Four Ways to Celebrate this Father’s Day!
June 6, 2023
From carrying us on their shoulders as kids to picking us up from parties as teenagers, to fixing our leaky sinks in college, dads do a lot for us, and they deserve to be celebrated!
With Father’s Day fast approaching, make this year memorable with a trip downtown.
For the Patio Lover
You can’t go wrong with treating dad to a meal on a patio…especially with this incredible weather we are having!
La Terrasse
Check out this beautiful space at the historic Fairmont Château Laurier! This patio is a hidden gem in the downtown core and offers incredible views of the Rideau Locks, Ottawa River, Parliament, and the best sunsets in the city.
Treat Dad to the ultimate Caesar made with Worcestershire sauce and tabasco topped with beef sliders and jumbo shrimp. There is no better way to spend a summer afternoon than eating one of their charcuterie and cheese boards sourced from local Quebec and Ontario producers and sipping on their infamous Showstopper Cocktails.
📍 1 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
⏰ Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
⏰ Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
⏰ Sunday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
📞 613-241-1414
🍔 Menu
Tavern at the Gallery
What an excellent way to end a day at the National Gallery of Canada with the whole family! Tavern at the Gallery is the perfect atmosphere to hang out with Dad during a nice afternoon.
The tavern offers a full-service experience, serving delicious cocktails and handmade wood-burning pizzas perfect for sharing or eating all to yourself.
Choose from pizzas topped with pear and brie, fingerling potato and bacon, spicy sausage with a hot honey drizzle, or just pepperoni. Pair it with one of their house cocktails, such as a cold and refreshing frozen margarita or a twist on a Caesar made with kimchi.
📍 380 Sussex Drive
⏰ Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
⏰ Saturday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
📞 No Reservations
🍔 Menu
Tavern at the Falls
This gorgeous patio needs to be on your summer bucket list! Not only does this lounge offer exceptional views of the historic Rideau Falls, but it serves up gourmet hot dogs with all the toppings you can think of and fruity, refreshing sangria with a choice of red or white.
Every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, you can cozy up to outdoor fire pits and listen to live music performances from local artists. Perfect date night idea for those cold summer nights!
📍 1 John Street
⏰ Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
⏰ Saturday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
📞 No Reservations
🍔 Menu
For the Foodie
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! Show Dad some appreciation by treating him to an incredible culinary experience at one of our finest downtown restaurants.
Metropolitain Brasserie
Spend the day or night in Paris with Dad without traveling far from Ottawa! Metropolitain Brasserie serves the best French cuisine in the city, from freshly shucked oysters to steak frites.
Enjoy all these amazing dishes sitting on their patio while feeling like you are in a café in Paris. Overlook the beautiful heritage buildings that surround Metropolitain under twinkling lights.
Looking for a late-night meal? Enjoy delicious food during their Late Night Hill Hour special. You’ll be able to enjoy some great deals like succulent seafood, burger, and poutine from 10:00 PM to close.
📍 700 Sussex Drive
⏰ Monday to Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
⏰ Thursday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
⏰ Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
📞 613-562-1160
🍔 Menu
Clocktower Brew Pub
Keep things simple with an ice cold beer!
If you are looking for a cozy patio with a wide selection of in-house craft beer and addicting pub nosh, you must head to Clocktower Brew Pub!
Clocktower offers a comfortable atmosphere, all while serving up the best craft beer! This dog-friendly patio offers delicious classic pub food, from chicken wings to deluxe burgers and homemade pierogis with sour cream and crispy bacon.
Here’s a list of Clocktower’s iconic house made beer:
🍺 Kolsch
A very crisp and clean easy drinking blonde beer.
🍺 El Camino
An authentic Mexican style lager with high clarity and a very clean body.
🍺 Raspberry Wheat
A refreshing wheat beer, with subtle raspberry and fresh fruit aromas.
🍺 NO.7 IPA
Hop forward offering, packed with a delicious blend of fruit, floral and citrus notes.
🍺 ESB
Unique blend of several malts and hops to make it a smooth “English Style” beer.
🍺 ‘96 Red
A blend of malts and hops that is lightly sweetened with robust notes of toffee and caramel.
🍺 Bank St. Brown
Made with notes of coffee and chocolate to make it a traditional light bodied, smooth dark ale.
🍺 CT Stout
A creamy stout brewed with roasted malts.
Try and experience the different beers with their Beer Flights so you and Dad can taste and compare what your favourites are.
📍 140 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
⏰ Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
⏰Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
⏰Sunday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
📞 613-562-4878
🍔 Menu
The Albion Rooms
If you’re looking for a patio with a fantastic menu by a well-known chef and delicious cocktails in a historic building. You need to check out The Albion Rooms! It is the perfect place to take Dad for afternoon Happy Hour or brunch. The patio offers a backyard aesthetic with hanging lights but with sophistication.
Top Chef Canada winner and Beat Bobby Flay winner Chef Rene Rodriguez created the menu. Chef Rene focuses on the farm-to-table theme, working with local producers and farmers to give locals the freshest and in-season ingredients.
Happy Hour features a delicious bar menu and an extensive list of housemade cocktails. The food is so delicious, featuring Classic Truffle Fries with aioli and the AR Burger and Fries. A must-try is The Marcus Brutus cocktail, I twist on the classic Caesar with literally a charcuterie board on top.
See you at Happy Hour at The Albion Rooms!
📍 33 Nicholas Street
⏰ Sunday to Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
⏰ Thursday: 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
⏰ Friday to Saturday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
📞 613-760-4771
🍔 Menu
For the Outdoor Adventurer
Planning a homemade dinner for Dad? Skip the restaurant reservation and head out for a day of adventure instead!
RentABike
RentABike has been around for over 30 years in Ottawa’s Original Downtown, serving and renting out bicycles for locals and tourists.
Take Dad for a ride and show him what there is to offer in Ottawa’s Original Downtown. Ride along the Rideau Canal towards the Rideau Locks, where there are bike paths that show you all of the Ottawa River. Ride along Wellington Street past Parliament Hill and then down to the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier and Senate building, which will take you to the ByWard Market.
📍 2 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
⏰ Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 Pm
For more information: https://bit.ly/3IqiA0r
Picnic at the Park
After riding with Dad around the downtown core, grab a few groceries and treat him to a picnic.
Head down to La Bottega, as they make the best sandwiches in Ottawa and have snacks suitable for an afternoon picnic. Here’s a list we curated to make it easier for you:
🥪 Sandwiches
🥯 Crackers
🧀 Cheeses
🍖 Deli Meats
🍷 Wine
Take all the delicious goodies and head down to Major Hill Park and see the immaculate views of Ottawa and Gatineau and have fun talking about the good ol’ days!