City Guide: Ottawa’s Best Cocktails
As the days shorten and the nights get colder, we embrace the Danish concept of hygge, a coziness of conversation and good food as we gather with friends. It’s a tradition that seems incomplete without a cocktail to warm the spirit. We’ve curated a list of some of Ottawa’s best sweet and savoury cocktails to help make your next night out one you’ll revel in.
Charlotte
340 Elgin St.; charlotteottawa.com
Whether it’s Charlotte’s tropical retro vibe, or their Thursday Tiki Nights, this spot will transform any dim post-work evening into a much needed getaway. Try our favourites like the Violet Sour (gin, Creme de Violette, egg white, earl grey rim), or the Antinguo Formado (mezcal, honey heat, burnt lime).
Bar Laurel
1087 Wellington St W; barlaurel.ca
This Spanish tapas bar – which holds a spot on ‘Canada’s 50 Best Bars of 2018’ list – gets its name from the street Calle del Laurel in the Rioja wine region of Spain. Savour small plates of Iberico meatballs and patatas bravas as you sip cocktails from their Copa Serves menu (a collection of gin spirits from around the world) or other seasonal cocktails, like A Cuban Affair or Sheri’s Cobbler.
Jackson
10 Daly Ave.; jacksonottawa.com
Nestled in the newly-renovated Ottawa Art Gallery, Jackson’s savoury small plates and vibrant cocktails make it an upscale retreat. Cocktails are named after art found in the gallery, and include seasonal favourites like the Laird of Freskin – vodka and Campari infused with wild blueberry syrup and mint tincture – and the Spring Song, a gin-based cocktail with St. Germain Elderflower, basil essential oil and a hint of celery. When sipping, make sure to admire the eclectic crystal barware sourced from Ottawa’s vintage stores.
Fauna
425 Bank St.; faunaottawa.ca
Fauna has the same Spanish charm as its sister location, Bar Laurel, while claiming its own unique cocktail list. Pop by mid-day for a Kimchi Caesar topped with meal-worthy garnishes, or sample their evening cocktail list with witty, seasonal favourites like the Smoking Sidecar or Leblon James.
