Ottawa Travel Guide

Canada  #7 in Best Family Vacations in Canada
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What to Eat in Ottawa

Much like the U.S. capital, Ottawa boasts a diverse and top-notch dining scene that caters to everyone from policy-making politicos to camera-wielding tourists. Since it's located across the Ottawa River from the French-speaking province of Quebec, it should come as no surprise that French food plays a starring role in the city's restaurant culture. In fact, Ottawa is home to the only Canadian campus of Le Cordon Bleu, an international culinary school. The campus is also home to a fine dining eatery, Signatures Restaurant, which is housed in a Tudor Revival-style mansion. If you want to sample French cuisine without paying a hefty price tag, consider making a lunch reservation here, when three-course meals are offered for CA$34 (around $26) per person.

Not one for French cuisine? How about Canadian instead? Several restaurants around the city offer Canadian or ("New Canadian") menus, including the award-winning Atelier, which serves a 12-course tasting menu every night. Though 12 courses may seem a bit intimidating, recent visitors raved about the interesting and creative dishes plated here. If you're looking for something a bit more approachable, consider Play Food & Wine, a small plates eatery that's lauded for its food and wine pairings and excellent service. Another small plates restaurant that's popular with locals and visitors: town. Visitors say this Italian-inspired outpost is a hit thanks to its convenient downtown location and its flavorful dishes. And when you're ready to sample some of the city's seafood, head to the Whalesbone Oyster House for (what else?) oysters. Though recent visitors do note that the restaurant is small and can be noisy, they can't deny the quality of the seafood.

Finally, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the city's food culture, you must take a spin through ByWard Market, one of the country's oldest and largest public markets. And for an equally wide-ranging sample of Ottawa's beer scene, head to CRAFT Beer Market.

Find the Best Restaurants in Ottawa

  • #1
    Beaver Tails Pastries
    #1 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2356 reviewsTripAdvisor (2356)
    $ | Fast Food, Canadian
    69 George St Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1K1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #2
    La Bottega
    #2 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 476 reviewsTripAdvisor (476)
    $ | Italian
    64 George St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5V9 Canada
    Read More »
  • #3
    Fraser Cafe
    #3 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 700 reviewsTripAdvisor (700)
    $ - $$ | Canadian
    7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C8 Canada
    Read More »
  • #4
    Hunter's Public House Restaurant
    #4 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 188 reviewsTripAdvisor (188)
    $ - $$ | Bar, Pub, Canadian
    4750 Bank St Unit 1, Ottawa, Ontario K1T 0K8 Canada
    Read More »
  • #5
    Cumberland Pizza
    #5 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 316 reviewsTripAdvisor (316)
    $ | Italian, Pizza, Greek, Canadian
    152 Nelson St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7R5 Canada
    Read More »
  • #6
    Cozmos Souvlaki
    #6 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 206 reviewsTripAdvisor (206)
    $ | Fast Food, Mediterranean, Greek
    196 Greenbank Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P3 Canada
    Read More »
  • #7
    SuzyQ
    #7 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 179 reviewsTripAdvisor (179)
    $ | Cafe, Canadian
    991 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2Y1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #8
    Absinthe
    #8 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 682 reviewsTripAdvisor (682)
    $ - $$ | French, European, Canadian, International
    1208 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2Z7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #9
    Atelier
    #9 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 334 reviewsTripAdvisor (334)
    $$ | Canadian, International
    540 Rochester St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4M1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #10
    Aperitivo
    #10 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 410 reviewsTripAdvisor (410)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, Wine Bar, Canadian, Gastropub
    655 Kanata Ave Unit L2 Along the Pedestrian Walkway, Ottawa, Ontario K2T 1H6 Canada
    Read More »
  • #11
    Allium
    #11 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 380 reviewsTripAdvisor (380)
    $ - $$ | Canadian
    87 Holland Ave, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0Y1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #12
    Beckta Dining & Wine
    #12 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1434 reviewsTripAdvisor (1434)
    $$ | Canadian, International, Contemporary
    150 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 Canada
    Read More »
  • #13
    Sansotei Ramen
    #13 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 129 reviewsTripAdvisor (129)
    $ - $$ | Japanese, Asian, Soups
    153 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5N7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #14
    Play Food & Wine
    #14 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1653 reviewsTripAdvisor (1653)
    $ - $$ | Wine Bar, Canadian
    1 York St Sussex Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5S7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #15
    Supply and Demand Foods & Raw Bar
    #15 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 265 reviewsTripAdvisor (265)
    $$ | Seafood, Canadian, International
    1335 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 3B6 Canada
    Read More »
  • #16
    Shinka Sushi Bar
    #16 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 254 reviewsTripAdvisor (254)
    $ - $$ | Japanese, Sushi, Asian
    150 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J4 Canada
    Read More »
  • #17
    Stella Luna
    #17 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 233 reviewsTripAdvisor (233)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Cafe
    1103 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3X4 Canada
    Read More »
  • #18
    Gezellig
    #18 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 798 reviewsTripAdvisor (798)
    $$ | Canadian
    337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0E7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #19
    Zizis Kitchen
    #19 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 151 reviewsTripAdvisor (151)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, European
    665 Earl Armstrong Rd Neighbourhood: Riverside South, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 2G2 Canada
    Read More »
  • #20
    A Thing for Chocolate
    #20 of 3,221 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 163 reviewsTripAdvisor (163)
    $ - $$ | French, Cafe, Canadian
    1262 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 3A5 Canada
    Read More »

Explore More of Ottawa

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