Unique nightlife ideas in Ottawa – from museums at night to summertime music festivals and everything in between.
Ottawa comes alive after the sun goes down with a vibrant nightlife scene including live music venues, nightclubs, cocktail spots, pubs and restaurants that are open late. Here are the best ways to experience nightlife in Canada’s capital region.
Ottawa nightlife inspiration
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Live music in Ottawa - the best venues, restaurants and bars
Experience the best of Ottawa’s live music scene: bars, restaurant and venues where you can dance, drink and groove. -
Nightlife in Ottawa's ByWard Market
Canada’s capital awakens when the sun goes down! If you’re looking to go out in downtown Ottawa, the ByWard Market neighbourhood is where you want to be. -
Great cocktail spots by Ottawa neighbourhood
You can easily find the perfect place to have drinks in Canada’s capital. -
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Ottawa’s summer 2026 music festivals
Ottawa beats to the sound of countless outdoor and indoor music festivals during the summer.
Upcoming events in Ottawa
Metcalfe Plaza
Experience the energy of summer at Metcalfe Plaza, a vibrant downtown gathering place filled with art, music, and cultural programming. From live…
Free Live Entertainment at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
Live music is featured at the Hard Rock Cafe every Friday and Saturday starting at 9:30 PM. Guests can also enjoy live performances at Council Oak…
90s Silent Disco
Experience a silent disco in an extraordinary setting as Silent Discos in Incredible Places transforms the Canadian Museum of History into a vibrant…
Jesse & Joy
Experience an unforgettable evening with Jesse & Joy, the acclaimed sibling duo celebrated for their heartfelt ballads and captivating live…
Rythmik Nights
Experience unforgettable live entertainment every Friday and Saturday as live bands and DJs bring energy to the dance floor well into the evening…
The Unreliable Narrators of Canada
Experience an evening where folk, improvisation and storytelling intersect in unexpected ways with acclaimed Canadian artists Bob Wiseman and Doug…
Nightlife hotspots in Ottawa
56 ByWard
Three unique lounge and nightclub venues housed in one building in the heart of the ByWard Market.
Happy Fish
Elgin Street bar and nightclub where it’s all about good drinks, great friends and unforgettable memories.
Chateau Lafayette (The Laff)
History in the Making! From classy tavern and hotel to restaurant, pub, dive and everything in between, Lafayette first opened its doors in 1849 and although it's never closed since, this Ottawa establishment has gone through many changes.
The Palace
Dalhousie Street nightclub and event space boasting two stories of opulence.
Casino Lac-Leamy
Enjoy gaming, live entertainment, great food and much more fun at the Loto-Québec entertainment resort located just minutes from downtown Ottawa in Gatineau, Québec.
Room 104
Unique nightlife spot in the Historic ByWard market.
