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 of 2025.
Upcoming events in Ottawa
Canada Film Day Screening
In celebration of Canada Film Day, this screening features BlackBerry, a film that explores the rise of one of Canada’s most influential tech…
Supersonic Hearts Band at Manor Lounge
Live music experts, wedding enthusiasts and party starters—Supersonic Hearts Band is a premium 3 to 14-piece band specializing in high-energy music…
Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes Tour
Laugh out loud with Nate Bargatze live on his BIG DUMB EYES WORLD TOUR. Known as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” Bargatze brings his sharp wit, clever…
Rob Anderson: Are You Afraid of the '90s?
Comedian and bestselling author Rob Anderson presents Are You Afraid of the ‘90s?, a comedic exploration of the decade’s television, films, music, and…
cicadas
What if your house had a mind of its own? In 2035, a decade after the Trinity Bellwoods Collapse in Toronto, an investigation into the mysterious…
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…
Nightlife hotspots in Ottawa
Sky Lounge Ottawa
Night club boasting a rooftop patio with sliding windows overlooking York Street in the ByWard Market.
The Show
Expansive ByWard Market bar catering to the college and university crowd.
City At Night
Underground electronic music venue programmed and hosted by the capital's most prominent DJs and promoters.
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.
Hard Rock Casino
Enjoy an unforgettable experience with incredible casino gaming, dining, and live entertainment—all at Ottawa’s one and only casino.
