Guidebook for Ottawa
Food Scene
This Ottawa chain is the standard for premium coffee in town. (This location is best for takeout, as the seating isn't great.)
210 locals recommend
Bridgehead
131 Beechwood Ave.This Ottawa chain is the standard for premium coffee in town. (This location is best for takeout, as the seating isn't great.)
Awesome place for Caribbean take-out - get jerk chicken or jerk chicken roti. The lighting/atmosphere isn't great though, so not the best for eating in.
Island Grill
324 Bank StAwesome place for Caribbean take-out - get jerk chicken or jerk chicken roti. The lighting/atmosphere isn't great though, so not the best for eating in.
Tasty, healthy, nice atmosphere, and decently priced. Great place to go for dinner.
The Greek Souvlaki Shack
258 Bank StTasty, healthy, nice atmosphere, and decently priced. Great place to go for dinner.
Trendy/hipstery breakfast/brunch spot. A bit pricier, but high quality food. There's often a line on weekends, but they'll text you when your table is ready.
77 locals recommend
Wilf & Ada's
510 Bank StTrendy/hipstery breakfast/brunch spot. A bit pricier, but high quality food. There's often a line on weekends, but they'll text you when your table is ready.
The "greasy spoon" diner alternative to Wilf and Ada's. Pretty cheap with a classic diner ambiance.
10 locals recommend
Bramasole Diner
428 Bank StThe "greasy spoon" diner alternative to Wilf and Ada's. Pretty cheap with a classic diner ambiance.
Really good baked goods, mostly for take-out. Also have good pizza by the slice if you're there at the right time.
37 locals recommend
Bread & Sons
195 Bank StReally good baked goods, mostly for take-out. Also have good pizza by the slice if you're there at the right time.
The place that my vietnamese friends recommend for pho in Ottawa. (But there are about 7 closer pho places on the same street, which taste the same to me.)
9 locals recommend
Pho Thu Do Restaurant
781 Somerset St WThe place that my vietnamese friends recommend for pho in Ottawa. (But there are about 7 closer pho places on the same street, which taste the same to me.)
Very trendy taco + cocktails place. A bit too trendy for me, but if you need to pad your instagram feed, this is the place to go.
168 locals recommend
El Camino
380 Elgin StVery trendy taco + cocktails place. A bit too trendy for me, but if you need to pad your instagram feed, this is the place to go.
Ahora Mexican Restaurant
307 Dalhousie StAffordable, tasty Mexican food.
Really great pub for getting a burger and pint. (Or, even better, a salmon burger.) Has a jukebox.
80 locals recommend
Chez Lucien
137 Murray StReally great pub for getting a burger and pint. (Or, even better, a salmon burger.) Has a jukebox.
Hooley's Pub
292 Elgin St"Irish" pub that draws a university crowd. Very popular for Monday wing nights.
Ottawa 2 For 1 Pizza
320 Bank StCheap take-out pizza. $11 3-topping large, if you pick it up.
Pretty trendy, large restaurant and bar in the Landsdowne Park complex. Draws a lot of the "young professional" crowd.
37 locals recommend
Local Lansdowne
826 Exhibition WayPretty trendy, large restaurant and bar in the Landsdowne Park complex. Draws a lot of the "young professional" crowd.
Cool coffee shop in and old courtyard. (Cash only.)
32 locals recommend
Planet Coffee, ByWard Market, Ottawa
24a York StCool coffee shop in and old courtyard. (Cash only.)
Really good food and they brew their own beer. Good place to stop on your way back from Gatineau Park.
106 locals recommend
Chelsea Pub
238 Chem. Old ChelseaReally good food and they brew their own beer. Good place to stop on your way back from Gatineau Park.
Drinks & Nightlife
A "locals" bar/pub. Usually busy earlier in the night. The cheapest pints of craft beer ($5) in Ottawa, as well as really cheap food. This crowd is hit and miss, but sit at the bar upstairs and you'll probably end up meeting some new people. Cash only.
7 locals recommend
Pour Boy - Somerset
495 Somerset St WA "locals" bar/pub. Usually busy earlier in the night. The cheapest pints of craft beer ($5) in Ottawa, as well as really cheap food. This crowd is hit and miss, but sit at the bar upstairs and you'll probably end up meeting some new people. Cash only.
Really small, cozy hidden-away pub with surprisingly good food. It can be busy on weekend nights. Also super popular for weekend brunch.
95 locals recommend
The Manx Pub
370 Elgin StReally small, cozy hidden-away pub with surprisingly good food. It can be busy on weekend nights. Also super popular for weekend brunch.
Irish-style pub with a labyrinth of rooms. Get's really busy on weekend nights, and has a dance floor.
72 locals recommend
The Lieutenant's Pump
361 Elgin StIrish-style pub with a labyrinth of rooms. Get's really busy on weekend nights, and has a dance floor.
One of the few popular clubs outside of the Byward Market. Known for it's theme nights (90s night, Drake night, Beyonce night, etc).
