Culture and cream: Where to eat deluxe doughnuts in Ottawa

While Tim Hortons might be the go-to pit stop for a doughy treat, Ottawans can broaden their honey-glazed horizons beyond the standard Boston cream with a sampling of the finest doughnut recipes from around the world. Greek to Polish, French to fusion, there’s a delicious doughnut to please every pastry-lover. Now, get out there and explore!

Culture and cream: Where to eat deluxe doughnuts in Ottawa
Mara Munro By

Suzy Q Doughnuts

1
969 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X7

A trailblazing doughnut shop with an incredible history, Suzy Q Doughnuts uses a traditional Finnish recipe called sugar munkki. The recipe was almost lost during the Second World War, but a courageous young girl saved it as her family fled Canada. The full story is as sweet as the doughnuts, which have taken on a creative, contemporary twist. Savour a delicious bit of history in flavours such as blue vanilla fruit loop, London fog, maple bacon and raspberry lemonade.

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Warsaw Polish Deli

2
747 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0G6

If you haven’t tried paczki yet, why not? These traditional Polish, glazed pastries filled with plum jam can be found in sweet abundance at Warsaw Polish Deli. Doughnut lovers do need to plan ahead for this delicious dose of culture, as the deli’s doughnuts are supplied fresh from two Montreal bakeries, and they go fast! You can call ahead to reserve your dozen for pick up every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Art-Is-In Bakery

3
250 City Centre Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6K7

Classic and experimental doughnuts top the charts at Art Is In. An artistic fusion of croissant and doughnut, it serves sugary, layered cronuts, a croissant-doughnut hybrid. Its European bread-style Berliner doughnut is filled with vanilla cream, lemon cream or raspberry jam, and the buttermilk doughnut will blow you away. Made with mashed-potato yeast and finished with a maple glaze, some days it’s garnished with candied bacon: Euro-Canadian pastry at it’s best!

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Nutty Greek Bake Shop

4
490 Rochester St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4L8

Ever heard of loukoumades? Regardless, you’ve got to get to know the A-list, Greek-pastry delight. Sweet, bite-sized and honey drenched, these dough balls are served up warm and sticky at the Nutty Greek Bake Shop. A traditional, homemade dessert that puts the Timbit to shame, skip the Krispy Kreme and support a local family bakeshop that’s baking treats the old-fashioned way.

Sidedoor

5
Fl Lower 18 York, Ottawa, ON K1N 5S6

Serving a tantalizing fusion of Mexican and East Asian cuisines, Sidedoor also makes delicious doughnuts. Visit for lunch or dinner, and indulge in the eatery’s homemade doughnuts for dessert. Made for folks that love surprises, the doughnut flavours change regularly at the whim of the chef.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Edgar

6
60, rue Bégin, Gatineau, QC J9A 1C8

Without a doubt, Edgar is worth the jaunt over the river to Gatineau Quebec where you will find the treasured French beignets alive and well and delicious. Oozing with lemon curd and wafting a subtle and tantalizing nutmeg scent, fans of all things doughy and deep fried will find Edgar’s offerings deeply satisfying.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Rideau Bakery

7
384 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5Y8

Talk about history, the family owned and operated Rideau Bakery was founded over 80 years ago. Opened in 1930 by brothers David and Abie Kardish, the bakery and the family survived the Great Depression by working together to make dough. The secret to its delicious success is the Ukrainian recipes passed down by the family matriarch, Rivkah. Now operated by the third generation of the Kardish family, the bakery continues to do doughnuts such as the rainbow sprinkles and Boston cream to perfection.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Ottawa Bagelshop And Deli Inc

8
1321 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3B6

Don’t be fooled by its bagels, this well-established shop also pumps out fresh, homemade doughnuts daily. Its fresh, toffee-walnut doughnuts are done with an extraordinarily moist and eggy dough that defies the dry downfall of many a chocolate glaze. If you are looking to trade your breakfast bagel and cream-cheese (which is also a superb offering here) for a sugary pick-me-up, check out the Ottawa Bagel Shop’s lesser-known treats.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Mara Munro Mara Munro
Born and raised in the Gatineau Hills, Mara has been uniting the two solitudes of rural Quebec and downtown Ottawa ever since. A natural adventurer whose travel stories can be found in Travel & Escape, she also teaches yoga and is featured in the new book, Wanderlust Yoga: A Modern Yogi's Guide to Finding Your Best Self. Mara also writes about her passion project Yoga for Creativity for Elephant Journal.
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