Guidebook for Ottawa

Jerry
Guidebook for Ottawa

Food Scene

Absolutely a great place. Won best new restaurant in Canada.
54 locals recommend
Supply and Demand
1335 Wellington St. W
54 locals recommend
Absolutely a great place. Won best new restaurant in Canada.
Try this place for a causal brunch on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, it's fine dining and you will need reservations.
25 locals recommend
Gezellig
337 Richmond Rd
25 locals recommend
Try this place for a causal brunch on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, it's fine dining and you will need reservations.
My favourite local diner. Great breakfast with fresh ingredients and gluten-free menu choices. Ask the wait-staff if they know me. You'll see.
12 locals recommend
Wellington Diner
1385 Wellington St. W
12 locals recommend
My favourite local diner. Great breakfast with fresh ingredients and gluten-free menu choices. Ask the wait-staff if they know me. You'll see.
I've heard it said they have the best latte in Ottawa. Lots of healthy menu choices for lunch.
Illume Espresso Bar
1433 Wellington St. W
I've heard it said they have the best latte in Ottawa. Lots of healthy menu choices for lunch.
Italian -- try the calimari.
6 locals recommend
Caffe Mio
1379 Wellington St. W
6 locals recommend
Italian -- try the calimari.
Busy for breakfast on weekends. Daily fresh bagels.
24 locals recommend
Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli
1321 Wellington St. W
24 locals recommend
Busy for breakfast on weekends. Daily fresh bagels.
Local coffee, locally roasted.
17 locals recommend
Bridgehead Coffee
1277 Wellington St. W
17 locals recommend
Local coffee, locally roasted.
Street food with style. Opening hours vary -- a lot.
Bite This
181 Richmond Rd
Street food with style. Opening hours vary -- a lot.
Some people can't live without a stop here to start their day.
26 locals recommend
Starbucks
2735 Iris St
26 locals recommend
Some people can't live without a stop here to start their day.
Sushi
7 locals recommend
Sushi Umi
1311 Wellington St. W
7 locals recommend
Sushi
Family Diner for good breakfast and lunches. Doesn't take credit cards.
7 locals recommend
John's Family Diner
1365 Wellington St. W
7 locals recommend
Family Diner for good breakfast and lunches. Doesn't take credit cards.
Popular with the lunch and brunch folks.
Village Cafe
295 Richmond Rd
Popular with the lunch and brunch folks.
Custom-built burgers. Great milkshakes.
39 locals recommend
The Works
580 Bank St
39 locals recommend
Custom-built burgers. Great milkshakes.
Open for breakfast on weekdays. Not a favourite of mine.
15 locals recommend
The Savoy Brasserie
334 Richmond Rd
15 locals recommend
Open for breakfast on weekdays. Not a favourite of mine.
Good pizza and basic Italian fare.
8 locals recommend
Fratelli
275 Richmond Rd
8 locals recommend
Good pizza and basic Italian fare.
Really, really good Thai. Does take-away as well.
29 locals recommend
Siam Bistro
1268 Wellington St. W
29 locals recommend
Really, really good Thai. Does take-away as well.
Steak-frites and other favourites.
22 locals recommend
Absinthe
1208 Wellington St. W
22 locals recommend
Steak-frites and other favourites.
Interesting take on sandwhiches and mini cheese cakes. Recommended.
7 locals recommend
The Flying Banzini
1242 Wellington Street West
7 locals recommend
Interesting take on sandwhiches and mini cheese cakes. Recommended.
Try the Tuesday wine pairing menu. Fantastic!
24 locals recommend
Allium
87 Holland Ave
24 locals recommend
Try the Tuesday wine pairing menu. Fantastic!
Closest pizza place.
Napoli's
81 Richmond Road
Closest pizza place.
Try the upstairs patio in the summer.
Second Cup
379 Richmond Road
Try the upstairs patio in the summer.
Decadent, award-winning breakfasts. Long line ups, so try a week day.
37 locals recommend
Baker Street Cafe
385 Richmond Rd
37 locals recommend
Decadent, award-winning breakfasts. Long line ups, so try a week day.
Honestly, I've never eaten here but friends tell me it is good old-school Italian.
6 locals recommend
Bella's Bistro Italiano
1445 Wellington St. W
6 locals recommend
Honestly, I've never eaten here but friends tell me it is good old-school Italian.
Very good eat-in Chinese. Sadly, they don't do take out.
Won Ton House Restaurant
1300 Wellington St. W
Very good eat-in Chinese. Sadly, they don't do take out.
It's a bit of walk, but woth it for the gourmet pizzas and winelist.
43 locals recommend
Tennessy Willems
1082 Wellington St. W
43 locals recommend
It's a bit of walk, but woth it for the gourmet pizzas and winelist.
Again, a bit of a walk. Good, if not a bit gourmet, food edging up on fine dining.
12 locals recommend
Back Lane Café
1087 Wellington St. W
12 locals recommend
Again, a bit of a walk. Good, if not a bit gourmet, food edging up on fine dining.
This pub serves food from Newfoundland. I'm not a regular, but it's always busy and has a great reputation amoung people from the east coast of Canada.
11 locals recommend
Petit Bill's Bistro
1293 Wellington St. W
11 locals recommend
This pub serves food from Newfoundland. I'm not a regular, but it's always busy and has a great reputation amoung people from the east coast of Canada.
Try the "double double' breakfast special. A bit of a greasy spoon, but in a good way.
11 locals recommend
Fil's Diner
1209 Wellington St. W
11 locals recommend
Try the "double double' breakfast special. A bit of a greasy spoon, but in a good way.
Pricey, but well-made, take out and take home food specials. Definitely drop in if you don't feel like cooking dinner.
24 locals recommend
Thyme & Again
1255 Wellington St. W
24 locals recommend
Pricey, but well-made, take out and take home food specials. Definitely drop in if you don't feel like cooking dinner.
Hand-made burgers coupled with hand-cut fries. Not fast food, but a great treat.
40 locals recommend
Hintonburger
366 Parkdale Dr
40 locals recommend
Hand-made burgers coupled with hand-cut fries. Not fast food, but a great treat.
Outstanding vegetarian and gluten-free dining. Certain to satisfy even the most committed of carnivores, myself included. Can be a bit noisy. Solid service and a supurbly healthy menu.
36 locals recommend
Pure Kitchen Westboro
357 Richmond Rd
36 locals recommend
Outstanding vegetarian and gluten-free dining. Certain to satisfy even the most committed of carnivores, myself included. Can be a bit noisy. Solid service and a supurbly healthy menu.

