The rooftop bar on the 16th floor of the Andaz Ottawa is the most dramatic outdoor table in the city. Fire pits, panoramic sight lines to Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River moving below, and the Gatineau Hills across the water — on a clear evening in June, there is no better perch in the National Capital Region for the first drink of the night.
The cocktail menu is competent rather than exceptional, and that is an honest appraisal rather than a criticism. The setting does work that technique cannot manufacture, and the kitchen knows that the view is what most guests came for. Order something cold, find the seat that faces west, and stay until the light changes.
The rooftop is seasonal — late May through early October, weather permitting. Book ahead for weekends in July and August. Weeknight visits in September, when the tourist volume drops and the evenings are cooler, are the room at its best.
