Loaves of bread on a wooden countertop with flour on top — *Photo: Ryan Gray*

No foodie adventure is complete without a stop at one of Ottawa’s amazing local bakeries! From fresh baked artisan loaves to delicate French pastries, there are endless mouthwatering goodies to choose from. Stop by these small local bakeries on your next trip to Ottawa and stock up on the best baked goods from savoury to sweet.

Art-Is-In Bakery

A favourite of locals and visitors alike, Art-Is-In Bakery serves up some of the best artisan bread in the city, and is continually recommended as one of the best bakeries in Ottawa. This family-owned, from-scratch bakery located near Ottawa’s Little Italy is known for their wide array of scrumptious breads.

Try their sourdoughs, levain breads, or opt for their popular dynamite loaves in flavours like Rosemary Garlic and Jalapeño cheddar. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to fill up a box with freshly baked pastries like their famous Kronuts (also known as “O-towners”) buttery croissants, sticky cinnamon buns and decadent fruit tarts.

Breads and Sons

Established in 2005, Breads and Sons is a small but mighty Ottawa bakery located on a bustling section of downtown Bank St. From sweet to savory, this cozy and vibrant spot serves up a unique selection of baked goods for all tastes. Start your morning with a spinach and feta boureka, or banana chocolate chip muffin, or stop by for lunch for pizzas, sandwiches, and roman style focaccia. With so many unique and tasty items to try, we guarantee you’ll be back more than once.

Le Moulin de Provence

A ByWard Market institution, and one of the most well-known bakeries in Ottawa, le Moulin de Provence is a must-stop if you’re in the neighbourhood. Founded in 1998, this traditional bakery and café has been a staple for locals and visitors for over two decades, and is known for their authentic French baguettes, focaccias, croissants, and cookies. If you love French pastries you’re in for a treat - literally! Stop by for mille-feuille, Paris-brest, palais royal or a box of macarons and we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Moulin de Provence gained international fame when former US president Barrack Obama visited the bakery in 2009. Their staple Canada leaf shortbread cookie was soon after known as the “Obama” cookie, and is still one of the most popular edible souvenirs in the city. Stop by on special occasion for festive variations for Christmas, Easter and Halloween, as well as for local events like Winterlude and the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Black Walnut Bakery

With a love for baking and transforming simple ingredients into bakery masterpieces, the husband-and-wife team of Isaac and Myroslava opened Black Walnut Bakery in 2015. Located only 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa in Cumberland, this small but mighty bake shop serves up a wide variety of baked goods, as well as a great selection of premade meals, and locally made products.

While their bread is certainly the main draw with varieties like Rye, Khorasan, multigrain, and sourdough, their sweet treats also do not disappoint. Fill a box with fluffy scones, homemade butter tarts, croissants, turnovers, brownies, and sticky cinnamon buns to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you’re short on time during the week, their selection of premade homemade meals like pot pies, chilis, soups, borscht, mini quiches and tourtières will help you meal plan with ease.

Wild Oat Bakery

In the vibrant neighbourhood of the Glebe, Wild Oat Bakery has been serving up healthy and wholesome bakery goodness for over 20 years. All of their breads are made from scratch using organic flour, and the Wild Oat Farm located 50km outside the city provides fresh, pesticide-free, organic ingredients for their baked goods and café meals. Most of their breads contain no dairy or egg and they also have several gluten free options for those with diet sensitivities.

Their delicious daily breads include the classic multigrain, sourdough, spelt and kamut, and cinnamon raisin. They also offer weekly specialty breads like pumpernickel, challah, and yogurt and flax, and their selection of sweet treats are to die for.

Bread by Us

Specializing in sourdough breads using high-quality unbleached and untreated flours, Bread by Us is a hidden gem in Ottawa’s Wellington West neighbourhood. Fresh-baked daily, their focaccia and ciabatta buns, country sourdough and whole wheat loaves are daily staples, while they offer different specialty breads daily including Ciambelle, Cornbread, Kamut sourdough, and tasty pain au lait loaves.

While bread is their main focus, Bread by Us also has some amazing sweet treats. If you’re picking up a loaf or two, be sure to add a box of pastries to your haul like butter croissants, crostata squares, cinnamon snails, or vegan banana almond muffins.

Giving back to the community is also engrained in the heart of Bread by Us, and their pay-it-forward donation program provides the opportunity for bakery patrons to give back. With each donation, Bread by Us provides a loaf of bread to someone in need through the Cooking for a Cause initiative. To date, they have donated over 10 000 items to food-insecure members of the community, thanks to community contributions.

Moulin La Fayette

If you’re booking for one of the best French baguettes in the city, and some seriously sinful pastries, then Moulin La Fayette is your spot. Founded by a fifth-generation French baker, pastry chef and chocolatier, Ottawa’s Wellington West location is one of only three locations in Ontario.

Fresh baked daily, their classic French baguette sells out regularly, so be sure to stop by early. They also serve up an array of other loaves including whole wheat, sourdough, cereal, and brioche. Their classic artisan French pastries are truly decadent, and you’ll have a hard time resisting their chocolate éclairs, mille-feuilles, Paris-Brest, Saint-Honoré, macarons, and bas au rhum.

Kettleman’s Bagels

Ottawa locals have been raving about Kettleman’s hand-rolled, wood-fired Montréal style bagels for years. Baked in a wood-fired oven that burns 24hr/day, Kettleman’s bagels are truly the best in the city - and dare we say, rival some of the best in Montreal! Watch as the bagels are rolled, shaped and popped in the oven right in front of you, then pick up a dozen to take home, so fresh that they’re often still warm in the bag!

Kettleman’s has a wide selection of bagel accoutrements including unique spreads, kosher pickles, smoked salmon, capers, latkes, and knishes. If you don’t feel like making your own, Kettleman’s bagel sandwiches are the perfect way to satisfy your cravings, and best part is they’re open 24hrs/day for dine-in or takeout. Grab a traditional bagel and lox, classic breakfast sandwich, Montreal smoked meat bagel, or Philly cheese steak sandwich.