Ottawa takes its weekend brunch seriously. Whether you're after a classic diner plate with unlimited coffee refills or a leisurely eggs benny with a natural wine list, the capital has carved out a genuinely great brunch scene. Here's where to go.
Elgin Street Diner
The 24-hour Elgin Street Diner is the city's great equalizer — politicians, students, and night-shift workers all end up here eventually. The diner plates are honest and enormous, the coffee is strong, and the booths are perpetually busy. It's not fancy, and that's exactly the point. Cash-friendly, no reservations, always open.
The Whalesbone
Known primarily as one of Ottawa's best seafood restaurants, The Whalesbone does a brunch that justifies the line. Oysters, fish-forward benedicts, and weekend cocktails with serious thought behind them. The Elgin Street location has a warm, slightly nautical feel that works particularly well on a slow Sunday morning.
ZenKitchen
Ottawa's pioneering vegetarian and vegan restaurant does a weekend brunch that converts even the most skeptical carnivore. The menu changes with the seasons, the space is calm and beautiful, and the cooking is genuinely inventive. Book ahead — it fills up fast.
Art-Is-In Bakery
Technically a bakery, Art-Is-In runs a daytime café-restaurant in Hintonburg that has become one of the city's great brunch destinations. The pastries are exceptional (the croissants are some of the best in Canada), and the savoury plates — avocado toast, grain bowls, egg dishes — are made with the same care. Arrive early; pastries sell out.
Colonnade Pizza (Weekend Brunch)
A surprise entry from a place better known for pizza: Colonnade's weekend brunch is a beloved Ottawa tradition, with Italian-leaning egg dishes, solid espresso, and the relaxed feel of a family-owned institution that's been around for decades.
Murray Street Kitchen
On the edge of ByWard Market, Murray Street does a farm-to-table brunch with serious charcuterie and Canadian sourcing. The space is warm and brick-walled, the cocktail list is thoughtful, and the kitchen takes the meal as seriously as dinner.
Petit Bill's Bistro
A French bistro on Preston Street with a weekend brunch that genuinely transports you. Croque madames, omelettes, tartines, proper café au lait. The patio is one of Ottawa's best people-watching spots in the warmer months.
Tips for Brunch in Ottawa
- Most popular spots don't take reservations for brunch — arrive by 10am or expect a wait after 11
- The ByWard Market area gets very busy on weekends; Hintonburg and Preston Street are calmer
- Ottawa's brunch culture leans late: kitchens often close at 2–3pm, so don't push it
- Many spots offer bottomless mimosas or bellinis on weekends — ask your server
Ottawa's brunch scene rewards the unhurried. Pick a spot, find a table, and let the morning stretch out.
