Guidebook for Ottawa
Food Scene
N. American winner of best gelato, free jazz on Sunday summer evenings, great coffee!
40 locals recommend
Stella Luna Gelato Cafe
1103 Bank StN. American winner of best gelato, free jazz on Sunday summer evenings, great coffee!
It started out in a small home kitchen, moved to take over the whole front of house, then finally moved to its first tiny storefront and now a large, airy comfy place - all because of the great scones (!), quiches, pies and neighbourhood feel. Go for their morning scone+coffee=3$ for breakfeast and the morning is set!
7 locals recommend
Life of Pie
1134 Bank StIt started out in a small home kitchen, moved to take over the whole front of house, then finally moved to its first tiny storefront and now a large, airy comfy place - all because of the great scones (!), quiches, pies and neighbourhood feel. Go for their morning scone+coffee=3$ for breakfeast and the morning is set!
Just a block from our house, has an authentic Irish feel, you can take your family, or your first date and the beer is good (local=Ashton Cream Ale!) and the atmosphere relaxed, easy. A genuine neighbourhood pub!
11 locals recommend
Patty's Pub
1186 Bank StJust a block from our house, has an authentic Irish feel, you can take your family, or your first date and the beer is good (local=Ashton Cream Ale!) and the atmosphere relaxed, easy. A genuine neighbourhood pub!
A taste of Cuba - the real one, with lots of lime, onion, and ropas viejas that make your mouth water! A nice young couple runs it, their new baby was welcomed to the neighbourhood and the welcome is cuban warm with prices that are easy too..
Havana Cafe
1200 Bank StreetA taste of Cuba - the real one, with lots of lime, onion, and ropas viejas that make your mouth water! A nice young couple runs it, their new baby was welcomed to the neighbourhood and the welcome is cuban warm with prices that are easy too..
Entertainment & Activities
A great old-timey 1936 movie theater - great popcorn with real butter, friendly easy going staff, glitter gold painted plaster detail work, red velvet curtain... check out the Alien and Elvis cut-outs! Very reasonnable for Artsy and recent 2nd run movies..
44 locals recommend
Mayfair Theatre
1074 Bank StA great old-timey 1936 movie theater - great popcorn with real butter, friendly easy going staff, glitter gold painted plaster detail work, red velvet curtain... check out the Alien and Elvis cut-outs! Very reasonnable for Artsy and recent 2nd run movies..
A cool little library - borrow a Chrome Notebook, check out DVDs and the latest CDs, download movies, a great bilingual kids area and constant programs for both adults and kids alike. I go there at least twice a week!
10 locals recommend
Ottawa Public Library - Sunnyside
1049 Bank StA cool little library - borrow a Chrome Notebook, check out DVDs and the latest CDs, download movies, a great bilingual kids area and constant programs for both adults and kids alike. I go there at least twice a week!
Every wednesday at 6pm and Sundays at 8:30, some 100 people gather to go running or walking together! some are learning to run, others are training to qualify for the Boston Marathon, but all are in a good mood and happy to great and meet you and make you feel welcomed regardless of your ability level. Give it a try!
Running Room
901 Bank StEvery wednesday at 6pm and Sundays at 8:30, some 100 people gather to go running or walking together! some are learning to run, others are training to qualify for the Boston Marathon, but all are in a good mood and happy to great and meet you and make you feel welcomed regardless of your ability level. Give it a try!
Parks & Nature
One of the best in the city with play structures for ages 2 to 12! Also, always a lot of activties: community groups having picnics, soccer tournaments. And a bit further, a natural preserve for dog walkers. This year, a beaver showed up and is building his dam: can't get more Canadian than that!
7 locals recommend
Brewer Park
210 Hopewell AvenueOne of the best in the city with play structures for ages 2 to 12! Also, always a lot of activties: community groups having picnics, soccer tournaments. And a bit further, a natural preserve for dog walkers. This year, a beaver showed up and is building his dam: can't get more Canadian than that!
THere are running paths all along the Rideau River - from our home you can get all the way to the Ottawa River (16km!) and keep on going... Smooth crushed cinder trail, with enough people for it to feel safe- a perfect run in the mornings!
8 locals recommend
Rideau River Eastern Pathway
Rideau River Eastern PathwayTHere are running paths all along the Rideau River - from our home you can get all the way to the Ottawa River (16km!) and keep on going... Smooth crushed cinder trail, with enough people for it to feel safe- a perfect run in the mornings!
Arts & Culture
Nearby, just walk there in a queit residential neighbourhood, about 2 kms away. In the summer, there is often Pay What you Can Shakespeare and other plays on the front lawn. Bring your picnic and enjoy the Bard under Ottawa Summer Stars.
7 locals recommend
Billings Estate National Historic Site
2100 Cabot StNearby, just walk there in a queit residential neighbourhood, about 2 kms away. In the summer, there is often Pay What you Can Shakespeare and other plays on the front lawn. Bring your picnic and enjoy the Bard under Ottawa Summer Stars.
The parks of Old Ottawa South (my neighbourhood) and the Glebe come alive with lots of various Shakespeare plays. Many are Pay What you Can and so bring your blanket, a picnic and the kids - its amazing what they get intranced by when the actors are just 2 meters away!
6 locals recommend
Old Ottawa South
The parks of Old Ottawa South (my neighbourhood) and the Glebe come alive with lots of various Shakespeare plays. Many are Pay What you Can and so bring your blanket, a picnic and the kids - its amazing what they get intranced by when the actors are just 2 meters away!
A cool museum - the "dinosaur" one my kids call it. Check out the 1/2 hour interactive film: you'll be glad (and a little scared!)
468 locals recommend
Canadian Museum of Nature
240 McLeod StA cool museum - the "dinosaur" one my kids call it. Check out the 1/2 hour interactive film: you'll be glad (and a little scared!)
Shopping
A terrific consignement store for women - get cool, modern clothes of last season for very reasonnable prices. I'm not a huge shopper and yet I always find something!
The Clothes Secret
1136 Bank StA terrific consignement store for women - get cool, modern clothes of last season for very reasonnable prices. I'm not a huge shopper and yet I always find something!
A terrific place to get kids clothing - its in a well off neighbourhood, so the kids clothing is all good quality and smart styling, but the prices are 1/3 of what you'd pay for new. A favourite of my kids!
Boomerang Kids
1063 Bank StA terrific place to get kids clothing - its in a well off neighbourhood, so the kids clothing is all good quality and smart styling, but the prices are 1/3 of what you'd pay for new. A favourite of my kids!
Essentials
It has everything - at the last minute I needed soy paste to make miso, went there and lo and behold: 4 different kinds! just be sure to ask: the staff is super helpful and know their inventory!
15 locals recommend
Cedars & Co. Food Market
1255 Bank StIt has everything - at the last minute I needed soy paste to make miso, went there and lo and behold: 4 different kinds! just be sure to ask: the staff is super helpful and know their inventory!
Also known as WHole Paycheck, buy hey, it's a destination shop so go and try it out!
47 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
951 Bank StAlso known as WHole Paycheck, buy hey, it's a destination shop so go and try it out!
This has so much of what you want: fax, photocopy, milk, bus tickets, stamps, popsicles, and Peter behind the counter is always nice!
13 locals recommend
Quickie Convenience Stores
3332 McCarthy RdThis has so much of what you want: fax, photocopy, milk, bus tickets, stamps, popsicles, and Peter behind the counter is always nice!
Getting Around
Ottawa station
200 Tremblay RdAn easy 10 mn drive from our home.
Ottawa International Airport
1000 Airport Parkway PrivateAn easy 15mn drive from our house.