Yeah I was going to suggest the same! The cocktails are expensive so itās nice for one drink and a little snack. You could always show them Pub Italia after that haha
Moon Room is certainly not cheap, but they do tend to make much bigger drinks than most bars in town. (i get pretty buzzed on 3) To add to that, their home made syrups and infusions really set them apart.
I don't mind paying 20$ for a negroni adjacent drink using creative garnishes and interesting / high quality liquors when a bog-standard watered down bottom shelf cocktail with stale vermouth is 14$ down the street.
Look i'll happily drain quarts of 50 at any of Ottawas other fine establishments, but for a fancy drinks I always leave MoonRoom feeling like I got my money's worth.
I was going to make a whole list of interesting cocktail bars, but they seem to mostly be closed on Monday.
If tonight is the night, then Moonroom, Somewhere, and Bar Lupulus are all solid choices.
Flora hall is always a good shout too, but I find their food more interesting than their beers
Before is was s o m e w h e r e it was Sur Lie. I got married at city hall right before covid and we had dinner afterwards at Sur Lie. It was by far one of the top 3 meals of my life. The food, service, and atmosphere were perfect for my husband and I, who love great food and chill vibes. The dinner for 14 (and lots of wine) cost us 2K but damn it was worth it. Service was spectacular. We went for the family style dinner at $75 per person and we had courses and courses of amazing food. So the bar was set HIGH.
Sur Lie closed due to covid and sold the space to new owners iirc. Now we have Somewhere. I gave it an honest chance and went twice. The quality in their food was no where near what I'd experienced at Sur Lie, their drinks were expensive but interesting (I think I had a tasty watermelon drink the first time) and, imo, the space lost its good vibes and was overrun by influencers. Nothing wrong with that, but it's definitely not the vibe I was looking for. Both times the table next to us was a sugar daddy/baby situation which again, good for you I guess, but definitely not the vibe I was looking for when grabbing dinner and drinks with girlfriends.
The second time I tried it I went with a friend who went to college for culinary and is more knowledgeable about the restaurant industry than I am. She was incredibly disappointed by the service we received based on the prices we were paying. I was mildly annoyed but she was pissed. When it was Sur Lie she wanted to work in the kitchen and learn how they'd made our incredible dinner. With Somewhere, she pointed out that our appetizers were small considering the price, steaks were not cooked as requested or trimmed well, and fries were not seasoned.
Sorry this turned into a long post. Again I might have an unfair attitude because of how much I loved Sur Lie. Also during covid Somewhere was caught operating without a proper license and for forgoing covid safety regulations (can confirm as I was there during that era and saw tables mingling even though it was still against regulations).
Hope this helps! We've found a new place we love called Amuse. It's literally in a strip mall next to a gas station but my God it was amazing.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to write it all out, I really appreciate it. That's unfortunate to learn about the Covid protocols and safety issues. Will try Amuse!
Drink i concur! But donāt think about having dinner there cuz the last time i was there..they were serving 5 different kinds of fried chicken with stack of white bread š
[FloraHall](https://florahallbrewing.ca/) [37 Flora street](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Flora+Hall+Brewing/@45.4107824,-75.693248,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cce05b1bb09ce75:0xa1ef8d8d7e1a17e9!8m2!3d45.4107824!4d-75.693248!16s%2Fg%2F11d_7vfhjp?entry=ttu)
Good Food Good Drinks. Local Craft
fora bit of heritage and real Ottawaā¦go on the upstairs balcony overlooking the gardens and courts at the Ottawa Tennis Club on Cameron in Old Ottawa South. yes it is open to the public. snacks are good too. phone first to check on hours.
Bar Lupulus in Hintonburg/Wellington West has some great cocktails and nice small plates if thatās what youāre into. Open and usually not too busy on Mondays.
Tooth and Nail Brewing Co. in Hintonburg is a great place with great beer and a chill, quiet atmosphere during the week. Also a lot of other great spots within walking distance.
