Café Délice — Restaurant in Ottawa

Hands down, no-question, no second guessing, the ABSOLUTE BEST espresso in town. Period.

In most places, when you order an espresso, all you get is a tiny Americano. At Café Délice, you get a real espresso. Creamy, deep and delicious. All the goodness of coffee in a very small cup. What's more, you can ask for a ristretto, which is a tiny sip of heavenly goodness.

But, wait! There's more: every single espresso is ground on the spot as you order it. Yessss!!!

Café Délice is a "café" in its most strict sense: a small place, only one table and the counter. You go inside, get excellent coffee and then go about your life. It is NOT a place for you to pull your laptop and sit down pretending you're working while having a sugar overload and listening to Ikea soundtrack. Most of the "cool" and "modern" cafés are just a candy store for adults. Ashamed of entering one such place and buying jellybeans, some "cool" people go to so-called "cafés" and order a caramel or vanilla thingie with triple whipped cream and chocolate syrup, indulging themselves to a sugar coma while looking like straight-up adults. Nothing against those places, but good coffee is perhaps the last things such places care about.

Well, at Café Délice you are entitled to good coffee, a very friendly staff with genuinely welcoming smiles, a decent table if you need to seat for a while (it's large and can be shared), some stools by the counter, great scones and biscotti, and excellent Belgian chocolate to savour right there or to go. What's more, recently they added a few sandwich options. I tried them all and they are just delicious, once again honouring the name of the place.

Come for the warm environment and absolutely delicious coffee.

(Don't come for wi-fi, because...

Cafe Delice is a hidden gem that deserves nothing less than a 5-star review. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted by the delightful aroma of freshly brewed espresso. Their espresso and cortado are nothing short of exceptional – rich, robust, and expertly crafted.

What truly sets this café apart is its charming outdoor seating area. As I sat there sipping my coffee, it felt like I was transported to a bustling European piazza, where people-watching becomes an art form. The ambiance is cozy yet vibrant, making it an ideal spot for both solitude and social gatherings.

To accompany my coffee, Cafe Delice offers an outstanding biscotti selection. The biscotti are perfectly crisp and paired wonderfully with my beverages. It's evident that they pay great attention to detail in curating their menu.

The staff's warm and welcoming demeanor adds to the overall experience. Their passion for coffee shines through, and they are more than happy to offer recommendations and share their knowledge.

In summary, Café Délice is a coffee lover's paradise. Exceptional coffee, a charming atmosphere, and a superb biscotti selection make it a must-visit. It's a slice of Europe right in the heart...

What feels like a modern tribute to the Old-School Victorian era coffee houses where coffee and chocolate were kind of the same menu.

It really comes through in both the menu and the decor... My wife rarely likes chocolate but she craves the hot chocolate and mocha here like nothing else, they are on a completely different level.

Pastries are also some of the best, combined with curated imports from Belgium... Which of course brings us to the chocolates menu proper... I'm no expert but we have gotten boxes here as gifts for relations and work -- in all cases a slam dunk gift that leaves people immediately asking where they can buy more.

Owner has a lot of pride in what he does and will tell you about it. So my only complaint is that his seemingly high standards keep the...