By Aria Wilson
Do you ever find yourself sitting in the same place in your living room, feeling overwhelmed and frankly exhausted by the tasks bombarding you and think that maybe a change of scenery will help? We’ve all been there. Here are five of the best places to have a sip and awaken your productivity right here in Ottawa.
Le Moulin de Provence kd
30 Metcalfe St
Free WiFi: Yes
Charging Outlets: Yes
Bright and spacious
I went to Le Moulin de Provence on Metcalfe at 1pm on the last Monday of March. This location offers daylight through the glass walls and classic Italian meals. I ordered the three piece combo, Italian sandwich, pesto pasta salad, and a drip coffee. I can very confidently say that I thoroughly enjoyed my meal while working through assignments. The restaurant and bakery also sells specialty coffees and teas, as well as freshly baked goods.
Le Moullin de Provence. Photo Aria Wilson
This Moulin de Provence location has free WiFi for guests that I found very reliable when completing my daily tasks. I was using three devices at once, iPad, Macbook, and iPhone, all while sitting next to three people doing the same. There was not one time during my visit that I experienced a “WiFi crash” or slow-down.
Black Squirrel Books
1073 Bank Street
Free WiFi: No
Charging Outlets: Yes
Cozy setting
Black Squirrel Books cafe and bookstore is perfect for your next work or study outing. There are a few tables at the front, closest to the windows, where you can people-watch or read a book during your breaks.
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I arrived at one in the afternoon on a nice Thursday in April and did not have to wait for a table to clear up. I ordered a cappuccino and browsed books while waiting. The cappuccino was $5.50, and was delicious. Sitting next to the window provided a decent amount of light for me to do my work, while the area was nice and quiet. There was reserved accessible seating, but not a lot of seating in general, as the predominant focus is on the books.
Beandigen
106-900 Exhibition Way (Lansdowne)
Free WiFi: No
Charging Outlets: No
Bright and airy
On the lookout for my next working location after Black Squirrel Books, I got to Beandigen Café at 2:30pm, Thursday. I did not have to wait for a table at Beandigen, and was pleasantly surprised by the sale of local artwork inside. The open concept of the café allows light into the space to help the greenery to grow, keeping the area bright, encouraging productivity. The seats are arranged to accommodate groups or people coming in by themselves.
Beandigen Café. Photo Aria Wilson
I ordered an apple cider, which was $5.50 for a large. At the end of the coffee bar, there are an assortment of additives like cinnamon, cocoa, milk, and cream. The drink ended up being bigger than I expected, so it was great to be able to carry around after spending time working at Beandigen.
Wild Oat Bakery, Farm and Café
817 Bank Street
Free WiFi: No
Charging Outlets: No
Colourful and lively
Wild Oat Bakery, Cafe and Farm is the perfect working location for anyone who likes cozy and colourful environments. I didn’t stay long, since there weren’t charging outlets, but as long as you come with your devices ready to go, this is a lovely spot to grab a drink and settle down with your laptop.
The shop is split into two sides, with one offering soups and mostly savoury bakery items, while the other side is mostly sweets and coffee. I ordered an Americano, which was $3.25 for a medium. The coffee was not too strong and kept me energized for a while longer.
Wild Oat sunshine. Photo Aria Wilson
I loved the environment of Wild Oat. If you’re somebody who enjoys working among noise and chatter, then you will love this lively location. The only issue might be finding an empty seat!
Kettleman’s Bagels
912 Bank Street, 1365 Woodroffe Ave, 197 Trainyards Dr #6, 710 Eagleson Rd
Free WiFi: Yes
Charging Outlets: No
Industrial and exciting
At 4:45pm, I arrived at Kettleman’s Bagels for an early dinner. Kettleman’s offers specialty bagels that range from $10-$16 and simple bagels that are around $2. I ordered the Cubano combo, which brought me to $12.99 and included a ham and roasted pork bagel, a bag of chips, and a soft drink from the fountain machine.
After finishing my meal, I got straight to work and was delighted to find that Kettleman’s also offers complimentary WiFi. Much like Le Moulin de Provence, I had no issues with the connection and my work resumed at a steady pace.
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One prominent design feature that helps Kettleman’s Bagels in the Glebe stand out is the use of a garage-like indoor patio. This allows natural light into the shop so you can really feel productive. I would bring some headphones if you are not a fan of chatter. One big upside to Kettleman’s is that it’s open 24 hours, seven days a week with locations all over town and if you’re someone who’s really busy, you don’t even have to wait at the counter for your order, as they have buzzers that notify you when your order is ready to be picked up.
Whether you’re cramming this exam season or trying to get through paperwork, switching up your usual environment can generate great results and better moods, plus the caffeine can’t hurt. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try out these locations!
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