Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Ottawa

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Ottawa? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bar Lupulus

4.9

4.9 (1385)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Hintonburg

About the restaurant

Cozy Craft Beer and Natural Wine Bar with a Backyard Patio Oasis. Serving locally sourced & seasonally inspired comfort focused plates by Chef James Bratsberg. 22 rotating taps, Craft Cocktails & over 500 Natural wine cuvees available for dine in and takeout through our online bottle shop!

Top review

Wade

Dined 4 days ago

One of my favourite spots! Thanks again for great service and cocktails!

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Stolen Goods Cocktail Bar

4.9

4.9 (260)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Turning words into action.
An unconventional cocktail bar born from the desire that ideas are meant to be changed.
Amorphous in nature.

For all changes to reservations please contact us through instagram, email or message through OpenTable. We do not have a phone line during business hours.

A gratuity of 20% will be included on all groups of 5+.

Top review

Kai

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Creative drinks, excellent food and warm service in an intimate bar that can’t be found anywhere else in Ottawa.

Bar Ocelli

4.9

4.9 (24)

CAN$51 and over

Cocktail Bar

ByWard Market

About the restaurant

A sophisticated cocktail bar situated in the lively ByWard Market, offering a variety of cocktails crafted from global ingredients and recipes, along with delectable small bites, and a curated assortment of premium wines and spirits.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

Server was so knowledgeable and helpful. Menu was hefty but the server helped us determine what we would like and it was spot on. My group ended up trying almost every cocktail on the menu and none disappointed.

Riviera

4.8

4.8 (3074)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Welcome to Riviera!

Reservations may be subject to time restrictions, dependent on availability. Please check your reservation email for full details. If your group requires more time, kindly call the restaurant at 613-233-6262 and we will do our best to accommodate you. Groups of six or more are subject to a 20% gratuity.

Please note, reservations made for outdoors are guaranteed for outdoor seating only. We may not be able to move you inside in the event of bad weather.

We look forward to hosting you! Please feel free to call us with any questions!

Top review

Keyana

Dined 2 days ago

Always an incredible dining experience with exceptional service. Always worth the visit.

Parlour

4.8

4.8 (330)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Westboro

About the restaurant

Parlour is a restaurant and an event space with capacity of 250 guests, we offer private dining in our venue and can accommodate large party reservations.
Chef driven, seasonal menus, using farm to table ingredients. Our wine program highlights low-intervention, natural wine producers and our curated cocktails are a fun time. We are located centrally in Wellington West.
Celebrated as one of Ottawa's top 10 new restaurants.
Our interior space offers a cozy, eclectic interior of mid-century modern design.
We host curated events of any size designed for you. Give us a call or contact with us directly to learn more.

Top review

Paula

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent service, amazing food. Ambiance conducive to good conversation.

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Popular dish

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich

Popular dish

Beef Brisket Fries

Anabella's Kitchen & Lounge

4.8

4.8 (36)

CAN$51 and over

Mediterranean

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Modern Mediterranean inspired Cuisine located right in the heart of Little Italy

Top review

Ray

Dined on Dec 19, 2024

We had a great experience! Service was excellent, atmosphere was great, and our food was delicious. We were both celebrating our birthday and they gave us a dessert on the house. Highly recommended!

somewhere dine bar

4.7

4.7 (229)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary European

Downtown

About the restaurant

Now open.
Come by to dine, to drink, to have a good time.

Top review

DanVIP

Dined 2 days ago

One of the best happy hour venues in the city!!! Delicious food, excellent service, great atmosphere.

Moxies - Kanata

4.6

4.6 (287)

CAN$30 and under

Contemporary American

Kanata

About the restaurant

Moxies restaurant is a contemporary casual restaurant offering a globally inspired menu and hand crafted cocktails in a vibrant and interactive atmosphere. Moxies has over 50 locations across Canada and 6 US locations in Dallas, Houston, and Miami. Our Kanata location is located at 601 Earl Grey Drive at the Kanata Centrum Shopping Centre, just blocks from Kanata Golf & Country Club and the Canadian Tire Centre. Our Executive Chef Brandon Thordarson has created a menu offering a wide-array of steaks, burgers, pastas and seafood! No matter the occasion, whether it's a business luncheon, a dinner date or late night drinks with friends, Moxies offers something for everyone. Moxies features daily drink specials and a delectable blend of unique cocktails, flavourful wines and a variety of beers to choose from.
Please note that our Lounge Area is reserved for those 19 years of age and older.

Top review

Sandra

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Excellent service. Food tasted great and delicious. We had the loaded nachos with spicy beef and our server Anick recommended half portion for 2 of us and still we couldn't finish it. We had the Chipotle mango chicken - wow! Really flavourful! Also the chicken and rib combo was good. We would highly recommend this location:)

D'Arcy McGees - Sparks Street

4.6

4.6 (255)

CAN$30 and under

Pub

Downtown

About the restaurant

D'Arcy McGee's first opened its doors in August of 1997 and is located near Parliament Hill and across from the War Memorial and National Arts Centre.
We offer an authentic Irish Pub atmosphere with classic and modern pub fare and a good selection of local and import beers on tap .
LIVE music on Fridays and Saturdays, no cover!
Come check us out :)

Top review

Diane

Dined on Jan 1, 2025

Our party of 4 came here for dinner before a show at the NAC. The atmosphere was energetic, yet relaxed. We felt very comfortable like being among friends. The food was delicious. I loved the chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes. Others in our party enjoyed the Steak & Frites, Guinness Mac & Cheese, Smoked Meat Grilled Cheese. I definitely would return to try more dishes. There was a great selection of cocktails and beer. A favourite was the Spicy Paloma. The Service was well-timed and friendly. A good time was had by all.

Mill St. Brew Pub - Ottawa

4.3

4.3 (287)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Ottawa Brew Pub offers a variety of seasonal and specialty beers that are only available onsite in Ottawa! Located at LeBreton Flats, this 177-year-old building is rich in industrial heritage and charm – a unique setting to grab a pint, enjoy innovative food pairings, and even take a brewery tour.

Top review

OlegVIP

Dined on Oct 28, 2024

Can't beat "Salsa Con Cerveza Y Hamburguesa" on Monday Night Salsa.

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