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
    La Bottega
    #1 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 524 reviewsTripAdvisor (524)
    $ | Italian
    64 George St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5V9 Canada
    Read More »
  • #2
    BeaverTails
    #2 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 2571 reviewsTripAdvisor (2571)
    $ | Canadian
    69 George St Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1K1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #3
    Cozmos Souvlaki
    #3 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 241 reviewsTripAdvisor (241)
    $ | Fast Food, Mediterranean, Greek
    196 Greenbank Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P3 Canada
    Read More »
  • #4
    Fraser Cafe
    #4 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 756 reviewsTripAdvisor (756)
    $ - $$ | Canadian
    7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C8 Canada
    Read More »
  • #5
    SuzyQ
    #5 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 213 reviewsTripAdvisor (213)
    $ | Cafe, Canadian
    969 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2X7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #6
    Atelier
    #6 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 361 reviewsTripAdvisor (361)
    $$ | Canadian, International
    540 Rochester St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4M1 Canada
    Read More »
  • #7
    Cumberland Pizza
    #7 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 349 reviewsTripAdvisor (349)
    $ | Pizza, Greek, Canadian, Italian
    152 Nelson St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7R5 Canada
    Read More »
  • #8
    Shinka Sushi Bar
    #8 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 301 reviewsTripAdvisor (301)
    $ - $$ | Japanese, Sushi, Asian
    150 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J4 Canada
    Read More »
  • #9
    Sansotei Ramen
    #9 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 186 reviewsTripAdvisor (186)
    $ - $$ | Japanese, Asian, Soups
    153 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5N7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #10
    Aperitivo
    #10 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 444 reviewsTripAdvisor (444)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, Wine Bar, Canadian, Gastropub
    655 Kanata Ave Unit L2 Along the Pedestrian Walkway, Ottawa, Ontario K2T 1H6 Canada
    Read More »
  • #11
    Hunter's Public House Restaurant
    #11 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 305 reviewsTripAdvisor (305)
    $ - $$ | Bar, Canadian, Pub
    4750 Bank St Unit 1, Ottawa, Ontario K1T 0K8 Canada
    Read More »
  • #12
    Corazon De Maiz Mexican Food
    #12 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 205 reviewsTripAdvisor (205)
    $ | Mexican, Latin
    55 By Ward Market Sq, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9C3 Canada
    Read More »
  • #13
    Absinthe
    #13 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 754 reviewsTripAdvisor (754)
    $ - $$ | European, Canadian, International
    1208 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2Z7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #14
    Gezellig
    #14 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 883 reviewsTripAdvisor (883)
    $$ | Canadian
    337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0E7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #15
    The Green Door
    #15 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 425 reviewsTripAdvisor (425)
    $ - $$ | Canadian, Soups
    198 Main St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1C6 Canada
    Read More »
  • #16
    Beckta Dining & Wine
    #16 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1520 reviewsTripAdvisor (1520)
    $$ | Canadian, International, Contemporary
    150 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 Canada
    Read More »
  • #17
    Fairouz
    #17 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 239 reviewsTripAdvisor (239)
    $ - $$ | Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    343 Somerset St W, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J8 Canada
    Read More »
  • #18
    Baker Street Cafe
    #18 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 333 reviewsTripAdvisor (333)
    $ - $$ | Cafe, Canadian
    385 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0E7 Canada
    Read More »
  • #19
    Pure Kitchen Elgin
    #19 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 231 reviewsTripAdvisor (231)
    $ - $$ | Canadian
    340 Elgin St, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1M6 Canada
    Read More »
  • #20
    Kochin Kitchen
    #20 of 3,417 Places to Eat in Ottawa
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 270 reviewsTripAdvisor (270)
    $ - $$ | Indian, Asian
    271 Dalhousie St Corner of Dalhousie Street and Murray Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E5 Canada
    Read More »

Explore More of Ottawa

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