We arrived in Ottawa late last night was was ready to grab small bites and a cocktail…read more Unfortunately, the kitchen closed a few minutes before we arrive but we stayed for the drinks and I'm happy we did. They have a late jappy hour special from Sunday-Thursday which included 1/2 price martinis and other drinks. We had espresso martinis which were amazing!

My favorite bar in Byward. Hidden, stylish and cozy. We were here for, of course, the last drink…read morefor the day late at night! The cocktail list was updated from the last visit, everything but their famous "The Mortician" - excited! Tonight we tried - Botanical Bliss - Rattlesnake King Both were excellent! Botanical Bliss is simple but with robust floral labor and aftertone. Rattlesnake King had rich flavor profiles and texture. Herby, citrus-y, fruity, and boozy but the egg white soften the whole. My must visit place in Ottawa!

Grow theirs own cocktails herb and flowers…read more The patio is charming and so is the interior. The staff is very knowledgeable it's very pleasant to know more about the dishes.

I was SO stoked to finally visit the Moonroom after seven or so years of wanting to go!…read more After a Saturday night at Bluesfest, we waited somewhere else for about half an hour before they told us the kitchen was backed up, so we walked down Preston and I was so glad the Moonroom was still open. We didn't get there until about 12:30am and it was pretty full. We didn't leave until maybe 2:30am and it was still pretty full considering the time. They're not normally open this late, but it seems like a lot of the businesses on Preston decided to stay open later to catch the post-Bluesfest crowd. Good call! We decided to sit inside since there was an empty table, otherwise I would've liked to sit out on their back patio, which looked really pretty with the lights. Inside was a nice vibe though, too. It's small/narrow, dimly lit, with sheets covering the different coloured ceiling lights, and candles on the table. It's very intimate and pretty romantic. We sat close to the bar and there was another party of two beside us. The music was a bit louder so we couldn't really hear the other table's conversations, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other. They were playing the Bee Gees when we walked (danced) in, so we were really about the jams. My husband got a rotating draught IPA by Daft Brewing, can't remember which one it was. I got the Jill Collins, which had Tanqueray Gin, Affino Limone, fresh lemon and mint, cane syrup, and a Moon soda top. It was super refreshing, bright, and not too sweet, which is exactly what I wanted. We shared/I mostly ate the "OG Grilled Cheese" and "Panzanella-esque Salad". The grilled cheese had aged Balderson and cream cheeses in a crunchy baguette smothered in toasted garlic butter, served with Moon ketchup. It was exactly as described, with very crunchy, buttery garlic bread and creamy cheese. The Moon ketchup is made in-house, thinner and chunkier than processed, store-bought ketchup, with stronger flavours. It was okay, but I didn't need to dip much in the ketchup because I really enjoyed the sandwich and it was on the saltier side itself. Because it was a lot creamier than gooey, I'd say it was more of a sandwich than a grilled cheese, but still very tasty. I really am not a huge fan of salad in general, but I can't complain when it was burrata on top. It also had salty bread, arugula, roasted tomatoes, fresh peaches, herbs, and honey. The peaches were more firm than ripe and juicy, which was good for a salad, though I wish they were a bit sweeter. The burrata wasn't creamy inside like I expected, but I love cheese in any form. I really don't know what possessed me to get salad, especially after a bunch of drinks in the wee hours of the night, but my body thanked me later. Salty, bitter, a little sweet, fresh, and not heavy, even with (more) bread and cheese. It was great. They unfortunately ran out of the affogato, which probably would've convinced my husband to stay longer. Too bad. The vegan dark chocolate gelato from Farinella that they put in it sounded amazing. The beer was $10.50, my cocktail was $19, grilled cheese $16, and salad $17, which was pricey. BUT, the fresh herbs are from their garden on the back patio, they make their own soda and ketchup (among other things), everything was delicious, and even late at night the cocktails and dishes were still well put together and tasted great, plus I finally came here after so long. No regrets! Our server was super nice, same with owner and one of the bartenders, who even popped over and sat with us for a bit to chat. And not in a weird/creepy/in-your-face way lol she was cool. She was the one who greeted us when we came in and said bye to us on our way out. There's no flash photography (I forgot to turn my auto flash off for my salad, sorry!). They're open all week from 5pm to 2am, no reservations, no large groups, and no phone (just stop by). I wasn't sure if it would meet the high expectations and hype I had built up in my head after waiting so long to visit, but it totally did. It's such a nice spot, we had an amazing time, and we will definitely be back!

Nice restaurant and Lebanese night club. While the ban is yet to be in effect, there are also…read morewater pipes available to smoke as well. Weekends are for the dancing, with Friday being ladies night (half price on everything except the shisha/water pipes) with a DJ playing mostly Lebanese in the later hours of the evening. Saturday is more of a live music and dj mash up, and is supposed to be far more crowded than other nights. I think if they played more of a variety in Arabic music, I'd probably have liked it more, as I enjoy the differences in styles across the region. The food is standard Lebanese fare, and the place is well-decorated and clean. Bathrooms are fine, and the service was friendly.

