Guidebook for Ottawa

Michael
Guidebook for Ottawa

Food Scene

The French Baker/Benny's Bistro is great for coffee on the go and arguably Ottawa's best croissant. Sit down brunch is available in the rear of the bakery.
36 locals recommend
Benny's Bistro
119 Murray St
36 locals recommend
The French Baker/Benny's Bistro is great for coffee on the go and arguably Ottawa's best croissant. Sit down brunch is available in the rear of the bakery.
Locally owned with an ever evolving farm-to-table Candiana menu, heavily inspired by the Belle Province. Known for their in house done charcuterie and spaetzle poutine.
9 locals recommend
Murray Street
Murray Street
9 locals recommend
Locally owned with an ever evolving farm-to-table Candiana menu, heavily inspired by the Belle Province. Known for their in house done charcuterie and spaetzle poutine.
Tucked inside the Empire Grill/Mezzanote building across the street, this lovely lunch spot has delicious vegan/vegetarian fare to eat in or take out. Dahl soup is a fave!
Peace-Garden Vegetarian Paradise
40 Clarence St.
Tucked inside the Empire Grill/Mezzanote building across the street, this lovely lunch spot has delicious vegan/vegetarian fare to eat in or take out. Dahl soup is a fave!
Casual fine dining with a hearty menu of bistro favourites; steak/frites, moules, nice wine selection. Great bar with view of York St. and delicious burgers.
6 locals recommend
Luxe
47 York St
6 locals recommend
Casual fine dining with a hearty menu of bistro favourites; steak/frites, moules, nice wine selection. Great bar with view of York St. and delicious burgers.
Inside the Novotel. Albion Rooms offers seasonal and local fare inspired by the brits. Small and large plates of honest and tasty food, so well done. Great cocktails too.
13 locals recommend
The Albion Rooms - Craft Cocktails & Farm to Table Food
33 Nicholas Street
13 locals recommend
Inside the Novotel. Albion Rooms offers seasonal and local fare inspired by the brits. Small and large plates of honest and tasty food, so well done. Great cocktails too.
Roasted on site! Grass roots and awesome.
21 locals recommend
I Deal Coffee
176 Dalhousie St
21 locals recommend
Roasted on site! Grass roots and awesome.
Locally developed and owned chain of great coffee shops. They offer light lunch and breakfast too.
210 locals recommend
Bridgehead
131 Beechwood Ave.
210 locals recommend
Locally developed and owned chain of great coffee shops. They offer light lunch and breakfast too.
Locally owned, tucked inside a courtyard in the market. Scones and baked goods are great. A market favourite.
32 locals recommend
Planet Coffee, ByWard Market, Ottawa
24a York St
32 locals recommend
Locally owned, tucked inside a courtyard in the market. Scones and baked goods are great. A market favourite.
Semi-swanky atmosphere with asian inspired tacos and dishes made to share. Donuts for dessert! Vegan friendly.
28 locals recommend
Sidedoor
18b York St
28 locals recommend
Semi-swanky atmosphere with asian inspired tacos and dishes made to share. Donuts for dessert! Vegan friendly.
Sophisticated menu of small and large plates. Great for a meal at dinnertime or a glass and a snack later in the evening.
55 locals recommend
Play Food & Wine
1 York St
55 locals recommend
Sophisticated menu of small and large plates. Great for a meal at dinnertime or a glass and a snack later in the evening.
Resto with a fine dining menu keeps it going late with a cocktail crowd. Suits and cocktail dresses not a must but not out of place here.
34 locals recommend
Social
537 Sussex Dr
34 locals recommend
Resto with a fine dining menu keeps it going late with a cocktail crowd. Suits and cocktail dresses not a must but not out of place here.
Greasy spoon breakfast by weekday, hip rest by night. People trip over themselves for the burger. Vegan friendly.
7 locals recommend
Mellos Restaurant
7 locals recommend
Greasy spoon breakfast by weekday, hip rest by night. People trip over themselves for the burger. Vegan friendly.
Tiny Mexican spot for take out or eat in.
15 locals recommend
Burrito Borracho
105A Clarence St.
15 locals recommend
Tiny Mexican spot for take out or eat in.
Elegant and comfortable- creative fine dining with a great sommelier.
56 locals recommend
Fauna
425 Bank St
56 locals recommend
Elegant and comfortable- creative fine dining with a great sommelier.
Local favourite for oysters and other ocean fare. Good drinking spot too.
115 locals recommend
The Whalesbone Bank Street
430 Bank St
115 locals recommend
Local favourite for oysters and other ocean fare. Good drinking spot too.
Southern fare with a speak easy.
78 locals recommend
Union Local 613
315 Somerset St W
78 locals recommend
Southern fare with a speak easy.
A touristy must, if you like flat donuts fried crispy and served sweet or savoury. Killaloo Sunrise is how it all began.
59 locals recommend
BeaverTails Byward Market
69 George St
59 locals recommend
A touristy must, if you like flat donuts fried crispy and served sweet or savoury. Killaloo Sunrise is how it all began.
Southern BBQ, stick to your ribs fare. Right across the street! They have a Gospel Brunch!
6 locals recommend
Fatboys Smokehouse
34 Murray St
6 locals recommend
Southern BBQ, stick to your ribs fare. Right across the street! They have a Gospel Brunch!

