50 Best Bars in Ottawa

“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?!“

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

“We held our wedding at Lago last weekend and we had the best time. Gyneya and the team are fantastic — they are responsive, flexible, easy to work with, accommodating, professional and super friendly. They really took all the stress out of planning our wedding. The food was also phenomenal — not your typical wedding food, it was absolutely delicious and the portions were super generous. Our guests had a blast!“

“We chose Bier Markt for a first date, and little did we know it would turn into a night we'll never forget. Mikayla was our server, and her kindness and genuine warmth truly touched us. Her incredible attention to detail and heartfelt communication created an atmosphere that felt special beyond words. Honestly, Mikayla’s amazingness was so unforgettable, it even earned me a second date—something I never expected! Our dining experience was nothing short of extraordinary, and I can't wait to come back again soon to relive that magic.“

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

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

“Natural history is a great spot to hang out. The acoustics are excellent for conversation. Music is clear and set to the right volume. Good prices, friendly service, and a ton of decor. They have a small but we'll curated non-alcoholic selection.“

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

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

“Nice retro bar in Ottawa!“

“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.“

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

“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“

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

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

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

“cortese gentile professionale“

“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“

“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!“

“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 💕“

“My husband and I visited Umbrella Bar and had such a nice experience! We ordered the Caesar salad, which tasted so fresh, juicy, and delicious. I just didn’t love how finely the lettuce was chopped, but the taste was really good.

We also tried the smashed beef burger and the chicken sandwich burger-style. Both were yummy, but we definitely preferred the beef burger. The sweet potato fries are a must try absolutely delicious !!!

The patio was beautiful, and the view of Dow’s Lake was wow. I also loved the dragon fruit lemonade bubble drink so refreshing and tasty. Overall, a great spot for good food, drinks, and a beautiful view.“

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

“Recently hosted a retirement party at The Laff and it was the perfect experience for our guest of honour, who loves this bar! Deek was awesome in the lead-up to the event - prompt, warm, friendly and helpful in her correspondence. On the day of the party, Deek, Francois, Ashley, and Angel were all excellent. They welcomed us in with smiles, happily allowed us to play our specially-curated playlist on the sound system, were attentive and accommodating to all our guests with the food and drink service, and generally made sure we were perfectly cared for throughout the afternoon. The food was delicious - lots of people commented throughout the event how impressed they were - with special shout outs to the bobo balls and charcuterie boards! Thank you Laff Fam for giving us exactly what we were looking for - a warm, fun, casual, yet super-special afternoon in honour of someone who is all these things himself!“

“A great experience from the service to the food. Fast and affordable! Loved the range of the menu - especially some healthier options!“

“Really Nice Job, everything was just perfect, 13yr Anniversary! Greek/Lebanese waitress was amazing and professional and so fast! ....sorry we forgot your name. Food was top notch, complements to the Chef and Sous Chef. Steak cooked perfectly😋😋 Had a bad experience before, but after this we will be back. Thank you to the team at Huntmar! 5*“

“Food was great, and everyone was happy with their orders.

Just the restaurant was very cold inside, and we had to move to a corner that was a little more protected from the cold AC. Also, I’m not sure why, but there were quite a few flies around, which made it difficult to fully enjoy the food.“

“We stopped by while walking the streets of Downtown Ottawa and didn't want to leave! Thank goodness we had other plans otherwise we'd have stuck around for far too long, lol!! Great quint spot serving fabulous, ice cold Kilkenny!! (Heart & Crown Irish Pub)“

“Awesome space for group events!“

“Excellent food drink and service“

“very friendly atmosphere...“

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

“How disgraceful. No fundraiser for the millions of Palestinian Men, Women and children devestated, dead, dying during an ongoing massacre. DO SOMETHING! 🇵🇸🖕🇮🇱“

“was a great experience 10 outta 10“

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

“My new favourite wine. Steak was done amazingly.“

“Cheap shots & drinks with a great vibe ! Love coming here with my friends !“

“Unic atmosphere, great food, good variety of booze and fantastic service! Highly recommended!“

“This is always a huge dilemma for me: 4 stars or 5?

On one hand, Kuidaore is probably one of the most authentically Japanese-feeling places I’ve visited in Ottawa, especially because of the interior and overall atmosphere. On the other hand, the food didn’t quite meet my expectations.

