Ottawa's drinking scene used to mean a pint and a patio, but the last decade has brought a real cocktail culture to the capital, with bartenders building menus around house-made syrups, live fire, and forgotten classics. This list rounds up ten Ottawa cocktail bars found through public reviews, local food writers, and each bar's own web presence, spanning Sparks Street speakeasies, ByWard Market rooftops, and neighbourhood lounges in Hintonburg and Chinatown.
1. Stolen Goods Cocktail Bar
Area: Sparks Street · Specialty: low-waste, experimental cocktails and an oyster bar · Rating: 4.5 on Google (261 reviews)
Stolen Goods builds its menu around low-waste, multi-use ingredients and pairs its cocktails with chef-driven small plates like oysters, beef tartare, and scallops. Reviewers consistently point to the creativity of the drink list and the staff's willingness to build a custom cocktail on request, and 10BestBars.ca named it Ottawa's best bar in 2025. It suits drinkers who want a cocktail bar built around craft over volume.
2. Riviera
Area: Sparks Street · Specialty: spirit-forward cocktails and Negroni variations · Rating: 4.6 on Google (1,631 reviews) · Since: 2016
Set inside a restored 1920s bank building with an eight-metre ceiling, Riviera pairs its retro, big-city dining room with a bar program built around ten Negroni variations. Reviewers single out the bar seats, poured beneath that soaring ceiling on swivelling stools modeled after a 1960s Buick Riviera, and the restaurant won Canada's 100 Best Restaurant Bar award in 2025. It's the pick for a special-occasion drink rather than a casual one.
3. Bar Ocelli
Area: ByWard Market · Specialty: globally inspired cocktails and small plates · Rating: 4.0 on Tripadvisor
Bar Ocelli's cocktail list draws on ingredients and recipes from around the world, served in a dark, moody, intimate room that reviewers describe as suited to both date nights and group gatherings. The halloumi fries and other small plates get called out almost as often as the drinks themselves, and bartenders are praised for building custom cocktails on the spot. It works equally well for a quiet two-person visit or a bigger night out.
4. Ember
Area: ByWard Market, Clarence Street · Specialty: Japanese-inspired fusion cocktails and live-fire cooking · Rating: 4.6 on Google
Ember pairs a charcoal and live-fire kitchen with a highball-inspired, globally influenced cocktail menu. Reviewers describe the fire-grilled dishes as rich and well balanced and the drinks as consistently creative, with the restaurant becoming one of the newer go-to spots in the ByWard Market. It's a good fit for anyone who wants their cocktail matched to a full dinner rather than treated as an afterthought.
5. The Rabbit Hole
Area: Sparks Street · Specialty: craft cocktails across four distinct spaces · Rating: 4.3 on Google (1,397 reviews) · Since: 2018
Housed in a 130-year-old Centretown building, Rabbit Hole splits into a refined upstairs cocktail lounge, a livelier downstairs room, an open-air rooftop, and a hidden speakeasy-style space reached through a vintage elevator door. Reviewers praise the drinks, the wood-fired pizza, and the atmosphere, though several note it can get loud on busy nights. It suits a group that wants to move between different moods without leaving the building.
6. Apothecary Cocktail Lounge
Area: ByWard Market, York Street · Specialty: speakeasy cocktails and a hidden cellar room · Rating: 4.5 on Tripadvisor
Apothecary is built around an apothecary theme inside 54 York, with a private speakeasy room hidden behind the main bar that seats up to 18 with its own kitchen and bar. Reviewers call out The Mortician, a cocktail served under a cloud of smoke, and the Snake Oil as standouts, alongside knowledgeable, friendly staff and live jazz on Thursdays. It's the pick for a theatrical, conversation-starting night out.
7. Jabberwocky
Area: Somerset Street West, Chinatown · Specialty: refined cocktail supper club above Union 613 · Rating: 4.7 on Google
Jabberwocky sits upstairs from Union 613 as a more explorative, intimate space for cocktail-driven supper clubs, tastings, and classes. Reviewers highlight the extensive cocktail menu, vegan-friendly options, and attentive service, describing the room as sophisticated but comfortable, though a few note the prices run high for what's served. It suits anyone looking for a curated, event-style evening rather than a drop-in drink.
8. 10Fourteen
Area: Hintonburg, Wellington Street West · Specialty: craft cocktails, wine, and a casual hangout vibe · Rating: 4.6 on Google (417 reviews)
10Fourteen keeps things looser than most of this list, with expertly made cocktails and wine served alongside pinball, board games, and live guitar jams. Regulars mention the complimentary cinnamon popcorn served in a martini glass as a signature touch, and reviewers describe it as an affordable, welcoming neighbourhood hangout. It's best suited to a relaxed weeknight rather than a big-occasion outing.
9. Copper Spirits & Sights
Area: ByWard Market, 16th-floor rooftop of Andaz Ottawa · Specialty: rooftop cocktails with skyline views · Rating: 4.0 on Google (520 reviews)
As Ottawa's highest rooftop bar, Copper Spirits & Sights leans on its indoor lounge and open-air terrace with fire pits for views across the ByWard Market toward Parliament and Gatineau. Reviews are consistent that the views and service are the draw, with more mixed feedback on food and occasional slow service on busy weekend nights. It's best visited on a weekday for a calmer pace, or a weekend evening for the DJ crowd.
10. Nan's Parlour
Area: ByWard Market, Clarence Street · Specialty: vintage "grandma's parlour" themed cocktail lounge · Rating: 4.2 on Google (242 reviews)
Nan's Parlour leans into a nostalgic, granny-chic theme with vintage decor, dimmed lighting, and $5 rail cocktails Thursday through Sunday. Reviewers describe the service as friendly and attentive and the food, including charcuterie boards and pierogies, as a solid match for the festive atmosphere, with live music adding to the draw. It suits a casual, budget-friendly night that still wants some personality to the room.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including bar and restaurant websites, Google and Tripadvisor reviews, OpenTable listings, and local food coverage such as 10BestBars.ca and Ottawa Tourism. Nobody on staff at ottown visited or tested these venues for this piece, and no business on this list paid for placement. It was last reviewed in August 2026.
Sources: Google search results for cocktail bars in Ottawa and the ByWard Market, plus individual business websites and review pages for each venue listed above.
