Ottawa's wine list has grown up in the last decade, and the city now has a real spread of places built around the glass rather than the tap. This list was compiled from restaurant websites, Google and Tripadvisor reviews, and coverage from local food outlets like foodism.ca and Tastet. Every business below was confirmed to be currently operating at the time of writing.
1. Arlo
Area: Centretown, Somerset Street West · Rating: 4.7 on Google (545 reviews)
Arlo is a neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar built around a natural wine list curated by sommelier Alex McMahon, paired with comforting seasonal food from chef Jamie Stunt. Reviewers consistently point to the duck, the beef tartare, and the oysters, and the room is designed to feel like a dinner party rather than a formal dining room. It suits people who want an approachable, low-key introduction to natural wine rather than a stiff tasting-room experience.
2. Bar Lupulus
Area: Hintonburg, Wellington Street West · Rating: 4.7 on Google (1,478 reviews)
Bar Lupulus splits its identity between craft beer and natural wine, with more than 500 natural wine cuvees on the list alongside 22 rotating taps. Reviewers describe the food as inventive and Mediterranean-leaning, and staff are repeatedly praised for walking guests through an unfamiliar wine list without being precious about it. It's a good fit for a group that can't agree on beer versus wine, since the bar does both seriously.
3. Beckta Dining & Wine
Area: Downtown, Elgin Street · Rating: 4.6 on Google (1,054 reviews)
Beckta operates out of the historic Grant House downtown and splits into a full dining room and a separate, more relaxed wine bar area. The wine list draws from around the world and is built to support a seasonal New Canadian menu, and reviewers single out the service as some of the most polished in the city. It's suited to a special occasion or a client dinner more than a casual drop-in.
4. North & Navy
Area: Centretown, Nepean Street · Rating: 4.6 on Google (1,691 reviews) · Since: 2015
North & Navy is styled after a Venetian bacaro, the traditional small-bar format built around wine and cicchetti-style small plates, and it specializes in Northern Italian cuisine with pasta made in-house daily. Reviewers describe the room as striking a rare balance between intimate and lively, and the wine list is built to move through several glasses over a long meal rather than anchor around one bottle. It works well for a group that wants to graze and share rather than order individual mains.
5. 107 Fourth Avenue Wine Bar & Café
Area: The Glebe · Rating: 4.5 on Google (194 reviews) · Since: 2003
This is one of the longest-running wine bars in the city, tucked into a residential stretch of the Glebe with full kitchen service alongside the wine list. Reviewers consistently mention a selection you won't find at the LCBO, and the small, unpretentious room makes it easy to drop in for a single glass or settle in for a full dinner. It suits Glebe locals and anyone looking for a neighbourhood spot rather than a destination room.
6. Soif Bar à vin
Area: Gatineau, Vieux-Hull, across the river from downtown Ottawa · Since: 2014
Soif was opened by Véronique Rivest, a two-time winner of Canada's Best Sommelier and the runner-up at the World's Best Sommelier competition in 2013, and the list reflects that pedigree. Coverage from Tastet and regional tourism sites describes it as a true wine bar first, with generous, laid-back food built to support the list rather than compete with it. It's worth the short trip across the river for anyone who wants a wine program led by one of the country's most credentialed sommeliers.
7. Abby's Wine Bar
Area: Downtown, Elgin Street, inside Harmon's Steakhouse · Since: N/A
Abby's occupies the ground floor of Harmon's Steakhouse in a converted 130-year-old building on Elgin Street, and it's built around more than 50 wines by the glass alongside a small-plates menu pulled from the Harmon's kitchen. It's a good option for a casual pre-dinner glass without committing to the full steakhouse experience upstairs, and it suits downtown workers looking for an after-work spot with a serious by-the-glass list.
8. Vespa Wine Bar
Area: Old Ottawa East, Main Street
Vespa blends an Italian restaurant, cocktail bar, and wine bar in a relaxed room on Main Street, with small plates built to go alongside the wine and cocktail list. It's a newer addition to the Old Ottawa East strip and gives that neighbourhood a wine-focused option that didn't exist there before. It suits a lower-key date night or a casual dinner with friends rather than a formal wine-tasting evening.
9. Cantina Gia
Area: The Glebe, Bank Street
Cantina Gia is an Italian spot on Bank Street with high ceilings and soft lighting, known for its arancini, house pasta, and a solid wine list to match. Reviews are largely positive on food and atmosphere, though some reviewers flag by-the-glass prices as steep and the room as loud when it's busy. It suits a celebratory dinner more than a quiet catch-up, given the noise level reviewers mention.
10. Amuse Kitchen & Wine
Area: Kanata, Eagleson Road · Rating: 4.7 on Google, 4.8 on Tripadvisor (146 reviews)
Amuse Kitchen & Wine sits in a Kanata strip mall but reviewers consistently note the room feels elegant once you're inside, with modern cuisine paired to a bold wine list and cocktail program. It's one of the few wine-forward rooms in the west end, which makes it a natural option for Kanata and Barrhaven residents who don't want to drive downtown for a proper wine list. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also called out favourably in reviews.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including restaurant websites, Google and Tripadvisor reviews, and coverage from local food outlets, not from ottown staff visits or tastings. No business on this list paid for placement or is affiliated with ottown or its operator. It was last reviewed in August 2026, and a wine bar's hours, ownership, or status can change, so confirm details directly with the business before visiting.
Sources: restaurant websites, Google Reviews, Tripadvisor, foodism.ca, and Tastet.ca.
