37 Best Bars in Ottawa

“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 😁 *****“

“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 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 !“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

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

“cortese gentile professionale“

“very friendly atmosphere...“

“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“

“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 💕“

“10/10 for this place. Cute little view! 😍 The atmosphere is amazing it reminded me a bit of a restaurant I was at in Greece! Their smash burgers are the absolute best as well, would 100% recommend if you weren't too sure what to grab! The servers were very attentive and kind! Thank you guys!!“

“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.“

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

“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)“

“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*“

“Awesome space for group events!“

“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! 🇵🇸🖕🇮🇱“

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

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

“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!“

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

“Excellent food drink and service“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“