Guidebook for Ottawa
Food Scene
Bread & Sons
195 Bank StAmazing pastries and pizzas. Locally sourced ingredients.
Sun Flowers Florist & Cafe
410 Bank StCute cafe in "the Glebe".
Very busy for brunch, but worth the wait. Old diner with a punched up menu.
77 locals recommend
Wilf & Ada's
510 Bank StVery busy for brunch, but worth the wait. Old diner with a punched up menu.
Eggspectation
171 Bank StTheir flambe french toast is the best thing I've ever eaten.
Fun to walk down Preston St in Little Italy, stop for gelato or a drink in one of the cafes or bars. Often have car shows, local festivals, and live music.
64 locals recommend
Little Italy
Fun to walk down Preston St in Little Italy, stop for gelato or a drink in one of the cafes or bars. Often have car shows, local festivals, and live music.
Vegetarian restaurant with Vegan options. Sell local craft beer and have nice window seating to people watch.
64 locals recommend
Pure Kitchen Elgin
340 Elgin StVegetarian restaurant with Vegan options. Sell local craft beer and have nice window seating to people watch.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best cocktails on Elgin st. Amazing tacos (take out stand and dine in). Very busy and they don't take reservations.
168 locals recommend
El Camino
380 Elgin StBest cocktails on Elgin st. Amazing tacos (take out stand and dine in). Very busy and they don't take reservations.
The Manx Pub
370 Elgin StTucked away pub with a large selection of beer and delicious food.
Pretty relaxed as far as nightclubs go, kind of a hole in the wall, no real dress code, not overly priced. Have speciality nights like Burlesque shows, Beyonce night, Mod night (50s-60s), and Shameless (2000s).
32 locals recommend
Babylon
317 Bank StPretty relaxed as far as nightclubs go, kind of a hole in the wall, no real dress code, not overly priced. Have speciality nights like Burlesque shows, Beyonce night, Mod night (50s-60s), and Shameless (2000s).
5 Irish bars connected into one giant pub. Live music and DJs every friday and saturday. Usually have something different playing in every room.
54 locals recommend
Heart and Crown
67 Clarence St.5 Irish bars connected into one giant pub. Live music and DJs every friday and saturday. Usually have something different playing in every room.
Great old pub with live music every night. They also still have a Dumb Waiter!
20 locals recommend
Irene's Pub
885 Bank StGreat old pub with live music every night. They also still have a Dumb Waiter!
Bar and live music venue for a lot of local bands, mostly alternative rock, but they also have a DJ later at night.
8 locals recommend
Zaphod Beeblebrox
27 York StBar and live music venue for a lot of local bands, mostly alternative rock, but they also have a DJ later at night.
Elgin St has a strip of pubs and restaurants. Really nice to sit on a patio and people watch here. Many places have live music, other places have DJs later in the night.
64 locals recommend
Elgin Street
Elgin StreetElgin St has a strip of pubs and restaurants. Really nice to sit on a patio and people watch here. Many places have live music, other places have DJs later in the night.
Classic pub with a very large beer selection on draught. At least 15 local beers on tap. I work here! Come say hi :)
12 locals recommend
Sir John A Pub
284 Elgin StClassic pub with a very large beer selection on draught. At least 15 local beers on tap. I work here! Come say hi :)
Essentials
Hartman's Your Independent Grocer
296 Bank StShoppers Drug Mart
174 Bank StArts & Culture
Canadian Museum of Nature
240 McLeod St Free on thursday nights.
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Pl Free on thursday nights.
Canadian Museum of History
100 Rue LaurierFree thursday evenings
After looking around the galleries, walk around the building and up to the look out point with the statue. It is a great spot for pictures of the river, Parliament buildings, and the Chateau Laurier.
552 locals recommend
National Gallery of Canada
380 Sussex DrAfter looking around the galleries, walk around the building and up to the look out point with the statue. It is a great spot for pictures of the river, Parliament buildings, and the Chateau Laurier.
Shopping
Ragtime Vintage Clothing
43 Flora StJam packed full of vintage clothes and accessories.
Rideau Centre
Outdoor and indoor market. Food, fresh veg/flowers, restaurants, cafes, clothes, trinkets, and souvenirs.
585 locals recommend
ByWard Market
Outdoor and indoor market. Food, fresh veg/flowers, restaurants, cafes, clothes, trinkets, and souvenirs.
Sightseeing
Parliament Hill
Wellington StreetCan get free tickets for a tour to enter the Parliament houses.
Parks & Nature
Can walk or bike along the canal to Dow's Lake which has restaurant patios and canoes/kayaks/paddle boats for rent.
191 locals recommend
Dows Lake
1001 Queen Elizabeth DrivewayCan walk or bike along the canal to Dow's Lake which has restaurant patios and canoes/kayaks/paddle boats for rent.
Walk down by the falls on either side. Nice mist on a hot day. Little cantina bar near the falls. Many bike trails around the area.
10 locals recommend
Hog's Back Falls Lookout
Walk down by the falls on either side. Nice mist on a hot day. Little cantina bar near the falls. Many bike trails around the area.