Drinks & Nightlife

Great for a drink and a burger- if you can find a spot! A local favourite for a pint after work or when a game is on. Open late!
80 locals recommend
Chez Lucien
137 Murray St
80 locals recommend
Great for a drink and a burger- if you can find a spot! A local favourite for a pint after work or when a game is on. Open late!
A local watering hole- not for the glamorous. Catch local legend Lucky Ron's set on Saturday afternoons. Usually standing room only.
27 locals recommend
Chateau Lafayette (The Laff)
42 York St
27 locals recommend
A local watering hole- not for the glamorous. Catch local legend Lucky Ron's set on Saturday afternoons. Usually standing room only.
3 levels of dancing fun! If you're up for a night on the town.
32 locals recommend
Mercury Lounge
56 Byward Market Square
32 locals recommend
3 levels of dancing fun! If you're up for a night on the town.
More late night DJ fun!
Ritual Night Club
147 Besserer St
More late night DJ fun!

Shopping

Shopping mall with the usual suspects.
589 locals recommend
Rideau Centre
589 locals recommend
Shopping mall with the usual suspects.
Locally owned with a focus on Canadian designers. A favourite.
23 locals recommend
Victoire
1282 Wellington St. W
23 locals recommend
Locally owned with a focus on Canadian designers. A favourite.
High end fashion for distinguished ladies.
Justine
17A York St
High end fashion for distinguished ladies.
Shoes shoes shoes!
WOLF& Zed
519 Sussex Dr
Shoes shoes shoes!
Clothing for people with discerning taste and a love for brands.
schad, Women's Clothing, ByWard Market, Ottawa, ON
459 Sussex Dr
Clothing for people with discerning taste and a love for brands.
Locally owned store for modern and scandinavian home accessories, furnishings and lighting.
The Modern Shop
145 Sussex Dr
Locally owned store for modern and scandinavian home accessories, furnishings and lighting.
Locally owned boutique. Affordable and fashionable. Great for gifts too.
11 locals recommend
Milk Shop
45 William St
11 locals recommend
Locally owned boutique. Affordable and fashionable. Great for gifts too.
Ontario Wines and spirits. Open later than the LCBO.
15 locals recommend
Wine Rack
296 Bank St
15 locals recommend
Ontario Wines and spirits. Open later than the LCBO.

Sightseeing

Eclectic mix of food and goods. Souvenirs and quick lunches. Fruit and veggie stands open seasonally. Look for the "Farmer" marker above each booth for local produce.
61 locals recommend
Byward Market Square
Byward Market Square
61 locals recommend
Eclectic mix of food and goods. Souvenirs and quick lunches. Fruit and veggie stands open seasonally. Look for the "Farmer" marker above each booth for local produce.
Major works by major artists. Beautiful space and grounds.
552 locals recommend
National Gallery of Canada
380 Sussex Dr
552 locals recommend
Major works by major artists. Beautiful space and grounds.
Parliament of Canada
891 locals recommend
Parliament Hill
Wellington Street
891 locals recommend
Parliament of Canada
Beautiful park with great look out points.
90 locals recommend
Major's Hill Park
Mackenzie Avenue
90 locals recommend
Beautiful park with great look out points.
Beautiful building
395 locals recommend
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Pl
395 locals recommend
Beautiful building

Everything Else

Great local studio with a variety of classes suitable for all levels and yogic interests.
7 locals recommend
Upward Dog Yoga Centre
251 Dalhousie St
7 locals recommend
Great local studio with a variety of classes suitable for all levels and yogic interests.

Essentials

Great Italian bodega with the necessities, plus a little extra, and a great "sangwich" bar. Fresh pasta and salumi, olive bar, and a cute restaurant in the back.
64 locals recommend
La Bottega Nicastro, ByWard Market
64 George St
64 locals recommend
Great Italian bodega with the necessities, plus a little extra, and a great "sangwich" bar. Fresh pasta and salumi, olive bar, and a cute restaurant in the back.
Organic and local produce all year round.
Byward Fruit Market
36 Byward Market Square
Organic and local produce all year round.
Grocery store open 24 hrs, LCBO with largest Vintages Wine section in the city.
150 locals recommend
Metro
50 Beechwood Ave.
150 locals recommend
Grocery store open 24 hrs, LCBO with largest Vintages Wine section in the city.

Getting Around

7 locals recommend
Blue Line Taxi
455 Coventry Rd
7 locals recommend