32 locals recommend
Babylon
317 Bank StOne of the few popular clubs outside of the Byward Market. Known for it's theme nights (90s night, Drake night, Beyonce night, etc).
Another "locals" bar. This one draws an all ages crowd and frequently has live music - Sunday nights are the big night.
16 locals recommend
Atomic Rooster
303 Bank StAnother "locals" bar. This one draws an all ages crowd and frequently has live music - Sunday nights are the big night.
Tooth and Nail Brewing Company
3 Irving AveCool brewpub with good beer.
The Black Sheep Inn is known for booking surprisingly good live music acts (mostly indie/folk). It's a bit of a drive, but Wakefield is a charming town next to the Gatineau River and the Black Sheep has a good vibe.
106 locals recommend
The Blacksheep Inn / Auberge Le Mouton Noir
753 Chem. RiversideThe Black Sheep Inn is known for booking surprisingly good live music acts (mostly indie/folk). It's a bit of a drive, but Wakefield is a charming town next to the Gatineau River and the Black Sheep has a good vibe.
Essentials
Hartman's Your Independent Grocer
296 Bank StGrocery store, pharmacy, etc.
Getting Around
Greyhound Canada
265 Catherine StSightseeing
Nice to see, even if you just walk across the lawn and stand in front of the Eternal Flame. If you want to do a tour, pick up free tickets the same day at the visitor centre across the street. You likely need to go soon after it opens, before they all get taken.
891 locals recommend
Parliament Hill
Wellington StreetNice to see, even if you just walk across the lawn and stand in front of the Eternal Flame. If you want to do a tour, pick up free tickets the same day at the visitor centre across the street. You likely need to go soon after it opens, before they all get taken.
Rideau Canal, Locks 1 - 8 - Ottawa
Don't miss a walk down to the locks!
Nepean Point
Probably the best view in Ottawa! Don't miss it.
Parks & Nature
There's a really cool, hidden park behind the supreme court. Go to the back (where the fountain is), and then take the stairs to the left of the fountain. Cool view over the Ottawa river!
From here you can continue your walk down to the river, and along the river path.
30 locals recommend
Supreme Court of Canada
301 Wellington StThere's a really cool, hidden park behind the supreme court. Go to the back (where the fountain is), and then take the stairs to the left of the fountain. Cool view over the Ottawa river!
From here you can continue your walk down to the river, and along the river path.
If you have a car, DO NOT MISS Gatineau Park. Tons of hiking/snowshoeing/ski trails, as well as lakes. Gets really busy in fall, as the colours change.
My favourite hike is the Luskville Falls hike, which is an uphill climb to the the top of an escarpment that gives you views over the Ottawa Valley.
If you just want a view and no hike, drive to Champlain Lookout, and maybe stop at Pink Lake along the way to take some pictures.
522 locals recommend
Gatineau Park
33 Chem. ScottIf you have a car, DO NOT MISS Gatineau Park. Tons of hiking/snowshoeing/ski trails, as well as lakes. Gets really busy in fall, as the colours change.
My favourite hike is the Luskville Falls hike, which is an uphill climb to the the top of an escarpment that gives you views over the Ottawa Valley.
If you just want a view and no hike, drive to Champlain Lookout, and maybe stop at Pink Lake along the way to take some pictures.
Rideau Canal National Historic Site
1 Second AvenueGreat place to walk (or skate in winter).
Really nice pathways on both sides of the river - great place to go for a walk and get some views of the city.
My favourite loop is over the Portage Bridge, along the path in front of the Museum of History, then back over the Alexandria Bridge and down to the locks next to Parliament hill. From there you can walk home down Elgin Street, or continue along the river to the stairs in front of the Library and Archives building, and then walk home along Lyon or Kent Street.
Ottawa River Pathway
Really nice pathways on both sides of the river - great place to go for a walk and get some views of the city.
My favourite loop is over the Portage Bridge, along the path in front of the Museum of History, then back over the Alexandria Bridge and down to the locks next to Parliament hill. From there you can walk home down Elgin Street, or continue along the river to the stairs in front of the Library and Archives building, and then walk home along Lyon or Kent Street.
Entertainment & Activities
Old-school, single screen movie theatre. Usually pretty empty, and second-run movies, but a fun place to go.
44 locals recommend
Mayfair Theatre
1074 Bank StOld-school, single screen movie theatre. Usually pretty empty, and second-run movies, but a fun place to go.
Another old-school, single screen theatre. This one plays a lot of international and indie movies.
87 locals recommend
ByTowne Cinema
325 Rideau StAnother old-school, single screen theatre. This one plays a lot of international and indie movies.
Movie theatre for new releases. Also has VIP screens where you get a comfy chair and food/drink service at your seat.
116 locals recommend
Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne VIP
325 Marché WayMovie theatre for new releases. Also has VIP screens where you get a comfy chair and food/drink service at your seat.