I held my first monstrous grande-something-ino in Toronto, a few days after landing in Canada. I remember it as a very “North America 101” moment, complete with puzzling questions—“Hi, how are you today?” and “What’s your name?”

I muttered something.

Everything was going too fast, and my English wasn’t great.

Feng had taken me to Chapters on Richmond Street, the cozy big-box bookstore where it wasn’t frowned upon to read (unpurchased!) magazines and books on comfortable chairs while sipping a Starbucks drink, the partner coffee shop inside the store.

Whipped cream-topped sugary beverage plus unlimited reading materials—Feng claims he has never tried to sell me Canada but looking back, maybe he was trying.

I didn’t drink coffee back then, but much like millions of non-coffee drinkers, I also didn’t mind the occasional caramel Frappuccino or vanilla latte. Starbucks basically sells drinkable desserts—pick a flavour, an Italian name, and enjoy the hot or cold sugar rush.

Ten years later, I found myself hanging out at Chapters again, this time with a baby. Like, my very own kid. Crazy, I know.

The then-ubiquitous bookstore had become an alternative to shopping malls to entertain Mark in the dead of the winter. The perspective of buying a Starbucks drink made the two hours of Thomas and Friends bearable, but with a fussy baby in the sling (and later an overexcited toddler), I didn’t have the time to wait for a barista’s creative skills. Out of desperation, I started drinking the infamous “Pike Place” roast just because it was poured by the same person who was taking the order.

This is how I discovered I could drink black coffee. And this is how I discovered caffeine was quite helpful to make it through yet another day with very little sleep and many hours alone with a kid who was apparently running on coffee.

Eh, don’t judge. There are worse addictions to develop.

Two years later, the first day I dropped Mark off at daycare, I walked home and suddenly realized I could stop at Starbucks on the way and enjoy a cup of coffee alone, both hands free, for the first time in months.

And this is how I became a regular at the neighbourhood’s Starbucks. Nothing crazy, really, just a daily 30-minute break with a book and a morning cup of coffee on the way back from daycare #1, and then daycare #2 and #3.

Mark started school, and I started to have both hands free more often, but I was still heading to Starbucks once a day just to see people. I’m freelancing, it’s just me, my laptop and words in various languages. This was like hanging out at the coffee machine with coworkers—a social break, basically.

It was never about Starbucks. It was about having a neutral place to go to, a place I could walk to and sit down alone for a little while.

Could I have gone anywhere else? There’s a Tim Hortons at the end of the street but I hate Tim Hortons coffee—plus it’s a pit stop with bathrooms, not a cozy place. A friendly locally owned coffee shop, maybe? Nope, none around. The only alternative was a Second Cup across the street from Starbucks, tomayto, tomahto.

It wasn’t a love affair, really. It was more like a convenient, lazy affair.

Then the pandemic hit, inflation followed, and I quit Starbucks cold turkey because, surely, my daily splurge was my Gen X “avocado toast.”

Just kidding. Mostly, Starbucks realized it was a lot more profitable to focus on mobile orders and became a glorified drive-through. It stopped being welcoming almost overnight. Seating space was reduced, the big table was removed, plugs were hidden and a soulless cafeteria vibe set in.

I just didn’t see the point in ordering online, picking up my cup (and still being prompted for a tip!) and GTFO. I’m not paying $5 to be treated like a dog—no, you can’t come in, go drink somewhere else!

I started making coffee at home and I never looked back. My neighbourhood Starbucks filled a gap in life at one point. I no longer need it.

However, once in a while, I need a coffee shop to meet up with friends. We don’t go to each other’s places because the point is to escape from home, and in Canada, sitting outside isn’t a fun option for most of the year.

The challenge? Coffee shops with parking spots, seating space, and a welcoming vibe.

Bonus, places open past 7 p.m. Ottawa isn’t a late-night city—this is one of the many reasons the city and I shouldn’t be living together.

Here are my four favourites so far in Ottawa.

Happy Goat

Happy Goat promises directly sourced, locally roasted specialty coffee, crafted in Ottawa. There are several locations but I like the one on Laurel Street, between Little Italy and Chinatown.

There’s plenty of seating space, a lovely coffee smell and a relaxing vibe, plus parking spots in the quiet street.

Casa Bonita

Casa Bonita is a new place on Baseline, and unlike the name suggests, it’s Asian. They have coffee (some with a Vietnamese twist), bubble tea, fancy smoothies and anything in between, plus fresh pastries.

Again, there’s plenty of seating space, from tables to comfy couches, and it feels cozy. Bonus, they stay open until 10 p.m.!

Ten Toes

Need coffee and clean laundry? Go to Ten Toes on Somerset! This is probably the only coffee shop around with washing machines at the back and yes, some people use them.

There isn’t as much seating space but when it’s not too busy, it’s a lovely place to hang out. They host events too!

Second Cup on Merivale

This Second Cup is my special Second Cup—it stays open until 11 p.m.! And since it’s one of the few places around you can go to “that late” (… Ottawa time), it draws a very diverse crowd, from older folks to young students.

It’s the friendliest Second Cup I know, and a great option when it’s lat, butt you still want to chat with friends.