While attending the International Symposium on Recent Advances in Intrusion Detection (RAID), take some time to experience a variety of restaurants. Ottawa's unique position on the border between Ontario and Québec allows it to showcase the best of the culinary traditions of both English and French Canada. As one of Ontario’s designated culinary tourism destinations, Ottawa offers a vast selection of international cuisines, and relaxed, casual fare to suit every palate, and budget.

Dining districts include the courtyards and outdoor cafés of the historic ByWard Market, great Asian dining along Somerset Street West, Italian along Preston Street, and a mix of culinary treats along Elgin and Bank Streets.

ByWard Market
Just a block east of Parliament Hill, Ottawa's ByWard Market offers one-of-a-kind shops, over 80 restaurants and cafés, a thriving nightlife, and Canada's oldest continuously operating farmers' market. Year round you'll find over 100 vendors of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, and arts and crafts arranged in and near the historic ByWard Market Square building.

Chinatown / Somerset West

A multicultural village with a distinctly Asian flavour, Somerset West is Ottawa's Chinatown – and the focal point for Asian cuisines and shopping. Discover a vast array of Far Eastern products and foods – Chinatown is home to Ottawa's largest concentration of Asian restaurants, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.

Little Italy

Known as Corso Italia, the Preston Street area is renowned for its Italian heritage, events, and of course, its fine Italian restaurants. The area comes alive with a celebration of the wine harvest during September's La Vendemmia.

Empire Grill

Located right in the heart of the ByWard Market, the Empire Grill is the only Gold Member Licensee of Certified Angus Beef in all of Ontario. This New York-inspired room is perfect for sit-down dinners and stand-up cocktail events.

Le Cordon Bleu Signatures Restaurant

Le Cordon Bleu Signatures, highly acclaimed, 5 diamond restaurant, presents fine, classic French cuisine for gourmands seeking to indulge in the ultimate in culinary artistry.

Vineyards Wine Bar Bistro

This candlelit cellar with live Jazz music, has been honoured every year since 1979 by the Wine Spectator with the 'Award of Excellence' for having one of the most outstanding wine lists in the world. The bistro menu has everything from appetizers to full meals.

Hard Rock Café

Ottawa’s Hard Rock Cafe is situated in the heart of the historic ByWard Market. It has the original concept of North American fare, which has made it famous since it’s opening in London June, 1971.

Heart & Crown

The Heart & Crown offers culinary treats, fine wines and ales from across the globe. Step into an old English pub, drift across Ottawa's oldest courtyard to visit the Black Thorn Café - voted Ottawa's best patio - and wander down into the Irish Village.

Ottawa Tourism’s “Where-to-Eat” site can be used to discover other choices.