50 Best Bars near Carling

“We dinned on the dog friendly patio where not only did we have great service and food, but our dog also was created with a drink of Georgian bay tap water and her own meal consisting of carrots, beef patty and smoked fish skin. Over all this was friendly, clean environment with great food portions of fresh food as-well as service with lots of smiles!“

“My husband and I visited the Spin Kitchen bar for drinks to celebrate our anniversary. We came to Ottawa to celebrate. We met some amazing people that were also visiting. It truly was a great evening and the staff are very friendly and social.“

“The Manx pub is a great place. Not very big, lots of atmosphere. Food is great, large portions and reasonably priced 😁 *****“

“Amazing all around! Great food, great prices and great people! Who can ask for more?!“

“Sarah our server was fantastic! 6 adults and 7 little kids and she made sure not to use the ice cream word until she cleared it with the parents first. She made sure the kids food came out earlier and got everything right. She made sure we had a great experience and my tuna bowl was excellent!“

“The perfect downtown Ottawa pub, great crowd, friendly staff and the best, best BEST burger in town !“

“Excellent service. Food amazing especially the crêpe. Very warm atmosphere. Will definitely go back 😊“

“If you’re reading this and considering Lago as your wedding venue, I need you to go ahead and book it RIGHT NOW! We truly could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding day. We had our ceremony in the upstairs Vista room and reception in the down stairs Main room.

From the beautiful location overlooking Dow’s Lake, to the AMAZING food, incredible bar, and most importantly, the outstanding staff, Lago exceeded every expectation we had. Gyneya, Kim, Derek, and every single member of the Lago team went above and beyond to make our wedding day absolutely perfect.

They were extremely attentive, professional, and made the entire experience feel so seamless. We felt completely taken care of from start to finish and couldn’t be more grateful that we chose this incredible venue to celebrate such a special day.“

“Amazing customer service, one of the best bars in Ottawa.“

“Lovely decorations, super fun drinks. We had the spicy pickle margarita, the raspberry cocktail and the pickle dip.

WE AM REQUESTING: Please chop up the pickles and onions way more in the dip. The way it is served to you is a bowl of dip at the bottom, and a hefty layer of cornichons, roughly cut up dill pickles, and pearl onions. As raging pickle enthusiasts we love the amount of pickles given, but as a dip it does not function as well as it could be.

Please take our request seriously and we will become regulars

Thank you
-Two concerned pickle lvrs☺❤🥒“

“Really tasty fish & chips!! Friendly staff and a nice local pub feel!“

“Amazing donair and garlic fingers and very welcoming staff!“

“Miscommunication with one of our 6 dinners, but they were very quick to listen, and correct the error with a change of meal.

It was a very busy dinner time, they did have 6 birthday dinners happening just in our time there.

Thanks, Montana's on Merivale Rd. in Napean! (Server: Rob aka. Party!)“

“Great atmosphere and amazing food and service. Don’t miss out on this gem if you are visiting Ottawa!!“

“The food is succulent! my husband is japanese and we both love that restaurant dearly ❤️ it's a little gem with amazing chef and really caring waiters and waitress. we're glad we choose Haru Izakaya for our anniversary ❤️“

“I absolutely love love love love this bar. Just spent 3 days in Ottawa and was there every night. Sam, Tony, Jess and the rest of the team are one word; AMAZING!!!! Every time I’m going back I’ll be there! Xoxo Paris“

“City Afterlight exceeded all expectations as an event hosting venue. The ambiance was enchanting, with sophisticated lighting creating a captivating atmosphere. The staff's attention to detail and impeccable service added to the overall experience. From the well-appointed spaces to the seamless coordination, City Afterlight proved to be the perfect choice for our event. Highly recommended for those seeking a blend of elegance and functionality in their event venues.“

“Had a great time tonight! The staff was very accommodating for my friends wedding party, and made sure we had a great time!“

“Highly recommend! I was hesitant at first because I had no idea what the majority of menu items were. I was completely blown away. I am a very picky person, but the menu and how the food was explained in full detail, no matter the question by our incredible waitress was the first sign this is the place to be! A huge thank you to the waitress especially, the staff as a whole and a huge high-five to the chefs for clearly putting your all in to every single menu item. I was fortunate enough to run in to one of the owners and give my nothing short of positive feedback. He was so grateful and humble. Keep it up all! Would recommend to anyone. Will be back!“

“Nice retro bar in Ottawa!“

“Tonight there was a group of men promoting white supremacy and confederate flags in Maclarens. They confirmed this verbally to us when we asked about their shirt. When we told the manager in an attempt to help their business and let them know what kind of space they are promoting and allowing, and that they were losing us as customers, they said "their money is green". They told us loudly that they do not care. BOYCOTT THIS BAR IF YOU ARE ANTI-SLAVERY, ANTI-WHITE SUPREMACY. PS I do not know why this shows as me recommending the place. NO I DO NOT RECOMMEND. 0/5“

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

“The OG Dive bar of the nation’s capital! Best staff, best bands, wicked owner!“

“cortese gentile professionale“

“tres bonne nourriture et l ambiance“

“if you need to find your glow or wife's glow come here...the performers and staff are fantastic they are so fun and they bring joy and laughter into your life. highly recommend...always tip them cause they have such wonderful hearts 💕“

