Best Late Night Eats in Ottawa

Ottawa shuts down early compared to most cities. But if you know where to look, there are diners, shawarma shops, poutine stands, pho joints, and bars serving food well past midnight — some around the clock.

Here are the best late-night eats in Ottawa.

24-Hour Spots

Elgin Street Diner

Elgin Street Diner is Ottawa's most famous late-night destination. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year, it's the place everyone ends up at after the bars close. The caramelized onion and bacon poutine is the signature order at 2am. All-day breakfast, burgers, milkshakes — classic diner food done right.

Open: 24/7 | Price: $$

Kettleman's Bagel

Kettleman's Bagel on Bank Street bakes Montreal-style bagels in a wood-fired oven around the clock. At 3am, you can walk in and grab a sesame bagel still warm from the oven. It's been running 24/7 since 1993. Not a full meal, but the best late-night snack in Ottawa.

Open: 24/7 (Bank Street location) | Price: $

Zak's Diner

Zak's Diner in the ByWard Market goes 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. The retro diner vibe, neon signs, and all-day breakfast menu make it a natural post-bar stop. Other nights it closes at 9pm (Thursday at midnight), so plan accordingly.

Open: 24hrs Fri–Sat only | Price: $$

Open Until 3am–4am

3 Brothers Shawarma & Poutine

3 Brothers on Rideau Street stays open until 3am on weeknights and until 4am on Friday and Saturday. The move here is the shawarma poutine — fries, curds, gravy, and shawarma meat in one container. It's cheap, filling, and exactly what you want at 2:30am.

Open: Mon–Thu & Sun until 3am, Fri–Sat until 4am | Price: $

Sasha's Poutine Stand

Sasha's Poutine on York Street is an old-school takeout window — no seats, no frills, just poutine, fries, and sausages served in paper cups until 3am. It's been the go-to post-bar poutine stop in the ByWard Market for decades. Cash only.

Open: Daily until 3am | Price: $

New Pho Bo Ga La

New Pho Bo Ga La in Chinatown is reportedly open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, making it one of the latest kitchens in Ottawa. A steaming bowl of pho at 3am hits different. The rest of the week it's open until 1am, which is still later than most. Hours may vary — call ahead to confirm late-night availability. Don't confuse it with the similarly named Pho Bo Ga L.A. across the street, which closes earlier.

Open: Fri–Sat reportedly until 4am, other nights until 1am (confirm by phone) | Price: $

Open Until 2am

Shawarma Palace

Shawarma Palace on Rideau Street has been the Ottawa shawarma benchmark since 1997. Friday and Saturday nights it's open until 2am, other nights until 1am. The garlic potato plate is the unofficial late-night order.

Open: Fri–Sat until 2am | Price: $

Thr33's Co. Snack Bar

Thr33's Co. on Bank Street is the most interesting late-night menu in Ottawa. Globally inspired small plates, creative cocktails, and a signature peanut butter habanero chicken drumstick. It's more cocktail lounge than pub, and the food is a cut above typical bar snacks. Open until 2am every night.

Open: Daily until 2am | Price: $$

The Brig Pub

The Brig Pub on York Street is a ByWard Market staple with a kitchen that runs late. The crispy chicken sandwich is the move — industry workers swear by it. The upstairs Armada Lounge is a quieter option if the main floor is packed.

Open: Daily until 2am | Price: $$

Atomic Rooster

Atomic Rooster on Bank Street combines a bar, live music venue, and art gallery into one space. The food is solid pub fare, and the bar is open until 2am every night. Karaoke nights draw a late crowd.

Open: Daily until 2am | Price: $$

Chez Lucien

Chez Lucien in the ByWard Market is the classic late-night pub — cozy, unpretentious, with one of the best burgers in Ottawa. The bar is open until 2am, but the kitchen closes at midnight. Get your food order in before then.

Open: Bar until 2am, kitchen until midnight | Price: $$

Somewhere Dine Bar

Somewhere on Murray Street is Ottawa's upscale late-night option. The main menu runs until midnight, then a separate late-night menu kicks in until 2am. Oysters, craft cocktails, and a hidden back patio. If you want something nicer than diner food at 1am, this is the spot.

Open: Daily until 2am (late-night menu midnight–2am) | Price: $$$

G Burger

G Burger on Elgin Street serves premium smash burgers from the Gitanes team. Locally sourced ethical beef, natural wines, and craft beer. It stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday only — other nights it closes earlier. Monday it's closed entirely.

Open: Fri–Sat until 2am | Price: $$

Late-Night Eating by Neighbourhood

ByWard Market

The highest concentration of late-night food. Zak's (24hrs Fri–Sat), Sasha's Poutine (3am), The Brig (2am), Chez Lucien (kitchen midnight), Somewhere (2am).

Rideau Street

Shawarma Palace (2am Fri–Sat) and 3 Brothers (4am Fri–Sat) — the shawarma strip.

Bank Street / Centretown

Elgin Street Diner (24/7), G Burger (2am Fri–Sat), Atomic Rooster (2am), Thr33's Co. (2am).

The Glebe

Kettleman's Bagel (24/7) — the only 24-hour option south of downtown.

Chinatown

New Pho Bo Ga La (4am Fri–Sat) — the latest kitchen in Ottawa.

Tips

• Cash for Sasha's — they don't take cards
• Kitchen vs. bar hours — many bars stay open until 2am but kitchens close earlier. Chez Lucien's kitchen closes at midnight
• Zak's is only 24hrs on weekends — weeknights it closes at 9pm (Thursday midnight)
• Kettleman's Bank Street is the 24-hour location — not all Kettleman's locations are open overnight
• Order before last call — most kitchens stop taking orders 30 minutes before closing