Ottawa

BeaverTails

Try the tasty BeaverTail, a fried-dough pastry associated with Ottawa, although a number of places claim to have created it. It's available in sweet and savoury versions, topped with cinnamon, sugar, icing sugar, etc. In the winter, many places will offer it on the canal. During the summer, the only places downtown to offer it are in the Byward Market on George St., and a small counter in a corner of the Canadian Museum of History. There are a variety of toppings and the taste of the beaver tail stands out more with the classic sugar & cinnamon. However, the locals' favourite is the Killaloe Sunrise, a topping of cinnamon sugar and lemon juice.

Sun-Wed 10AM-8PM, Thu 10AM-11PM, Fri Sat 10AM-midnight

ByWard Market

Among other things, this is a farmer's market; in summer, stalls selling fresh produce and flowers line the streets, and maple syrup bought at the farmer's market costs half the price of the same bottle sold at souvenir shops elsewhere in the Byward Market or anywhere else in the city. It is also a craft and tourist market with a range of shops and the city's busiest entertainment district with restaurants, pubs, bars and many street performers. Interesting to see it first during the day (when it's a shopping destination) and then in the evening (when it's a nightlife destination).

La Bottega Nicastro

A fantastic little Italian specialty market, Nicastro's is a contender for the city's best $5 sandwiches, featuring amazing bread (esp. the focaccia) usually baked on the premises. The sit-down lunch kitchen is also well worth a visit.

Mon-Wed 9AM-6PM, Thu Fri 9AM-8PM, Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun 10AM-5PM,

Warehouse

El Furniture Warehouse

Warehouse, in the heart of Byward Market, has a sidewalk patio and a roof patio. Inexpensive meals are available. Busy every day of the week, especially after 8PM when it is mostly a bar which may have a DJ.

$10-$20 per person

Wellington West

Wellington West is the commercial district of Hintonburg and Wellington Village, located in the west end between Little Italy and Westboro. It is home to independent businesses in Ottawa, such as boutiques, restaurants and food shops, and local art galleries, as well as the Parkdale Market. Notable shops include Hintonburger, Suzy Q Doughnuts, Elmdale Tavern and several others.

Zak's Diner

The best milk-shakes are found at Zak's, a 24-hour diner in the Byward Market. They're really good, made with ice-cream, and for the $6.99 they cost you get a large glass full plus the shaker with what didn't fit in the glass. Other dishes are quite good, with a "more calories for your money" attitude (as illustrated by the massive amount of milkshake served), which is nicely honest about fast food; however it may seem a bit expensive as the burgers start at $14.49 and if you add on the paid extras you can easily get in excess of $19. Late on week-end nights (2-3AM), it's packed as people go for their after-bar poutine. There are two additional locations on Elgin Street and in Kanata.

Always open

Maple Syrup

In early spring (typically peaking in March), when the daytime temperatures are above freezing and night temperatures are below freezing, consider visiting a sugarbush (or sugar shack) for fresh maple syrup, tours of orchards, and demonstrations of the maple syrup boiling process. Taffy on snow is a sugary treat made with freshly boiled maple syrup on fresh snow. There are many to choose from on farms in the countryside. Maple products are also sold at vendors in the Byward Market, and some bars will serve seasonal maple-infused craft beers from local breweries. Ontario's sugar shacks focus less on the culinary aspects of maple syrup than the Cabanes à Sucre found in Quebec, where you could expect a feast of hearty dishes alongside the season's syrup harvest.

The Works

Hard to argue that these are not the best burgers around. The selection is top notch and toppings are bountiful. Also served are delicious onion rings, milk shakes and cold beer, all in a funky industrial decor. Choose your burger from the traditional beef, elk, vegetarian, or other options. Expect to pay $20 or more for a burger with sides, and not to regret it. They're becoming an Ontario-wide chain, but Ottawa is where the Works started, and where they have their largest market penetration (seven locations as of January 2017). There are three locations where tourists in Ottawa might stumble across them; these are the ones listed below.

Winterlude

For about two weeks each February, Winterlude (French: Bal de Neige) is the national capital's annual winter festival featuring ice carving and snow sculptures. The festival is spread throughout both Ottawa and Gatineau. Sparks Street is home to the ice-carving competition and public art installations. The Byward Market hosts food experiences, winter activities, and additional locations for interactive art. Other locations throughout the city offer special events throughout the festival, focusing on family activities, Indigenous culture, and the LGBT community. Some museums offer special programming during the festival. The snow playground, with tubing, ziplining, slides and obstacles courses is in Gatineau.