Guidebook for Ottawa
Food Scene
La Favorita
356 Preston StGreat, reasonably priced Italian food
Pubwells Restaurant
96 Preston StRecently renovated pub - very comfortable atmosphere
A locally owned coffee shop. This one in particular is the roastery and bakery that supplies all other Bridgehead coffee shops in Ottawa
29 locals recommend
Bridgehead Roastery and Coffeehouse
130 Anderson StA locally owned coffee shop. This one in particular is the roastery and bakery that supplies all other Bridgehead coffee shops in Ottawa
This is a great little restaurant - mainly Italian cuisine - right on the Rideau Canal - beautiful view of the canal while dining.
15 locals recommend
Canal Ritz
375 Queen Elizabeth DrivewayThis is a great little restaurant - mainly Italian cuisine - right on the Rideau Canal - beautiful view of the canal while dining.
One of the long-time establishments on Preston Street that has been part of the personality of the area. Famous for their square pizza!
49 locals recommend
The Prescott
379 Preston StOne of the long-time establishments on Preston Street that has been part of the personality of the area. Famous for their square pizza!
A very popular, very tasty bakery and coffee shop within easy walking distance of our house
131 locals recommend
Art-Is-In Bakery
250 City Centre AveA very popular, very tasty bakery and coffee shop within easy walking distance of our house
Another of the iconic restaurants in Little Italy. A very eclectic set up of booths and tables inside and nice patio space outside on Preston Street. They have a PHENOMENAL array of beers to select from - they have a beer book to consult!
95 locals recommend
Pub Italia
434 Preston StAnother of the iconic restaurants in Little Italy. A very eclectic set up of booths and tables inside and nice patio space outside on Preston Street. They have a PHENOMENAL array of beers to select from - they have a beer book to consult!
A great place to go for light meals. We typically go for breakfast consisting of coffee (with free refill), freshly baked scones and a few other breakfast options. It is a convenient place to stop if you are going to visit the Diefenbunker museum.
23 locals recommend
Alice's Village Cafe
3773 Carp RdA great place to go for light meals. We typically go for breakfast consisting of coffee (with free refill), freshly baked scones and a few other breakfast options. It is a convenient place to stop if you are going to visit the Diefenbunker museum.
Luciano Foods Ltd
114 Preston StAuthentic Italian deli with amazing foccacia
Di Rienzo's Grocery
111 Beech StRenowned for their FANTASTIC sandwiches!
Pressed
750 Gladstone AveGreat local eatery with good live music events.
Everything Else
Great public sports center - pool, kids pool, hot tubs, steam room, gym (weights, treadmills). A great place to go and sooth the muscles after walking around the city.
26 locals recommend
Plant Recreation Centre
930 Somerset St WGreat public sports center - pool, kids pool, hot tubs, steam room, gym (weights, treadmills). A great place to go and sooth the muscles after walking around the city.
Arts & Culture
A beautiful little art gallery just a very short walk from our house
14 locals recommend
Orange Art Gallery
290 City Centre AveA beautiful little art gallery just a very short walk from our house
If you are interested in Canada's military history this is a great place to visit. Great exhibits. The upper windows of the building spell out a message in morse code!
395 locals recommend
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy PlIf you are interested in Canada's military history this is a great place to visit. Great exhibits. The upper windows of the building spell out a message in morse code!
The museum provides an interesting history of Canadian aviation. Flights over Ottawa on a choice of vintage planes are available from here.
99 locals recommend
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation PkwyThe museum provides an interesting history of Canadian aviation. Flights over Ottawa on a choice of vintage planes are available from here.
Entertainment & Activities
A newly renovated stadium that is home of the Ottawa Rough Riders football team and the Ottawa Fury soccer team
196 locals recommend
Lansdowne Park
Marché WayA newly renovated stadium that is home of the Ottawa Rough Riders football team and the Ottawa Fury soccer team
Meg's home away from home! The largest spa in North America - 7 outdoor baths, 8 unique saunas, infinity pool, restaurant and lounge. Amazing in all weather. Definitely worth the half hour drive.
312 locals recommend
Nordik Spa-Nature | Chelsea
16 Chemin NordikMeg's home away from home! The largest spa in North America - 7 outdoor baths, 8 unique saunas, infinity pool, restaurant and lounge. Amazing in all weather. Definitely worth the half hour drive.
