35 Best Cocktail Bars in Ottawa

“Great place and amazing creativity with the cocktails!“

“Amazing food, great cocktails, and the staff was just great!“

“Unpretentious, unique menu, great service & great people!“

“Absolutely delicious inventive food, lovely staff and an intimate romantic atmosphere. Endless drink menu with plenty of unique options, all the food was so fresh and had some different flavours you don’t always see and prices are pretty fair for the quality and service. Get the focaccia with brown butter for sure and then honestly you can’t go wrong with anything that sounds good to you! We’ll be back for another date night for sure!“

“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).“

“GREAT FOOD. Gyoza, Mediterranean Bowl, Sushi Cones, Guacamole, and great drinks“

“We have visited twice so far and the food is always délicieux. We can't get enough of the Rosebowl Platter for 2. Can't go wrong with this option. You get a little bit of everything.“

“Excellent vegan option. Atmosphere was nice and cozy. Will definitely come back!“

“Had a fabulous lunch there while visiting family in Ottawa from Nova Scotia over the holidays. I was wearing a Green Bay Packers hoodie as I do, being a fan and shareholder. One of the two guys serving and running the bar gave me a thumbs up and said they were big Packers fan. The food and service was outstanding, and when the bill was presented to our friend as he requested, he was informed that they weren't going to charge for the coffees for the Packers fans, lol. Simply awesome - highly recommended whether you are a Green Bay Packers fan or not :)“

“The pandemic shutdown has been tough on Queen Street Fare. We stopped in to Q Bar on a Friday night for some pre-dinner drinks. Service behind the bar was first rate. Fast, friendly, funny & charming. They have a nice selection of beers on tap & cocktails. I would ask them top possibly step up their wine game. Selections are not of superior quality.\n\nThe bar is a perfect place to meet up with friends or make new friends before heading out for dinner. Lots of seats around the bar + a few scattered tables. We want this place to survive !“

“Great staff! Great food!“

“Always love the Apothecary and it’s beautiful decor, not to mention Brent, our most favourite bartender…great guy and mixologist. The rooftop is awesome with a super vibe, good music and view, always a treat! Highly recommend this place, cheers! ❤️“

“The atmosphere and staff made the night magical.. very intimate and romantic setting. our drinks and food was next level. being downtown we planned on parking further away and walking the byward market enjoying the down town night life .the Rabbit hole speak easy basement is a bucket list gem. Will be back for more great cocktails and ambiance“

“Love this wonderful wine bar. Great wine with delicious charcuterie boards. The ambiance is very cozy and it is an inviting atmosphere.“

“Amazing service and a culinary experience !!!“

“Really excellent food quality and presentation. We chose the winter three-course menu, and I loved everything we ordered. I made the reservation five days in advance, but we were seated in a less interesting hall on the upper floor. The service could also be slightly improved, with servers checking on guests more frequently. That said, the overall experience was very good.“

“Absolutely amazing bar!! Excellent staff! Beautiful Christmas decor!“

“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.“

“My new favourite hangout! The live music scene is top notch! Great that they are supporting local music! Amazing Scotch menus as well as fab cocktails! Love the ambience! The lighting is perfect. Great service! The music in between sets is perfect. Come out and show some love ❤️“

“We had the Goyza, shrimp sushi, and shrimp pasta. All were outstanding. Oh, and a white cake, strawberry and whipped cream desert. All portions were reasonable. (Not too much food, but enough food). We were on vacation so don't want to throw food out or take leftovers with us. I know some people measure quality by the volume of food they get for their money. We don't.“

“My brother & sister in law enjoyed a lovely anniversary dinner here. They said the food was delicious, well portioned & very tasty. They also mentioned that the service was excellent. The ambiance was something they really enjoyed as well. Andrew & his staff are really doing something special here. I’m looking forward to trying it myself next time I’m in the neighbourhood. Thanks to Andrew & his staff for making great first impressions with my family.“

“Love the new renovations!“

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

“congrats on the new restuarant.“

“I love it all. Great vibe, fresh ingredients, delicious and unique dishes. You can feel the true passion in the presentation, and the flavour, and we love the creativity. Five stars!!“

“It’s my go to spot for a special evening. The cozy, intimate, unique cloud-like ceiling is unbeatable. Warning: the cocktails are real and strong here, which is how they should be. An S tier on my Ottawa list. I’ve never had an issue getting a table, but it would definitely be hard with a group larger than 4.“

“Amazing sights and great atmosphere. Had a wonderful date night!“

“We were just there for brunch and we were both disappointed. Brunch back 10 years ago was a buffet - with an omelette station - and choices of fruit, juice, food etxc. Today I ordered eggs benedict - and it was cold - I mean cold - nothing was warm. My husband order an omelette and there must have been a full bag of spinach in it. We both requested no homefries - but it isn't an option - so a total waste of food. The waitress came immediately to fill up our coffee cups - I don't drink coffee and my husband must have decaf. There were no milers on the table - 1 creamer - no spoons to stir your coffee - overall it was very busy but I hope the majority were pleased with their food.“

“Love Banditos. Great food. Sweet potato fries are awesome.“

“I caught up with an old friend today for lunch and we couldn't have picked a better restaurant. The food was delicious and the margaritas amazing - both the regular one and the strawberry one. The decor is charming, fun and colourful. Our server took good care of us. We will definitely be back!“

“One of the best atmospheres and great employees!“

“Honestly i thought this place was going to be over hyped but it met my expectations. Service was impeccable and our server was attentive and very friendly. Food was delicious and worth the price, filling and a good portion sizes too. Octopus was cooked perfectly, my steak was made rare which I asked for and my husbands cod was delicious on a bed of beans and clams.

Highly recommend the pear drink that comes in a bird shaped glass (grey goose pear) and the med martini. The bread and butter is a really good appy too but it’s listed under the sides.

Beautiful ambiance, decor and super comfy seating. It starts to get busy after 830-9pm. When we arrived at 730 it was extremely quiet.

Will def come back and recommend checking this place out.“

“I had a great date night with my spouse, the relaxed, yet intimate atmosphere created a space for us to connect over food and drink. We went because the the craft beer selection was diverse and different from the norm. We were pleasantly surprised that food offerings. We live in Orleans but we will make the effort to come back because we enjoyed ourselves so much our cheeks hurt!“