Ottawa, Ontario
Hookups and casual dating in Ottawa, the capital after dark
Late bars in the ByWard Market, pubs and pinball in the Glebe, cocktails on Sparks Street. See who in Ottawa is up for something casual, for free.
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In short
Hookups in Ottawa centre on the ByWard Market, the city's nightlife hub, with calmer first drinks in the Glebe, in Little Italy and on Sparks Street. Joydate lets you see who in the capital wants something casual, and you can join without paying.
- Best areas: the ByWard Market for late bars and clubs, the Glebe and Little Italy for pubs, Sparks and Elgin streets for cocktails.
- Night buses: after 7 p.m. OC Transpo drivers can let you off at a Safe Stop nearer home, and texting your stop number to 560560 gets you the next departure times.
- Price check: a Classic profile is free, while VIP, which makes messaging unlimited, runs C$19.99 for a week or the equivalent of C$4.99 a week on the yearly plan.
Ottawa is a government town by day, but by night it stays up later than its reputation suggests: bars in the ByWard Market serve until 2 a.m., the Glebe fills up around Lansdowne, and in a cold winter the Rideau Canal turns into what Ottawa Tourism calls the world's largest skating rink. Joydate shows you who in Ottawa wants a hookup or something casual, names nothing more precise than your town and leaves the meeting place to the two of you.
Market, Glebe or Preston Street?
Most first meets in Ottawa happen in a few walkable areas. The ByWard Market, beside downtown, is the busiest, with pubs, live music and clubs along York, Clarence and Dalhousie streets. Sparks Street and Elgin Street, a few blocks west, lean towards cocktail lounges. Bank Street through the Glebe mixes pubs, a pinball bar and a cinema, and Preston Street in Little Italy, set between Chinatown, Hintonburg and Dow's Lake, adds Italian restaurants, pubs and live comedy. Gatineau, across the Ottawa River, belongs to the same capital region, so an evening can easily end in another province.
Know before you go out
What sets Ottawa apart for hookups
Four things that shape a night out in the capital.
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Last call at 2 a.m.
Ottawa Tourism notes that bars serve until 2 a.m., and the ByWard Market is where the city heads once the offices close.
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The world's largest rink
In a cold winter the Rideau Canal Skateway runs 7.8 km through the city centre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site that doubles as a date spot.
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Winterlude in February
Three weekends of ice sculptures, music and a giant snow playground, from late January into February.
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Festival summers
Bluesfest, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Chamberfest and Escapade bring big acts every summer, and Capital Pride fills the third week of August.
Ottawa at a glance
Useful before a first meet in Ottawa
- 6areas in this guide, each with a shortlist
- 2 a.m.when Ottawa's bars stop serving
- 7.8 kmof skating on the Rideau Canal in a cold winter
Where Ottawa goes out
Where to meet for a first drink in Ottawa
Six areas and the places Ottawa Tourism points to in its neighbourhood and nightlife guides.
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Pubs and live music
ByWard Market pubs
Farmers, artisans and boutiques by day, the centre of Ottawa's nightlife after dark.
Places to start
- Heart and Crown: the Irish Village on Clarence Street, from the cosy Snug to Mother McGintey's for bigger bands
- Rainbow Bistro: Ottawa's blues venue since 1984, on Murray Street
- Bar Ocelli: a boutique cocktail bar with a relaxed feel
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Dancing
ByWard Market late
When the pubs wind down, the Market's rooftops and dance floors take over.
Places to start
- Copper Spirits and Sights: the city's tallest rooftop bar, on the 16th floor of the Andaz hotel
- Berlin Nightclub: several floors, a cocktail bar and resident DJs playing house every night
- Somewhere Dine Bar: open until 2 a.m. every day, a restaurant that turns into a club, with a hidden green patio
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Cocktails
Sparks and Elgin
A few blocks from Parliament, pedestrian Sparks Street and Elgin Street are home to some of the city's lounges.
Places to start
- Rabbit Hole: dinner downstairs, a speakeasy upstairs, then back down to dance
- Stolen Goods: an upscale cocktail bar on Sparks Street
- Charlotte: a lounge on Elgin Street for cocktails
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Laid-back
The Glebe
Bank Street through the Glebe and Old Ottawa South: heritage buildings, cafés and Lansdowne Park.
Places to start
- Irene's Pub: a neighbourhood pub with live music
- House of Targ: an underground bar with pinball and pierogi
- Mayfair Theatre: a cinema for catching a film before the drink
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Food and comedy
Little Italy
Preston Street, between Chinatown, Hintonburg and Dow's Lake, lined with Italian restaurants, pubs and cocktail bars.
Places to start
- Heart and Crown on Preston: the Little Italy branch of the Irish pub, with live music
- Mati: Mediterranean cooking for a dinner date
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LGBTQ+
Queer-friendly nights
Bank Street at Somerset Street West is the heart of Ottawa's Gay Village, and the Market has its best-known queer bar.
Places to start
- The Lookout Bar: what Ottawa Tourism calls the city's most popular 2SLGBTQ+ bar, open for over 20 years, with a balcony over the Market, karaoke and drag nights
- Capital Pride: the third week of every August, when Bank and Somerset become a festival hub
Places from Ottawa Tourism's neighbourhood, nightlife and itinerary guides. Hours and door policies change, so check before you go.
