Guidebook for Ottawa
Arts & Culture
This is a funky board game cafe. They have hundreds if not thousands of games. Also, this is where you can pickup a Right Bike - Bike share. They're about $5 a day. A great way to get around the city.
6 locals recommend
Monopolatte
640 Somerset St WThis is a funky board game cafe. They have hundreds if not thousands of games. Also, this is where you can pickup a Right Bike - Bike share. They're about $5 a day. A great way to get around the city.
Local theater just a few blocks away. We've been once and keep meaning to go back.
22 locals recommend
The Gladstone Theatre
910 Gladstone AveLocal theater just a few blocks away. We've been once and keep meaning to go back.
Comedy Club. Have been a few times and enjoyed it very much.
68 locals recommend
Absolute Comedy Ottawa
412 Preston StComedy Club. Have been a few times and enjoyed it very much.
Everything Else
Rock Climbing gym. Some guests of ours recently discovered that if you go after 9pm (they're open til midnight), they charge only $6 admission and $3 for shoes. Walking distance from our house.
7 locals recommend
Vertical Reality
161 Middle StRock Climbing gym. Some guests of ours recently discovered that if you go after 9pm (they're open til midnight), they charge only $6 admission and $3 for shoes. Walking distance from our house.
Pool for lane swimming (25 metre length). Public Swim, hot tub and steam room also available. Gym for weight training or cardio machines. 1 block away from the house.
26 locals recommend
Plant Recreation Centre
930 Somerset St WPool for lane swimming (25 metre length). Public Swim, hot tub and steam room also available. Gym for weight training or cardio machines. 1 block away from the house.
Shopping
Yarn. If it's your thing, then you should go here. If the first word left you cold, don't worry about it.
Wabi-Sabi
1078 Wellington St. WYarn. If it's your thing, then you should go here. If the first word left you cold, don't worry about it.
We buy all our soaps here. Worth a visit just to give your nose a day out on the town. So many interesting soaps with so many interesting smells.
8 locals recommend
Purple Urchin
1094 Bank StWe buy all our soaps here. Worth a visit just to give your nose a day out on the town. So many interesting soaps with so many interesting smells.
Sightseeing
Want to just take a walk? Walk down Preston Street until you get to Dow's lake, go right, then you're in the Arboretum. Just a lovely place to walk is all.
41 locals recommend
Dominion Arboretum
ArboretumWant to just take a walk? Walk down Preston Street until you get to Dow's lake, go right, then you're in the Arboretum. Just a lovely place to walk is all.
In summer you can rent kayaks and canoes and paddle up and down the Rideau Canal. In winter, this is where you would rent skates for your 7 km skate.
191 locals recommend
Dows Lake
1001 Queen Elizabeth DrivewayIn summer you can rent kayaks and canoes and paddle up and down the Rideau Canal. In winter, this is where you would rent skates for your 7 km skate.
Love the building they've restored and love to visit their art. Make it part of your visit to Art-Is-In Bakery for croissants. Recently learned that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
14 locals recommend
Orange Art Gallery
290 City Centre AveLove the building they've restored and love to visit their art. Make it part of your visit to Art-Is-In Bakery for croissants. Recently learned that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Food Scene
Another roastery that is off the beaten path. Worth finding.
23 locals recommend
Mainstay Coffee Company
1111a Wellington St. WAnother roastery that is off the beaten path. Worth finding.
SuzyQ Doughnuts
1015 Wellington St. WBacon Maple Glazed Donuts. Enough said.
Great Pub with locally sourced foods and beers. Good food, good art. Try the fries with their own ketchup.
63 locals recommend
The Hintonburg Public House
1020 Wellington St. WGreat Pub with locally sourced foods and beers. Good food, good art. Try the fries with their own ketchup.
Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana Ltd
200 Preston StGelato. Need I say more?
Great café. Monday nights are Bluegrass nights... which if I wasn't always working, would attend. Good place for waffles on the weekend.
36 locals recommend
Pressed
750 Gladstone AveGreat café. Monday nights are Bluegrass nights... which if I wasn't always working, would attend. Good place for waffles on the weekend.
Literally a stone's throw away... well, perhaps my arm isn't that good. A block away, how about that. Nice coffee shop though can be noisy when they're roasting. Good coffee and worth checking out.
29 locals recommend
Bridgehead Roastery and Coffeehouse
130 Anderson StLiterally a stone's throw away... well, perhaps my arm isn't that good. A block away, how about that. Nice coffee shop though can be noisy when they're roasting. Good coffee and worth checking out.
Great bakery and wonderful place to go for breakfast... though on a Saturday or Sunday you'll inevitably need to wait in line for a bit. I like the almond croissants.
131 locals recommend
Art-Is-In Bakery
250 City Centre AveGreat bakery and wonderful place to go for breakfast... though on a Saturday or Sunday you'll inevitably need to wait in line for a bit. I like the almond croissants.
Drinks & Nightlife
A true original. This pub is not to be missed, principally because of it's décor... I can't explain it, you'll just have to check it out. They have beer brewed by actual monks... I appreciate that.
95 locals recommend
Pub Italia
434 Preston StA true original. This pub is not to be missed, principally because of it's décor... I can't explain it, you'll just have to check it out. They have beer brewed by actual monks... I appreciate that.