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Ottawa rewards visitors who think beyond Parliament Hill. The city breaks into distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character — ByWard Market’s market-stall energy, the Glebe’s residential calm, Westboro’s outdoorsy independent shops, and the government core around Parliament Hill itself. Where you spend your time shapes the trip more than any single attraction. Here’s what each neighbourhood actually offers, where to eat, and how they connect.
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ByWard Market
ByWard Market is Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhood and its liveliest — a working market since 1826, now wrapped in restaurants, bars, and late-night energy. By day it’s stalls selling produce and BeaverTails pastries; by night it’s the city’s main strip for going out. It’s touristy in spots, but the market building itself and the surrounding lanes still feel genuinely lived-in.
🍽️ Food & Drink
William Street and York Street carry most of the action — try Play Food & Wine for small plates, The Grand Pizzeria for a casual slice, or Métropolitain Brasserie for a proper French bistro meal. The market stalls themselves are worth a slow walk for produce, cheese, and maple products.
🚶 Getting Around
Fully walkable to Parliament Hill (about 10 minutes) and the Rideau Centre. It’s Ottawa’s most central neighbourhood, so most attractions are within a 15-20 minute walk.
The Glebe
South of downtown along the Rideau Canal, the Glebe is Ottawa at its most residential — tree-lined streets, century homes, and Bank Street’s independent shops replacing chain stores. It’s where Ottawa families actually live, which gives it a different rhythm than the tourist-facing core.
🍽️ Food & Drink
Bank Street is the spine: try The Works for burgers, Bridgehead for coffee — a local chain worth seeking out — or Lieutenant’s Pump for a classic pub meal on the patio.
🚶 Getting Around
About a 25-30 minute walk from Parliament Hill, or a quick bus ride. The canal towpath makes it an easy, scenic walk or bike ride into downtown in summer.
Westboro
West along the Ottawa River, Westboro is Ottawa’s outdoorsy, design-conscious neighbourhood — outdoor gear shops, boutique fitness studios, and a stretch of river pathway locals use for running and cycling. It feels the least like a capital-city neighbourhood and the most like a genuinely good place to live.
🍽️ Food & Drink
Wellington Street West has the city’s best concentration of independent cafes and restaurants — try Stofa for Scandinavian-inspired dishes, or a casual burger spot nearby for something quicker.
🚶 Getting Around
About 15 minutes from downtown via the O-Train Confederation Line (Westboro station) — the easiest neighbourhood to reach without a car outside the core.
Parliament Hill & Centretown
The government core and the neighbourhood most first-time visitors never leave — Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, and government buildings give way to Centretown’s mix of office towers and older residential streets just south. It’s the most convenient base, if not the most characterful.
🍽️ Food & Drink
Options here lean toward hotel restaurants and lunch spots serving the government workforce, though Elgin Street on Centretown’s edge has a solid strip of restaurants and bars worth the short walk.
🚶 Getting Around
Everything else in this guide connects from here — ByWard Market, the Rideau Canal, and the national museums are all within a 10-15 minute walk.
Getting Around Ottawa
Ottawa’s transit system, OC Transpo, includes the O-Train Confederation Line running east-west through downtown, plus a comprehensive bus network. Most of the neighbourhoods in this guide — ByWard Market, the Glebe, and Parliament Hill/Centretown — are walkable to each other. Westboro is the one that benefits most from the O-Train. Winters make walking less appealing; budget more time for transit or cabs from December through March.
Where to Stay
Parliament Hill and ByWard Market have the most hotel options and put you closest to the sights. The Glebe and Westboro have far fewer hotels but a small number of good B&Bs if you want a residential base. See our full neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood hotel breakdown in Best Hotels in Ottawa for specific picks.