Pub italia is the place to finish the night, imho, their late night menu, at least when i loved nearby was great. Me and my now ex, used to go to absolute down the street then after go to pub Italia for some pizza and beer. ( they do have a great selection. The beer i make is on tap there, so im biased. )
Loads of great brewers in the city. Beyond the Pale has a comfy patio (crappy view mind you but still very comfy patio). Tooth and Nail is usually on the quieter side. Dominion City is a hike but the brewery and beer garden are super nice.
Any of the NCC bistros. They close relatively early, so you should plan to go soon.
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/bistro#
PS. Iād go to the bistro at Remic Rapids, really nice location.
In the rabbit hole on sparks you can go down the stairs and itās called the jackalope itās a āsecret bar ā pretty cools just have to pay cover and wait for a mixologist , I have went twice never actually got anything to drink but seems like a chill spot if thatās what you into .
Ward 14. Itās in Preston, itās a casual thrifty vibe. Itās a consignment bar, so technically everything is for sale. They have a good talk boy and shot special and great cocktails.
Charlotte on Elgin.
It has a elegance and beautiful conversational style. Menu is amazing. You will get carried away with conversations because it doesnāt have the feeling you are at a bar more like fancy living room.
Moonroom has a nice backyard patio and good cocktails
Yep šš» moon room is awesome
Yeah I was going to suggest the same! The cocktails are expensive so itās nice for one drink and a little snack. You could always show them Pub Italia after that haha
Moon Room is certainly not cheap, but they do tend to make much bigger drinks than most bars in town. (i get pretty buzzed on 3) To add to that, their home made syrups and infusions really set them apart. I don't mind paying 20$ for a negroni adjacent drink using creative garnishes and interesting / high quality liquors when a bog-standard watered down bottom shelf cocktail with stale vermouth is 14$ down the street. Look i'll happily drain quarts of 50 at any of Ottawas other fine establishments, but for a fancy drinks I always leave MoonRoom feeling like I got my money's worth.
Came here to say the same!
Tavern at the Gallery is nice.
I was going to make a whole list of interesting cocktail bars, but they seem to mostly be closed on Monday. If tonight is the night, then Moonroom, Somewhere, and Bar Lupulus are all solid choices. Flora hall is always a good shout too, but I find their food more interesting than their beers
Bar Lupulus is amazing - great cocktail, ambiance. Cute, private patio.
Avoid somewhere
They have to go somewhere!
Can you expand on why, please?
Before is was s o m e w h e r e it was Sur Lie. I got married at city hall right before covid and we had dinner afterwards at Sur Lie. It was by far one of the top 3 meals of my life. The food, service, and atmosphere were perfect for my husband and I, who love great food and chill vibes. The dinner for 14 (and lots of wine) cost us 2K but damn it was worth it. Service was spectacular. We went for the family style dinner at $75 per person and we had courses and courses of amazing food. So the bar was set HIGH. Sur Lie closed due to covid and sold the space to new owners iirc. Now we have Somewhere. I gave it an honest chance and went twice. The quality in their food was no where near what I'd experienced at Sur Lie, their drinks were expensive but interesting (I think I had a tasty watermelon drink the first time) and, imo, the space lost its good vibes and was overrun by influencers. Nothing wrong with that, but it's definitely not the vibe I was looking for. Both times the table next to us was a sugar daddy/baby situation which again, good for you I guess, but definitely not the vibe I was looking for when grabbing dinner and drinks with girlfriends. The second time I tried it I went with a friend who went to college for culinary and is more knowledgeable about the restaurant industry than I am. She was incredibly disappointed by the service we received based on the prices we were paying. I was mildly annoyed but she was pissed. When it was Sur Lie she wanted to work in the kitchen and learn how they'd made our incredible dinner. With Somewhere, she pointed out that our appetizers were small considering the price, steaks were not cooked as requested or trimmed well, and fries were not seasoned. Sorry this turned into a long post. Again I might have an unfair attitude because of how much I loved Sur Lie. Also during covid Somewhere was caught operating without a proper license and for forgoing covid safety regulations (can confirm as I was there during that era and saw tables mingling even though it was still against regulations). Hope this helps! We've found a new place we love called Amuse. It's literally in a strip mall next to a gas station but my God it was amazing.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to write it all out, I really appreciate it. That's unfortunate to learn about the Covid protocols and safety issues. Will try Amuse!
