How many " Unofficial Museums " could I fit into this sojourn ?
Hi, I’m Liza, and I’m a BuzzFeed producer currently living in Toronto! Recently, Ottawa Tourism invited me to visit the city, and I was intrigued. I had only visited Ottawa a few times when I was younger, so I was excited (and curious) to return and experience the fun again as an adult!
To get some inspo for the trip, I turned toOttawa Tourism’s “Unofficial Museum” Guideand set out on an adventure to check off as many places as I could in 36 hours.
After arriving in Ottawa in the evening, I knew I had to hit upTavern on the Fallsfirst. There’s a reason this place is “The Unofficial Museum of Airplane Mode”… just look at that view from the patio!
Upon stepping foot onto the Tavern patio, I automatically went into vacation mode andhadto order a Tavern Spritz.
The next morning, I woke up bright and early and headed toLittle Victories Coffee Roasters— “The Unofficial Museum of Latte Art.”
Andrew, one of the owners of Little Victories Coffee Roasters, is a coffee connoisseur. He showed me this pour-over coffee bar (one of the only ones in Canada!), and it was a super-unique experience.
I ended up starting with one of their staple drinks, a flat white that had the cutest little swan as latte art.
Only a five-minute walk from Little Victories Coffee Roasters was theRideau Canal, which is known as “The Unofficial Museum of Scenic Cardio”!
All that walking got me hungry, so then it was on to theByWard Market— “The Unofficial Museum of Locavorism” — to enjoy some delicious eats.
I ended up ordering hand-pulled noodles for lunch fromSushi Zone and Ramen Stop.
Of course, I had to try the famous Obama Cookie fromLe Moulin de Provence.
And no trip to Ottawa is complete without an obligatory photo with the Ottawa sign.
After filling up on noodles and cookies, I made my way toMajor’s Hill Park, which Ottawa has dubbed “The Unofficial Museum of Flowerbeds.”
Frolicking in flowers really works up an appetite, so I headed toLa Terrasse at the Fairmont Château Laurier, “The Unofficial Museum of Caesars and Views.”
Now, I know this postisn’tabout visiting official sites, but Parliament Hill is just a five-minute walk from La Terrasse — so I had to swing by just to take in the iconic sights.
Somehow, I still had some energy left in me, so I hopped into a cab to grab some pints fromBeyond the Pale Brewing, “The Unofficial Museum of Grabbing a Cold One.”
Beyond the Pale Brewing is famous for brewing everything in house. Locals recommend Tropical Breeze, Pink Fuzz, and Yummy.
With more than 12,000 steps under my belt (hooray walkable cities), I called it a day. But I still had a few more stops before leaving Ottawa!
For my last morning in the city, I headed toDrip House— “The Unofficial Museum of Avocado and Art” — to grab some coffee and breakfast.
Of course I had to get a little bit of shopping in, so I also visitedBirling,Highjinx, and some boutiques.
To end my epic Ottawa trip, I headed toMoo Shu Ice Cream, “The Unofficial Museum of Treating Yourself,” to satisfy my sweet tooth.
And with that, my 36 hours in Ottawa was up. I learned that there wassomuch to do in the city! With countless patios, cute shops, and unique activities, there’s an “Unofficial Museum” for everyone. You can check outmore suggestions here, and let me know what Ottawa spots you’d add to the list!
