Schmap Ottawa Neighborhood Guide

Our apologies: your internet browser is not yet fully supported by our Schmap online guides. If you continue, pages in this guide may display or function incorrectly.

Would you like to continue anyway?

Schmap.com supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 and above
Firefox 1.5 and above
Safari 3 for Pc

MAC

Safari version 1.3 and above
Firefox 2 and above

Ottawa - Neighborhood Guide
Download the Schmap Ottawa Guide
With Schmap 2.0 you can:

Browse this Schmap Guide on your PC, online or offline.
View Schmap Guides for 200 worldwide destinations.
Bookmark places of interest, plan trips and take virtual tours.
Custom print your own full-color travel guides.
Publish and share schmapplets with your favorite places
Enjoy many more unique Schmap features.

Ottawa Home
Schmap Ottawa guide and map

As capital cities go, Ottawa is arguably the most visitor-friendly capital in the world. Small enough that everything worth seeing is within a brisk walk or an inexpensive cab ride, the city is also large enough to have something to offer nearly every taste whether it be cultural, culinary, athletic or historic.

As Ottawa has grown, so has its cultural diversity. There are many theatre companies including the Great Canadian Theatre Company and Ottawa Little Theatre which operate in the city. Ottawa is also home to the National Gallery of Canada and the National Arts Centre, not to mention the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization which is located across the Ottawa River in Hull.

Downtown

While Ottawa's downtown core is home to many of the city's major attractions including Parliament Hill and the National Gallery of Canada, it is a vibrant community unto itself with a large residential element and several shopping centres including the pedestrian Sparks Street Mall and the Rideau Shopping Centre.

One can also find many fine restaurants in the downtown core including Hy's Steak House, Suisha Gardens and Mamma Teresa Ristorante. The core itself runs from Wellington Street in the north to the Queensway in the south, and the Rideau Canal in the east to Bronson Avenue in the west.

For a taste of Ottawa's nightlife, be sure to visit some of the nightclubs and restaurants along Elgin Street including Griffin's, Big Daddy's Crab Shack and Oyster Bar and The Bulldog Pub.

The Glebe

South of the Queensway, running along both sides of Bank Street, is the Glebe, a trendy arts and specialty shop district that has attracted many suburban transplants looking for a little downtown living.

Sandy Hill and the Byward Market

Across from the downtown core on the eastern bank of the Rideau Canal is the University of Ottawa, which borders the stately Sandy Hillt district where a majority of the city's embassies are located. Across Rideau Street to the north of Sandy Hill is the Byward Market where every sense can be satisfied.

The "Market" is a tourist Mecca attracting both vacationers and locals to its many special shops and restaurants during the day, while in the evenings the streets are filled with late night revelers touring the area's many bars and nightclubs including On Tap the Heart and Crown and the Rainbow Bistro blues club.

Somerset Heights

Situated to the west of the downtown area is Somerset Heights which was previously known as Chinatown before the age of political correctness and an influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the late 70s brought about a name change. If it's Asian food you're interested in, then the Heights is the place to come. Along Somerset Street one can find some of the finest Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in the city including the Mekong Restaurant, the Yangtze and the Cam Kong.

About a 10-minute walk west down Somerset Street from the Heights is Preston Street, the cultural center of Ottawa's Italian community. Every year during the last weekend in June the street overflows with people returning to their roots to celebrate Italian Week.

Running north and south along the eastern edge of the downtown core is the Rideau Canal where one can either walk, jog, in-line skate or just park themselves on a bench and watch the world go by.

Vanier

Further east from Sandy Hillt is Vanier. This smallish neighborhood is the last bastion of the francophone community in Ottawa and they maintain their heritage with immense pride.

Rockcliffe Park

To the north of Vanier is Rockcliffe Park where on can find some of the most expensive real estate in Canada including the multi-million dollar home of Corel founder Michael Cowpland. Rockcliffe is also the home of 24 Sussex Drive and Rideau Hall, the homes of the Prime Minister and the Governor General respectively.

Hull

Across the river from Parliament Hill is Ottawa's twin city of Hull. Located in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Hull has grown up struggling to find an identity under the shadow of the nation's capital. Besides having many fine French restaurants, Hull is also the gateway to Gatineau Park, a wonderfully bucolic getaway run by the National Capital Commission. The Park itself has many fine bike paths, picturesque lakes and points of interest including the Mackenzie King Estate and Meech Lake.

