Raw Sugar Cafe

This review is based only on having come in to see live shows, and not to visiting for coffee or a meal during the day.
One of my favourite places in the city for live music — it’s a great, intimate little place. They always seem to fall down when it comes to their drinks and service, though. They’ll be out of ice, or staffed by only one person (which, however, is fine if not everyone is looking for a drink), or out of the beer you wanted. Some of that is just the nature of being small, but running out of ice? That’s just confusing.
Snacks are yummy, though, and the place is extremely cute. It’s a little awkward when it fills up — there’s not anywhere convenient to stand when all the seats are full, and you’ll be in the way.

Raw Sugar is a mix of all things awesome. Amazing old school vintage décor, with a comfy atmosphere and amazing coffee! I always enjoy taking friends visiting from out of town here because it’s so unique and different. The owner is awesome and always friendly, she also hires great staff. I also love that there are board games and books, and I find that this place just always seems to have a happy vibe to it that makes you want to be there. Really great ice tea lemonade in the summer too!

Great little spot. Usually we get something to go but last night we decided to grab a seat and enjoy the atmosphere. I had a coffee and my partner had a Beau’s (with a vegan peanut rice crisp). The staff was friendly and funny.

Great ambiance, good drinks, delicious treats, good service.

Lovely little place to chat over a good cup of joe. I very much enjoyed my almond milk latte. I would have stayed longer but there is no WiFi, so not a place to settle in and work on the laptop. You can try to steal it from the local dim sum restaurant but it’s slow and unreliable. Best to BYO hot spot. Otherwise, it’s a very homey place with an eclectic vibe. There was a small knitting circle holding session at one of the tables and another family of 3 with a small child enjoying an afternoon out. It was, well, lovely.

Tonight was my first visit to Raw Sugar. It just so happened to be Beats & Boards night, so the little café was bustling. I enjoyed the cheerful buzz of activity and the live set. The café itself is adorable! I really liked the colourful, eclectic décor. There was a delicious smell of curry in the air, but my friend and I stuck to hot drinks and dessert (I’ll have to come by again to sample the hot food!). The peanut butter rice krispie square is very tasty, and my friend enjoyed her vanilla green tea. I loved my caramel hot chocolate so much that I ended up drinking two of them! I had mine with almond milk, and it was perfect. The lady at the front cash was a bit short with me and seemed rather grouchy, but everyone has their off days. The other employee, a man who scurried around making sure that everyone was happy with their games and food, was enthusiastic and delightful. All in all a positive experience, I am looking forward to my next visit!

This place is cute and different from the typical coffee shops. It always looks bustling but not packed when I pass by. And while I’m not a coffee drinker, the other beverages and treats they offer are great.

Eclectic is the word for this place. Perfect for university students who want to work in small groups within a casual atmosphere. Coffee and muffins were delicious. The music being played over speakers was… interesting. lol

Found this gem cycling through Canada on a bike tour. Loved the retro kitschy atmosphere. Staff was genuine, curious, and personable. Iced coffee was served with memorable enthusiasm and the vegan, homemade-​style sugary treat was great. This place is recommend.

This is my personal favorite coffee house in the city. It’s so cute and creatively put together, the coffee is great, and the location around Chinatown is fairly accessible. Ok — I make Hubs drive out of the way to go here about once a month. Unfortunately it’s not his favorite space, so I have to work at it a bit. Don’t get me wrong, he likes it, but there are other coffee spots he likes more.
They also have bands in some nights, which is kind of fun. The setting is very up-​close and personal as the bands are only perhaps 5 to 30 feet away from you, depending where one is sitting.
Also a nice spot to sit and play a board game with a companion or two. You can likely bring your own, but there are some on site too. (No guarantees all the pieces are there though.) A book shelf provides a way to fill time if you just want some quiet time to yourself too.
Would I return: yes
Would I recommend: yes — I have /​do.

This place is a great place to relax or socialize with friends. The tea is great! They also have some boardgames. You can even go on a Friday night for hip hop!

I love this charming little café. If you’re looking for something different than the standard coffee chain this might just be your new favourite spot.
While they do serve up great coffee and tea, this place is so much more. Located just beside the Chinatown gate and attached to Sushi88 it can be hard to miss if you’re driving. Park on the side street right off Somerset if you can.
When you walk in you’re greeted by lovely staff (the owner is a really cool woman with great business ideas) and a display case full of treats, many of which are gluten free. Another pleasant surprise? They also have a liquor license and sell some local brews. I had a beer cocktail here that was awesome.
Glance around the place and you might feel like you’re in a friend’a living room (or Grandma’s kitchen!). The seating is eclectic and comfy and the mismatched seating adds a relaxed vibe to the place. There’s a bookshelf with board games and books that invite you to sit and stay awhile.
After the 9 – 5 this place transforms into a local hub for bands and performers and hosts some great community events.
I’m only dropping them one star (half, really!), due to the lack of wifi. This is a place I would love to come and work if they had wifi. That being said, it is a wonderful place to relax and forget about work for awhile! A true Ottawa gem.

