“But it’s like, really cold.” I know- but hear me out. If there is anything that Ottawa knows how to do right, it’s basically everything in the winter season. Outdoor activities blossom and are easily accessible. Indoor activities reel in the cozy and pump out the festive specials. Here are 25 different Ottawa date spots that you can enjoy this season for under $25.
1. Unlimited pinball at House of TARG
- Where: 1077 Bank St in Old Ottawa South
- Price: $10 per person
Pinball, retro games, handmade pierogies…need I say more? Journey back in time and enjoy unlimited play (for as long as you want) at this retro gaming spot! Double up for some of the two-player options or battle it out to see who can come closest to the legendary ranked high scores.
2. Jazz Night and local eats at Queen Street Fare
- Where: 170 Queen St in Centretown
- Price: Free entry to the event but food and drinks are extra.
Dine in a cozy upscale food court setting while enjoying some free live music weekly!
3. Skating through the forest
- Where: 2900 Yorks Corners Rd in Metcalfe
- Price: $13.50 per person
Glide through a 3-km trail of mazes through an old orchard forest at River Oak Skating Trail. Located just 30-minutes from Ottawa, this trail is lined with fire pits, equipped with lights for night skates, and features a multitude of differently lengthed skating loops. On top of that, the trail is also built within nature which means that you will be met with a variety of terrains (that includes hills too!). With that, they truly do offer something for every type of skater.
4. Bowling at Westboro’s West Park Bowling
- Where: 1205 Wellington St. W in Westboro
- Price: $6.50 per person, per game plus a $3 per person shoe rental fee.
Relish in the classics at this cute and quaint 5-pin bowling alley in the heart of Wellington Village
5. Poutine and live music at Chateau Lafayette (The Laff)
- Where: 42 York St in ByWard Market
- Price: Most music events are free of charge. Their poutine runs at $8 for a small and $11 for a large.
Hang out for the night at the oldest bar in Ottawa. ‘The Laff’ dates back to 1849 and has been serving up legendary vibes ever since- including live music every week.
6. Enjoy 18 days of winter activities at Winterlude
- Where: Various locations throughout Ottawa and Gatineau.
- When: February 4th-21st, 2022.
- Price: Mostly free.
Experience two weeks of Canadian winter fun, traditions, and outdoor magic at this (mostly) free annual event. Programming and activities are primarily held along Sparks Street, the Rideau Canal, and at Jacques-Cartier Park.
7. Pool and appetizers at MacLaren’s on Elgin
- Where: 301 Elgin St in Centretown
- Price: Their pool is available at a play rate of $12 per hour, per table and all of their appetizers are $8.
Enjoy cheap eats and by-the-hour billiards at this massive and modern pool hall.
8. Tasty snacks and unlimited gaming at Level One Game Pub
- Where: 14 Waller St in Sandy Hill
- Price: Their rate is $7 per person.
Choose from over 1,200 board games and 1,000 video games at this comfy stay-and-play style restaurant, bar, and gaming hall. You can view their game list in full here.
9. Explore a pathway of lights through the city and a festive film on Parliament Hill
- Where: Confederation Park and Parliament Hill from December 8th-January 7th.
- Price: Free
Bundle up and stroll through a dazzling romantic trail of lights winding through Ottawa’s Centretown. Top it off with Parliament Hill’s festive multimedia production which is projected right ONTO the building!
10. Coffee date at Le Moulin de Provence KD
- Where: 30 Metcalfe St in Centretown
- Price: Varies based on order ($$).
Sip festive specialty drinks and freshly-made pastries in this cozy café setting. Set in an old bank, Le Moulin de Provence KD boasts great vibes in a space of history. Perfect for a visit on its own, or to top off your day at other nearby Ottawa date spots like Supreme Court and skating at City Hall or the Rideau Canal.
11. Catch a flick at Ottawa’s oldest active movie theatre
- Where: Mayfair Theatre in Old Ottawa South
- Price: Tickets are $12.50 per person. You can also purchase an Annual Membership at $14 per person which will bring your ticket price down to a discounted rate of $8 per person each visit.
Cozy up with some popcorn and catch a flick at this historical 90-year-old theatre. Since 1932, the Mayfair Theatre has been screening films in its beautiful architectural setting equipped with balconies, vintage decor, and more. Today you can catch both new and classic screenings nearly every day of the week.
12. Skating on the largest rink in the world
- Where: Rideau Canal
- Price: Skating is completely free of charge but skate rentals and food and drink purchases are additional.
Experience the largest rink on the planet at this 7.8 km stretch- that’s the equivalent of almost 40 NHL-sized hockey rinks! By far one of the most popular Ottawa date spots each winter!
