Best French Restaurants in Ottawa
Find the best french restaurants in Ottawa.
L'Orée du Bois
French-Québécois fine dining in Chelsea since 1978. Seasonal menu with local farm ingredients, near the Kingsmere entrance to Gatineau Park. TripAdvisor #1 in Chelsea.
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.
Le Cellier
French bistro in a heritage Victorian house on Rue Saint-Jacques in Vieux-Hull. Known for its 150+ wine selection and seasonal market-driven menu.
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.
Restaurant Antonyme
Aylmer's top-rated fine dining destination on Rue Principale — Chef Marc-André Camaraire's contemporary Canadian cuisine with French and Spanish influences. Tasting menu refreshed every three weeks.
Tartelette Bakery & Café
French bakery and café in Old Ottawa East featuring handcrafted pastries, tarts, and cheesecakes by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs.
Mamie Clafoutis
French bakery and café in Westboro Village serving Ottawa's best croissants, pastries, and light meals in a cozy atmosphere.
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.
Beurre Salé Crêperie et Boutique
A French crêperie in an old Aylmer heritage house on Rue Principale — buckwheat galettes, sweet dessert crepes, waffles, and a French boutique. Steps from the marina.
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.
La Muse at Wakefield Mill
Fine dining inside Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa with a waterfall view through the glass solarium. French-Canadian cuisine with discovery menus, wine cellar, and Sunday brunch.