Canada’s capital has so much to offer that one can easily find themselves spoiled for choice. After spending the day touring the city’s stellar museums and galleries, shake (or stir!) things up at one of these stellar spots.
Side note: the Ottawa region is home to three great craft distilleries. In town, you’ll find North of 7, producing handcrafted rum, vodka, gin and an un-aged four grain whisky. Just outside the city limits, in Perth, you’ll find our friends at Diary Distillery (home of Vodkow!) and Top Shelf Distillers. They produce gin, vodka, and a large line of flavoured moonshine – our favorite is the butter tart.
Riviera
62 Sparks Street, Ottawa
dineriviera.com
The drink menu at this sleek and swanky spot on Sparks Street is massive – literally. We can’t decide what we like better: the atmosphere or that you can order any of nine types of negroni. We fell hard for The Unicorn – a simple but magical mix of gin, bitters and two types of vermouth.
El Camino
380 Elgin Street, Ottawa
eatelcamino.com
FACT: Tacos love tequila. Get your hands a few while sipping creative cocktails at El Camino. We recommend turning up the eat with El Fuego – a tequila and pineapple number laced with birds eye chilies.
Fauna
425 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON
faunaottawa.ca
Foodies know to flock to this Bank Street spot, but we showed up for the cocktails. On the menu, you’ll find twists on classics – like the kimchi caesar loaded with sriracha and topped with house fermented cabbage. Surprisingly, the Ontario wine options are scant, but what they do have is lovely.
The Rabbit Hole
208 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON
rabbitholeott.ca
Part restaurant, part speak easy, part bar – this Sparks street spot slings a mean Sidecar. They’ve got a list of modified classics and signature creations – but the folks behind the bar like a challenge. Tell then what you like and they’ll make it happen!
Looking for more ways to eat, drink and play in Ottawa? Check this out.
