Restaurant Guide

Here are some restaurants we recommend.
Included are directions and descriptions of the various cuisine served:

Bay St. Bistro
Cuisine: California Eclectic

Walking time from Inn: 2 minutes
Price: moderate

Popular with many of our guests for anything from a light snack to a full meal. Also contains a large bar quite popular with the local yuppies. Outdoor patio in season if the weather isn't too inclement. Friendly, professional staff. Across the street, at the end of the block, 234-1111.

Southern Cross
Cuisine: Tex Mex

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: moderate

At the corner of Bay Street and Queen Street. A good selection of mexican dishes and standard fare such as burgers and pasta. Outdoor patio in season. 404 Queen Street, 782-2422.

Baton Rouge
Cuisine: Canadian (with an emphasis on southern)

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: moderately expensive

At the corner of Albert and Lyon. Not a quite intimate restaurant but great for a good time. 360 Albert Street ,216-1110.

Prime 360
Cuisine: Canadian

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: moderately expensive

At the corner of Laurier and Lyon in the Minto Hotel complex. Has an interesting menu featuring Canadian cuisine. Can be busy so its a good idea to book ahead. 407 Laurier Avenue West, 782-2422.

Festival Japan
Cuisine: Japanese

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: expensive

If you like sushi, this is the closest place to get it and we have reports that its pretty good. Corner of Albert and Kent, two and a half blocks east. 149 Kent Street, 234-1224.

India Palace
Cuisine: Indian

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: moderate

Reasonably priced lunch and dinner buffet but a menu is also available. The buffet is pretty good but the items on the menu are better. Just east of Kent on Albert Street - the same side as our Inn, about 2 1/2 blocks down. 292 Albert Street, 234-5433.

Carmello's Italian Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: moderate

An interesting, more contemporary Italian cuisine and the food is good. They have a nice outdoor patio right on the Sparks Street Mall between Lyon and Kent. 300 Sparks Street, 563-4349.

Merlot Rooftop Grill
Cuisine: International

Walking time from Inn: 5 minutes
Price: expensive

Ottawa's only revolving roof-top restaurant. Spectacular view of downtown Ottawa-Hull and the Ottawa River. Cooking and service French style. Reservations recommended. On top of the Marriott Hotel, southwest corner of Queen and Lyon, 783-4212.

Papagus Greek Taverna
Cuisine: Greek

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: moderate

On Kent Street, southeast corner of Cooper. Two and a half blocks east to Kent, then turn right and it is on your left, a few short blocks down. A greek taverna style restaurant - open concept. The food is good but with the open area it can be noisy. A great place to go with a group of friends, not for a quiet imtimate dinner. 281 Kent Street, 233-3626.

Green Papaya
Cuisine: Thai

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: moderate

Queen Street (between Kent St. and Bank St. Great food. Formerly L'il Thai Garden. 246 Queen Street.

Coriander Thai
Cuisine: Thai

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: moderate

On Kent Street, southwest corner of Cooper. Two and a half blocks east to Kent, turn right and it is on your right, several short blocks down. Good food - popular place with locals and visitors. 282 Kent, 233-2828.

Cathay
Cuisine: Chinese

Walking time from Inn: 8 minutes
Price: moderate

Run by Billy Joe & family for longer that we care to remember. Good traditional western style chinese food but also new fare. They have a very good, inexpensive buffet at lunch time and they also deliver. On Albert Street, this side, four blocks east just past Bank Street. 228 Albert Street, 233-7705.

Hy's Steak House
Cuisine: Steak and Seafood

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: very expensive

Supposedly Canada's premier steak house chain. Don't expect to get out of the bar and into the main dining room unless you are as well dressed as the high priced lobbyists who frequent the place. Reservations recommended. South side of Queen between Bank and O'Connor. (At least you will probably see some one famous, but they are a dime a dozen in this town.) 170 Queen Street, 234-4545.

Cafe Paradiso
Cuisine: Fusion

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: moderate to expensive

Casual fine dining with "bistro style global cuisine" Also popular for live jazz Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. 199 Bank Street, 565-0657

Le Cafe
Cuisine: Canadian

Walking time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: moderate to expensive

This restaurant, which is located in the National Arts Centre, has an interesting menu which focuses on Canadian cuisine. In the summer time it is wonderful to sit out along the canal and watch the boats go by. If you are going to a performance at the NAC and plan to dine first, you should make a reservation because it is a busy sitting. 594-5127

Dunn's Deli
Cuisine: Deli Diner

Walking time from Inn: 10 Minutes
Price: Inexpensive

Old fashioned Montreal style deli, smoke meat, bagels, etc. Corner of Sparks Street Mall and Bank Street.