I thought it will be like any Lebanese restaurant good and clean but it was Over rated ,, service…read morevery slow and the food not that good , one of the dishes was frozen couldn't eat it also I waited too long next to the cashier just to pay my bill. It's way bad experience for me.

Still one of the cooler, more laid back hangouts in Ottawa. Truly deserves the "lounge" part of…read moreits name. Note that this isn't a go early and have beers type of place, most nights it's not even open for business before 10pm and even then, people don't really start coming in until 11 - midnight. Go early (10pm) and you're guaranteed a spot on one of its few loungy sofas (very comfy), but you'll also probably be alone with your companions. Great music as advertised, they always have good DJs.

This is one of my favourite spots I've been to for live music. It's a pity I haven't returned…read more Don't read anything into that though! It's a really awesome lounge. The Mercury Lounge mainly specializes in variations of jazz music, but it also includes some of the other stuff as well. The atmosphere is very relaxing with warm reds and yellows. The stage is a perfect focal point as it's framed by two twelve foot high (at least) windows that look out into the market from this heritage building. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of space, especially if you arrive with a large group and want to stick together. You may have to resolve yourselves to separate a bit for the night if you want to sit down to enjoy the music. Unlike many bars in Ottawa, this place is open until 3AM.

We came to the Rabbit Hole on a Friday night for after-dinner drinks. It was quite busy so we opted…read morefor a seat at the bar. Here, we got to see the bartender crafting cocktails which was pretty cool. We ordered two cocktails, both which were delicious and, very pretty. Inside of the restaurant was warm and cozy; I especially like the mosaic flooring.

Great food, abysmal service, which was too bad. This was…read moreanother stop for dinner on my birthday trip. I was really looking forward to this one. We have six houserabbits, so the bunny decor was a touch I loved. The hostesses outside were very nice and professional. There is an outdoor seating area with super nice furniture that looks very comfy. I was a little early for my 5 o'clock reservation, but they let me come in and sit down about 10 minutes early. I want to make it clear that I did not expect service until opening. I had a tall table at the bar. The decor is a combination of woodsy and steampunk. Metal on the walls and a chandelier that looks like a log with branches. Two rabbit portraits just inside and tiny lights that look like fireflies covering the ceiling. The table was beautiful with a really nice little light that flickered like a candle. I don't know my server's name, it is not on the bill, and if I were him, I would be embarrassed to have it on there. Male with close cut silver hair and I believe a moustache...he wasn't around enough for me to notice much. The bartender did speak to me when i was navigating that stool. My server asked if I wanted to start with anything. I ordered a drink and he ran away. He was always in a hurry to get away. No small talk, no attempt to get to know his customer. As someone who worked as a waitress in my youth and all through college, his lack of attention was a bit stunning. When he brought my drink back, the Flower Child, which was incredible--looked and tasted like rainbow sherbet, took me back to my childhood and is now in my top three cocktails ever, he tried to run away immediately. I caught him by asking if the Wagyu burger could be made with a gluten-free bun. He said no but they could do a lettuce wrap. I told him that would be perfect and was surprised he didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked or check with me on anything else, didn't tell me what it came with. I wasn't sure he even took my order for a few minutes. The burger came out soon though to my relief. He set it down and ran away, I mean *POOF* gone. I wanted another drink. Now, I was annoyed. The restaurant was not busy. Luckily, there was a server, dark hair who was watching and she stepped toward me and let me order another drink. Original server dropped it off without speaking a word to me. Didn't ask how anything was...nothing. I wondered if this was yet another case of solo diner syndrome. You know that saying you can tell who someone is by how they treat service persons, well, you can tell a LOT about a restaurant by how they treat their solo diners. Luckily, there was nothing amiss with the meal. Wonderful salad with cute little half moon cut veggies. Fries and the dip they came with were phenomenal. Burger was tender and delicious. Guy never showed up, but I could hear him talking to the bartender behind me nearly the entire meal. Felt like I'd stepped into an episode of Vanderpump Rules. I had to get the other brunette server to get him to bring my bill. He had stopped to pick up my plate and then asked how everything was. I told him, "Finished." Then, I waited while he milled about with no bill forthcoming for a good while before I asked the other server. The lowest tip percentage was 18%. I did that but regret it and wish so much I'd hit custom and given him $5. The bill for only me was right at $100, which I never mind paying if the food and service are good... and my server was so amazing the night before, I tipped her 30%. He didn't deserve what he got. I found the other server and pulled out $10 for her help. She was so sweet and asked me if I wanted her to give that to my server. I said firmly, "No, that is for YOU." The food here is awesome and the atmosphere very cool, but the service was so bad that it wouldn't be worth it. Too bad.

