Ottawa has a quietly great after-dark scene, and some of its best bars don't advertise at all. There are basement lounges behind unmarked doors, a vintage elevator that takes you down to a candlelit room, and cocktail bars so dim and intimate they feel like a secret even with a sign out front.
Here's a guide to the best speakeasies and hidden bars in Ottawa, including how to find them, what to order, whether you need a reservation, and one important bar that's closing at the end of the year.
Please note: this guide was prepared on October 30, 2026, from the bars' own websites and local listings. Hidden bars change their hours, menus and even locations often, and some sources disagree on opening hours, so I've left most hours out. Check each bar's website or social pages before you go.
These are the places that feel like a real secret, with entrances you have to know about.
Sparks Street19+Reservations required
Hidden inside the Rabbit Hole at 208 Sparks Street, the Jackalope is reached by descending through a vintage elevator door into a low-lit basement. There's no printed menu. You can choose from a seasonal craft cocktail list, ask for a classic, or let your bartender ask you a few questions and build a drink around your tastes. Drinks take time, so settle in.
The house rules ask guests to keep noise down, and business attire is recommended. Seating is limited, so reserve through the Rabbit Hole's website well ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday. Expect cocktails in roughly the mid-$20s.
ByWard MarketBasement
Down in the basement beneath Starling, on York Street, this is a dim, vintage-style cocktail lounge with prohibition-era touches: dark wood, velvet seating and a marble bar. Classic cocktails are the move here, and some listings mention live jazz on Thursday nights. Listings note that drinks can take a while to arrive, which is part of the pace.
CentretownSecret door
At 315 Somerset Street West, Union Local 613 is described in local guides as hidden behind a bookcase door that opens into a dim, jazz-infused room. The food is Southern comfort and the drinks lean toward whiskey and local spirits. Check its website or Instagram for events like whiskey nights, and book on weekends since it fills up.
Not every hidden bar needs a password. Some are simply down a flight of stairs, and just as much fun.
370 Elgin Street. A basement bar beneath an unassuming apartment building, with a bohemian, mismatched look and a loyal crowd of artists and musicians. It's casual, doesn't take reservations, and there's famously little cell signal, so charge your phone and make your plans before you head down.
310 St. Patrick Street. An unassuming door off Cumberland Street leads down to a cosy basement in a former church, with live music and poetry nights. Check the online schedule for what's on.
337 Somerset Street West. Listed in local guides as an underground lounge, with dark wood and exposed brick and a menu that includes classics such as the Hemingway Daiquiri. It's relaxed, with a late-night happy hour listed.
You can find these easily, but once inside they feel like a different world: dim lighting, craft cocktails and a sense that the evening is meant to be savoured.
106 Sparks StClosing Dec 31, 2026
Experimental, low-waste craft cocktails with chef-driven small plates. The owners have announced the bar will close at the end of 2026, with pop-ups and a New Year's Eve party planned and new downtown projects to follow in 2027. If you've been meaning to go, you have about two months.
340 Elgin St
A mid-century cocktail and wine lounge with a living-room feel, DJs on weekends and board game nights. Signature cocktails are listed at roughly $17 to $19, with a cocktail on tap. Reservations are available online.
William St, ByWard Market
Intimate, with no TVs or loud music, and a menu of seasonal signature cocktails alongside classics. It's good for a quiet drink and a real conversation.
Gladstone Ave, Hintonburg
A small, Scotch-focused lounge with 80-plus single malts and live jazz, and a happy hour in the early evening. It's a good pick if you'd rather sip than mix.
The Jackalope requires a reservation, and weekends fill up. For others, call or check online. Confirm the day of, since hours at small bars shift.
The Rabbit Hole enforces a neat, presentable dress code on Friday and Saturday after 10 p.m., and the Jackalope recommends business attire. Skip the streetwear.
Where there's no menu, describe your tastes (smoky, citrusy, bitter, not too sweet) and let them work. Be patient, since the drinks are made one at a time.
Speak quietly, keep phones away, and plan your ride home before your first drink. Ottawa's taxis and rideshares are easy to book, and the O-Train and buses run downtown.
Dinner at the Rabbit Hole, then down to the Jackalope (reserve both). Stolen Goods is also on Sparks, so a nightcap there works before it closes.
A quiet first drink at Bar Ocelli on William Street, then a short walk to the Apothecary Lounge on York Street.
Southern comfort food and whiskey at Union Local 613 on Somerset, then walk over to Elgin Street for Charlotte or the Manx.
All of these bars are in walkable downtown neighbourhoods like the ByWard Market, Centretown and Hintonburg. If an easy walk home after a good night out matters to you, it's worth including in your home search. It's one of the things people say they love most about living downtown.
| Bar | Area | Address | The hook | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Jackalope | Sparks Street | Inside Rabbit Hole, 208 Sparks St | Vintage elevator, bespoke cocktails, 19+ | Required |
| Apothecary Lounge | ByWard Market | York St (beneath Starling) | Prohibition-style basement lounge | Check with venue |
| Union Local 613 | Centretown | 315 Somerset St W | Bookcase door, whiskey, jazz | Recommended on weekends |
| The Manx Pub | Elgin Street | 370 Elgin St | Bohemian basement, no cell signal | No |
| Brigid's Well Pub | Sussex / Lowertown | 310 St. Patrick St | Church basement, live music | Check with venue |
| Stolen Goods | Sparks Street | 106 Sparks St | Low-waste cocktails, closing Dec 31 | Recommended |
| Charlotte | Elgin Street | 340 Elgin St | Mid-century lounge, DJs on weekends | Online |
| Bar Ocelli | ByWard Market | William St | Intimate, no TVs or loud music | Check with venue |
| Montgomery Scotch Lounge | Hintonburg | Gladstone Ave | 80+ single malts, live jazz | Check with venue |
What is the best speakeasy in Ottawa?
The Jackalope, hidden beneath the Rabbit Hole on Sparks Street, is the one most often called Ottawa's true speakeasy. It's reached through a vintage elevator door, has no printed menu, and is 19+ with reservations required.
Do I need a reservation for an Ottawa speakeasy?
For the Jackalope, yes. For other bars, it's a good idea on Fridays and Saturdays, especially for groups. Some, such as the Manx Pub, don't take reservations at all.
Is Stolen Goods really closing?
Yes. The owners have announced that the Sparks Street bar will close at the end of 2026, with a final night on December 31. They've said they plan to open new downtown businesses in early 2027.
Which hidden bar is best for a date?
The Jackalope and Bar Ocelli are the most intimate, while Charlotte and the Apothecary Lounge work well for a relaxed first drink.
Are these bars good for groups?
Smaller groups work best. The Jackalope and Bar Ocelli are small and quiet, so try Union Local 613, the Manx Pub or Brigid's Well for bigger groups.
Is there a dress code?
The Rabbit Hole enforces a neat, presentable dress code after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and the Jackalope recommends business attire. Most others are casual, but a nice outfit fits the mood.
Thinking of living near Ottawa's best nightlife?
The Ali Realty Group team is happy to help you find a home in downtown Ottawa, the ByWard Market, Centretown or Hintonburg. Call us at 613-327-0131 or visit alirealtygroup.com.
Ottawa's hidden bars are some of the city's best-kept secrets, from the elevator down to the Jackalope to the bookcase door at Union Local 613 and the basement charm of the Manx. Reserve where you can, dress up a little, and take your time.
Cheers from all of us at Ali Realty Group. Please enjoy responsibly and plan a safe ride home.
