Café des Tours — Restaurant in Ottawa

Notre Dame Cathedral delivers! Attend one of the scheduled masses in English or French and then request a guided tour downstairs at Café des Tours. There is a lot to learn and see. A self-guided tour does not suffice because there are so many things that can be overlooked by untrained eyes. Following your tour, visit the gift shop and pick up unique cards by local artists, medals, or carved pieces from the Holy Land.

Conclude your visit with delicious cookies and coffee with friends. We sat in a booth (aka pews) so as to appreciate the different perspectives of the space. I ordered a cappuccino and shared a variety of pastries. We had a difficult time choosing a favorite because each had its unique flair. I cannot...

Café des Tours has a unique charm thanks to its location beneath Notre Dame Cathedral—definitely a cool concept, especially if you’re attending their church. I stopped in for a salted caramel latte and a butter tart for book club with my team at work. Both were good, though not particularly memorable.

The space itself could use a little love. The decor felt a bit bare, and the bathroom wasn’t the cleanest. It’s not uncomfortable, but it doesn’t quite live up to the potential of its setting.

Still, I’d recommend checking it out at least once for the novelty and convenience. It’s a quiet spot with friendly service, and with a bit more attention to detail, it could be...

First time here, and we got the Lemongrass Lavender Iced Tea and a Cold Brew Coffee. Sat in one of the Pew booths and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the space to journal, read, or work. It is located around the corner from the entrance to the cathedral, in the basement. Unique experience among churches I've visited. Recommendation would include soft instrumental background music, and perhaps also small informative plaques/posters at each table about the history of the church. Ex. Did you know that the church roof was replaced in 2010 with stainless steel? Originally it was constructed out...