Fun and entertainment East

Located in the heart of the Byward Market, The Rainbow has been a legendary blues venue for nearly four decades. The two-storey venue has a mountain lodge feel with a fireplace, large wooden beams, brick and stone walls. Prices at the bar are reasonable. Check the website for the full lineup (tickets can be purchased online or at the door - sometimes cheaper in advance). A true Ottawa party institution!

Those who know Stone City Brew Co. won't be too disappointed. Three friends, who run Something in the Water microbrewery in Toronto, have taken over the small Kingston brewery to make it their^second location. It has the same employees as the Stone City brewery and many of the beers that made it famous. In addition to the house beers, the new team has also started distilling with its Canadian whisky.

The ambition of Dave Longbottom, owner of this microbrewery open since 2017, is to share his experience as a great traveler and beer lover. In this former garage converted into a bar, he offers a nice variety of house beers such as his Northeast IPA, his dry-hopped sour beer or his Imperial Stout (a store corner allows you to fill up to take away). There is also a gourmet menu with perogies, duck confit, pan-fried cod, etc., all topped off with delicious desserts such as the white chocolate cheesecake.

This performing arts center belongs to Queen's University. The building itself is worth a visit, the first project on Canadian soil by the renowned Norwegian architect Snøhetta in collaboration with the Ottawa firm N45. It presents different concert series ranging from symphonic ensembles to chamber music, jazz, shows for young audiences, etc. The Kingston Canadian Film Festival presents some of its programming here.

Founded in 1986, this craft brewery was a pioneer in Ontario and is definitely a must for your night out. In addition to the beers brewed on site, the long list of single malt scotches and whiskies will amaze you. They also offer simple, generous and oh so delicious dishes! Burgers, sandwiches, grilled meats, fish & chips and other specialties of the place will gladly be accompanied by a glass of house beer. To be enjoyed in their superb backyard or on the front terrace in season!

Open since 2012, this microbrewery has carved out a nice place for itself in the capital's brewing landscape. A large tasting room, flanked by a magnificent and enormous mural, is attached to the brewing facilities to allow guests to taste the house vintages. To top it all off, the place also offers a menu for those who are hungry, starting with all sorts of succulent meats smoked on site. Want to bring back a souvenir? The store sells the beers, but also the Beyond the Pale merchandise.

In January 2012, Mill Street Brewpub, already present in Toronto, moved to Ottawa, along the Ottawa River, in the historic Thompson-Perkins & Bronson mill mill. There are about artisanales beer on site, including special editions, only available in this branch. Visit of the brewery offered every day and shop on site.

This francophone theater center is home to four local companies that present different plays throughout the season, as well as guest companies. Music, dance and other events are part of the annual program. Since 2016, La Nouvelle Scène has been housed in new premises with, among other things, a beautiful interior garden, a 173-seat auditorium, an 80-seat auditorium and a multifunctional studio.

Crave provides a great gourmet break with a slate of hot beverages, including coffee and tea, as well as tasty smoothies. All sorts of delicacies are spread out on the counter like bagels, pastries, muffins, scones, pastries and tutti quanti, not to mention some healthy fruit. The place also prepares waffles, available in about ten versions (try the maple and bacon version).

When the mercury rises, a seasonal bar sets up shop in the hidden courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts. For a drink with friends or loved ones, this is clearly the place to go! The bar is also known for its gourmet menu including poke bowls, oysters, charcuterie boards, tartars and delicious pizzas. Bonus: live entertainment and two other bars, Tavern on the Falls (Ottawa River Falls) and Tavern on the Hill (Major's Hill Park).

The Ministry of Coffee and Social Affairs is a trendy coffee shop in the Hintonburg neighborhood that is also trendy. It's one of those beautiful industrial-chic places that many other coffee shops are adopting. Its coffees are sourced from the best roasters in the area, the country and even around the world. We also love its hot chocolate with Nutella... a delight! Three other locations in Ottawa and two affiliated locations in Qatar.

Open since early January 2020, this trendy address stands in drastic contrast to the Chinatown businesses around, Spark Beer is a small craft brewery that loves hops and surette, but not only. To accompany our pint, the house offers tasty pizzas prepared with regional products like cheeses from St. Albert or sausages from Valley Sausage Co. In addition, there is a program of events such as the Happy Hour Drag, vinyl nights, etc. An address often crowded with people, that's a good sign!

Occupying the former premises of a South-East Asian grocery store (we are here in the heart of Chinatown), Corner Peach is a trendy spot to have a drink and eat well. At noon, they serve small gourmet plates, before giving way to the bar in the middle of the afternoon with some snacks on the slate. In the evening, one comes here to have a drink or to savor a delicious local cuisine. You should also discover its gourmet store that sells homemade products such as sauces, dips, prepared dishes, sweets, etc.

If beer is not your cup of tea, you'll have to pass. Otherwise, you're in heaven. While there are about 20 beers available at the pumps, the majority of which are from Ontario, the bottle menu is quite impressive. The beers are classified by style, including an amazing selection of lambics. If you don't find what you're looking for here, there's no way around it. In addition, there is a very nice selection of natural wines and a menu that includes cheeses and charcuterie and seasonal dishes that are reminiscent of Mediterranean cuisine.

Two friends with a passion for coffee started this micro-coffee shop in the Glebe district where the first branch is still located (801 Bank Street). There, as in their downtown location, everything is centered around coffee, its origin, its quality but also the respect of its small producers. In a pretty white and uncluttered room, you can choose to taste your coffee immediately or buy it in beans or ground for home. Several sweets are also available to accompany your coffee.

It is in a pretty historical building that the small brewery Gan Brewing Company has settled. The interior, just as warm, gives the air of a mountain chalet. Adjacent to the brewing facilities, the tasting room allows you to discover the house vintages. At the time of writing, nearly a dozen beers were available in cans (Lager, American Pale Ale, IPA, Stout, etc.), but other beers are added to the slate according to the seasons and experiments. A nice stop in the heart of the village!

This is clearly one of the most country-style breweries in Ontario, run by the Parsons family. The building housing the tasting room and beer store is made from reclaimed wood, set between a barley field and a hop field, with a beautiful beer garden in the middle of nature. Six regular beers are on the menu, along with countless seasonal and experimental beers of the most creative kind. They also serve a cuisine with world flavors concocted from local products. A must!