Picture the night
Three Ottawa settings for a first date
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ByWard Market
Pubs, live music and dancing
Stalls by day, then pubs, rooftops and dance floors.
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The Glebe
Laid-back
Bank Street cafés, heritage buildings and Lansdowne Park.
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Little Italy
Food and comedy
Preston Street's Italian restaurants, pubs and cocktail bars.
Joydate explained
Joydate explained: hookups in Ottawa without the guesswork
Joydate is a site where adults meet for casual dating, from a single night to friends with benefits. Membership starts free, and Joydate's daily matches weigh age and distance, so Ottawa members near you come up.
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The basics are settled early
Profiles show what someone is open to, so a drink in the ByWard Market starts with that question already answered.
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Discretion by default
Others see your username and nearest town; your name, street and workplace stay off your profile unless you add them.
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Verified members
The free ID check marks real people with a badge you can look for before you reply.
Join free and see who in Ottawa wants the same How Joydate works in Ottawa
Before you go
First-meet tips for Ottawa hookups
Four small things that help in the capital.
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Check the door policy
Ontario's drinking age is 19, but some ByWard Market bars only admit guests over 21 or 25, so check before you pick one.
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Skate first, drink after
In a cold winter a lap of the Rideau Canal Skateway breaks the ice better than any opening line. Check the ice report before you go.
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Keep the chat here
Joydate warns you when a match pushes for WhatsApp before you have met; keep it on the site until the first drink.
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Ask for a Safe Stop
After 7 p.m. your OC Transpo driver can let you off at a safe spot closer to home.
Joydate membership prices in Ottawa
There is no fee to join, and a Classic profile stays free. Unlimited messages come with VIP or VIP Plus, listed below in Canadian dollars: total price in each cell, weekly cost underneath.
| Plan length | VIP | VIP Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | C$19.99 | C$22.99 |
| 1 month | C$51.39C$11.99 a week | C$59.96C$13.99 a week |
| 3 months | C$115.59C$8.99 a week | C$154.16C$11.99 a week |
| 6 months | C$179.74C$6.99 a week | C$231.17C$8.99 a week |
| 12 months | C$260.19C$4.99 a week | C$338.41C$6.49 a week |
The 1-week, 1-month, 3-month and 6-month plans keep renewing until you cancel. The 12-month plan is charged once and does not renew. See every plan in every currency.
Meeting safely in Ottawa
- Meet where it is busy. Any place in this guide works for a first meet, and your profile never says more than Ottawa.
- Getting home. After 7 p.m. OC Transpo's Safe Stop lets you ask the driver for a closer stop, and after 9 p.m. buses at major stations stop at a well-lit Night Stop. Text your stop number to 560560 for the next departures, and call Transit Law on 613-741-2478 if you feel unsafe. In an emergency, call 911.
- Getting tested. Ottawa Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic at 179 Clarence Street, in the ByWard Market, sees people by appointment only: call 613-234-4641 on weekday mornings, or on Wednesday to Friday afternoons. GetaKit.ca lets Ottawa residents order free tests online at any hour, and the Sexual Health Infoline Ontario is on 1-800-668-2437.
Questions about hookups in Ottawa
Where can you find a hookup in Ottawa?
You can find a hookup in Ottawa on Joydate. Sign up for free, see who is nearby in Ottawa and places like Kanata or Orleans, and once you click with someone, suggest a drink in the ByWard Market or the Glebe.
Is Joydate a good Doublelist alternative in Ottawa?
Joydate is a good Doublelist alternative in Ottawa if you would rather browse profiles than read ads. Doublelist is built around personal ads that people post and answer, whereas Joydate gives every member a profile, suggests matches and verifies IDs for free. If you like the speed of posting an ad, Doublelist may still suit you. See how the two compare.
Which Ottawa neighbourhoods are best for a first drink?
The best Ottawa neighbourhoods for a first drink are the ByWard Market, the city's nightlife centre, and Sparks and Elgin streets for cocktail lounges. The Glebe is relaxed, with pubs and a pinball bar, and Little Italy on Preston Street adds restaurants and live comedy.
How much does Joydate cost in Ottawa?
Joydate is free to join in Ottawa, and the Classic profile has no fee. VIP, which lifts the daily message limit, costs C$19.99 for one week, and on the 12-month plan it averages C$4.99 a week. View all plans.
How do you get home safely at night in Ottawa?
To get home safely at night in Ottawa, ask your OC Transpo driver for a Safe Stop after 7 p.m., which lets you off closer to your door, and wait at a station's well-lit Night Stop after 9 p.m. Texting your stop number to 560560 tells you when the next bus comes.
Where can you get tested for STIs in Ottawa?
You can get tested for STIs in Ottawa at the Ottawa Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, 179 Clarence Street, by appointment on 613-234-4641. GetaKit.ca also offers free online testing for Ottawa residents.
What is a good winter date in Ottawa?
A good winter date in Ottawa is a skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway, which runs 7.8 km through the centre when the ice is good, followed by a drink in the ByWard Market. In February, Winterlude adds ice sculptures and music across downtown.