City Cafe Bakery - Ottawa St.

If it’s your first time here, you should know there are actually two locations of this bakery, one on West Avenue and the other on Ottawa Street. I found out from the staff that they’re owned by different people and operate independently. I’ve been to both and honestly prefer the West Avenue location. It has that cozy, local old-town bakery vibe that I really enjoy. The staff at both spots have always been nice and friendly, so no complaints there. That said, the Ottawa Street location does have the edge when it comes to variety, you’ll find way more pastries to choose from here. One thing you definitely shouldn’t miss is their giant croissants. They don’t look or taste like a traditional French croissant, but they’re fresh, tasty, and have their own unique texture. We also tried a few other pastries, and everything was good. Another difference is payment; West Avenue is cash only, while Ottawa Street accepts cards as well, which is more convenient. Prices at both locations are a bit on the high side, but I don’t mind paying a little extra to support small, local businesses. I’ve attached some photos of their pastries, and while I’ll happily stop by either location, my personal favorite is still the West Avenue spot, it just has a unique atmosphere that makes it feel special.

City Cafe is one of my favorite bakeries. Always a solid choice based on quality of food and amazing staff. They are a cash only business and operate on an honor system. You select your food, drinks etc, add it up yourself (calculator supplied) and if you need change, just tell them how much you need. Most of the baked goods are done in house and the rest is mostly sourced locally. They serve Baden Coffee which is a great coffee, but I wished they carried Hissing Goose. Today I purchased a Montreal style sesame bagel and a chocolate croissant. Not much can beat a warm, fresh baked Montreal bagel. The toasted sesame seeds give the exterior a pleasant crispiness while the bagel itself has a soft, chewy inside. You can get jam, cream cheese etc but I prefer to eat it plain. Delicious! The chocolate croissant was light and flakey and the chocolate inside was soft and gooey. Another positive quality of the croissants is they don't go crazy with the powdered sugar. Eat in, take out and also have a dog friendly patio. Love this place. These 2 items were $4.50

I really like the bagels and croissants here, plus all the extras you can get on the side. I also really like the payment system where you take what you want and add the prices yourself and drop it in the jar. But you have to be early to get the good stuff because they will run out before noon!