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 😁 *****“

“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.“

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

“I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Gyneya and the entire team at Lago! Every single staff member we interacted with was kind, positive, attentive, and genuinely happy to help. From FOH to BOH, the entire team was such a pleasure to work alongside and operated like a true well-oiled machine - always ready to jump in and lend a hand wherever needed.

The venue itself is also beautiful, with modern, elegant design details and the most lovely setting right by the water.

As a wedding planner, the team behind a venue makes such a difference in the overall experience, and working with people who genuinely prioritize service, hospitality, and collaboration means SO much. Gyneya and the Lago team absolutely delivered. I would happily work alongside them again and again! :D“

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

“The choice of beer was varied and interesting. When one of us was curious about a beer, the server offered a tasting of two different beers. The food was perfectly cooked and delicious. The service was outstanding and the server was very knowledgeable. We will definitely go back!“

“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!“

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

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

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

“cortese gentile professionale“

“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“

“very friendly atmosphere...“

“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 💕“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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*“

“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)“

“Excellent food drink and service“

“Always receive great service when going for lunch or diner. Special shout out to Rick in the bar. Last night the server was great, real friendly and the service was excellent even though the place was very busy. Overall, great staff, great food !“

“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! 🇵🇸🖕🇮🇱“

“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.“

“The best bar in Ottawa.“

“A must stop in at least for the skewers 😋 the mini squid skewer was so good I wanted to get three more orders 😆 anime stuff for sale everywhere its nice to look around while you wait. The ramen was amazing, sushi was decent but the skewers and takoyaki were the best we've eaten!“

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

“This place is a hidden gem if you're looking for a chill lounge atmosphere with great cocktails, great prices but a small but mighty kitchen for sandwiches and the like. The service is impeccable and our waitress always remembers pur names when my girlfriend and I usually go for a couple of drinks for a night put in Hintonburg. Really like this place and they even have some boardgames for the adventurous minds. Cheers!“

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

“First time at this wee restaurant, but it won't be our last! We enjoyed the Wellington Roll, Atlantic salmon sashimi and Maguro tuna sashimi SO much that we had to order it again! Staff are friendly and efficient, and if you like cats, you'll love the cute decor 😸! While you're in the neighborhood, take the time to walk around a bit; there's a lovely silver & gemstone jeweller just a few doors down ...“

“great food and awesome staff“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“I came for wing night. Emily, bartender/server was great!! Spot on service, very friendly and always with a smile. The wings were very good and the Broadway Lager was very good in taste and price.... $5 lager.... Thank you Emily fir your service.:))“

“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 .“

“Double 7 is a true gem in Ottawa! From the moment you enter, you are greeted with warm hospitality and a vibrant atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. The menu offers an incredible selection of authentic African dishes, all rich in flavor and prepared with the utmost care. Every bite transports you to the heart of Africa, with dishes that are both comforting and exciting.“