Read more about these *very nice* spaces
Escape’s River House location is a tour and rental hub for kayaks, SUPs, and bikes too!
Set along the beautiful Ottawa River, it’s a laid-back space ideal for outdoor adventuring, whether you're paddling or pedaling. The team is welcoming and knowledgeable, with gear for all experience levels.
Prefer staying on land? Their downtown Ottawa location specializes in bike tours and rentals for all types of biking experiences.
501 Prom Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier
Milk Shop is a queer-owned boutique in the ByWard Market offering a curated mix of clothing, jewelry, stationery, and home and body products.
With a playful, inclusive vibe and a commitment to celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ creators year-round, Milk is a safe, welcoming space for self-expression.
Whether you’re after a standout outfit or the perfect card, you’ll find bold, unique pieces, and maybe a 90s R&B soundtrack playing in the background.
41 Rue William Street
Escape is an LGBTQ+ owned bike tours and rental business located just steps from Parliament Hill.
This downtown spot specializes in offering fun guided city tours or renting city bikes, e-bikes, and kids’ bikes perfect for exploring Ottawa on safe and scenic bike network. Rentals include helmets, locks, and local route tips from a friendly, community-focused team.
Looking to get on the water? Their sister location at the River House offers kayak and paddleboard tours and rentals too.
65 Rue Sparks Street
Founded in May 2010, Stroked Ego is a queer-owned boutique in the heart of Centretown that aims to add some flair to Ottawa’s retail scene.
It offers a curated range of denim, underwear, socks, grooming essentials, and casual wear for men, male-identifying folks, and those who love them.
134 Rue Bank Street
T’s Pub is a queer-owned, all-welcoming pub nestled in Centretown, beloved for its friendly vibe, comforting food, and rotating craft beers on tap.
You’ll find karaoke on Thursdays, drag shows on Fridays, DJs spinning on Saturdays, and chill vibes on Sundays, something fun for every night of the weekend.
With its art displays, and a laid-back atmosphere, T’s has always been a safe queer hub built on community.
323 Rue Somerset Street
Venus Envy is an education-oriented sex shop and bookstore. Anyone who’s turned off by traditional sex shops will find VE to be a welcoming and informative place to get cool and sexy stuff.
Their philosophy is pretty simple: customers deserve quality products and good information, and sex should be dirty in a good way, not a shameful one.
They also offer workshops as an educational forum where people can ask questions and share their experiences in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
329 Rue Catherine Street
Rideau Rollers is Ottawa's only store for roller skating! The store is proudly queer-owned and provides a safe space for skaters of all identities and backgrounds.
You’ll find there roller skates as well as a wide range of protective gear for action sports like skateboarding, inline skating, and BMX.
Plus, there’s gifts, stickers, pins, and apparel from artists in Ottawa and across Canada.
787 Rue Somerset Street
Petites Gamines is a women-owned café and dessert bar in Gatineau’s Vieux-Hull, loved for its cozy charm, inventive pastries, and relaxed local coffee culture. It’s celebrated as queer-friendly and frequently recommended to treat your sweet tooth.
With its inventive treats and espresso made to order, friendly staff, and an inviting vibe, it’s a safe and affirming hangout where everyone can feel at home.
60 Rue Laval Street
Founded in summer of 2022, The Ottawa Trans Library is the first independent, non-profit public lending library, community space, and archive of its kind.
Run by and for Ottawa’s trans and gender diverse community, the collection focuses on works by trans and non-binary creators worldwide. It aims to preserve our voices and connect people with writing, art, and media to educate and inspire.
The library offer books for loan, local history to peruse, events to attend, and a quiet space to read.
1104 Rue Somerset Street
Motif Boutique is a woman-owned shop in Wellington West that offers a warm, welcoming space for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The boutique features playful home goods, cards, accessories, and gifts, including a great selection from queer artists and makers.
With its cozy vibe and creative workshops, Motif is a community space that invites you to be fully yourself.
980 Rue Wellington Street
Hello Dolly Pastries is a queer-owned boutique bakery in Ottawa’s Hintonburg, serving up hand-decorated cookies, meringues, vegan and gluten-free treats, all baked in a nut-free kitchen.
The shop builds community through creativity and care. They offer paint-your-own sugar cookie kits, fun accessories, and heartfelt custom orders.
It’s a cozy, colourful spot with just the right treat for every sweet craving.
992 Rue Wellington Street
Bread By Us is a queer-owned artisanal bakery and espresso bar tucked into Ottawa’s Hintonburg since 2013.
Known for slow-fermented sourdough loaves, hand-laminated pastries, and amazing brewed coffee made with care, it’s a neighbourhood gathering spot with a strong sense of community.
From their suspended food board initiative to friendly baristas, every visit feels warm, inclusive, and intentional.
1065 Rue Wellington Street
The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore is a queer-owned independent community bookstore.
The store offers a curated selection of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, as well as greeting cards, notebooks, and other gifts, in a safe, welcoming, judgment-free space.
With over 4,000 unique titles and gifts in-store, and over 12 million additional titles available to order, The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore has something for everyone.
1131 Rue Wellington Street
Little Jo Berry’s is a queer-owned vegan bakery-café in Ottawa’s Wellington Village, built on creativity, community, and a serious sweet tooth.
From pop-tarts and cookie sandwiches to puff pastries and meringues, their treats rotate daily with a generous selection of gluten-free and dairy-free treats.
Friendly and inclusive, it’s a safe, joyful spot where you can grab coffee, support local, and meet new friends.
1305 Rue Wellington Street