“Mon commentaire va à une seule personne. Sandrine. Il y a tellement longtemps que j'ai eu un service aussi exceptionnel que ce soir. J'espère que le propriétaire ce message gardera Sandrine aussi longtemps qu'elle souhaitera travailler à cet endroit ! Merci beaucoup ! J'ai passé une superbe soirée de fête grâce à toi! À bientôt, je l'espère!“

“cette place est tres tres bien. je recommande à tous et le manger est sensationnel. merci pour le bel acceuil“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The food is great and the staff is amazing!“

“The food was amazing, we got our food fast prices are not to bad“

“We’re two Nova Scotia moms in town for the Canadian Ringette Championship, and we ended up coming back to this restaurant FOUR nights in a row—which really says it all! Every visit was consistently amazing. We tried the steak sandwich, steak bites, French Onion soup, burgers, and the fish and chips (which were amazing). Everything was fresh, delicious, and exactly what we needed after long days at the rink. But the absolute highlight of our experience was Leslie. She is truly one of the best servers we’ve ever had—so warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. By the end of our week, we felt like we had made a new friend. Getting to know her was such a treat, and she made each visit even more special. Amazing food, incredible service, and an experience that kept us coming back night after night. Thank you for making our time here so memorable—especially you, Leslie! 💙“

“Original style.31st October Halloween party and costume night“

“We actually had a bad experience at Kelseys back in 2023, but I am so incredibly glad we decided to give it another try. The biggest reason we keep coming back week after week is our amazing waitress, Anne!
Anne is always absolutely awesome. She completely turned our perception of this location around, and her fantastic service and welcoming attitude make our weekly visits something we genuinely look forward to. If you go, definitely ask for Anne—she’s the absolute best!“

“This was the first day of our first trip to Ottawa, and we picked the best spot for our first lunch. We came here because of the history and the bonus was the best fries I remember having. Fresh cut, cooked to perfection, generous portions and two dips. Ice tea was top notch. There is a fun easy-going casual atmosphere, manned by a friendly helpful staff. Absolutely recommended.“

“I chose Kelsey’s because of their great seasonal salads. Today’s choice was a Shrimp, Peach and Feta salad. Amazing!!
Emily delivered excellent service at every point and recommended a white chocolate cheesecake for dessert. A nice treat on a Friday after a long work week away from home. Thank you all!“

“I haven’t had food there just cocktails but they are so good especially the smoothie was like a strawberry slushie with a taste of lime :) the servers were very sweet and the atmosphere was very cute even inside it has such aesthetic great place for girls day cocktails and take pictures.“

“Very clean venue, a lot of parking space, very friendly crew, They have everything to have a great time and have a lot of fun“

“I have been going to family parties for 20 years at this place. The place is well maintained, and the food (guest buffet type) is above my expectations and it was so good.I have been going to family parties for the past 20 years at this location. The place is well maintained, and catering is above my expectation and so good.“

“Excellent food drink and service“

“If you're looking for a laid-back spot with a lot of character, look no further than this dive bar. Tucked away in a corner of the city, it has a gritty and unpolished vibe that gives it a unique charm. The low lighting and eclectic decor, including vintage beer signs and mismatched bar stools, make it a great spot to relax and unwind.

The drinks are affordable and generously poured, with a good selection of beers on tap and classic cocktails made to perfection. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable, and they make an effort to remember regulars' orders and strike up conversations with patrons. The jukebox has a great selection of old-school rock and roll tunes that add to the overall atmosphere of the bar.

The crowd is a mix of regulars and newcomers, and everyone is welcoming and non-judgmental, making it a great spot for meeting new people or just enjoying a night out with friends.

Overall, if you're looking for a cool little dive bar with a lot of personality and a laid-back vibe, this is definitely the spot for you. It's the perfect place to unwind after a long day or spend a fun night out with friends.“

“very friendly atmosphere...“

“Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and awesome drinks. This place is perfect for hanging out with friends or unwinding after a long day. Always a good vibe and excellent service. High recommend.“

“was a great experience 10 outta 10“

“Had a fantastic time visiting this spot on Preston Street recently. The food was absolutely delicious, and I especially loved the presentation of the fried shrimp topped with colorful roe and a creamy drizzle.

Everything we tried was packed with flavor. The variety of umeshu options was impressive, and the flight was a great way to sample different styles. I will definitely be back for another meal soon.“

“My son Evan took me to lunch yesterday and it was a 10/10. Great meal and afterwards when our waiter found out it was my birthday, he brought over a menu with numerous choices for a complimentary dessert. I chose the cheesecake and it arrived with a beautiful blueberry sauce, a sparkler and message of best wishes!! 😮 It was amazing and if that wasn’t enough, he also gave me a birthday card from all the restaurant staff. Not a, "from all of us here at Chop", everyone had signed it personally!! Also included was a business card with a voucher for complimentary steak bites on the other side. They went above and beyond, it was truly appreciated and I wanted to share that Chop Hunt Club will take good care of you!!! ✅✅✅✅✅“

“Had a great time!!! Staff are friendly“

“Bring back the carrot cake!!!! I can’t understand why you would get rid of something so delicious 😫😫😫“

“un très bon service puis c'est comme une famille tout le monde qui se tiennent la des très bonnes personnes une ambiance chaleureuse une très belle accueil et pour le restaurant du très bon manger de qualité“

“Really great place to enjoy awesome food!!! ambiance and service are great 👍 can't go wrong. Bring her there and you are set lol“