Kasbah Village
Cuisine: Moroccan

Walking time from Inn: 15 Minutes
Price: Moderately expensive

Very good food. Usually pretty quite. Located on the north side of Laurier between Bank and O' Connor. 261 Laurier Avenue, 232-3737.

Fairouz
Cuisine: Lebanese

Walking time from Inn: 20 Minutes
Price: Moderately expensive

Very good food, one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Ottawa. Located on the north side of Somerset between Bank and O'Connor. 343 Somerset West, 233-1536.

Signatures
Cuisine: French

Walking time from Inn: 20 Minutes
Price: Expensive

North America's first Cordon Blue restaurant is located in this famous culinary institute. Classic French cuisine is featured with a modern and innovative presentation. Short courses are also offered to the general public as well as demonstration classes. 453 Laurier Avenue East, 236-2499.

Chinatown (Somerset Heights)
Cuisine: Various Asian

Walking Time from Inn: 10 minutes
Price: all ranges

Well over a dozen varied Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian establishments on Somerset between Percy on the east and Rochester on the west. None have a bad reputation and some are quite good. The Ben Ben, corner of Cambridge and Somerset is good - inexpensive and good portions as is the Mekong east of Bronson on Somerset near Percy. Click here for a list of restaurants in this area.

The Byward Market
Too many eateries to count, something for every taste and pocketbook. The farther in from Rideau and Sussex the less you pay for ambiance and the more food value you get for your dollar. Especially try the small places like Claire de Lune back on Clarence Street or the Crepe de France and Las Palmas on Parent at Murray. Click here to check out a few Byward Market restaurants and their menus. There are several good bright parking garages or it is about a 25 minute walk from here.

Elgin Street
At last count there were 38 restaurants between Lisgar and Gladstone with several more spilling off onto the three blocks of Somerset running west, notable among which is the renowned Mama Theresa's which is considered the best Italian restaurant in town by those who have never eaten at La Roma. Back on Elgin is Al's Steakhouse, one of only three such good ones in town (The other two being Hy's and Friday's Roast Beef House). Parking here is almost nil but its only about a twenty minute walk.

Little Italy
Preston Street or "Corso Italia" is the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy and has many of the 40 restaurants and 10 cafes that make this a wonderful place to dine. La Favorita features delightfully eclectic individual gourmet pizza. The Prescott Hotel in addition to being one of the last of the old style taverns has delicious home cooked pizza and meat ball sandwiches which could kill any diet. A long established favourite is La Roma. Parking can be found. Click here to have a look at some of these wonderful restaurants.

La Roma
Cuisine: Old World Italian

Driving time from Inn: 5 minutes minutes
Price: moderate

An Ottawa favourite for more than 30 years, La Roma's menu offers traditional dishes from various regions of Italy. They are located in "Little Italy" at 484 Preston Street, 234-8244. Reservations are recommended.

Misc
Really want to pig out? Nates Delicatessen on Rideau has a voluminous menu, generous portions and stays open very late. Even the rich, famous, and powerful eat there.

Food Delivery
If you don't feel like going out anywhere to eat, just come and see us in the office. We have a selection of delivery menus, some of which have fairly good cuisine. We also offer our own modest room service menu.

Museums and Sites

Highlights of national museums, galleries, and sites to see in the Ottawa area, including directions:

National Archives of Canada /
National Library
395 Wellington Street
The National Archives and National Library are only a five minute walk from the Inn. Walk half a block east to Bay Street, turn north (left) onto Bay Street and walk down Bay Street to Wellington Street. The Archives and Library are just across the street.

Supreme Court of Canada
301 Wellington Street
The Supreme Court is only about a ten minute walk from the Inn. Walk half a block east to Bay Street, turn north (left) onto Bay Street and walk down Bay Street to Wellington Street. The Court is just across the street then east one block towards the Parliament Buildings.

