Ottawa is losing one of its most beloved culinary landmarks. Play Food & Wine, the Elgin Street staple that became a cornerstone of the capital's dining scene, is closing after 17 years of service — marking the end of an era for local food lovers.
A Pioneer of Ottawa's Small Plates Scene
When Play Food & Wine opened back in the late 2000s, Ottawa's restaurant landscape looked very different. The concept — thoughtfully sourced small plates paired with an ambitious, ever-evolving wine list — felt fresh and genuinely exciting for a city still finding its fine-dining footing. For many Ottawans, Play wasn't just a restaurant; it was an introduction to a whole new way of eating out.
The intimate room on Elgin Street became a go-to for date nights, special occasions, and long, leisurely dinners where the point was never to rush. Regulars knew the staff by name, and the staff knew their regulars right back.
More Than Just a Restaurant
Over nearly two decades, Play helped nurture Ottawa's food culture in ways that went beyond the plate. It championed local producers, elevated the city's wine literacy, and proved that Ottawa diners had the appetite — and the sophistication — for something beyond the expected.
The restaurant earned a loyal following not through splashy openings or viral moments, but through consistent, quiet excellence. That kind of staying power is genuinely rare in the restaurant industry, where the five-year mark alone is an achievement worth celebrating.
The Weight of 17 Years
Restaurant closures are never easy to sit with, especially for a spot that's been part of the fabric of a neighbourhood for this long. Elgin Street has seen plenty of change over the years — new openings, a pandemic, shifting foot traffic — and Play weathered much of it. The fact that it's closing now, after all that, says something about just how hard the past few years have been for independent restaurants everywhere.
For the Ottawa food community, this one stings. These aren't just businesses — they're places where people fell in love, celebrated promotions, toasted losses, and found community over a shared bottle of something good.
What Play Meant to Ottawa Diners
Ask anyone who's been a regular over the years and you'll hear the same things: impeccable hospitality, a wine list that could teach you something new every visit, and food that felt considered without ever feeling pretentious. Play had a way of making you feel like you were in on something special, even on a Tuesday night.
That's a hard thing to replace. Ottawa has no shortage of excellent restaurants right now — the city's dining scene is genuinely thriving — but Play occupied a particular niche, both in terms of what it served and the role it played in the community.
Farewell to an Ottawa Institution
If you haven't been in a while, now is the time to go back for one last visit. Raise a glass to 17 years of good food, great wine, and the kind of hospitality that makes a city feel like home.
Thank you, Play. Ottawa's table will feel a little emptier without you.
Source: CTV News Ottawa