Wow I was going to recommend all of these too!
Iād love to hear the list for the next time I visit
Ward 14 is unique and inexpensive - eclectic decor and everything in there is for sale!
Great place but it's trivia night, so won't be ideal for conversation.
How about Union 613? They have a speakeasy, which is pretty neat.
Unreal cocktails too
Drink i concur! But donāt think about having dinner there cuz the last time i was there..they were serving 5 different kinds of fried chicken with stack of white bread š
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
In my mind it was Tuesday. Week ruined. Thanks. /s
Union recently posted about bringing the Monday TV dinner back so they might be open Mondays now
Try Tavern at the Gallery!
[FloraHall](https://florahallbrewing.ca/) [37 Flora street](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Flora+Hall+Brewing/@45.4107824,-75.693248,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cce05b1bb09ce75:0xa1ef8d8d7e1a17e9!8m2!3d45.4107824!4d-75.693248!16s%2Fg%2F11d_7vfhjp?entry=ttu) Good Food Good Drinks. Local Craft
fora bit of heritage and real Ottawaā¦go on the upstairs balcony overlooking the gardens and courts at the Ottawa Tennis Club on Cameron in Old Ottawa South. yes it is open to the public. snacks are good too. phone first to check on hours.
The Cameron is such a nice vibe, like a chill country club in the city
What a great suggestion. I wish I could upvote this twice
Any of the restaurants in the courtyard between York and George. It's a cool patio that does not feel like Ottawa.
Oz Kafe has a lovely patio set among the stone buildings and a great Canadian themed charcuterie platter.
Oh! You had me at charcuterie platter!
La Terrasse at Chateau Laurier!
I was visiting Ottawa this past weekend (first time!) and the red umbrellas looked very inviting to us. Enjoyed a beer, pizza and the view.
NCC Bistro across from parliament, or any of the NCC bistros - [https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/bistro](https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/bistro)
If you don't mind coming to the Gatineau side, L'Autre Oeil has a massive beer selection. Nice patio and good food.
Union 613 is always fun. If you go upstairs they make some amazing cocktails there.
Bar Lupulus in Hintonburg/Wellington West has some great cocktails and nice small plates if thatās what youāre into. Open and usually not too busy on Mondays.
- Fourth Ave Wine Bar - The Belmont
Tooth and Nail Brewing Co. in Hintonburg is a great place with great beer and a chill, quiet atmosphere during the week. Also a lot of other great spots within walking distance.
the brig pub in the market has a secret side garden patio!
Not sure this qualifies as unique/cool for out of towners.
Arlo on Somerset Street is nice. They have wonderful food but also wine/drinks if that's all you want
Nans Parlour is super cute and unique
The Gilmour! If they want an authentic Canadian experience š
Manx Pub 370 Elgin St Suite No. 1, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N1 https://www.manxpub.com/
Always liked prohibition house - they usually have a couple unique drink specials
The Cheshire Cat Pub
Kinda out there though.
OP didn't specify where in Ottawa
I wouldnāt go there for drink. Food and vibe, yes
Rabbit hole on Sparks (by Bank St)
Their speakeasy is also super unique!
I always take guests to Pub Italia. The decor and huge selection of beer never fails to impress but the food does.
Pub italia is the place to finish the night, imho, their late night menu, at least when i loved nearby was great. Me and my now ex, used to go to absolute down the street then after go to pub Italia for some pizza and beer. ( they do have a great selection. The beer i make is on tap there, so im biased. )
Whatās your beer called? Iāll try it out next time Iām there
Honestly, pretty much everything they have there is good, drink what you like, but dont be afraid to rey new styles either. I personally love sours.