Parliament Hill
(HOC and Senate of Canada)
The "Hill" is a fifteen minute walk from Albert House Inn. Walk up to Bay Street and turn north onto Bay Street and go up to Wellington Street (its as far as you can go) and then turn east. You will go past the National Archives and National Library, the Supreme Court and just past Bank Street you will see the Parliament Buildings with the Centre Block where the Peace Tower is located. Tours operate daily-please check for times. The Changing of the Guard takes place on the main lawn in front of the Peace Tower daily from late June to late August. There is no public parking on the Hill so it is recommended that you walk from the Inn.

Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
1 Rideau Canal
The Museum is located just to the east of the Parliament Buildings between the Rideau Locks and the Chateau Laurier Hotel in an elegantly reconstructed railway tunnel. A leisurely twenty minute walk from the Inn.

National Gallery of Canada
380 Sussex Drive
If you keep walking east past the Parliament Buildings, just beyond the Chateau Laurier Hotel you will come to Mackenzie Avenue. Turn north on Mackenzie and walk down just a bit and you will come to the National Gallery. You will go past Major's Hill Park which offers a nice view of the Ottawa River and the Rideau Locks. The Gallery would be about a twenty to thirty minute walk from the Inn. To drive from the Inn, go down Albert Street just past the first traffic lights beyond the Inn, turn left up the hill (Bronson Avenue) and then turn left immediately onto Slater Street. Proceed all the way down Slater (you will be travelling east) until you come to Elgin Street. Turn north onto Elgin (left) and following the main traffic flow swing right (east) past the Chateau Laurier Hotel to Sussex Drive. Turn left (north) onto Sussex Drive (the first left/northbound) and proceed down a short distance. You will see the new American embassy on your left and just beyond you will see the Gallery. Underground parking is available and there is less expensive metered parking across the street. A No. 3 bus which you can catch on Slater Street, just one street south of us, will take you directly to the Gallery.

Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is now open at its new location on Lebreton Flats. This new facility is only a 10 minute walk from the Inn.

Byward Market
Bounded by Rideau Street to the south; Murray Street to the north, and Sussex Drive to the west; Dalhousie Street to the east, this busy area is very popular with visitors and locals alike. A colourful farmers market, many fine restaurants and lots of live music clubs attract people all year round. There are several parking garages and some metered parking but it can be very busy and difficult to find parking at times. The Market is about a twenty-thirty minute walk from the Inn. To drive to the Market from the Inn, follow the directions to the National Gallery, but turn right onto York Street off of Sussex Drive. York Street is the second street to the right once you get onto Sussex Drive. Here you will find metered street parking and a parking garage (one of many). Just about any bus that you take on Slater Street (the street just to the south of us) will take you to the market area. Just ask the bus driver.

The Royal Canadian Mint
320 Sussex Drive
The Mint is located just beside the Canadian War Museum. Tours are available in English and French but must be booked in advance and there is a gift shop. Parking is available in the immediate area - it would be about a thirty minute walk from the Inn. Follow the driving directions to the National Gallery. A No. 3 bus which you can catch almost directly behind us on Slater Street will take you directly to the Mint.

Rideau Hall
Off Sussex Drive between Mackay and Princess
Residence of the Governor General open to the public. Continue along Sussex Drive well past the Royal Canadian Mint - follow the signs.

Canadian Museum of Civilization
100 Laurier Street, Hull, Quebec
On a nice day this is a pleasant twenty to thirty minute walk from the Inn. Walk east half a block to Bay Street, then turn north (left) and walk up to Wellington Street. Cross Wellington Street here and turn west (left) and go over the Portage Bridge (there are nice wide sidewalks). Once over the bridge you can either turn east (right) onto Laurier Street or take the steps down to the river walk just before you get to Laurier and you can approach the Museum from the river side. This is a pleasant walk. If you wish to drive, go down Albert Street and as you go through the first lights at the corner you immediately turn left and go up the hill (Bronson Avenue) just to the next light and then turn left immediately onto Slater Street. Just go down one block to Bay Street, turn left and go all the way to Wellington Street. Turn left onto Wellington Street and get over to the far right side of Wellington as you will be going over the Portage Bridge which is just to the right. After you cross the bridge you will arrive at Laurier Street. Turn right onto Laurier Street and the Museum is just a little way down on the river side. There is underground parking. A No. 8 Hull bus available just across the street will take you to the Museum. This bus stops coming across the bridge in the early evening so check with OC Transpo or ask the driver when you board for return times.