Looking for an eclectic little nook with stacks of books, great coffee and a varied customer base? Here it is! Definitely a spot for book lovers visiting the area. read more

I stopped here one afternoon looking to kill some time between work and night class. There was ample seating and really cute ambiance. Black squirrel is a used (with some new) and very carefully curated bookstore with two levels of exploring to do. At the front of the shop is an espresso bar that offers lots of tasty treats and alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. I got a oat milk cappuccino and a small chocolate mint cookie. The cookie was only 1$ and so tasty, like an elevated and adult girl guide cookie!! Excellent prices and kind service. This will be my new go to when I have some time in Ottawa South. read more

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Mismatched chairs and tables, stacks of used books, and cheerful jazz music makes you want to stay in this cosy bookstore cafe for a few more hours. Whether you are hanging out with your friend or scouring the shelves for your favourite book, I'd highly recommend checking this bookstore cafe out! I probably spent 30 minutes just looking for books instead of studying but it was worth it! There are plenty outlets for those who would like a place to study and the drinks are on point. I opted for a spearmint green tea (they have Kusmi Tea here) and they served it in a bright yellow teapot. I usually don't like sharing these hidden gems so quickly but I couldn't wait. read more

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This is, for me, a wonderful space. We went in here some time ago and thought "oh, ok, we'll keep it in mind" but never really managed to get back there. We finally did a revisit last weekend, as I was looking for a very specific Canadian author from 1995/96 timeframe for my mom. (I found exactly what I was looking for by the way). Well - since the last time we were they, they've put in a coffee bar with plenty of seating. This is one of those spaces that is lovely because it's bit of disarrayed - it has character! The furniture is piece meal. The book shelves are mixed. Some look like they are IKEA shelves, picked up off the curb, while others are hand-made from lumber - but it works! Recently they expanded from the one floor to the basement. One can see that the basement is a work in process (books all over the place on the floor) but also the potential. The books are well organized by category/author and pricing is what one would expect for used books from a reputable store. (I paid $18 for two large format soft covers that had $33 retail total on them for 1990's prices). Prices did reflect the condition. I could have picked up one book for $3 less, but hey, the books are for my mom, so picked up the better one. Stopped for a coffee - very happy with the result. I can see going here quite regularly to look at books, grab a coffee. And probably also to sit and ponder life (knit!) on the odd occasion. ;-) To me, this space is a great replacement for Raw Sugar, my previous favorite stop for a coffee - with the bonus of them having books. read more

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar - Interior - Bookstores Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Coffeeshop, cafe, hangout spot. Coffee, books, a few local products. Nothing fancy, but very comfortable. Conversations are welcome here. Lots of small group chatter. Books are for sale and can also be read at the tables. From the pictures, I think the tables in the book/library area are new. Again, nothing fancy just functional. At the time I went (after 6pm) it was more of a hangout /social vibe than a work/laptop vibe. I grabbed an americano for $3. Order was up quickly. Brew was average, but wouldn't deter me from returning. read more

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In the era of coffee shops and global knowledge of how to appeal to youth and their desire for uniqueness, it is difficult to stand out. Black Squirrel still manages to do that! It is a coffee shop with a nice selection of teas and coffee, and a ton of interesting books to browse through. While I was enjoying my cup of tea, my dad found a bunch of well priced books he wanted to purchase for a while. The place also hosts a range of events including the monthly experimental/electronic music sessions referred to as Not Normal sessions. I highly admire this effort to promote experimental music and be a bit more than just another coffee shop. read more

Possibly my favourite coffee shop of all time. Not to mention the fact that it's a book heaven. I LOVE THIS PLACE !!!!!!

*This is a nearly identical, though updated, post to my previous review, as my opinion hasn't changed much about the new location. Black Squirrel Books is near the top of my list of my most favourite bookstores ever. It's far more organized than the previous location on Bank Street, but still a bit disorganized. I believe that a bit of disorganization (to an extent) really makes a book store. I could spend hours in here examining the bookshelves, stumbling over potentially new reading material. You'll find books group into categories here (i.e. Fiction, Classics, History, Politics, Music/Art), but then you'll find mixed stacks of books on tables amongst the shelves. Moreover, I haven't found books to be organized alphabetically. It's a second-hand book shop, which means many of the books are less than half of the original price. They are incredibly discounted, and incredibly affordable - a fraction of the price of Chapters/Indigo. PLUS, you can support a local business, which is super awesome. You can also trade books in for a credit to the store or cash. Books, especially the odd textbook that can be found here, are so much more affordable! They even have a new café at this location. Though I haven't got a chance to explore their menu options, I know their barista here is a super skilled coffee crafter. There are awesome vibes coming from this cute little shop and it seems they are even happy to let you linger and read. I love supporting independent bookstores. I will absolutely be returning here, and would certainly recommend you visit. read more

Black Squirrel is great for books that look like new. Their selection is impressive and vast though it does lean somewhat towards academia/university readings (understandable given the proximity to the university). The staff is quite knowledgeable and unobtrusive. The bookstore also has a great cafe section - perfect for reading the book you just found. They offer a decent selection of coffee, tea, and desserts. read more

This place has a cool vibe and staff were very insightful and helpful. Books are also amazing and the bands make the place a cool place to hang. The black squirrel will be my new hangout when I want to be cool! read more

