The Britannia Bakeshop Ottawa Review – Honest Take on an Overpriced Pastry – Average EV Score: 5.3/10

Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa

Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.

The Britannia Bakeshop Overview

2728 Howe St, Ottawa, ON K2B 5X4

The Britannia Bakeshop has a very convenient and scenic location. It’s right off the bike path that runs near Britannia Park and Beach, which makes it an easy stop if you’re out for a ride or walk in the area. The bike path is one of the more popular ones in Ottawa, and it draws a steady flow of cyclists and walkers, many of whom are already familiar with Beachconers, the popular café nearby. Given its location, it feels natural that people visiting Beachconers might also pop into Britannia Bakeshop for a pastry.

The shop itself is very small, more of a grab-and-go bakery than a sit-down café. There’s a cozy feel to it, but seating is very limited, so don’t expect to hang around for long. Parking is also limited — there’s only street parking available, which can be tricky depending on the time of day, especially in the summer when Britannia Park draws big crowds.

The overall vibe of the shop is straightforward. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was quick. The baked goods in the display case looked fine, but nothing beyond the pain au chocolat really stood out to me visually. A lot of the pastries and baked goods just looked average, not the kind of display that makes you immediately want to order everything in sight.

That said, the location is what gives this bakery its appeal. It’s incredibly convenient if you’re already in the area, especially for cyclists or walkers using the path. I didn’t try their bread this time, but I’d consider giving it a shot on a future visit, since it may be more of a highlight than their pastries.

Would return?: Maybe to try the bread.

Pain au Chocolat

😋 Enjoyment: 8/10

💰 Price Paid: $6

🎯 Benchmark Price: $4

📊 EV Score: 5.3/10

🔁 Order Again?: No.

The pain au chocolat was decent. It had a pleasant flavour and a nice flaky texture, which is exactly what you want from this kind of pastry. The chocolate filling was smooth and not too sweet, giving it balance. The problem wasn’t the taste — it was the value. At $6 for a single pastry, it felt overpriced, especially when compared to what you can get elsewhere in the city.

For example, Farm Boy sells a pack of four pain au chocolat for about the same cost as one here, and the difference in quality and texture is minimal. While Britannia Bakeshop’s version was a touch better, it wasn’t enough of a difference to justify the higher price. It’s fine as a one-time purchase if you’re already nearby, but it’s not something I’d go out of my way for or order again.

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Final Thoughts

The Britannia Bakeshop benefits greatly from its prime location near Britannia Park and the bike path. It’s convenient for cyclists and walkers who want a quick snack, and it’s close enough to Beachconers that it naturally picks up traffic from people already stopping in the area. The bakery itself is small and unassuming, with limited space and a very casual vibe.

While the staff were friendly and the service was quick, the baked goods didn’t impress me. The pain au chocolat was tasty enough but overpriced, and the rest of the pastries looked fairly ordinary. It’s hard to justify paying premium prices for something that doesn’t feel significantly better than grocery store options.

In the future, I might give their bread a try, since that could be where they stand out more. But based on this visit, Britannia Bakeshop feels more like a convenient stop than a must-visit destination. It’s the kind of place you might check out once if you’re in the area, but not somewhere you’d drive across town for.

Ultimately, this bakery is more about location than quality. The proximity to Britannia Park and the bike path ensures it stays busy, but the pastries themselves don’t live up to the price point. If you’re craving a quick snack while out for a ride, it’s fine. But if you’re after truly memorable baked goods, there are better options elsewhere in Ottawa.