Sitting on the edge of the Ottawa River and Quebec border, and nestled beside the Capital of Canada, Orléans can sometimes end up overshadowed by the prominent pieces of history surrounding it. But Orléans is a suburb rich with history in its museums, art galleries, and prehistoric sites. At the same time, it sees massive growth in population from immigration from other parts of Canada as well as around the world (hitting 116,688 in 2016). 

One amazing benefit of this multi-cultural mosaic on a background of keen francophone heritage is the food. Orléans has some of the best dessert spots that the area can offer, all thanks to a mixture of local ingredients with cuisine ingenuity. We’ve compiled a list of the dessert spots that show the very best in what Orléans can do.

1. Chocolats Favoris

If you’re a chocolate lover, you can’t miss this one. 

Chocolats Favoris takes your wild childish fantasies of living in Willy Wonka’s factory and makes them a reality. They may be a chain established in 1979, but they spare no expense in making the best and most fantastical desserts imaginable. 

If you’re looking for ice cream, they have 12 chocolatey flavours to choose from. If you’re looking for something new and interesting, try their chocolate poutine – made with funnel cake-like fries. Their well-known ice cream kooky cookies are also a hit. This is a great place to take children, or if you just can’t get enough of chocolate yourself. 

2. Pâtisserie Le Caramel

Merging authentic Lebanese cuisine with local Ontario-Québec ingredients created this wonderful establishment in the heart of Orléans. Here, you’ll find chocolate éclairs and petit fours, but you’ll also get baklava, namoura and haresah. They also boast beautiful kunafe platters for parties both big and small. 

There’s a cozy feel to this authentic family-owned restaurant. As they source their ingredients from only the highest quality suppliers, they make sure that every bite tastes exactly like the traditional Lebanese desserts their customers are looking for. If you’re looking for a delicious secret on their menu, check out their cakes!

3. Patisserie Fine Délice Royal

Another family-owned business with a specialization in delicious patisserie, Délice Royal was opened up in 1995 and continues to this day with the same owners. 

This patisserie uses high-quality dairy and wheat ingredients found in the local area and has no preservatives or artificial flavours in any of its products. All of the pastry work is done by their chief, Kieng Gov, who has been in the business for 25 years perfecting her craft. Out of all their cakes, chocolates, pies and other baked goods, locals recommend their beautiful gluten-free options that use creative techniques to make a lack of gluten seem like more of a gift. 

4. Cafe Latte Cino

You get the understanding of why gourmands think desserts and coffee go together when visiting Café Latte Cino. This location serves lattes, desserts, and the usual café fare, but they give dining a European-style quality to encapsulate the experience of sitting down in an ivy-covered hole-in-the-wall. The café was purchased in 2012 by owners Susan and Sam, who sought to create an oasis in a sea of IT and government retail. 

You can dine here for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the real gems are on their dessert menu. They have a wide selection of cakes, pies, cookies and even donuts to choose from.

The local fare of Orléans pairs best with a look through the local museums! However, with how sweet all these desserts are, make sure to take care of your teeth with a local Orléans Dental Clinic as well. 

James Montano