Tired of hitting up the same spots for afterwork drinks? Ottawa has some amazing cocktail menus waiting for you to try. From the elegant and modern to mid-century and contemporary, these lounges and bars offer their own unique atmospheres and cocktails that are sure to provide you with a whole new experience for your night out.
cover photo via @commoneatery
Bar Laurel – 1087 Wellington W.
Spanish-inspired kitchen and bar Bar Laurel is a recent addition to the Hintonburg restaurant scene. Their menu includes many small sharing plates, a selection of over 15 different wines, and a cocktail list that perfectly suites the bar’s cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. The cocktail menu adds a tasteful spin on many classics, including their Mule 2.0, which features Absolute vodka, pink peppercorn, ginger, absinthe, grenadine and lemon.
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Common Eatery – 380 Elgin St
At night, Common Eatery becomes a craft cocktail bar known for its advanced techniques. Their extensive cocktail menu features some delightfully crafty mixes including their Thyme 4 a Sidecar; with Hennessy, cointreau, honey, burnt thyme, fresh squeezed lemon juice, in a smoked thyme glass. It’s a super trendy spot to get your (cocktail) drink on in the heart of Elgin street.
The Albion Rooms – 33 Nicholas St
The Albion Rooms, known for their farm-to-fork inspired cuisine and old-world hospitality, brings that same inspiration to their signature cocktail menu, which features 8 locally influenced cocktails and two mocktails (for the driver). It’s the perfect spot to grab drinks after a day of skating on the Rideau Canal, just one block away.
Prohibition Public House – 337 Somerset St W
Prohibition is a trendy New York style Gastropub on Somerset, the perfect spot to hang your hat for some evening drinks. Their list of unique cocktails are all prohibition-inspired twists on the classics. It’s the perfect atmosphere for a J.Edgar Hoover (aka an Old-Fashioned) or a Tommy Gun (aka a Sicilian Mule).
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Charlotte – 340b, Elgin St
Nestled in the heart of Elgin Street on the second floor of Pure Kitchen is Charlotte, a contemporary, mid-century inspired cocktail lounge that is a trendy and relaxing spot to enjoy craft cocktails made with fresh ingredients. Their menu includes 12 cocktails, including 3 Tiki-inspired drinks. Charlotte uses only the freshest of ingredients, including their organic orange juice and house made syrup to bring out the flavour in their cocktails.
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Riviera – 62 Sparks St
No list would be complete without a nod to Riviera, Ottawa’s trendy fine dining restaurant in Sparks Street’s old bank. The restaurant itself is a destination, with the bank interior being refined into an elegant dining space with high ceilings and marble furnishings. Then comes the cocktail menu. Their extensive list offers over 9 different Negronis, 20 + spins on your classics and a separate list of drinks inspired by Riviera’s Master Mixologist, Stephen Flood. If you are looking to try something new – something perhaps made especially for you – this is your place.