The closest movie theater to our house. It is either a short drive (10 minutes) or a medium walk (45 minutes along the canal) away.
116 locals recommend
Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne VIP
325 Marché WayThe closest movie theater to our house. It is either a short drive (10 minutes) or a medium walk (45 minutes along the canal) away.
Essentials
Hartman's Your Independent Grocer
296 Bank StThe closest grocery store to our house
LCBO
160 Elgin StThe closest place for wines and some selection of spirits and beers
Sightseeing
The parliament of Canada - where it all happens! A very striking clock tower (the Peace Tower). In winter there is an excellent light show every evening.
891 locals recommend
Parliament Hill
Wellington StreetThe parliament of Canada - where it all happens! A very striking clock tower (the Peace Tower). In winter there is an excellent light show every evening.
A beautiful, man-made lake adjacent to the Arboretum. Nice footpaths to take a relaxing walk through the Arboretum and around Dows Lake. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boats here to explore the lake and the canal on the water.
191 locals recommend
Dows Lake
1001 Queen Elizabeth DrivewayA beautiful, man-made lake adjacent to the Arboretum. Nice footpaths to take a relaxing walk through the Arboretum and around Dows Lake. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boats here to explore the lake and the canal on the water.
A beautiful path runs along both the south side of the Ottawa River. The path starts at the Rideau Locks in downtown Ottawa and extends about 14 kilometers along the river to Andrew Hayden Park. This is part of the Trans Canada Trail
6 locals recommend
Ottawa River Pathway
Ottawa River PathwayA beautiful path runs along both the south side of the Ottawa River. The path starts at the Rideau Locks in downtown Ottawa and extends about 14 kilometers along the river to Andrew Hayden Park. This is part of the Trans Canada Trail
Once the residence of former prime minister Mackenzie-King this estate is now a popular tourist spot in the Gatineau Hills. There are nice walking trails here as well as a cafe.
30 locals recommend
Mackenzie-King Estate
Once the residence of former prime minister Mackenzie-King this estate is now a popular tourist spot in the Gatineau Hills. There are nice walking trails here as well as a cafe.
I believe this is one of the few remaining bunkers created for the eventuality of nuclear war while John Diefenbaker was prime minister of Canada. A very interesting, multi-level trip back and down in time.
56 locals recommend
Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum
3929 Carp RdI believe this is one of the few remaining bunkers created for the eventuality of nuclear war while John Diefenbaker was prime minister of Canada. A very interesting, multi-level trip back and down in time.
A great little village in Quebec on the Gatineau River. It has a few good shops, restaurants and bars and one of the few covered bridges in the area. There are also many good walking trails nearby or on the way there from Ottawa.
141 locals recommend
Wakefield
A great little village in Quebec on the Gatineau River. It has a few good shops, restaurants and bars and one of the few covered bridges in the area. There are also many good walking trails nearby or on the way there from Ottawa.
Parks & Nature
A small, beautiful wildlife garden nestled next to the Arboretum with a diverse array of plants
Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Prince of Wales DriveA small, beautiful wildlife garden nestled next to the Arboretum with a diverse array of plants
A beautiful, small beach tucked into the south shore of the Ottawa River. There is a small restaurant/cafe here if you want to buy any food or drink. This beack is reachable along the Ottawa River Pathway.
23 locals recommend
Westboro Beach Cafe
745 Sir John A. Macdonald ParkwayA beautiful, small beach tucked into the south shore of the Ottawa River. There is a small restaurant/cafe here if you want to buy any food or drink. This beack is reachable along the Ottawa River Pathway.
This is a great place to go for a hike on one or more of the many surrounding trails and then jump in the lake!
52 locals recommend
Lac Meech
This is a great place to go for a hike on one or more of the many surrounding trails and then jump in the lake!
A beautiful arboretum with good walking paths nestled between the Rideau Canal and the Central Experimental Farm. Just a 15 minute walk south from our house to the end of Preston Street.
41 locals recommend
Dominion Arboretum
ArboretumA beautiful arboretum with good walking paths nestled between the Rideau Canal and the Central Experimental Farm. Just a 15 minute walk south from our house to the end of Preston Street.