Laptops and lattes: Ottawa’s top cafes for working

When you’re looking for a cafe to work in, the conditions have to be just right. You need a cosy ambience, good lighting and just enough background noise to help keep you focused. Oh, and great coffee doesn’t hurt. Luckily, Ottawa has several great office-away-from-home cafes for you to choose from.

Ministry of Coffee

1
279 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M1

What better name for a coffee shop? The Ministry of Coffee is clean, bright and cozy, perfect for zoning out and getting some work done. Their coffee is some of the best in the city, and whether you prefer a straightforward cup of drip coffee or a fancy Nutella latte, you won’t be disappointed. They also serve pastries, soups and sandwiches, all of which are made in-house. There’s free WiFi for customers. However, there is no WiFi at all on weekends.

Bridgehead Coffeehouse

2
282 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M3

With several locations around the city, you’re never far from a great cup of Bridgehead coffee. They sell fair trade, organic coffee that they roast themselves. They make beautiful pastries and baked goods, many of them gluten-free and/or vegan, using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Open from 6:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily, this is a great cafe to set up in if you have a looming deadline or lots of studying to do.

Simply Biscotti

3
5-107 Colonnade Road, Nepean, ON K2E 7M3

Simply Biscotti is a small bakery and cafe in the Westboro Village. Cozy and welcoming, it serves phenomenal pastries, paninis, cookies, cakes and, of course, biscotti. Owner Rosa Pino has been baking for over 20 years, and it shows in the calibre of the treats she sells. In addition to the food, you can also get delicious Lavazza coffee, from simple espresso to fancy mochaccinos – perfect for keeping you energized while you work.

Red Door Provisions

4
117 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 1L6

This little neighbourhood cafe in the Beechwood Village is entirely out of the ordinary. It’s cheerful and bright, and the walls are lined with shelves filled with beautiful jars of exotic jams and preserves with names like Gingered Pear and Vanilla Bean Jam and Clementine Anise Marmalade. You can park yourself at a table with your laptop and enjoy a Pilot coffee shot or a steaming cup of tea poured from a red teapot and served with a scone and jam.

Montreal is known for its great tables, and Westmount does its part to contribute to this reputation. Westmounters love a good meal and have adventurous tastes, and the restaurants here reflect those preferences. An added benefit of frequenting the establishments here is that you won't have to deal with downtown parking. [Image credit: iStock.com/Robert Ingerlhart]
A great café needs to have a welcoming atmosphere, good food, decadent treats and, of course, fantastic coffee. These Westmount cafés have all of these in spades. Whether you're running errands on Victoria Avenue or shopping on Greene Avenue, there's a perfect café waiting for you. [Image credit: iStock.com/xijian]
As more people turn to vegan lifestyles, whether for health or for ethical reasons, restaurateurs in Montreal are rising to the challenge, and wonderful vegan restaurants are popping up around the city. From fancy sit-down diners to fast food, there's something for every food lover, vegan or not. [Image credit: iStock.com/SilviaJansen]
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