13. Detroit-style ‘za at Stay Gold Pizza
- Where: The Standard in the Golden Triangle
- Price: Pies range from $18-$23.
Not quite New York and not quite Chicago- but much better. Treat yourself to the pies that are sweeping the eyes of the city at Stay Gold Pizza. They may look small but I promise that one pizza is almost always more than enough for two to share.
14. Cross-country skiing through the city
Where: Various locations throughout the city.
Make the most out of every fresh fall of snow by hitting up one of Ottawa’s many trails along the Ottawa River and Rideau River.
15. Stroll through ByWard Market’s hidden courtyards and grab a warm treat at Planet Coffee
- Where: Clarendon Lane in ByWard Market
- Price: Varies based on order ($$)
This well-kept ByWard Market secret is home to cozy restaurants, views, and coffee shops like Planet Coffee. Treat yourself to coffee with a twist, freshly-baked goodies, and festive specials every day of the week.
16. Watch the sunrise or sunset behind Supreme Court
- Where: Supreme Court of Canada
- Price: Free
Grab a seat and bask in the views of Parliament Hill and Gatineau all at once at this lesser-known spot. They even have parking!
17. Christmas light seeking at Taffy Lane
- Where: Taffy Lane in Orleans
- Price: Free
Drive or stroll through the explosive Orleans-based display of holiday lights and decorations put on by the residents and neighbors of Taffy Lane. An annual Ottawa date spots staple for the holiday season!
18. Get your festive on at Ottawa’s Christmas Market
- Where: Lansdowne in the Glebe
- Price: Free but food, drink, and shopping purchase are additional.
New to the Ottawa winter scene is the Glebe’s annual Ottawa Christmas Market. Here you can stroll through local vendors, listen to live music, skate on their refrigerated rink, and take advantage of some great holiday photo ops- all for free! For a few dollars, you can also warm up with some mulled wine and spiked apple cider or do some shopping. A perfect addition to your list of December Ottawa date spots.
19. Go on a thrifting crawl
- Where: Various locations in Old Ottawa South
- Price: Varies on purchases ($-$$$).
Explore Ottawa’s quickly growing thrifting scene with the classics. The Bank Street stretch between Riverdale and Sunnyside is home to multiple locations all within walking distance- and they are massive! Shop vintage pieces, clothing, antiques, books, art, and more at classics like Yardley’s Antiques, Ottawa Antique Market, and Champagne dit Lambert Antiques.
20. Enjoy $4 shots and arcade games at Room 104
- Where: 104 Clarence St in ByWard Market
- Price: Varies on purchases ($$).
Order from their menu of over 100 themed shots (yes you read that right) and try your luck at the best retro arcade games at this ByWard Market staple. Perfect for a late-night out on a budget or to kick-off a night on the town.
21. Cozy up with a brunch box in bed from Insta Bolz
- Where: 261 Laurier Ave. E in Sandy Hill
- Price: Their brunch box is $22.
Enjoy all the best parts of brunch without even having to leave your home with their to-go kit loaded with pancakes, avocado toast, waffles, and more. Available for pickup and delivery.
22. Enjoy a night of chuckles at one of Ottawa’s many comedy nights
- Where: Various locations across the city
- Price: Most events offer free entry but food and drink purchases are additional.
Catch weekly local stand-up comic talent at a ton of venues and restaurants across the city. Some Ottawa favorites include Pour Boy Pub (on Thursdays), Eddy’s Diner (every other Wednesday), and new to the scene- the Laugh Lounge.
23. Take advantage of Ottawa’s bursting museum scene for free
- Where: Various museums across Ottawa and Gatineau
- Price: Free
Explore a wealth of history, knowledge, and imagination at nine of Ottawa’s top museums each week. The complete schedule is as follows:
Ottawa museums with free daily entry:
- The Ontario Art Gallery
- Bank of Canada Museum
Ottawa museums with free daily entry from 4:00-5:00:
- Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian Science and Technology Museum
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Ottawa museums with free entry on Thursday evenings:
- National Gallery of Canada
- Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Museum of War
- Canadian Museum of Nature
(Note: Be sure to refer to the museum sites for booking and the most up to date information)
24. Winter photoshoot at Major’s Hill Park
- Where: Major’s Hill Park
- Price: Free
Frolick in a winter wonderland and get some good photos for ‘gram at the same time. Featuring perfect views of Parliament Hill, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and ByWard Market.
25. Fall in love at happy hour
- Where: s o m e w h e r e Dine Bar
- Price: $1.00 oysters
- When: Everyday from 4:00-7:00
Indulge in one of Ottawa’s only ‘buck-a-shuck’s’ at this hidden ByWard Market gem.
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