I had just returned from a long trip to Japan, so my taste buds still remembered very well what classics like tonkotsu ramen, karaage, and takoyaki tasted like there. Naturally, I ordered all three.

The tonkotsu ramen was a little on the bland side for me. The broth felt somewhat watery and lacked the richness I expected. The chashu, however, was excellent. The biggest downside was the noodles - the texture reminded me more of instant noodles than the ramen noodles I had throughout Japan. To be fair, this is still one of the better bowls of ramen I’ve had in Ottawa; it’s just difficult not to compare it with what you get in Japan.

The takoyaki was average. The octopus was slightly chewy, but I loved the generous amount of bonito flakes on top. Visually, it looked just like something you might get from a street stall in Osaka, which brought back some good memories.

The karaage was my biggest disappointment. Japan has some of the best fried chicken in the world in my opinion - even convenience-store chicken can be amazing. Unfortunately, this karaage tasted as if it had been fried in old oil, or perhaps something was off with the seasoning. It also seemed to be made with white meat, while most of the karaage I had in Japan used juicy dark meat.

And somehow, the best part of dinner was the Orion beer. Originally from Okinawa, it became one of my favourites in Japan, and it was a very nice surprise to find it here.

So yes, I’m still struggling between 4 and 5 stars. I’m leaving 5 stars because I really like the atmosphere, appreciate having a place like this in Ottawa, and I definitely want to come back. I’ll give the ramen and karaage another try and update my review afterward.“

“This is my husband and I's favourite sushi place in the city! The staff are all incredibly kind and helpful, the atmosphere is so nice, there's not a lot of seating which I personally love. We regularly eat in/take out and every time the food has been fresh, tasty and quick. You have to try their beef gyoza, I think it is the best I have ever had!! My husband is obsessed with the lobster roll!! I am not a big leave a review person, but I felt this place truly deserves all the stars!!!“

“Le service, l'ambiance, la carte des vins et cocktails! La bonne bouffe 🔥 wow belle découverte merci ☺️“

“The best bar in Ottawa.“

“The vibe was great, service was fantastic. The food was definitely an acquired taste, the food on the menu seemed decently simple but had interesting twists on them. Super spicy mac and cheese (was good but my friends found it way too spicy), The pretzel (this was our favourite, the mustard was not our fave), and the grilled cheese (had a peach compote on it, i don’t quite know how to describe this one… it just tasted off).“

“I went to the standard to enjoy a patio on Canada Day. The Waitresses were all wearing masks and respected physical distancing. our table was sanitized. We drank out of pineapple, which was over the top in a good way. I had fish tacos, which were okay but they were a little bit liquidy. my friend had a chicken burger with just the right amount of crunch. it was the perfect patio and the perfect drink in the perfect food on a perfect day.“

“I go to Broadway Bar & Grill fairly often, and it never disappoints! The food is consistently delicious, and there are so many great options whether you’re there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The mango smoothie is so refreshing and one of my favourite drinks to order. The breakfast wrap is also fantastic, and their home fries are hands down some of the best ever! For lunch or dinner, their Caesar salads and wraps are also really good. Everything I’ve tried has been consistently fresh and tasty.

The staff are phenomenal, friendly, attentive, and always provide quick service. The atmosphere is great, and it’s also a fantastic place to watch sports. Whether you’re going with friends to catch a game or just looking for somewhere casual to hang out, it’s a great spot.

Definitely one of my go-to places. Great food, wonderful staff, a fun atmosphere, and quick, attentive service. Highly recommend!“

“My husband and I just ate the BEST burger we have ever had!! And we eat a lot of burgers. This burger has ruined all other burgers for me. It was SO delicious!!“

“great food and awesome staff“

“Especial thanks to Chef Dave for the delicious food and the morning guy server who is helpful and hands on. Hands down to the mouthwatering food and delicious. above and beyond my expectation of the food and customer service. highly recommended 5/5 .“

“The keg is great, perfect for that romantic supper. Excellent food.“

“We visited D’Arcy McGee’s as a family while spending the weekend in Ottawa. The service was amazing, the food was spectacular, and the live music made the atmosphere so much fun. We can’t wait to return.“