The best bars and restaurants to visit in Ottawa

Are you looking for the best bars and restaurants in Ottawa? Then, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this article, we will list four of the best venues in or near Ottawa. Some of these are budget-friendly, others are more expensive but perfect for special occasions. 

All of them have great reviews!

Four of the best bars and restaurants in Ottawa

  • Arôme 

Arôme is a well-rated restaurant on the outskirts of Ottawa. It’s located in the Hilton Lac-Leamy hotel, which is part of the Casino du Lac-Leamy. 

The restaurant is particularly famous for its waterfront views. It boasts one of the best and most romantic terraces in the region. 

The restaurant specializes in seafood and grilled dishes. 

They also have a very good wine selection and ‘Wine Discovery Tuesdays’, for those who want to try classic wines at a lower price. 

After dinner, you can attend a theater show or a concert at the Casino du Lac-Leamy. The venue invites talented musicians and artists, so the entertainment there is always great.

There are also some excellent gaming opportunities. The casino offers a wide selection of games including slots and poker. 

Not sure if casino gaming is for you? Why not try a casino game online, like the popular slot game Gates of Olympus, to see if it’s something you’d enjoy?

If it is, head to the Casino du Lac-Leamy for a fun game night after a wonderful dining experience at the Arôme restaurant. 

Level One Game Pub is an extremely popular venue in Ottawa. It is a very cozy, welcoming and fun venue. 

This venue is great because it’s both a restaurant and a pub. But it’s no ordinary restaurant/pub. 

In Level One Game Pub, there are hundreds of games to play. There are several meters-long bookshelves with hundreds of board and card games lined up. 

Customers just pay $9 to stay and play for as long as they want. They can also order some food or drinks if they want. 

On Fridays and Saturdays, the venue might put a 3h limit on tables if there is a growing waitlist. On the other days of the week, people can stay for as long as they want. 

They can sit down with their friends and play for hours, while sipping on a drink or enjoying a snack. 

Level One Game Pub makes delicious house cocktails and offers a great selection of beers. 

There are also some wine options, non-alcoholic drinks and hot drinks to choose from. 

In terms of food, the venue serves different types of snacks including a variety of house chipped fries, nachos and wraps. 

This venue is a must if you’re looking for a unique pub experience.

Most locals have heard of the Manx Pub. It is a popular, art-lined, subterranean pub. 

There are some outdoor seats for those who don’t particularly enjoy the subterranean vibe. 

The venue is cozy and welcoming. It is particularly famous for its great whiskey selection and delicious brunch, lunch and dinner meals.  

For those who don’t like whiskey, the pub also offers a good variety of draught beers as well as some wine options. 

In terms of food, we recommend trying the pub’s signature meal which is the lamb curry wrap. 

For some extra entertainment, we recommend going to the pub on a live music night or a ‘reading series’ night. 

You can find out about upcoming events on the pub’s social media page. 

  • Chez Lucien

Chez Lucien is a cozy and comfortable bar and bistro that serves delicious hamburgers and other comfort meals. 

The kitchen is open from 11am to midnight and the bar is open from 11am to 2am. In other words, the venue is open for around 16 hours a day! 

In terms of food, customers will find delicious brunch options, as well as salads, starters, main course meals, and specials. 

That being said, according to many regular customers, the bistro’s specialty remains the burger. 

In terms of drinks, the venue offers a good selection of beers, wines and scotch drinks. 

Customers will really enjoy Chez Lucien’s comfortable, luminous and elegant space. The owners were inspired by French bistros and their interior design. 

You will find art pieces on the walls, fresh flowers on the counters and small candles on the dining tables. 

Not only is the atmosphere great, but the prices are also budget friendly! 

Final thoughts

In this article, we discussed four of the best bars and restaurants in Ottawa. 

The venues we mentioned are known for their excellent reviews, unique atmospheres and great food & drinks selection. 

Of course, there are many more excellent bars and restaurants in the city including Bar Lupulus, The Moonroom, and Riviera Ottawa. 

In other words, Ottawa is a great city if you love unique and delicious culinary experiences. Make sure you try out the venues mentioned in this article!

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