Cafes in Byward Market, Ottawa

Forty-seven cafes operate within ByWard Market, making it one of Ottawa's most concentrated food-and-beverage clusters. That number sits alongside 105 restaurants, 70 fast-food outlets, 16 bars, and 12 pubs — meaning customers have no shortage of options at nearly every price point and meal occasion.

The cafe category is dominated by traditional coffee shops, which account for 16 of the 47 listings. Bubble tea shops form the second-largest group at 6 locations, while the remaining cafes cover niche categories: Mexican, ice cream, milkshakes, and waffles, each represented by just one business.

Competition is intense at the top end. Three Second Cup locations, at least one Starbucks, and independents like Ideal Coffee and Miss Bean all target overlapping customer segments within a few blocks. The Tea Store and Picolo Grande round out the notable names with established websites and local followings.

One significant gap stands out: only 17 of the 47 cafes — roughly 36% — have a website. In a neighbourhood where foot traffic is high but tourists and new residents rely on online search to find places, the remaining 64% are leaving discoverability on the table. For new entrants or existing owners, investing in even a basic web presence is a low-cost way to capture demand that competitors are currently ignoring.