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa

The best cafes in ByWard Market Ottawa really come down to what kind of experience you’re after. Some spots lean into the energy of the ByWard market, while others quietly sit just outside the chaos. You’ll find quick espresso counters, full bakery cafes, and places built for lingering most within walking distance. That mix is what makes this area so easy to explore one coffee at a time. Ottawa has no shortage of standout cafes, and this is just a starting point.

If you’re exploring beyond the market, see our guide to the best cafes in Westboro Ottawa.

There’s always something new to discover in the city, especially when it comes to finding your next favourite spot.

Explore our full Ottawa guides hub here.

Frequently asked questions