In a city with a lots of coffee shop, this surely is something different. Coffee in a book store. It’s an ambience to experience and a Good concept. Firstly, I tried Mocha here and it was good. They have like 5 options in coffee. Very limited food other than some pastries, obviously they don’t want food to ruin books. They had some vegan options too. The interior decor with old books around you with a coffee mug in your one hand and a book on your other is unexplainable feeling.. They have old and new book in two floor building. The book collection is really good and well organized. The staffs were really friendly and knowledgeable. There is parking in the side and also street parking in the front which was really helpful.

Literally amazing. Where else can you get hardcovers of popular books for less than $15?? Insane. I need to know their business model cause this is very impressive. Huge selection of books! The first floor I thought was already enough but they even have a basement. One of the few used books stores that like I mentioned, have more popular and well known books. They also carry a decent selection of new books that obviously aren’t discounted but still nice to have the option! Decent space inside too to sit and study and the cafe is great. I got a matcha latte which was good just wished it was stronger and an orange chocolate chip cookie that was delicious. Highly recommend, I will be back!!

Great get away either with friends or alone…. Always packed on weekends so best come here early or during weekdays Not only they serve coffee and espresso, you can also sip wine and others while in the store browsing for books….. lay back ambiance

Honestly a gem. I finally went after years of hearing great reviews and it's well worth the hype. It's a small, local place which supports used book sales. I think it's worth a go. You get to try your book and then buy it at a discounted price if you like it! And it's so much more sustainable too. Love the concept and love how many books they provide.

Huge selection of books, friendly staff, delicious coffee, and good vibes. What more could you ask for?! ❤️ Came for a coffee, left with a stack of great reads. Used bookstores like this are a gem. 💎

I love the bookshop and espresso bar combination! Nice selection of books, both new and used. They even have a little bargain section for $1. We ordered some coffee as well, which on a side note, was really good and would deserve 5 stars…but we’re disappointed to see that people we’re sitting down for a really long time blocking the cafe seats (we browsed the store for about 40 minutes) and some of these people didn’t even order anything and none of the staff members said anything. After we ordered we were told that we would ‘just have to take our coffee to go’. In addition to that I honestly have to say that I was a bit annoyed, that they double cupped the coffee, as I just find it to be such a waste. I get that you don’t want to burn your customers hand’s, but maybe ask before you waste an extra cup on every order. If it would have not been for the last two aspects mentioned above: 5 stars…

One of the best cafés! Great book selection ^^ Love the idea of multifunctional cafés; there's quite a few in cities like Montreal or Toronto but glad to see Ottawa has some too :)

I came here because of the cozy aesthetic and decent reviews on coffee. Baristas were nice, substantial coffee and tea menu. I tried the Cinnamon Bun, which was more of a cinnamon cube but it was good. Coffee wasn't too acidic, bitter, nor was it weak. I had a latte, and would definitely get another next time I come back. I came at 11:45am on a Sunday morning, it was packed near the front, so you can only sit in the basement. Parking is non-existent, hence why I came on a Sunday when other local businesses were closed to try to find a spot. You can find street parking for 1 hour Monday through Friday 9am-7pm, unlimited parking on weekends. Still took me a while to find a spot. Front door is not accessible. Overall, I would come back with my husband, acknowledging that parking is hard to find and the seating area near a window is usually full.

It was such a cute place and the staff were so kind and the coffee was so delicious. I also loved the big selection of books and the overall vibe here was amazing I really reccomend going here.

I haven't been since the pandemic began (though my partner has) but this is one of my favourite places in the city to have a drink, chill, and browse some used books. I really liked their cold teas on a summer day. Plus they serve Dominion City beer. Just a great space and vibe. Looking forward to visiting again this summer as things open up.

Loved the atmosphere here, and the barrista there was extremely friendly. So many books to choose from and such a cozy place. Dine in or take out beverages and books!

If you love coffee and books this place is for you! This is my favourite place for a good coffee and vegan treats (they have 5 options). Ice Matcha latte was delicious. The vegan brownie was excellent. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Will definitely come back

If you’re a book lover who happens to love sipping on a good drink, this is the place for you! Not only is the interior super cute, the coffees and pastries are wonderful. Plus, this is one of the only places in Ottawa that I’ve seen Espresso & Tonic!

This bar is a cozy and friendly place to enjoy a great coffee and indulge yourself in books. Friendly staff, good selection of used books, refreshing coffee and tea and cozy atmosphere make it my favorite place to escape from the city and refresh my mind. Highly recommended!

Good cafe, university/college crowd. Nice staff. The cafe had a small selection of baked goods to accompany drinks. There are large tables that are great for working or studying. I found that there were many college students who benefited from these tables for schoolwork. It's a great place to check out books and read, it it's not too chatty. Bring a sweater, since it can get chilly here.

Lovely book store cafe. Friendly staff and safe use of covid-19 protocols. No seating at the moment, but coming soon. Best to browse first and take the Coffee to go as we did. Mini cookies were also delicious. Thanks!

Loved the ambiance and the diverse book selection. Good coffee and chill place to relax and read a book or meet up with a friend. Only problem was that there was limited seating. Recommended

My favourite place to visit! It has some of the best coffee in the area, and such an excellent selection of books. The newer titles are full price, but you can find some bestsellers heavily discounted. Don't neglect the downstairs where you can find even more books!

