Tavern on the Falls

Great patios by Ottawa neighbourhood

Outdoor dining, drinking and people watching are favourite local activities during the beautiful warmer months in Canada’s capital. Within the city centre and throughout Ottawa’s vibrant neighbourhoods are countless streetside terraces, rooftop spots and quiet hidden gems. When planning your next outing with friends and loved ones, consider these great Ottawa patios, grouped by neighbourhood and ordered roughly by distance from Parliament Hill.

Note: Some businesses may allow pets on their patios, and they may adjust their outdoor spaces over time (covered, uncovered, etc.). Please contact establishments directly to confirm details.

Sparks Street

North America’s first pedestrian street, Sparks Street, is known for year-round events and great patios, including:

Just around the corner along Queen Street:

ByWard Market

The historic ByWard Market neighbourhood is dense with restaurants, pubs, bars and cafés. 

Several patios converge in the Clarendon Courtyard, where stone arches and cobblestones (plus periodic live music) create a lovely European feel:

Other patio options throughout the area include:

Downtown Rideau

The Downtown Rideau area features a wide variety of outdoor spots, including:

Elgin Street

Just a few blocks south of Parliament Hill, you’ll find Elgin Street’s many pubs, restaurants and bars. Some of their patios even feature outdoor TVs for sports lovers! Check out:

Bank Street

The Centretown section of Bank Street doesn’t have much space for outdoor dining, but a few businesses have patios (and many others have large front windows that open):

The Somerset Village area just off Bank Street has lovely patios:

Glebe

A few blocks south of downtown on Bank Street is a long stretch of the historic Glebe neighbourhood and its many patios. A few standouts from the BIA’s full list include:

The Lansdowne complex at the south end of the neighbourhood is home to large establishments with spacious outdoor terraces, including:

Chinatown

Although outdoor space is rare in Ottawa’s Chinatown, you’ll find a few unique gems:

Little Italy

Ottawa’s Little Italy, centered around Preston Street, is full of diverse al fresco eateries—Italian and beyond:

Westboro Village

Choose from the many streetside and rooftop spots along Richmond Road in trendy Westboro Village. Some highlights from the BIA's patio list include:

Ground level:

Rooftop:

Wellington West

The Wellington West corridor just west of downtown links two vibrant areas with outdoor-friendly foodie destinations, including:

Hintonburg

Wellington Village

In between

Some patios are in such unique locations, they don’t officially belong to a neighbourhood!

Enjoy great views at these spots:

Located along urban waterways, parks and multi-use pathways, the seasonal NCC Bistros are lovely places to stop for food and drinks from local providers:

  • Confederation Park (near Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal)
  • Remic Rapids Park (just west of downtown along the Ottawa River and Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway/pathway)
  • Patterson Creek Park (overlooking a quiet inlet along the Rideau Canal)

For waterfront views of the Dows Lake portion of the Rideau Canal, visit these elevated patios:

The City Centre complex between Chinatown and Hintonburg features two spacious outdoor spaces:

And visit the many breweries within the urban core, in the suburbs and in rural areas for ample outdoor space, great local craft beer and other beverages.

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