Ottawa winters are long enough that when summer arrives, the entire city relocates outdoors. Patios appear on virtually every restaurant with any outdoor space, and the competition to find the best one — sunlight, shade, sightlines, drink quality — is a serious Ottawa pastime.
Terrasses de la Chaudière (Gatineau Side)
Not Ottawa proper, but the terrasses along the Quebec side of the river offer views of the Ottawa skyline and Parliament Hill that no Ottawa patio can match. Cross the Alexandra or Portage Bridge on a summer evening for a different perspective on the city you live in.
Sidedoor Contemporary Kitchen (ByWard Market)
A hidden patio in the ByWard Market area that feels like a genuine discovery even after years. Asian-influenced small plates, good cocktails, and enough shade to make a long afternoon viable. One of Ottawa's best patios for actual dining.
The Elmdale Tavern (Hintonburg)
A back patio in Hintonburg with a relaxed, neighbourhood-pub feel that's as good as Ottawa patios get. The beer list is serious, the food is satisfying, and the crowd is exactly the Hintonburg mix you'd hope for.
Fauna (Murray Street)
Fauna's small front terrace doesn't have the space of a proper patio, but the natural wine and small plates are good enough that the few outdoor seats feel earned. For a warm evening when you want something more intimate than a full bar patio.
Patty's Pub (Elgin Village)
A proper Irish pub with a generous patio that becomes a warm-weather institution. Big groups, cold pints, the kind of afternoon that turns into an evening without you noticing.
Riviera
One of Ottawa's better-designed newer restaurants has a correspondingly good patio — the Sparks Street Mall location has a terrace that benefits from its central location and the pedestrian nature of the street.
The Whalesbone (Bank Street)
The Bank Street location has a relaxed patio that's particularly good for a lazy weekday evening — oysters, something cold to drink, and the easy atmosphere that The Whalesbone does better than almost anywhere.
Canal-Side Options
The stretch of restaurants along the Rideau Canal near Bank Street and Fifth Avenue in the Glebe has some of Ottawa's best canal-view seating. The view of paddleboats and cyclists from a canal patio is as Ottawa as it gets.
Tips
- Ottawa's best patios fill up fast on weekday evenings after 5pm (the government-worker rush)
- Many Ottawa patios have heaters for shoulder-season use — don't rule out a patio night in May or September
- The city's patio season is culturally May–October, with the sweet spot being June–August