The perfect mix of bookstore and coffee shop. Coffee is great and the selection of book is as well. It’s often packed with Carleton students so finding a seat can be tricky. They have great gluten-free options from Strawberry Blond bakery as well.

Decent value when trading in books for credit, and I will continue to do so. Fantastic selection of both used and new and almost everything you'll find is in great shape, and if not it is reasonably priced to make up for that. The 'new' book selection is also great. My partner enjoys the cafe side a lot more than I since I am not a coffee drinker but I appreciate having the cafe side since it offers great seating options to just hang out for a bit.

My husband and I go out of our way to visit this shop often. They are very generous with store credit for books you bring in (I'm not sure if they offer cash as well at a lower rate). You can tell they are picky with what they put on their shelves, making sure it is quality, so it is not hard to find something you want to read. Their treats and drinks are delicious, with lots of seating. I recommend you try the dominion city seltzer they sell!

Cute and quirky coffee shop/ book store. Prior to the pandemic I came here quite often to study. The environment is very welcoming and easy going. The coffee is good. The mocha is a must try, it is not too chocolaty and has a hint of cinnamon.

Great staff, awesome vibe, feel cozy and happy here! Spanakopita is great too

A bookworm paradise! Friendly staff and lots of shelves and corners stacked with great books to get lost -and found- yourself in, for days on end! There are gems and great finds in several languages. Fun goes on in the basement. A must for book lovers in Ottawa

Stumbled upon this great bookstore while on a trip in Ottawa. Great curated selection of new and used books. Staff was friendly and welcoming. Capped off the visit with an absolutely delicious Americano!

Very cute bookshop/cafe. The setup is very cozy and very vintage! Great place to go with friends

An amazing little cafe, thousands of books on the main level, and probably more than anyone could ever read in the basement. The tea is pretty great too. I love it!

My favourite spot in Ottawa! Great selection of books, very good coffee and baked goods, lovely atmosphere. I love how the books are organized, making it really easy to find anything I’m looking for. Things are priced quite well. I’ve found really great value at a very reasonable price point here and have been able to find philosophy, anthropology, and political theory books here that seem impossible anywhere else.

Fantastic bookstore with great collection of classic/antique works, value for money

Wow! Amazing bookstore and staff! I easily describe myself as a bookaholic. My shelves can never be too full. The selection and organization met and surpassed my expectations. Everyone should visit, give yourselves at least an hour or two to wander both levels. Bring a bag that will handle the many books that will magically "fall into your hands". Prices are really good.

We've been here once before but only today did we fully explore the book selection including the basement. It was so easy to get caught up looking through the enormous collection and finding familiar or interesting titles. We really enjoyed spending time in this spot and even picked up a few books in addition to our delicious flat white + cappuccino. We will definitely be back again!

A warm and cozy cafe with friendly staff, great coffee, and all the books you could dream of!

Black Squirrel boasts a massive collection of used books in a neatly organized and comfortable setting. The staff on the bookstore-side of the business are friendly and knowledgeable. The bookstore includes academic publications and various prints of classic books with varying prices. While some books are a bit expensive for a used bookstore, cheaper publications can be found with a careful eye. The cafe is also comfortable and provides a variety of drink and food options. One of my favourite elements of the place was the ability to sell old books for store credit, which can be redeemed to buy drinks at the cafe or more books from the store!

Absolutely fantastic selection of books! I found some gems I was looking for. Staff were friendly and helpful. Real nice atmosphere, the books were well organized and the decor was nice. Really nice cafe that i didn't use. They also sell wine and beer, which is an excellent idea. I was informed that they are working on a digital database for their books. They have a discounted rate for Canada post if you should order a book from them. Go there to find what you want and what you need!

Awesome little shop to get some work done, have a delicious lemon square with your coffee & even pick up a few $1 books! Personally I'm a fitness coach & was very happy with the books I found, I'm sure you'll find something great too!

Good coffee and an interesting selection of books upstairs. Downstairs contains treasures, but you'll need time and patience to wade through the toppling stacks of books to find them. Some people will enjoy that, others won't.

A fantastic spot to grab a great espresso based drink along with enough book titles to keep you searching for hours should you want. Any serious book/book store lover should check this place out. I also liked that the cups and lids were compostable.

I've been here a number of times. The atmosphere of being surrounded by shelves of books can't be beat. Customer service is always good. The coffee and baked goods can be hit or miss, but otherwise a stellar coffee spot :) Also, it's easy to miss on the street if you don't pay attention. A hanging sign would help and work well with the aesthetic ⭐

Black Squirrel is one of the nicest coffee stops in Ottawa. It's a cute venue with a nice view for people watching. Their coffee selection is small but delicious. And importantly, they're also an independent book store with an eclectic selection of mostly used books, including some rare items, out of print volumes and oddities. The staff is endlessly charming and kind, and their space feels like a sanctuary. A lovely quiet escape, well worth a visit.

I LOVE this place. Beautiful and a delicious cafe and an amazing second hand bookstore. I found so many goodies looking through the huge collection they have (there is a downstairs too) and I rested afterwards with a very nice chai tea while looking through my new books. The workers were charming and very nice too. I'll definitely be back.