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ByWard Market

ByWard Market, Ottawa: Address, Phone Number, ByWard Market Reviews: 4.5/5

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ByWard Market

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ByWard Market
4.5
4,985
#1 of 109 Shopping in Ottawa
Speciality & Gift Shops • Neighborhoods
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About
WITHIN an area roughly four blocks square, you'll find museums, cafes, specialty food shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, pubs, hair & aesthetics salons and more! Easily accessible on foot, by transit or by car, the ByWard Market offers a unique experience for all. ESTABLISHED by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal, Colonel By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George Street and York Street to be extra wide to accommodate the creation of a public market and gathering place.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Byward Market Area
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,431 within 3 miles
La Bottega Nicastro
550
0.2 mi$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
The Brig Pub
263
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Pub • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
BeaverTails
2,633
0.2 mi$ • Dessert • Canadian
Play Food & Wine
1,845
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Wine Bar • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Courtyard Restaurant
478
0.3 mi$$$$ • International • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Kochin Kitchen
274
120 ft$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Ottawa Market
735
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse • Canadian
Fatboys Southern Smokehouse
525
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Southwestern • Bar
Chez Lucien
463
59 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Sidedoor Contemporary Kitchen & Bar
545
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
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Attractions
205 within 6 miles
Galerie St-Laurent + Hill
1
265 ftArt Galleries
Notre Dame Basilica
1,348
0.2 miReligious Sites
National Gallery of Canada
3,085
0.3 miSpeciality Museums
Major's Hill Park
358
0.3 miParks
L.A. Pai Gallery
1
0.2 miArt Galleries
Ottawa Locks
782
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Royal Canadian Mint
1,166
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Government Buildings
Peacekeeping Monument
66
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
Rideau Canal National Historic Site
5,288
0.4 miBodies of Water
Nepean Point
117
0.3 miLookouts
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,985 reviews
Excellent
2,407
Very good
1,818
Average
597
Poor
121
Terrible
44
lovetotravel876
Georgina, Canada205 contributions
A fun place to visit at any time of the year
We visited in late October and enjoyed browsing and being entertained by some talented musicians. There is a wide choice of restaurants in the area and many places to just have a drink or a quick snack. We parked in the garage which cost just $6 for the few hours we spent there.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shumona
Dhaka City, Bangladesh8 contributions
A must see in Ottawa
Urban and rural farmers alike joins this vibrant community to sell fresh produce, maple syrup, handicrafts and many more truly Ottawan crafts. One has to go back again and again. Its an atmosphere of bliss that stays forever in this little street market at the heart of Canada's capital!
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rather_Nomadic
Panama City, FL1,886 contributions
Surprising good find
Solo
Stopped here for a late morning snack and found a great selection of tasty options. The prosciutto and provolone sandwich was tasty and warm. The raspberry pastry was perfectly made and the fresh coffee was good. Fair prices and friendly service. I’ll be back.
Written April 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Globalina
Toronto123 contributions
Dirty and smelly place
Couples
We just returned from our 4 day stay in Ottawa. It my husband’s first visit to the city, while I was there about 15 years ago last time. We stayed next to the ByWard Market, which I remembered to be a very vibrant spot of the city, full of restaurants, cafes, unique shops, galleries and much more, but this visit it left us with a very bitter taste. The whole area is a crumbling mess, extremely dirty and smelly. We were shocked by the number of homeless people living on the streets of this neighbourhood and everyone is ignoring this problem. Last night we booked a restaurant located in a courtyard just off York Street. The place was lovely
and unique looking, surrounded by the stone buildings, but the alley leading to the courtyard smelled awful of human waste. There was another restaurant patio located right by the alley. How could anyone sit and eat there? It was beyond disgusting experience spending time in ByWard Market and we will definitely not be back.
Also pretty much the rest of the city was dirty except few streets around Parliament Hill.
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ramez
Ottawa, Canada1 contribution
Very dirty, unsafe and sketchy place
Family
The byward market has a lot of potential but unfortunately it is a full of crack heads, panhandlers and drug dealers. It is unsafe place to roam around if you have a family with kids. People are cursing and using inappropriate language on the sidewalks and outside the restaurants.

Anyway, Ottawa is a very outdated city and it feels like you are in a 3rd world country, so if you have kids, avoid going to byward area or downtown area.

The restaurants in the byward Market are sooo boring and they are so sterile.

I advise to avoid downtown Ottawa and head to Montreal (2 hrs drive) since Ottawa has nothing to offer to tourists and it is a very unwelcoming city with unfriendly people (specifically for non canadian tourists)..
Written July 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Elizabeth A
9 contributions
Lovely experience walking through byward market
Walking through the Byward market is very enjoyable. Many different restaurants to select from. If you love exploring by foot this is recommended. Parliament Hill building is also near by along with many other attraction
Parking is little difficult to find. But there are parking garages with daily parking.
Written July 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
fPisces3
Canada55 contributions
Busy market place
I found the area to be very busy, considering it is a market place. Many large and small eating places, some seating around, but not enough for the crowds on a week-end. There were line-ups, but considering Covid and distancing rules, fewer people could be accommodated. There was also some construction going on around the streets, so I didn't find the area good for walking. Good variety of stores.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ruth
London, Canada277 contributions
Not What We Expected
Couples
The Byward Market building was good for a washroom visit and cooling off. Inside was very quiet with many areas closed. Outside the area has brightly coloured space with many restaurants and shops. We were looking for more of a traditional market, not a shopping district.
Written September 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Freely Adventure
Edmonton, Canada166 contributions
Always a fun place to visit...
I love the Byward Market, one of my favourite places in Ottawa. There are always entertainers, buskers to watch, lots of great food and my favourite the freshly squeezed lemonade. My two children and myself, enjoyed our evening watching performers and walking around.

You can walk from the Parliament Hill to the Byward Market in about 10 minutes

If you're in Ottawa, I would make the effort to check it out! Also, take a stroll on the Rideau cannel, is also nice too.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mark B
Sudbury, Canada81 contributions
Food and beverage place
A food, pub, restaurant area that is touristy and has traditional farmers type market feel to the area. This is where to for craft beers and pub grub. I enjoy the international food options here as well.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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