Arlo's co-owner Alex McMahon spent time in the wine program at Noma before returning to Ottawa, and the natural wine cellar he built on Somerset West has become one of the finest in Canada. The list is not merely large — it is assembled with a point of view, organized around producers who are doing something genuinely interesting with their land, and updated with enough frequency that regulars find new bottles on every visit.
The food earns its place rather than existing as an excuse to keep the table occupied between pours. The seasonal New Canadian menu changes with what Ontario's farms and the kitchen's relationships can deliver, and the preparations are confident without being elaborate — the goal is to make the wine taste better, and the kitchen understands that goal structurally.
The garden courtyard operates in the warmer months and is one of Ottawa's most quietly lovely outdoor rooms. The heritage interior works equally well in December. Canada's 100 Best has recognized Arlo in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Go with a guest who will allow two bottles to be ordered and the evening to continue past 10.
