The ACE District is all about bringing people together and downtown Ottawa’s bars, taverns and lounges have been at the heart of it for over 175 years. This tour takes you to six spots where the drinks come with a side of history. From century-old taverns to a pub in a church basement, from beautifully restored Art Deco cocktail rooms to a hilltop bar with an unbeatable Ottawa River view. Start at the oldest, end at the highest, and walk through two centuries of Ottawa social culture along the way.
6 stops · ~3 km · Note: Check establishment hours. Reservations may be required at some locations.
1. Chateau Lafayette (The Laff) — 42 York St.
Ottawa’s oldest tavern has been pouring pints since 1849. Known to regulars as “The Laff,” this ByWard Market institution hosts live music seven nights/days a week — from its World Famous Open Mic on Tuesdays to legendary local singer-songwriter Lucky Ron every Saturday afternoon. This is where Ottawa bar culture starts.
2. Brigid's Well — 310 St. Patrick St.
An Irish speakeasy in the basement of a 19th-century Catholic church. What’s not to love? Brigid’s Well sits beneath the St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts — a heritage stone building that now hosts concerts, dance, theatre, and visual art upstairs. Downstairs, the pagan and the pious share wall space behind a bar that pours excellent Irish whiskey and a house lager for seven dollars. Look for the blue light. If it’s on, they’re open.
3. Beyond the Pale Byward Taproom — 21 George St.
This taproom pours local craft brewer Beyond the Pale’s full lineup inside one of the oldest buildings in the Market. Originally constructed as McArthur’s British Hotel in 1837, the old stone walls and cobblestone floors are the real thing. So is the beer.
4. Zoe's Lounge at Fairmont Château Laurier — 1 Rideau St.
You don’t have to be a hotel guest to drink in one of the most beautiful rooms in the city. Zoe’s Lounge sits inside the fabled Château Laurier, open since 1912. Order something proper and take in a building that has hosted prime ministers, royalty, and the occasional ghost story. Check out the iconic portrait of Winston Churchill by Yousouf Karsh before you leave.
5. Riviera — 62 Sparks St
The building dates to 1869 when it was built for the Canadian Imperial Bank. Today, the artfully restored Art Deco interior makes this heritage Sparks Street address one of Ottawa’s most striking upscale restaurant spaces (complete with bank vault turned wine cellar). Riviera is a place where architecture and food compete for your attention. Come for the cocktail list (and cuisine), stay for the room.
6. Tavern on the Hill — Major's Hill Park
The last stop earns its name. Perched on Major’s Hill Park beside Kìwekì Point — one of the most historically significant sites in Ottawa — Tavern on the Hill is an open-air bar with big river views, a Parliament backdrop, and live music in the summer. A fine place to end a walking tour with a cold beer. It’s also the best place in the city to catch the sunset.