Best French Restaurants in Ottawa

Ottawa sits right across the river from Gatineau, Quebec — and that proximity shows in its restaurant scene. The city has one of the strongest French dining cultures in English Canada, from award-winning tasting menus to neighbourhood bistros serving steak frites and oysters.

Here are 4 French restaurants that represent the best of what Ottawa has to offer.

1. Gitanes — Ottawa's Highest-Rated French Restaurant

Gitanes on Elgin Street is where Ottawa goes for a special occasion. Chef Mitch Lacombe opened the restaurant in 2019, and it quickly earned a spot on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list. The focus is modern French cuisine built around sustainably sourced Canadian ingredients, with an impressive raw bar and one of the city's best wine cellars.

The tasting menu with wine pairings is the way to go if you want the full experience. The space is intimate, the service is polished, and the food is consistently excellent. This is the kind of restaurant where you trust the kitchen and let them guide you.

Must-try: The tasting menu with wine pairings, and anything from the raw bar.

Best for: Special occasions, date night, wine lovers.

Price: $$$$

2. Riviera — Fine Dining in a Former Bank

Riviera occupies a stunning Art Deco former bank building on Sparks Street, just steps from Parliament Hill. Chef-owner Jordan Holley and his team have been running one of Ottawa's most ambitious kitchens since 2016, and the accolades show — #28 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants in 2024, and winner of the Best Restaurant Bar Award in 2025.

The soaring ceilings and marble-and-brass interior create a dining room that matches the ambition of the food. The open kitchen serves everything from delicate tartares and crudos to freshly extruded pastas. The cocktail program is equally impressive — the bar earned its own national award.

Must-try: Lobster spaghetti and a cocktail from the award-winning bar.

Best for: Date night, entertaining guests, cocktail lovers.

Price: $$$$

3. Cocotte Bistro — French Comfort in The Metcalfe Hotel

Cocotte Bistro brings French comfort cuisine to downtown Ottawa from inside The Metcalfe Hotel on Metcalfe Street. Chef Stephen La Salle runs a locally sourced menu that covers every meal — breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch.

The space is gorgeous: black-and-white stone tiles from Italy, a marble bar, and rich green velvet banquettes that feel straight out of a Paris bistro. The food is approachable and well-executed — steak frites, cornish hen, fresh oysters — and the Ottawa-Brest dessert (a local spin on Paris-Brest) is a must-try. Its location near the National Arts Centre makes it a great pre-theatre option.

Must-try: Cornish hen, steak frites, and the Ottawa-Brest for dessert.

Best for: Business lunches, pre-theatre dining, weekend brunch.

Price: $$$

4. Métropolitain Brasserie — Classic Brasserie on Sussex Drive

Métropolitain Brasserie on Sussex Drive is the closest Ottawa gets to a Parisian brasserie. With large windows overlooking Sussex, Ottawa's largest oyster bar, and a wine list curated by their in-house sommelier, it captures the vibrant, social spirit of French dining.

Founded by John Borsten, the restaurant runs from brunch through late night most days of the week. The signature move is Thursday's buck-a-shuck oysters — available all day, and one of the best deals in the city. The rest of the menu covers brasserie classics like steak tartare and moules frites.

Must-try: Buck-a-shuck oysters on Thursday, and the steak tartare.

Best for: Oyster lovers, group dinners, casual French dining.

Price: $$$

Comparison: Finding Your Perfect Spot

Why Ottawa Does French So Well

Ottawa's French dining scene benefits from geography. Sitting across the Ottawa River from Gatineau, Quebec, the city has always had a bilingual, bicultural character that shows up on its plates. Many of the chefs working in Ottawa's French kitchens trained in Quebec or France, and the proximity to Quebec's agricultural regions means access to excellent dairy, charcuterie, and produce.

The result is a French food scene that ranges from tasting-menu fine dining to neighbourhood bistros where you can get steak frites and a glass of wine for a reasonable price — and all of it feels authentic rather than performative.

Tips for Dining French in Ottawa

• Reserve for dinner: Gitanes and Riviera fill up fast, especially on weekends. Book at least a few days ahead.
• Try Thursday oysters: Métropolitain's buck-a-shuck deal is one of the best in the city. Get there early.
• Don't skip dessert: French pastry is a strength across all these restaurants. The Ottawa-Brest at Cocotte is a standout.
• Wine pairings are worth it: At Gitanes and Riviera, the wine programs are integral to the experience. Let the sommelier guide you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

French cuisine has a natural home in Ottawa. The bilingual character of the city, the proximity to Quebec, and a restaurant scene that continues to attract serious culinary talent all contribute to a dining landscape where French food thrives — from white-tablecloth tasting menus to classic brasseries.