Best French in Downtown, Ottawa
Find the best french restaurants in Downtown, Ottawa.
Riviera
Set in a former Art Deco bank on Sparks Street, Riviera is Ottawa's most dramatic dining room. Ranked
Cocotte Bistro
French comfort cuisine in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Located inside The Metcalfe Hotel, Cocotte Bistro serves everything from breakfast to late dinner with locally sourced ingredients, weekend brunch, and a beautifully designed Parisian-inspired dining room.
Métropolitain Brasserie
A Parisian-inspired brasserie on Sussex Drive with Ottawa's largest oyster bar. Métropolitain Brasserie brings authentic French dining to the ByWard Market — classic cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, and buck-a-shuck oysters every Thursday.
Le Moulin de Provence
A ByWard Market landmark since 1998, Le Moulin de Provence is a French bakery and café famous for its Obama Cookies — the maple leaf shortbread that Barack Obama bought during his 2009 visit. Fresh-baked pastries, artisan breads, and a warm market atmosphere.
Benny's Bistro
A hidden gem inside The French Baker in the ByWard Market. Known for one of the best brunches in Ottawa with French-inspired dishes and fresh pastries steps away. Saturday brunch draws lines out the door.
Gitanes
Ottawa's highest-rated French restaurant. Chef Mitch Lacombe serves modern French cuisine with sustainably sourced Canadian ingredients on Elgin Street. Named to Canada's 100 Best Restaurants, with an extensive wine cellar and raw bar.