Western Suburbs

Further to the west of the downtown core are the suburban neighborhoods of Bells Corners, Barrhaven and Kanata. While Barrhaven and Bells Corners are mostly bedroom communities with a smattering of restaurants and hotels, Kanata is the high tech centre of Ottawa and home to many high tech giants such as Nortel, Mitel, Alcatel, Mosaid and Entrust.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Downtown

Ottawa
Canada

While Ottawa's downtown core is home to many of the city's major attractions including Parliament Hilland the National Gallery of Canada, it is a vibrant community unto itself with a large residential element and several shopping centres including the pedestrian Sparks Street Malland the Rideau Shopping Centre. One can also find many fine restaurants in the downtown core including Suisha Gardensand Mamma Teresa Ristorante. The core itself runs from Wellington Street in the north to the Queensway in the south, and the Rideau Canalin the east to Bronson Avenue in the west. For a taste of Ottawa's nightlife, be sure to visit some of the nightclubs and restaurants along Elgin Street including Griffin's, Big Daddy's Crab Shack and Oyster Barand The Bulldog Pub.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Douglas Smith

Photo: Lisafer

Photo: wkax

Photo: Andrew Dunning

Photo: Brenda Machuca Muñiz

Photo: Colum Furey

Photo: Alex Hebert

Photo: Philip Moschovas

Photo: Latiesha Dorant

Photo: Ruth (Ruthie) Palmer

Photo: ottawagal

Photo: Valia Reinsalu

Photo: Philip Parker

Photo: Kelvin Ng

Photo: Kendal Egli

Hull

Ottawa
Canada
Across the river from Parliament Hillis Ottawa's twin city of Hull. Located in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Hull has grown up struggling to find an identity under the shadow of the nation's capital. Besides having many fine French restaurants, Hull is also the gateway to Gatineau Park, a wonderfully bucolic getaway run by the National Capital Commission. The Park itself has many fine bike paths, picturesque lakes and points of interest including the Mackenzie King Estateand Meech Lake.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Juan C. Margenat
Photo: woodcock johnson
Photo: Bill Holt
Photo: Dominick Chapman
Photo: Sam MacCutchan
Photo: Jon Ben
Photo: Adam Wright
Photo: Dale Pringle

Photo: Marcio Leibovitch
Photo: jamullassery
Photo: gavin babstock
Photo: bruceley
Photo: erfan0
Photo: Ender Atay

Sandy Hill and the Byward Market

Ottawa
Canada
Across from the downtown core on the eastern bank of the Rideau Canal is the University of Ottawa, which borders the stately Sandy Hill district where a majority of the city's embassies are located. Across Rideau Street to the north of Sandy Hill is the Byward Market where every sense can be satisfied. The "Market" is a tourist mecca attracting both vacationers and locals to its many special shops and restaurants during the day, while in the evenings the streets are filled with late night revelers touring the area's many bars and nightclubs including On Tapthe Heart and Crownand the Rainbow Bistroblues club.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Yvonne
Photo: Boris Mann
Photo: cshym74
Photo: Ludmila Carvalho
Photo: T. Shadforth
Photo: Nikki Mayville
Photo: doraflood
Photo: Andrew Pettit

Photo: B3man1
Photo: darrell.theriault
Photo: acid mathilde

Somerset Heights

Ottawa
Canada
Situated to the west of the downtown area is Somerset Heights which was previously known as Chinatown before the age of political correctness and an influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the late '70s brought about a name change. Along Somerset Street one can find some of the finest Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in the city including the Mekong Restaurant, the Yangtzeand the Cam Kong. About a 10-minute walk west down Somerset Street from the Heights is Preston Street, the cultural center of Ottawa's Italian community. Every year during the last weekend in June, the street overflows with people returning to their roots to celebrate Italian Week. Running north and south along the eastern edge of the downtown core is the Rideau Canalwhere one can either walk, jog, in-line skate or just park themselves on a bench and watch the world go by.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: jc.imbeault

The Glebe

Ottawa
Canada
Running along both sides of Bank Street is the Glebe, a trendy district that has attracted suburban transplants looking for a little downtown living. Specialty cafés, restaurants, galleries and shops cause the Glebe to exude a cosmopolitan air in a small-town way.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Rachel Ziemba
Photo: Shawn Joncas
Photo: Mike Glasspool
Photo: Stephanie Montgomery
Photo: Roy Terretta
Photo: Sean Leslie
Photo: Shereen_loves_Cidra_and_Karam
Photo: Kelly Fritsch

Photo: Chris Hiltz
Photo: fizzedi
Photo: Deb Richardson

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Ottawa - Neighborhood Guide"
Ottawa
Ottawa - Historical Background
Ottawa - Where to Stay
Ottawa - Dining & Drinking
Ottawa - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Montreal (167 miles)
Toronto (354 miles)
Buffalo (374 miles)
Niagara Falls (377 miles)
Boston (494 miles)
New York (538 miles)
Philadelphia (602 miles)
Baltimore (681 miles)
Detroit (684 miles)
Washington DC (726 miles)

Schmap.com
About
News & Reviews
Travel Store
Privacy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
© 2008 Schmap, Inc. All rights reserved.