Great unexpected after hours dance club. Eclectic furnishings and old school hip hop beats. For the day time customers there appears to be great coffee and treats at an affordable price. There’s also games and books.

Cappuccino was not bad, but the baked goods were a little… Firm.
Otherwise the environment is nice, neat ambiance and furniture! I’d come back and try the food.

Good coffee, calm ambiance and a decent place to chill if you don’t mind white hipsters with toddlers talking baby barf and Montessori. No wi-​fi but, hey, you’re not here to stream porn, so just tether.

I love this place.
It was one of the first places I found when I moved to Ottawa and since I have made a point of going back whenever I need a place to sit and read or just relax.
They have a decent couple beers on tap, a good selection of food and a great atmosphere.
The staff is always friendly, they have some fun board games, and a good selection of consignment clothes and such hanging around.
There are always meetings of some sort going on, or knitting clubs, the place is always lively.
It’s a real joy and glad it’s in my neighbourhood.

Absolutely love this place. I came here every day in the summer for lunch since it was close to where I was working. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and there is an interesting mix of eclectic furniture throughout. It is a great place to relax on your lunch hour, and often times there are people playing board games at some of the tables, others on their laptops, or reading.
The jasmine green tea is really good paired with a peanut butter cookie! They also have really yummy sandwiches (ham and tomato). The hummus is awesome too.

Raw sugar is a nice little vegan/​vegetarian friendly café in Ottawa’s tiny Chinatown. This is the second time being here for a bite to eat and the first time sitting down. I dropped by last night looking for a place to study after I realized there was an open mic at Umi. The lady that served me was friendly, bubbly, and not pretentious, unlike the service I receive at many other cafes, such as a certain Ottawa coffeehouse chain. I just wanted a little bite to eat so I got a cookie and an iced tea.
The décor here is more than interesting. There are many vibrant coloured vintage couches and chairs that are extremely comfortable (although I kept thinking I was going to break the couch I was on). The lightning was dim but warm and I felt very at home. It also helps the patrons of this café have been very friendly both times I was here.
The menu is small but I bet you can find something on there you’d like. They have a variety of sweets (cookies, squares, carrot cake etc.), and some savory foods like chili, sandwiches and even stuffed grape leaves. I have only tried the carrot cake and cookies and they were both very very good. The iced tea I had was homemade and also lemony and refreshing.
They show movies occasionally, and from what I hear they sometimes have cool little bands playing. Last night they were playing a feminist themed movie, the title I can’t remember. Admission was free but they suggested a donation of $ 5-​$ 10.
Oh, one last thing. To top it off they sell REALLY unique and cute vintage clothes! For a reasonable price.

Love, love, love the vintage feel here. It like you’re in someone’s home at Raw Sugar, right down to the chipped and mismatched furniture. I am a big «atmosphere» junkie and this place speaks to my misfit heart.
It has a fantastic selection of teas. I wish they offered more baked goods, but the basics are covered with some vegan and gluten-​free options. I also caught a show here one night — Bruce Peninsula, best ten bucks ever spent — and was blown away at how versatile this small space could be!
Every time I pass Raw Sugar, I just want to walk in and forget the world exists beyond its colourful walls. I slightly resent that it’s being touted as a «hipster» café because it’s rather down-​to-​earth and not pretentious, but hey, being hip ain’t such a bad thing.

FINALLY. It took three days and a decent walk over to Chinatown but I finally found the one café in Ottawa than isn’t afraid to show some character. No more Starbucks, no more Second Cup, no more Bridgehead… it’s all about the Raw Sugar baby!
Just past the Chinatown Royal Gates, this hipster hideaway is good enough to balance out the sea of suits and to-​go cups that flood the capitol’s streets. A mish-​mash of vintage chairs, tables and couches from the fifties are scattered among church organs, vinyl records, owl figurines («put a bird on it» anyone?) typewriters, books and boardgames immediately let the unconventional feel at home here.
Local art and, from what I hear, local band performances round out the community value of this coffee shop while delicious coffee (not even a hint of bitterness) and fresh baked sweets seal the deal.
If they had wireless, I’d never leave!