I imagine this is a cool spot to meet some friends up for some homework or something, but for the frugal reader looking for a good deal, I don't think this is your place. The cost of books are relatively on par with what you might spend online (~30-40% off); with that being said, their books are also in really good condition. Big plus is that you're supporting a local independent book store, which I am all for. The cafe makes a pretty mean coffee. Servers are very friendly. The decor is unpretentious-pretentious, meaning that it looks like a dump but purposely so. It's nice-ish. Cool find, but not for me. read more

A bookworm paradise! Friendly staff and lots of shelves and corners stacked with great books to get lost -and found- yourself in, for days on end! There are gems and great finds in several languages. Fun goes on in the basement. A must for book lovers in Ottawa. read more

One of my favorite places in the city. The space is welcoming and the staff is wonderfully friendly. It is probably one of the only stores in the city that has used comics. Their drinks are tasty and I recommend the Vietnamese coffee in ice. read more

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar - a man walking through a bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Real cool little spot with good coffee and of course used books. The atmosphere is really relaxed and the place has a great sense of style. Of particular interest to me is the fact that, aside from a good selection of books, they also have a very sizeable comic book section, which is well organized according to publishing companies like Vertigo, Image, etc. All in all great place. read more

fantastic selection of books!!! super cute environment & nice staff :-) + the brownies are really good read more

Great coffee. Great books. Friendly baristas. Clean toilets. Didn't try any food this visit though. Loved it!

Awesome place! Was there for my first time and I loved it. The jazz music, the books ... just the general vibe is what makes it beautiful. If you want to chat with friends, have an appointment or just study or work, you got yourself an amazing place to go! read more

So lovely. My favourite coffee place in Ottawa. My latte with an extra shot was strong and milky. The scones were amazing; savoury was full of salty, cheesy goodness, and my aunt barely let me try her pear ginger one. It's not just the food, or the huge selection of books. The staff really know their stock, and there is something about the space, which is just the right mixture of airy, eclectic, and with that evocative book smell. It seems like the kind of place where things might happen or interesting things might be overheard. read more

I think this is a great place to buy books, and I don't at all have the intention of slandering it with this review, but I do feel the need to point out that they basically stole a box of books from me. In mid-April I brought a box of books that I was hoping to sell to them, for any price really. An employee told me that a manager would be in within a few hours and could evaluate my books then. I left the box with a sticky note with my name and phone number. I never heard back from them. Nearly a month later, in May, I called them and another employee asked me to describe the box and books, etc, but didn't know anything about it. Once again, I left my name and number (as I got a new number in the meantime) and was told that a manager would contact me in an hour. That was over 3 days ago and I still haven't heard anything. Clearly they don't really take my business or myself seriously just by calling, so I feel that the only way to get this communication and organizational problem resolved is by going public. Again, I don't want to discredit the place, but they clearly have to get themselves better organized and actually communicate with one another. Not passing on messages and not calling people back is a bad way to do business. 'Stealing' books ain't cool, nor is not getting back to me for weeks on end. I just wish that a manager would actually call me to tell me what's happening. read more

Great neighborhood place for a coffee and to browse some books. Book selection is eclectic and they move things around so you can always sit in the same place but with different books around you. They have some fantastically outdated selections and things I normally would never read but still pick up because I am lazy and they are within reach. The last time I was there I read about some wealthy art collector's incredibly biased, arrogant, and preachy take on Japanese art (preachy about art, not about the Japanese). It was refreshing. The coffee is great - especially when the woman is making them (I think they have only 1 female staff). Surprising number of options to choose from. They even have options for kids. Staff are all friendly. read more

This is an AWESOME place! The book selection is a nice mix of classics and eclectic finds, so it's always fun to browse. I drink both lattes and tea, and both are delicious here. The cafe ambience is fantastic to read, ponder and work. LOVE IT HERE! read more

I haven't had their beverages but I tried to sell them books. I accepted a consignment deal for some textbooks that were current and valuable. They entered my name and the titles into some notepad document. I was told when they are sold they will contact me. I never heard back from them so I figured they weren't sold and I might as well sell them myself so I contacted them for their return and they had no record of them. I hassled them and eventually spoke to the owner who said he had no record of them and would be replacing them or reimbursing their value to me. Never went anywhere and contact became increasingly difficult. I have since moved to Winnipeg and have no expectation of being paid. read more

On the advise of restaurant owner on the corner we tried their espresso and he was right best espresso in the city!!!

Nice ambience, and if you're into buying dead pieces of wood at 20$ apiece then they do have a nice, mostly typical-looking selection. Great looks though, and decent coffee. read more

I had a horrible experience. I was looking to buy about 100$ worth of used books and asked there very nice clerk if the price was negotiable. The clerk was nervous about negotiating and said the owner wasn't in the store. I asked if he could maybe call the owner. He said the owner didn't have a phone but he could go down the street to his place and ask him if I didn't mind waiting. I said sure and bought a coffee and waited. When the owner returned with the clerk carrying boxes of books the owner said he said he wasn't going to answer me but had make the clerk look up the books to find a suitable price. Even the barista apologized for my waiting. When after another few minutes I said very nicely to the owner that I have been waiting quite a while now, the owner pointed and said "THEN THERE'S THE DOOR". I cannot believe how he treated his customer and his employee. I left feeling abused and still feel sick about that. What a terrible terrible experience! read more