After months of winter, Ottawa treats its summer patios with an enthusiasm that borders on reverence. The moment temperatures climb above 15 degrees, restaurant furniture appears on sidewalks across the city, and Ottawans settle in for a season of outdoor dining that runs from May through September. The best patios are not just places to eat. They are where the city does its summer socializing, and they are one of the main reasons a summer visit to Ottawa is so enjoyable.
ByWard Market Patios
The Market has the highest concentration of patios in the city, ranging from casual beer-and-burger spots to upscale restaurants with white tablecloths and wine lists. The patios along Clarence Street and York Street are some of the liveliest, set in the middle of the Market's pedestrian-friendly streets. In the evening, these spots buzz with energy, and people-watching is excellent.
For a quieter Market patio, look to the restaurants on the northern edge of the neighbourhood, along Sussex Drive. The National Gallery cafe has an outdoor terrace with views of the river. And the patios on Murray Street, slightly off the main tourist path, tend to attract a more local crowd.
Elgin Street
Elgin Street has some of Ottawa's best-established patios. Several restaurants and pubs have been serving on their terraces for decades, and the mature trees along the street provide natural shade. The atmosphere is more neighbourhood-oriented than the Market, with a mix of regulars and visitors. On a warm Friday evening, the Elgin Street patios fill early and stay full until closing.
The best Elgin patios are on the blocks between Somerset Street and Gladstone Avenue. The combination of tree cover, wide sidewalks, and a mix of restaurant styles makes this stretch one of the most pleasant outdoor dining corridors in the city.
Dows Lake Pavilion
The Dows Lake Pavilion patio sits right on the water at the southern end of the Rideau Canal's urban section. It is one of the only waterfront dining options in Ottawa, and the views of kayakers, pedal boats, and the surrounding parkland make it a summer destination in itself. The food is casual, but the setting is hard to match. Visit for a late lunch or early dinner to get the best light on the water.
Westboro and Hintonburg
The patios along Richmond Road in Westboro and Wellington Street in Hintonburg are where Ottawa's food-focused residents spend their summer evenings. These neighbourhoods have some of the city's best restaurants, and their outdoor seating is often more intimate and carefully designed than the larger patios in the Market and on Elgin.
Westboro Beach, on the Ottawa River, has a seasonal cafe and is one of the few places in Ottawa where you can eat and drink with sand between your toes. After a swim or a riverside walk, a cold drink at the beach cafe feels like vacation.
The Glebe
Bank Street through the Glebe has a growing number of patios that benefit from the neighbourhood's tree-lined, residential character. The dining here leans toward brunch and casual lunch, making the Glebe patios ideal for a midday meal rather than a long evening out. The Lansdowne complex adds several larger patios with a more commercial feel.
When to Go
Ottawa's patio season runs from roughly mid-May to late September, with June through August being the peak. Weekday evenings are the best time for a relaxed patio dinner without the weekend crowds. Friday and Saturday nights are busiest, and popular spots fill up quickly. For the most desirable patios, making a reservation for weekend evenings is strongly recommended.
Lunch on a patio is an underrated option. Weekday lunch patios are often half-empty, the food is the same quality, and the prices are lower. If your schedule allows it, a long patio lunch is one of the great pleasures of a summer visit to Ottawa.
A Note on Weather
Ottawa summers are warm and often humid, with occasional thunderstorms that can arrive quickly. Most established patios have umbrellas or covered sections, and restaurants are prepared to move guests inside if weather turns. But the best patio evenings are the ones where the air is warm, the sky is clear, and the city stays outside until dark. Those evenings happen often enough to define the Ottawa summer.
For more on where to eat across Ottawa, see our food, parks and exploring guide. For summer canal activities, read our summer day on the canal guide.