Ottawa's ByWard Market may be the city's number-one tourist attraction, but it's taken an unfortunate dip in popularity with locals over the last several years, and the decline in atmosphere and accessibility hasn't gone unnoticed.
Thankfully, this past year or so, there's been a huge effort to make the Market enjoyable again. Between long-standing classics and new blood, the push to liven up the area through its hospitality scene is an ongoing goal of many restaurant professionals.
The area has a number of both high-end and affordable options that each serve their specific purpose in the betterment of the area, so I've decided to rank some of my faves!
This is the list of the best restaurants and bars in the ByWard Market — from great to totally life-changing.
Honourable mention: Ember
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Live Fire Kitchen
Address: 92 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: I have a feeling that Ember will quickly climb this list, but given that it's brand new and that I've yet to dine there, it earns a spot as an honourable mention.
Ember pairs a team of elite cocktail bartenders and a live-fire kitchen concept to bring something new and unique to Ottawa's ByWard market.
Their modern indoor atmosphere and central patio provide two unique dining experiences depending on what you prefer. Either way, Ember is committed to serving high-quality dishes and beverages and using their wood-fired cooking technique to show off a skill that's seldom used correctly. Being able to nail the open-fire concept could see Ember as a mainstay in the city for a long time.
Ember Menu
Great: Sidedoor
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Southeast Asian Street Food
Address: 18B York St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Sidedoor is literally the side door of another Market mainstay, Restaurant 18.
While 18 feels more like a classic white-tablecloth fine dining experience, Sidedoor is a much more approachable environment serving up elevated Southeast Asian street food dishes.
A healthy blend of raw and cooked dishes can be enjoyed in their glass-cased dining room or their courtyard patio. Sidedoor for me is one of those restaurants that never disappoints, but is never the first one on my mind. This is no fault of theirs — I think they've just been slightly overshadowed by how many amazing concepts have been popping up in the area, as well as concepts that just seem to do a better job of marketing.
The soft-shell crab dish I had at Sidedoor two whole years ago is still on my mind, and for that, it earns the sixth spot on my list: Great.
Sidedoor Menu
Stellar: The King Eddy
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Comfort Classics
Address: 47 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: When you talk about Ottawa classics, you have to talk about the King Eddy. This downtown diner has given almost every long-time Ottawan something to smile about.
From their burgers to their Northern Fried Chicken, the King Eddy knows how to hit the mark when you need to feel warm and fuzzy inside after a bite of food.
The family that owns and operates the King Eddy (and their sister restaurant next door, Lil Z's) truly understand what it means to be hospitable, which can't go understated.
For the comfort and the love, the King Eddy gets the number five spot on my list: Stellar.
The King Eddy Menu
Outstanding: Buvette Daphnée
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Quebec Wine Bar & Small Plates
Address: 11 William St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: After some widespread controversy surrounding Buvette Daphnée and its chef/owner Dominique Dufour that caused the restaurant to close its doors for two months this summer, the restaurant that made the Canada's 100 Best list in its first year is now back up and running.
I can't speak to much of the controversy, but what I can say is that under their new GM, things seem to be running smoothly, and there's no denying the culinary excellence that Daphnée provides.
From a laundry list of great wines to a small-plate menu that's great for sharing — if Daphnée can keep its s*&^ together, there's no reason that it won't continue its run as one of the best new restaurants in Canada.
It's number four on my list: Outstanding
Buvette Daphnée Menu
Elite: Chez Lucien
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Classic French Bistro
Address: 137 Murray St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: This all-day-into-late-night chateau is one of Ottawa's oldest favourites. It's been 20 years that people have been raving over the restaurant that feels like it was pulled right out of a sitcom (in a good way — hear me out).
In every sitcom, there's the local bar where all of the friends meet up. It's the main backdrop from episode to episode, and you watch their lives develop there. That's Chez Lu.
Their city-wide favourite burger and their wooden bar have become home for so many Ottawans and created long-lasting memories for many more.
Here's to 20 more years of Chez Lucien — number three: Elite.
Chez Lucien Instagram
Mind-blowing: Bar Ocelli
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Globally Inspired Cocktail Bar
Address: 17 William St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Bar Ocelli is innovative both in concept and in delivery.
Their idea behind using the history of the global spice trade to influence their cocktails has resulted in a cocktail bar experience like nothing else in the city — and nothing else I've seen in general.
Drawing inspiration from global ingredients, global recipes and the fusion of the two means that Ocelli can continue to innovate and grow as they see fit: There are no limitations other than their own imaginations.
This was a spot the Market needed if it hopes to change the course of its future, and I for one am ready to jump on board that train!
Bar Ocelli is number two: Mind-blowing
Bar Ocelli Menu
Life-changing: Giulia
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Coastal Italian
Address: 61 York St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: I want to start by acknowledging my own bias here. I've worked at Giulia, I've made life-long friends at Giulia... It literally DID change my life, and of course that factors into one's love for a place.
However, Giulia has also earned its spot on this list on its own accord. Here's why.
Not only does Giulia have some of the best pizza in the city, but it's the only pizza-focused restaurant that has elevated everything else around it to another level.
The atmosphere in the building is undeniably beautiful, and the York Street location is gorgeous independently from its sister on Elgin.
The beverage program is the best in the city among pizza restaurants, bar none. Nowhere else can you go and get an elite pizza and an innovative and expertly crafted cocktail in the same place (shout out to bar manager Jonno Burrow).
The Market location also has a pasta program that's absolutely stellar. While head chef Chris Cooke was initially slingin' pizzas on Elgin, his moniker was literally Pasta Chris. Now that he has the space to make it happen, Giulia in the Market has pasta dishes that rival their pizza.
I could go on and on about how wonderful this place is and the special place it holds in my heart, but my editor has enough work to do.
Giulia gets my number-one spot wholeheartedly: Life-changing.
Giulia Menu
That's it that's all, folks! These are the spots that, in my opinion, are opening the door for the ByWard Market to make a comeback. If you're like me and want to see a positive change for hospitality in this part of town, be sure to get out and support!
See y'all in the wild.
