6 bring your own wine restaurants in Ottawa where you can booze on a budget
Time to get affordably tipsy! 🍷
Ottavio restaurant in Ottawa. Right: A menu sampling from Ottavio.
Want to elevate your dining experience without breaking the bank? Ottawa is home to several excellent bring-your-own wine (BYOW) restaurants, which will let you enjoy your favourite bottle of vino without the hefty markup.
Whether you're planning a romantic date night, a fun outing with friends, or celebrating a special occasion, these Ottawa spots are perfect for indulging in delicious, authentic cuisine while sipping on your personal wine selection.
From cozy, family-owned establishments to trendy eateries, Ottawa's BYOW restaurants promise a diverse range of culinary treats to pair perfectly with your chosen beverage. After all, what's better than getting a little wine drunk?
Remember, most places will still charge a corkage fee. But if you like your wines on the fancier side, bringing your own can still be cheaper than buying a bottle there. Plus, you get the bonus of sipping on a wine you already know and love, so no worries about wasting money on something that might not be your taste.
From Nepean to Gatineau, here are six restaurants in Ottawa that'll let you bring your own booze.
Gezellig
Price: 💸💸💸
Corkage: $20
Cuisine: Contemporary Canadian
Address: 337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in the heart of Ottawa's charming Westboro, Gezellig is a true fine-dining gem that welcomes patrons to bring their own bottle for a $20 corkage fee.
Gather your dinner party and share a delectable charcuterie board to start. Gezellig offers some unconventional but incredibly delicious entrées, like their grilled boar chops—a perfectly grilled slab of wild boar that's sure to impress your taste buds (and your friends!).
East India Company Restaurant
Price: 💸💸
Corkage: $15 per 750 ml bottle
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 210 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON and 1993 Robertson Rd, Nepean, Ottawa, ON
Ottavio
Price: 💸💸
Corkage: Free
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 56 Bd Gréber A, Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: Ottavio is part of a Quebec chain of affordable-but-delicious Italian restaurants and advertises itself as a "bring your own wine and beer" establishment.
So grab your favorite bottles or cans, sit back, relax, and enjoy some mouth-watering pasta, pizza, or mussels while sipping from your own stash.
ZOLAS
Price: 💸💸
Corkage: $15
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 2194 Robertson Rd, Nepean, Ottawa, ON
ZOLAS doubles as a delightful Italian eatery and an excellent pasta shop, making it the perfect destination for savoring delicious renditions of classic Italian dishes along with a few international flavours.
Besides being famous for its scrumptious food, ZOLAS is also a fantastic venue for enjoying live music. What's better than Italian food, live music, and bringing your own booze? We can't think of anything, either.
Restaurant Krong Thai
Price: 💸💸
Corkage: Free
Cuisine: Thai
Address: 205 Rue Bellehumeur, Gatineau, QC
If you're a fan of the diverse flavors of Thai cuisine and love getting tipsy on a budget, Restaurant Krong Thai is the place for you.
Enjoy classic, reasonably-priced Thai dishes while playing bartender with your own drinks. With zero corkage fees, Krong Thai is the perfect spot for dining and drinking without breaking the bank
Pho Ba Ga 777
Price: 💸💸
Corkage: $3
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: 725 Bd de la Carrière, Gatineau, QC
There's nothing quite like a hot, steamy bowl of flavourful, brothy pho, especially when paired with your favourite drink.
Pho Ba Ga 777, a beloved Vietnamese restaurant in Gatineau, lets you bring in as much booze as you like for just a toonie and a loonie. The food is incredibly well-priced and hearty, making it the perfect spot for you and your friends to enjoy a night out without breaking the bank.
Remember to be safe, drink plenty of water and ensure that you have a safe ride home!