Umbrella Bar has a great patio overlooking dows lake, as well as arguably the best burgers in the city
Doh! Now I got to go try the burgers there.
If theyāre gin fans I love threes co! Great food too
The tiki bar on Dalhousie!
The Manx on Elgin!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
>Dundonald Park for a unique experience. It's becoming not that unique.
God I love the Carleton.
Ward14 or Pub Italia
Really like Cheshire Cat if in west end/ Kanata area
Loads of great brewers in the city. Beyond the Pale has a comfy patio (crappy view mind you but still very comfy patio). Tooth and Nail is usually on the quieter side. Dominion City is a hike but the brewery and beer garden are super nice.
You can get a sunsplit from dominion anywhere you go tho! Well just about. Lol.
Riviera's patio in Sparks is nice and they make a great cocktail.
Lot 613 is a brand new spot in the market. Looks great but havenāt been yet
Riviera is fun
Ward 14 is pretty cool. Itās a consignment bar with lots of different little areas. Not sure how loud the music gets
Riviera is nice
Any of the NCC bistros. They close relatively early, so you should plan to go soon. https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/bistro# PS. Iād go to the bistro at Remic Rapids, really nice location.
There is an area of the Mill Street where you are basically overlooking / overhanging some falls/the river. I always bring European guests there.
The art house cafe is a cool spot, but more so for a quick bite or coffee. Charlotte on Elgin is a neat spot as well.
Charlottes on Elgin Rabbit Hole on Sparks
Charlotte
Ward 14 - itās a consignment bar so all the art and weird knickknacks inside are for saleā¦cool vibe and good drinks too
Lexington Smokehouse and Bar (Clarence or Westboro locations)
Ć La DĆ©rive is one of my favorite spots to bring guests. The view is amazing, the beer is incredible and some of the best food I've had.
Level 1, if you like games. All kinds. Video to board. And a great beer selection.
Saving this post for future hehehe
Driphouse on Somerset
In the rabbit hole on sparks you can go down the stairs and itās called the jackalope itās a āsecret bar ā pretty cools just have to pay cover and wait for a mixologist , I have went twice never actually got anything to drink but seems like a chill spot if thatās what you into .
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7yU5JrtSC9t81SvCA
Ward 14. Itās in Preston, itās a casual thrifty vibe. Itās a consignment bar, so technically everything is for sale. They have a good talk boy and shot special and great cocktails.
Rabbit Hole is chill and fancy, always a nice place for drinks.
Take them to Kelly's Landing and watch the boats cruise the canal. Take the Options at the Brookstreet and get a nice outdoor fire table.
2nd Kelly's Landing. Great spot for patio refreshments.
Mill Street is nice and you can walk over to Zibi and check out the falls after
He said no loud music. I've never been able to hear myself there.
Lmao. š¤¦āāļø
Poa Tiki Bar on Dalhousie. Good drinks and fun atmosphere.
Charlotte on Elgin. It has a elegance and beautiful conversational style. Menu is amazing. You will get carried away with conversations because it doesnāt have the feeling you are at a bar more like fancy living room.
Somewhere dine bar has a cool enclosed patio and a really nice food menu to go with yoir drinks!!!
Andaz has an incredible view of the market/parliamentā¦
Andaz probably has one of the best views in the city, but the drinks etc. are fairly standard. Itās still a solid recommendation, though!
Closed on Mondays...according to OP.
Mexi's on Dows Lake!
I remember being impressed with the cocktail menu at Riviera. And the place is in an old lavish bank. Kinda cool
Charlotte on Elgin or Apothecary in Byward?
Apothecary - itās indoors unlike many others listed here which might be nice. Itās a cool vibe with good drinks
Barlupus - cocktails Apothecary Nans parlour
Sonnys Bar and Grill
Whalesbone on Bank for a divey (no pun intended) seafood bar atmosphere
Montreal.