As the weather turns cooler and patio evenings grow scarce, Ottawa’s lively bar scene still presents a wide variety of choices. Regardless of the season, the city boasts a selection of excellent pubs where you can sit back, savour a pint, and relax.
Here’s a list of 12 of our favourite pubs in Ottawa: some provide a full menu, others creatively integrate beer into their dishes, and a few offer only snack-like fare.
There is no particular order to this list.
Cumberland Street between Murray and Patrick Streets
The ByWard Market’s best-kept secret—likely because the blue light above the door is the only sign that it exists—Brigid’s Well is a real Irish pub, not simply an Irish-themed one. It offers delicious Irish food, great domestic and Irish beers and a wonderful Irish Whiskey selection that is second to none, all nestled away in the basement of a former Catholic Church. When you go, prepare to feel like you have stepped off an Ottawa street corner into a Dublin Pub.
Photo: OLM Staff
137 Murray Street
A well-known favourite of downtowners, Chez Lucien offers great burgers, salads, and sandwiches of all kinds. It also has a large selection of local craft, import, and laid-back beers. Chez Lucien is tiny, so make sure to get a reservation if you’re going, but when you do, it will be well worth it!
Photo: Chien Lucien via Facebook
42 York Street
Ottawa’s oldest bar is known for two things: a love of Labbatt 50—a beer that’s sold almost exclusively in the Ottawa Valley/Outaouais region—and for its daily free live music that culminates every Saturday in the Lucky Ron Show. The local performer has been belting out twangy hurting country classic at The Laff weekly since 1999. The Laff is a great place to wind down.
Photo: OLM Staff
885 Bank Street
Perhaps Glebe’s most famous watering hole, Irene’s Pub makes great pub grub, serves amazing cocktails, and hosts a wide variety of excellent shows. Make sure to check it out to get a real sense of the vibe in the Glebe.
356 Richmond Road
One of the best-known bars in Westboro, Churchills is a family-owned institution. The name pays homage to the British PM and hero of WWII but Churchills offers a fusion of cuisine with dishes like Asian Beef Salad or Seafood Pasta, making them a solid dinner choice. The pub also has a great drink selection and make some of the best cocktails, including their Negroni and Espresso Martini. Make sure to stop in during the summer and ask for a table on the rooftop patio; it is one of the best in Ottawa.
Photo: OLM Staff
37 Flora Street
Think old industrial warehouse meets garage; add a brewery, and you have Flora Hall Brewing. The warm atmosphere and funky interior make it a great place to have a pint. And with constantly rotating taps, there’s something everybody will like. Try their Ordinary English Bitter; it has become a favourite with beer lovers across the city. Flora Hall’s kitchen also does amazing work incorporating their beer into the cuisine while serving shareable plates that are gourmet yet manage to feel like comfort food.
Photo: OLM Staff
370 Elgin Street
One of the only screen-free pubs in Ottawa with a cult-like following, The Manx …..and why. The Manx makes great sandwiches, apps and has a great beer selection that includes many local and imported beers. Don’t be surprised on a cold, windy night if the atmosphere at the Manx gives off Harry Potter vibes!
Photo: manxpub.com
361 Elgin Street
The Lieutenant’s Pump is an Ottawa institution, and there’s a reason for it. With multiple bars, an always-changing beer selection, a great outdoor patio, a solid food menu, and daily specials, everybody has been to the Pump at least once. On the weekends, this British-themed pub transforms into a nightclub-like and young people flood the place.
Photo: OLM Staff
303 Banks Street
The Atomic Rooster is a Centretown staple. With themed nightly events, from Karaoke Thursdays to the Friday night hideout of the Barrow Gang Buskers and rotating food specials, the Rooster is a big part of the town’s culture. The walls are adorned with paintings for sale by local artists, and it the bar offers a wide selection of beer, from quarts to pints.
Photo: OLM Staff
6081 Halzeldeen Road
The Glen Restaurant and Pub is a rare Scottish-themed establishment, unlike other UK pubs, which lean more towards the Scottish theme. The Glen makes amazing fish and chips and other Scottish foods like Scotch Eggs. Combine that with their Scottish beer and the selection of Scotch, and this tartan-plaid-clad pub is a clear winner.
Photo: @TheGlenScottishPub
1170 Carling Avenue
Bowman’s Pub and Gill is almost always busy, and there’s a reason for it. When this Carlington gem opened, the Ottawa Citizen wrote that the food was a cut above. Evidently, they were right, as Bowmans continues to be a busy place It’s a great place to go for a pint and a good meal if you’re coming and going downtown.
Photo: OLM Staff
284 Elgin Street
Sir John A is an Ottawa favourite for various reasons, but perhaps the best is its great beer selection that contains brews like Delerium Tremens and Chimay, which are lauded in the beer world but not often found on tap around the city. Sir John A has them, along with a great patio!
Photo: OLM Staff
