5 Best Streets in Ottawa: Where to Eat, Drink & Go Out

As the capital of our nation, Ottawa is centuries of years of history and diversity distilled into concrete and glass. It’s filled with every kind of person running every kind of business. Whatever you’re looking for is here.

And that’s where I come in! Hi. Welcome. I’m going to be your guide to explore the diverse neighbourhoods of our capital via the very best streets here. Let’s start with the obvious.

York Street, Byward Market

How to get there

When I said let’s start with the obvious, I meant it. York Street is the heart and soul of Ottawa’s Byward Market. In the summer months, you’ll find it swimming with locals and tourists alike. But underneath that lively thrum of people and street musicians are the gems which make Ottawa so distinct.

If you’re looking for a place of living history that embodies Ottawa’s storied past, look no further than the glowing neon sign of the Chateau Lafayette. It’s the kind of bar where the live musicians tease bartenders in between songs and everyone has a usual. Did I mention it’s been open since 1842?

Elgin Street, The Golden Triangle

How to get there

Don’t just stop at parliament! The monuments on Elgin Street are worth checking out and they’re only a ten-minute walk from the Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel. The street starts with historic monuments like the war memorial, the Oscar Peterson statue, and the Aboriginal veteran’s monument. You can’t miss the National Arts Center either, especially with their Under30 ticket prices.

Sommerset, Chinatown

How to get there

If you turn off Elgin onto Sommerset and walk about 15 minutes, you’ll hit the Royal Gateway that marks Chinatown. Spot sculptures, such as the lions, the pixiu, the Railway Workers Memorial, and even an oversized lucky cat which tell us stories about Asian culture and history in Canada. Pho Bo Ga La, Koichi Ramen, and the Oriental Noodle House are there for you when you get hungry, but you shouldn’t miss out on this neighbourhood’s coffee scene. Art House doubles as an Ottawa-based artists hub, Ten Toes will serve up ice cream by Ottawa maker Sadie Bean, and Drip House transforms into a cocktail bar at night.

Preston Street, Little Italy

How to get there

The heart of Corso Italia (or Little Italy) is reachable by a short ride on line 1, caught just a five-minute walk from the hostel, and a short transfer to line 2. Pubwells is a pub just off Sommerset, but you could also seek out Pub Italia’s infamous beer bible which boasts a selection of over 200 beers from all over the world. If its laughter you want, Absolute Comedy is your destination. There’s a good chance you’ll spot Simon Seline while you’re out, he’s one of our staff members. If you’re staying with us, you may have already seen him cracking jokes at breakfast, or leading the weekday jail tours. Or you can catch a play at the Gladstone Theatre. Of course, no trip to Ottawa is really complete without snapping some shots of Little Italy’s street art. It’s so famous, it has its own photo map .

Bank St, The Glebe

How to get there

Bank St is one of the longer streets in Ottawa, so for this stretch, you’ll want to cross Billings Bridge on the 6 Greenboro or 7 Carleton bus. You can sample a Montreal-style bagel at the first Kettleman’s Bagels in the country, or you can head over to Paper Tiger which uses seasonal ingredients and partners with local beer and sake breweries. If you’re looking to catch an award-winning indie movie, check out the independent theatre the Mayfair. Feeling loud? The House of Targ is Ottawa’s very own pierogi and pinball bar which hosts free-to-play weekends and bands you’ve never heard of.  Feeling quiet? An afternoon wandering through Black Squirrel Books and Espresso hunting for that perfect book might be up your alley (just don’t forget to check out their basement).

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