Zoe’s

Enjoy inventive craft cocktails, delicious small and sharing plates, or elegant afternoon tea service in a conservatory-style lounge that stylishly blends early 20th-century architecture with contemporary décor.

Just off the lobby of the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel, Zoe's—named after the wife of one-time Canadian prime minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier—commands a wonderful view of Confederation Square and the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.

Guests gather at the long sleek bar or in club chairs at intimate tables to enjoy dishes such as grilled octopus, root beer-glazed short rib, roasted brussels sprouts, or spiced chocolate and roasted orange marshmallow ice cream. Don't miss the chance to try The Statesman, a cocktail of rye whisky, maple syrup, single-malt Scotch, lemon and bitters, served inside a small glass box in a fog of cedar smoke. Afternoon tea treats include nibbles such as buttermilk scones, goat cheese tarts and smoked salmon croissants, which you can enjoy with tea, coffee or something stronger, like champagne or a mimosa.

Just a stone's throw from Parliament Hill, the space has long been a gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. Initially a concert hall, it was transformed into a bar in the late 1980s and completely renovated in the late 2010s.