37 Best Cocktail Bars in Ottawa

“The food and service are always amazing and well worth the price. I enjoy the lighter atmosphere at Citizen, however, the Town dining room has a more intimate setting. Town/Citizen has become a staple in my circle for celebrating important events and milestones!“

“Amazing service and a culinary experience !!!“

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

“Great place and amazing creativity with the cocktails!“

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

“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!“

“The best bar in Ottawa.“

“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 !“

“If you enjoy retro video games or all forms of board games, this is the place to be, I promise you that you will be delighted. The food and beverages are also top notch and the friendly staff often have at least decent working knowledge of many of the games so as to give you a kick start in the learning department. Do call ahead to see if a reservation is necessary, as the tables do not free up quickly.“

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

“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“

“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! ❤️“

“Great staff! Great food!“

“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.“

“Visited here on a Saturday night to spend time in a place that was a little more relaxed than other options. A great spot for the more introverted crowd who do not want to be in huge groups or have incredibly loud music playing. Very cozy and nostalgic with quick service. Only complaint is that the cocktails are a little bit on the pricier end. However, there are $5 bar rails which is very affordable. There are also games on site that visitors can play which is appreciated.“

“Great service and great brunch experience!“

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

“One of the best atmospheres and great employees!“

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

“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.“

“Especially the music, curated by the finest bar owners around!“

“First time here and certainly did not disappoint. The code was great with early 90's soundtrack playing in the back ground, good and service were outstanding and value for money was great. Do yourself a favour and check this place out!“

“The food was fabulous! My husband's steak was cooked as ordered, and my seafood pasta was wonderful (shrimp were a tad overcooked). The server was ok, didn't refill water or ask if we wanted another drink, we had to ask for these things. It was mentioned at the time of the reservation it was our anniversary, and dessert was brought out with a candle. Nice touch.“

“Incredible spot, great beer!“

“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 ❤️“

“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!!“

“congrats on the new restuarant.“

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

“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!“

“Bianca was our server and she was AMAZING. Her energy was fantastic and positively contributed to our night. She offered to take lots of pictures of us and was very attentive and kind. She was also very knowledgeable about the menu and was able to make us a drink just from a picture we showed. Overall positive experience thank you Bianca!!“

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

“Was there to celebrate a 50th birthday. Food was delicious and great service/friendly staff. Manager even sent over complimentary dessert on hearing it was a 50th birthday.“

“An exceptional restaurant with a fantastic atmosphere! The food is absolutely amazing, the service is top-notch, and it's perfect for special occasions. This is my go-to spot in Ottawa whenever I have visitors from out of town. Highly recommend!“

“Long time since I was in the area, I visited for Trivia night and had a great time. My only inconvenience was a set of kids who where walking between the tables.

The dip and fries we had where great and the drinks we ordered were quick. The server was great especially since I think the trivia groups would be chaos as people moved tables.

Regardless great experience, I hope to visit again.“

“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!“

“Fantastic service and great dessert.

Went to Zoe’s couple of times and our server: Jacynthe, she is always amazing. She recognized us and gave us a big smile with the warmest tailored service.

My friend and I spent quite a long time at the newly renovated restaurant. And food is very tasty, dessert is the best in Ottawa, nice cocktails.

Thank you Jacynthe for making our night so special.“