Great patios by Ottawa neighbourhood

Sparks Street

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

• D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub (prime corner patio)
• Riviera (fine cuisine under tents)
• Bier Markt (beer and food; large outdoor space)
• Nate’s Deli (smoked meat; large outdoor space)
• Spin Kitchen and Bar at the Ottawa Marriott hotel
• Brixton's British Pub (casual space)
• The Office Resto Pub (casual space)
• Rabbit Hole (bistro eats)

Just around the corner along Queen Street:

• Tulip Lounge and Restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites hotel)
• Queen St. Fare (outdoor space for the dining hall)

ByWard Market

The historic ByWard Market neighbourhood is dense with restaurants, pubs, bars and cafés. During COVID-19 and possibly beyond, some street sections are closed to traffic to allow expanded patios and walking space.

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

• Courtyard Restaurant (fine cuisine)
• Social Cocktail & Lounge (progressive Canadian)
• Mamma Grazzi’s Kitchen (Italian)
• The Clarendon Tavern (farm to table)

Other patio options throughout the area include:

• Aulde Dubliner and Pour House (pub with street and second floor patios)
• The Grand Pizzeria and Bar (covered and uncovered areas)
• SIDEDOOR (Asian fusion on back patio)
• Blue Cactus Bar & Grill (busy corner spot)
• Zak’s Diner (24 hours; streetside)
• Fairouz Café (modern Middle Eastern fare; covered and uncovered areas)
• Heart & Crown (multiple pubs and patios)
• The Brig Pub (funky inner courtyard)
• Chateau Lafayette aka The Laff (Ottawa’s oldest bar; streetside)
• El Camino (2^nd floor terrace)
• Bite Burger House (back patio)
• Das Lokal (German-inspired; covered patio)
• Copper Spirits and Sights (indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge at the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market hotel)

Downtown Rideau

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

• La Terrasse at the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel (views of Parliament Hill and Ottawa River)
• 1 Elgin at the National Arts Centre’s restaurant (covered patio overlooking the Rideau Canal)
• Métropolitain Brasserie (sunken terrace)
• The Albion Rooms at Novotel Ottawa City Centre (casual gastropub)
• Bazille at Nordstrom in the CF Rideau Centre (quiet elevated spot)
• Lone Star Texas Grill (covered patio)
• Clocktower Brewpub (on pedestrian Ogilvie Square)
• Sí Señor (Mexican fare on back patio)
• Level One Game Pub and Waller St. Brewing (shared patio)

Bank Street

The Centretown section of Bank Street doesn’t normally have space for outdoor dining, but temporary patios have popped up during COVID-19, notably:

• Flora Hall Brewing (large patio on closed portion of Flora Street on weekends; plus mini patio on weeknights)
• Fauna (seasonal cuisine; covered area)
• Tamis Cafe & Resto (Filipino fare; small patio)
• Pizzeria Da Romolo (corner spot)
• Atomic Rooster (pub patio; live music)

Plus, in summer 2021, Bank Street is closed to motor vehicles between Slater Street and Gladstone Avenue from 6:00pm on Fridays until 11:59pm on Saturdays.

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:

• Erling’s Variety (casual fine dining)
• Feleena’s Mexican Cantina (colourful spot)
• Irene’s Pub (live music hub)
• Kettleman’s Bagels (24 hours)
• Orto Trattoria (authentic Italian)

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

• CRAFT Beer Market (beer and food)
• Crust and Crate (pizza and more)

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:

• Clocktower Brew Pub (local brewery chain; large covered outdoor space)
• Savoy Brasserie (bistro style)
• Fiazza Fresh Fired (pizza; tables out front)
• House of Pizza (elevated deck patio)

Rooftop:

• The Barley Mow (local pub chain)
• Churchills (pub)
• Quelque Chose (sweet and savoury treats)
• Pure Kitchen (vegetarian; covered space)
• Whispers Pub & Eatery (ground and second floor patios)

Wellington West

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

Hintonburg

• Absinthe (fine food; quiet back patio)
• The Soca Kitchen (Spanish cuisine)
• Hintonburg Public House (covered back patio)
• Stella Luna (gelato and food)
• The Third (casual; side patio)
• Tooth and Nail Brewing Company (craft beer and food)

Wellington Village

• Stofa (fine dining)
• Parlour Place (patio and food truck)
• Bar Lupulus (specialty fare; back patio)
• Petit Bill’s Bistro (French-Newfoundland fusion; front patio)
• Wellington Gastropub (seasonal eats; front patio)
• Joe’s Italian Kitchen (certified Pinsaria; front patio)

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:

• The Whalesbone (surf and turf; quiet back patio)
• The Standard Luxury Tavern (large front space)
• Pure Kitchen (front patio)
• El Camino (covered back patio with food truck)
• Datsun (Asian fare; sunken front patio)
• Deacon Brodies (pub; front patio)
• Sir John A (pub; front patio)
• Lieutenant's Pump (pub; sunken front patio)
• Cooper’s Gastropub at the Embassy Hotel & Suites (cozy patio on side street)

Chinatown

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

• Rangoon Restaurant (Burmese cuisine; front patio)
• Drip House (café bar; streetside patio)
• The Vanitea Room (brunch; wraparound patio)
• The Art House Café (artsy spot; side patio)

Little Italy

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

• La Dolce Vita (sunken front patio)
• La Roma (covered terrace and rooftop patio)
• Giovannis Restaurant (swanky covered lower patio, plus upper space)
• Pub Italia (cozy side patio)
• Ayla’s Social Kitchen (Mediterranean fare; front patio)
• Two Six {Ate} (partially covered back patio)
• The Moonroom (back garden patio)
• Marin Beer Garden (covered patio attached to Pure Kitchen)
• EVOO Greek Kitchen (partially covered side space)
• Mati (wraparound patio)
• Gray Jay (Canadian cuisine; cozy covered patio)
• La Terrazza (trendy rooftop spot)

In between

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

Enjoy great views at these spots:

• Tavern on the Hill (in Major’s Hill Park near the ByWard Market area)
• Tavern on the Falls (at Rideau Falls just east of downtown)
• Mill Street Brewpub (overlooking the Ottawa River)

The Somerset Village area just off Bank Street has lovely patios (plus extra street space during COVID-19):

• Prohibition House (gastropub)
• Arlo Wine & Restaurant (natural wines and food)
• Mamma Teresa Ristorante (classic Italian)

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

• Umbrella Bar (trendy covered space)
• Mexi’s (family-friendly tex-mex)

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

• Art-Is-In Bakery (beyond baked goods)
• Beyond the Pale Brewing Company (local craft beer)

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.