It was a beautiful summer day and I wanted to find somewhere to eat that was both outside and near…read morewater, so Umbrella Bar seemed like a perfect choice. When we arrived the place was maybe half full but we nevertheless managed to snag a quiet table overlooking the water. It was fantastic. For my food, I decided to go with their smash burger and I decided to substitute their Firecracker Fries for my regular fries. The food arrived a little while later, and while I was disappointed that it wasn't hot, I was very happy with the taste and presentation. The burger was exactly what I felt like, and the smashed patty was cooked perfectly. The enormous Firecracker Fries, which were smothered in a meat sauce, cheese, and a zippy mayo, were so, so good. Decadent and delicious. (The cold beer I ordered took the whole meal over the top.) Our server was super friendly and helpful, and we just really enjoyed the overall relaxed vibe of the place.

The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, the kind of spot that instantly grabs your attention…read morebecause it's right above the water. The view is stunning and honestly sets such a nice mood. I really wanted to love the food as much as I loved the setting... but it just didn't deliver. Everything tasted like it had been pre-made hours ahead, and I'm not convinced they use many fresh ingredients aside from the salads. The dish I ordered was hands down just salt and oil , no real flavor, nothing fresh or vibrant about it. When I brought the leftovers home and reheated them, even more oil poured out, to the point where it literally turned me off from finishing it. The drinks, though? Delicious. I had the spruce margarita and that was honestly the highlight of the whole meal -- super refreshing and really well-balanced. Overall, beautiful restaurant, amazing views, great drinks... but the food needs some serious improvement for me to go back.

Cute cocktail bar/lounge with a very instagrammable bathroom, if you're into that :) the drinks are…read morestrong and tasty. The bites are vegan but still so delicious. The broccoli was perfectly charred and came with a vegan spread that was yummy.

Such a fun spot on Elgin St. Love the lounge/living room vibe. Ample seating and nice ambient…read morelighting. Very aesthetic. Nice drinks but on the pricier side.

The poutine here is perfectly crispy, the gravy rich, and the cheese curds melted just right. The…read morestaff are genuinely friendly and gave great drink suggestions, The space is a bit snug and can get noisy, but that only adds to the lively and cozy atmosphere

Had drinks twice here with my wife on our recent ski trip. It's a beautiful bar and has food from…read morethe same kitchen as the fancy restaurant Choux Gras, which is right next to it. They have a top notch selection of spirits, some local beers, and wine. We only had a light lunch, but everything we had was delicious and beautifully presented. I recommend this if you're looking for a touch of elegance that's not typical of the apres ski options around the slopes. It's a nice change of pace.

The Short Version: Spacious and beautiful restaurant…read more Delicious food. Service was pleasant, but a bit slow. The Long Version: I had dinner here as part of a professional continuing education event sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. We had a section of the restaurant for our event and it was nicely set up with space for a screen and a projector. Even though there were other patrons in the restaurant we could still hear the presentation and our little nook felt private. I started off with a mixed greens salad and it usually comes pre-dressed, but I asked for the dressing on the side and this was accomodated. Vegetables were fresh and it was a mesclun mix, carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and radishes. The lemon honey dressing was light and not too oily, although I only used about a fifth of what they gave me. For my main I had the salmon which came with a delicious fried polenta cake. The outside was crispy and delicious while the inside was creamy. The salmon was moist and delicious. It came with kale, a tomato confit and an olive tapenade. The flavours complemented each other well and did not over power the salmon. The menu price of the salmon was $39. For dessert I got the gluten-free chocolate brownie, which I was told was made of almond flour. It was a bit crumbly and had a grainy texture. I did not love it. Many others at the event had the Steak Frites and this looked delicious. I was debating between the salmon and the steak and while I enjoyed my salmon I wonder if I did not make the best choice, lol. The menu price of the steak was $49. The other dessert option was a creme brulee which also looked good. And given I wasn't thrilled about my brownie, I felt I should have gotten the other option. Service was pleasant. The wine was flowing freely, lol, but the courses took a while to come out. For these events, the dinner is usually fully served by the end of the educational session presentation, but when the presentation ended they hadn't even served the main course yet. We were a large group of around 30 people. And I don't know if they had their full staffing complement. Attendees were getting antsy towards the end and were asking for their desserts to be packed up to-go. Staff seemed a bit flustered but got the job done. Overall, a beautiful restaurant that is very spacious with multiple sections to the restaurant. Great environment for an event. Food was delicious. Service wasn't as timely, but still courteous and pleasant. Street parking only. Review #83 (2026)

Back in Ottawa for our annual colleague dinner on the first night of CMPA's Prime Time conference…read more The food was great, I had the best wine... A red blended wine, a Syriah-blended with a grape I have never heard about. It was a fixed prix menu for our large group. Lovely steak frites main, cooked perfectly. And a stunning creme brule. Always a great atmosphere and music is always on point. Our service had the most charming, attentive and helpful attendant. Great place.

When im in Ottawa i smoke here frequently. The owner and workers are super chill. theyre nice and…read moretend to you when needed. one night we stayed over and he didnt kick us out.... when we realized it was closed we kicked ourselves out. Please TIP him. its a family owned business and at least you know where your money is going. heres a tip.... Orange Mint! BANG!