Drinks & Nightlife

Lively pub with great wings, salads and a pulled pork sandwich. I enjoy a Vancouver beer called Granville Island Pale Ale.
12 locals recommend
Churchills
356 Richmond Rd
12 locals recommend
Lively pub with great wings, salads and a pulled pork sandwich. I enjoy a Vancouver beer called Granville Island Pale Ale.
Fabolous outdoor patio. Pretty good food. Reportedly great beer.
10 locals recommend
Clocktower Brew Pub Westboro
418 Richmond Rd
10 locals recommend
Fabolous outdoor patio. Pretty good food. Reportedly great beer.
I think there are 10 of these in Ottawa. Not a favourite of mine, but if you need a beer....
7 locals recommend
The Royal Oak - Wellington at Hinton
1217 Wellington St. W
7 locals recommend
I think there are 10 of these in Ottawa. Not a favourite of mine, but if you need a beer....
A pub-style menu with a few interesting twists and generally great service. They recently upgrade both their menu and chef to compete with Churchills. Recommended.
Corner Bar & Grill
344 Richmond Rd
A pub-style menu with a few interesting twists and generally great service. They recently upgrade both their menu and chef to compete with Churchills. Recommended.

Essentials

Lots of choice here. A bit of a warehouse feel, but it has everything.
52 locals recommend
Real Canadian Superstore
190 Richmond Rd
52 locals recommend
Lots of choice here. A bit of a warehouse feel, but it has everything.
Smaller grocery store open until 11pm.
46 locals recommend
Metro
2525 Richmond Rd
46 locals recommend
Smaller grocery store open until 11pm.
Butcher -- very old style of service.
11 locals recommend
wellington butchery
1333 Wellington St. W
11 locals recommend
Butcher -- very old style of service.
Organic grocery store.
29 locals recommend
Herb & Spice Shop Wellington
1310 Wellington St. W
29 locals recommend
Organic grocery store.
Stop here for decadent take home treats for dessert.
The Cake Shop
1200 Wellington St. W
Stop here for decadent take home treats for dessert.
Locally owned Co-Op food grocery store, cafe and restaurant. I've never been, but my neighbours are actively involved in its operation.
West End Well
969 Wellington St. W
Locally owned Co-Op food grocery store, cafe and restaurant. I've never been, but my neighbours are actively involved in its operation.

