01 · $$$ Splurge
$$$ Worth the splurge.
Price tiers are based on each restaurant's own menu, checked in November 2026: $$$ means most mains over $30, $$ means about $18 to $30, and $ means under $18 or counter service. Prices change, and December weekends fill up fast, so book early.
- Date night: Beckta, Centretown
- 150 Elgin St, in a heritage house. Classic Ottawa fine dining, with a tasting menu if you want to go all in. It also sells Christmas and New Year's Eve meal kits for a night in.
- Date night: Arlo, Centretown
- 340 Somerset St W. A small, cozy room with seasonal plates and natural wine.
- The work party: Fauna, Centretown
- 425 Bank St. A private room for 20 to 25, or the main floor for up to 60. Farm-to-table plates made for sharing.
- The west-end work party: Brookstreet Hotel, Kanata North
- 525 Legget Dr. Holiday party packages and a private dining room for up to 14. Ask the events team for this year's menus.
- Christmas Day brunch: Fairmont Château Laurier, downtown
- A Christmas Day brunch buffet on December 25, 10:30 am to 1 pm. Reserve ahead.
02 · $$ Mid-range
$$ A night out, without the big bill.
- The work party: The Barley Mow, Nepean
- 1541 Merivale Rd. A private room that seats up to 45 and is free to book (a minimum spend may apply).
- The work party: Fratelli, Westboro
- 275 Richmond Rd. Family-style Italian with a private room for holiday parties.
- Date night: Johnny Farina, Elgin St
- 216 Elgin St. Wood-fired pizza in a former movie theatre with very high ceilings.
- Date night: Chez Lionel, Kanata
- 101 Kanata Ave. A French brasserie in the west end, with weeknight specials. At the top of this tier.
- Out with friends: El Camino, Elgin St and ByWard Market
- 380 Elgin St and 81A Clarence St. A lively taco bar where you order by the piece. Elgin is open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Out with friends: Lowertown Brewery, ByWard Market
- 73 York St. House-brewed beer, food from its own smoker and live-band karaoke.
- Out with friends: The Barley Mow, Orléans
- 2034 Tenth Line Rd. An east-end pub that books parties of 10 or more.
- Brunch: Hintonburg Public House
- 1020 Wellington St W. A neighbourhood pub brunch on weekends and holidays, and it takes large groups.
- Brunch: Zak's Diner
- ByWard Market, Elgin St and Kanata. Breakfast all day, easy with kids and groups. At the low end of this tier.
03 · $ Easy on the wallet
$ Cheap and cheerful.
- The office lunch: Shawarma Palace
- Across the city, including Alta Vista (2440 Bank St), Barrhaven (2910 Woodroffe Ave) and Orléans (4230 Innes Rd). Big portions and catering platters for an office party.
- Groups: Gongfu Bao, Centretown
- 365 Bank St. Fun bao and shared plates, and it takes group reservations. Open Wednesday to Saturday.
- A casual date: Stella Luna Gelato Café, Old Ottawa South
- 1103 Bank St. Gelato and waffles after a walk along the canal.
- Before a night out: Holly's Hot Chicken, Hintonburg
- 45 Armstrong St. Hot-chicken sandwiches for an early meetup. It closes early, and it's closed Sunday to Tuesday.
- After a night out: Kettlemans Bagel, the Glebe
- 912 Bank St, open 24 hours. Also in Kanata (710 Eagleson Rd) for a cheap breakfast out west.
- Brunch: Sharpfle Waffle, ByWard Market
- 111 York St. Korean croissant-waffles, sweet or savoury. Open from 10 am on weekends.
04 · Lights
Light shows and Christmas villages.
- Winter Lights Across Canada, downtown
- Parliament Hill and Confederation Boulevard lit up every evening, December 7, 2026 to January 7, 2027. Free. (Formerly Christmas Lights Across Canada.)
- Magic of Lights, Wesley Clover Parks
- 411 Corkstown Rd. A drive-through light show you watch from the car, November 20, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Check nightly hours and tickets.
- Vintage Village of Lights, Cumberland
- Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd, east of Orléans. A heritage village dressed for an old-fashioned Christmas, with Santa and gingerbread decorating. November 27 to December 20, 2026, select evenings. Registration recommended.
- A Country Christmas, Saunders Farm, Munster
- 7893 Bleeks Rd. Santa, a stage show, snowy hedge mazes and light walks after dark. Select days, December 6 to 30, 2026.
05 · Santa parades
Three parades, three ends of the city.
- Help Santa Toy Parade, downtown to Lansdowne
- Free. Saturday, November 21, 2026, 11 am, along Queen Elizabeth Drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toy Mountain.
- Santa's Parade of Lights, Orléans
- Free. Saturday, November 28, 2026, 6 pm, along St-Joseph Boulevard. Lit floats after dark.
- Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade
- Free. The organiser lists Sunday, November 29 at 5:30 pm. Check santaclausbarrhaven.com for the route before you go.
06 · Markets
Shop local, sip something warm.
- Ottawa Christmas Market, Lansdowne
- Aberdeen Plaza. Wooden cabins, warm drinks and live music. Free. Listed dates: November 20 to 22 and 27 to 29, December 11 to 13 and 18 to 20, and December 31. More dates may be added.
- The Museum's Christmas Market, Gatineau
- Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier St. A big indoor artisan market, November 26 to 29, 2026. Free entry.
- Ottawa Farmers' Market Christmas Market, south end
- Cohere Centre (formerly the EY Centre), 4899 Uplands Dr. Local growers and makers indoors with easy parking. Saturdays November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19, 10 am to 4 pm.
07 · Skating and games
Get outside, or get loud.
- Lansdowne skating court, the Glebe
- Free outdoor skating next to the Christmas Market, 6 am to 11 pm daily once it opens. Bring your own skates. Opening date not announced yet; last season it opened in late November.
- Rideau Hall rink, New Edinburgh
- Free skating on a historic rink at the Governor General's residence. 2026 to 2027 season dates to be confirmed at gg.ca.
- Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata
- Home games on December 3 and 5, 2026. The Ottawa Charge play their home opener there on December 6.
Thinking about a move in the new year? Winter is a quieter market, with less competition for buyers and more serious buyers for sellers. Ask us what's selling near you.