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 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (538)
$ | Italian
64 George St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5V9 Canada
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#2
BeaverTails
#2 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (2611)
$ | Canadian
69 George St Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1K1 Canada
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#3
Hunter's Public House Restaurant
#3 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (340)
$ - $$ | Bar, Pub, Canadian
4750 Bank St Unit 1, Ottawa, Ontario K1T 0K8 Canada
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#4
Cozmos Souvlaki
#4 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (249)
$ | Fast Food, Mediterranean, Greek
196 Greenbank Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P3 Canada
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#5
Gezellig
#5 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (908)
$$ | Canadian
337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0E7 Canada
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#6
Cumberland Pizza
#6 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (361)
$ | Italian, Pizza, Greek, Canadian
152 Nelson St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7R5 Canada
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#7
Atelier
#7 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (361)
$$ | Canadian, International
540 Rochester St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4M1 Canada
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#8
Fraser Cafe
#8 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (777)
$ - $$ | Canadian
7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C8 Canada
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#9
SuzyQ
#9 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (230)
$ | Cafe
969 Wellington St W corner of Fairmont, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2X7 Canada
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#10
Sansotei Ramen
#10 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (193)
$ - $$ | Japanese, Asian, Soups
153 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5N7 Canada
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#11
Aperitivo
#11 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (455)
$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Wine Bar, Canadian, Gastropub
655 Kanata Ave Unit L2 Along the Pedestrian Walkway, Ottawa, Ontario K2T 1H6 Canada
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#12
The Brig Pub
#12 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (234)
$ - $$ | Pub
23 York St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5S7 Canada
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#13
Absinthe
#13 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (777)
$ - $$ | French, European, Canadian, International
1208 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 2Z7 Canada
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#14
Beckta Dining & Wine
#14 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (1547)
$$ | Canadian, International, Contemporary
150 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 Canada
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#15
Shinka Sushi Bar
#15 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (308)
$ - $$ | Japanese, Sushi, Asian
150 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J4 Canada
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#16
The Green Door
#16 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (429)
$ - $$ | Canadian
198 Main St, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1C6 Canada
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#17
Aroma Meze
#17 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (814)
$ - $$ | International, Mediterranean, European, Greek
239 Nepean St, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0B7 Canada
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#18
Baker Street Cafe
#18 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (341)
$ - $$ | Cafe, Canadian
385 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 0E7 Canada
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#19
Fairouz Cafe
#19 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (247)
$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Cafe, Contemporary
343 Somerset St W, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J8 Canada
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#20
Supply and Demand Foods & Raw Bar
#20 of 2,718 Places to Eat in Ottawa
Tripadvisor (288)
$$ | Seafood, Canadian, International
1335 Wellington St W, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 3B6 Canada
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