Shopping

Outdoor sporting good store. Note you need to be a 'member' to shop here -- costs about $10 for life. Recommended!
29 locals recommend
MEC Ottawa
366 Richmond Rd
29 locals recommend
Outdoor sporting good store. Note you need to be a 'member' to shop here -- costs about $10 for life. Recommended!
Large selection of travel and adventure clothing along with ski, camping and hiking gear.
Trailhead Paddle Shack
2148 Carling Ave
Large selection of travel and adventure clothing along with ski, camping and hiking gear.
Never shop here myself, but reportedly has a big following in the yoga crowd.
9 locals recommend
lululemon
340 Richmond Rd
9 locals recommend
Never shop here myself, but reportedly has a big following in the yoga crowd.
Outdoor and trevel clothing mostly.
Expedition Shoppe
369 Richmond Rd
Outdoor and trevel clothing mostly.
FOR KIDS: Ice cream for the whole family. Open until 10pm in the summer.
17 locals recommend
Dairy Queen (Treat)
345 St. Laurent Blvd
17 locals recommend
FOR KIDS: Ice cream for the whole family. Open until 10pm in the summer.
JUST FOR KIDS: Toy store! Parents should exercise caution when approaching, as staff are known to draw children into the store with interesting chalk drawings on the sidewalk.
Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's
313 Richmond Rd
JUST FOR KIDS: Toy store! Parents should exercise caution when approaching, as staff are known to draw children into the store with interesting chalk drawings on the sidewalk.
JUST FOR KIDS: A paint it yourself ceramic and glass fusing studio. Offers creative fun for all ages and abilities. Walk ins are welcome, but reservations are accepted. Check out their website!
Gotta Paint
352 Kirkwood Ave
JUST FOR KIDS: A paint it yourself ceramic and glass fusing studio. Offers creative fun for all ages and abilities. Walk ins are welcome, but reservations are accepted. Check out their website!
Drug Store for medical or pharmacy supplies.
19 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
3080 Carling Ave
19 locals recommend
Drug Store for medical or pharmacy supplies.

Everything Else

Great running shoes and gear.
Running Room
901 Bank St
Great running shoes and gear.
Bank
CIBC Branch (Cash at ATM only)
103 Richmond Rd
Bank
Bank
18 locals recommend
TD Canada Trust Branch and ATM
5 Pretoria Ave
18 locals recommend
Bank
Bus stop that gets you downtown or anywhere else in minutes.
7 locals recommend
Westboro 3A station
1997 Scott St
7 locals recommend
Bus stop that gets you downtown or anywhere else in minutes.
Another bike shop. Good service department with hipster cyclists to server you.
TALL TREE CYCLES
281 Sunnyside Ave
Another bike shop. Good service department with hipster cyclists to server you.
FOR KIDS: A small public beach with supervised swimming. It closes occasionally in the summer due to high eColi counts, but otherwise a safe, fund place to swim. The cafe is only ok, so picnic.
23 locals recommend
Westboro Beach Cafe
745 Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway
23 locals recommend
FOR KIDS: A small public beach with supervised swimming. It closes occasionally in the summer due to high eColi counts, but otherwise a safe, fund place to swim. The cafe is only ok, so picnic.
Beer, wine, liquor and spirits.
191 locals recommend
LCBO
160 Elgin St
191 locals recommend
Beer, wine, liquor and spirits.
FOR KIDS: Probably the park that is the closest to the house. It's a City of Ottawa Public Park. I've not been there, so send me your thoughts!
Mahoney Park
160 Lanark Avenue
FOR KIDS: Probably the park that is the closest to the house. It's a City of Ottawa Public Park. I've not been there, so send me your thoughts!
FOR KIDS: A bit difficult to walk to, but a nice park for the family.
Lion's Park
296 Elmgrove Avenue
FOR KIDS: A bit difficult to walk to, but a nice park for the family.
Outdoor store that sells just about everything for every active pursuit: Running, Cycling, Skiing, Camping, Hiking, Treking. The largest Trek Bicycle store in Canada. Bike service available.
9 locals recommend
Bushtukah - Westboro
203 Richmond Rd
9 locals recommend
Outdoor store that sells just about everything for every active pursuit: Running, Cycling, Skiing, Camping, Hiking, Treking. The largest Trek Bicycle store in Canada. Bike service available.

Arts & Culture

Good performances at a reasonable price.
39 locals recommend
Great Canadian Theatre Company
1233 Wellington St. W
39 locals recommend
Good performances at a reasonable price.