Ottawa's sports bar scene stretches from the ByWard Market to Kanata's business park, and there's a real range in what "sports bar" means here: some spots are built around wall-to-wall screens and game-day crowds, others are neighbourhood pubs where the TVs are just one part of the draw. This list was put together by reading customer reviews, business listings, and each venue's own site to find ten spots currently serving Ottawa sports fans.
1. The Senate Tavern on Clarence
Area: ByWard Market · Rating: 4.3 on Tripadvisor (160 reviews)
The Senate sits at 33 Clarence Street in the heart of the Market and is regularly cited by reviewers as one of the city's go-to spots for watching a game, with screens positioned throughout the room so there's rarely a bad seat. Reviewers consistently point to fast, friendly service and a pub menu that leans on comfort food like poutine and burgers. It suits a downtown crowd looking for a lively atmosphere on game day rather than a quiet corner booth.
2. TailGators
Area: Merivale Road, Nepean · Since: 2007
TailGators bills itself as Ottawa's largest sports bar, with more than 40 pool tables, foosball and ping pong tables spread across roughly 20,000 to 23,000 square feet, plus a 22-foot jumbo screen and dozens of HDTVs. It's the pick for a group that wants more than a screen and a booth, since the space is built as much for tournament-style play as for watching a broadcast. According to its own site, it also hosts one of the city's largest Super Bowl parties.
3. MacLaren's on Elgin
Area: Centretown, corner of Elgin and MacLaren · Since: 1997
MacLaren's pairs six 90-inch 4K screens with 25 billiard tables, and a kitchen that stays open until midnight most nights. It draws a mixed crowd of pool players and game-day regulars, and reviewers note it works well for larger groups thanks to the sheer number of tables. This is one for people who want to shoot a few games of pool between periods, not just sit and watch.
4. High Fives Sports Pub
Area: Bells Corners, attached to the Best Western Plus ·
High Fives is a west-end option attached to a hotel on Robertson Road, and reviewers describe it as well laid out with a solid number of screens for the room size. It's a lower-key pick than the Market bars, suited to west Ottawa residents or hotel guests who want a straightforward sports pub without a downtown trip.
5. The Prescott
Area: Little Italy, Preston Street · Since: 1934
The Prescott is one of the oldest licensed drinking spots in the city, tracing its roots to the old Preston Hotel before being renamed in 1941. Today it runs as a sports bar with pool, darts, and live music on Fridays. The long history and Preston Street location give it a different feel from the newer chain-style sports bars: reviewers describe it as a genuine neighbourhood fixture rather than a purpose-built game-day venue.
6. Hometown Sports Grill
Area: Alta Vista, Bank Street ·
Hometown Sports Grill operates as both a restaurant and a catering venue on Bank Street, and functions as a straightforward neighbourhood sports bar for the Alta Vista and south-end area. It's a fit for residents who want a local option that doesn't require heading downtown, with the kind of menu and TV setup typical of a community sports grill.
7. The Wood on Wellington
Area: Wellington Village · Rating: 4.3 (340 reviews, Chamber of Commerce listing); 3.7 on Tripadvisor
The Wood sits on Wellington Street West and is consistently mentioned by reviewers for its burgers and beer selection alongside its sports-viewing setup. Ratings vary somewhat by platform, but the burger-and-beer-and-game combination is the recurring theme in customer feedback. It suits Wellington Village locals looking for a casual gastropub with games on rather than a dedicated sports-bar production.
8. Jack Astor's Bar and Grill (Hunt Club)
Area: Hunt Club · Rating: 4.3 stars (190 OpenTable diners); 3.8 on Tripadvisor
Jack Astor's Hunt Club location is part of the national chain and functions as a reliable, family-friendly sports bar with the broad menu and screen coverage the chain is known for. OpenTable diners rate it consistently well, and it's a solid choice for groups that want dependable chain-restaurant service alongside the game rather than a more independent pub atmosphere.
9. LOCAL Public Eatery
Area: Lansdowne, Exhibition Way · Rating: 4.5 stars (27 OpenTable diners)
LOCAL, founded in Vancouver in 2009, runs its Lansdowne location with 20 taps of craft beer plus shuffleboard indoors and bocce on the patio. Its Lansdowne setting puts it steps from TD Place, making it a natural pre- or post-game stop for Redblacks or 67's fans, and reviewers highlight the food quality as a step up from a typical sports bar menu.
10. The Barley Mow (Kanata)
Area: Kanata business park, near Brookstreet Hotel · Since: 1996
The Kanata location of this Ottawa-area pub chain has screens throughout the room and a patio, and has been operating in the business park since 1996. Reviews are mixed, ranging from praise for the screen coverage and food to complaints about slow service on busy nights, so it's best suited to west-end regulars checking a game over food rather than a first-time destination pick.
