Updated on October 29th 2025
Published on March 1st 2025
Mati in Ottawa's Little Italy: a mediterranean raw bar and grill restaurant that takes their craft cocktails very seriously.
Mati Ottawa
428 Preston Street
Tues -Thurs: 5PM – 10PM
Fri-Sat: 5PM – 12AM
Closed Monday
Located along Preston Street in Little Italy, Mati occupies a prominent place in Ottawa’s dining scene. The restaurant and cocktail bar focus on modern Mediterranean cooking built around charcoal grilling and raw dishes. Since opening in 2018 in the former space of Black Cat Bistro, Mati has established itself as both a trendy dinner destination and the neighbourhood’s strongest cocktail program.
The restaurant operates alongside its sister property, EVOO Greek Kitchen, located only a few steps away. In 2022, the team expanded its ambitions further by launching Sidecar, a hidden cocktail bar in Mati’s basement. The speakeasy-style venue quickly gained national recognition, ranking No. 32 on Canada’s 100 Best Bars list in 2023.
While Mati functions first as a restaurant, its bar program is far from secondary. Weekend hours extend late into the evening, and as dinner service winds down, the room naturally shifts toward a cocktail-focused crowd.
Mati announces itself even before guests step inside. Walking past the restaurant, the warm lighting and lively energy suggest a room designed for creating memorable evenings. After numerous visits, the initial impression proves accurate: the restaurant consistently delivers across service, cuisine, and beverages.
The interior strikes a careful balance between refinement and comfort. The space attracts a stylish clientele, with many guests arriving well-dressed. Seating arrangements favour small groups and couples, making the venue particularly well-suited to date nights or drinks among friends. A few larger tables accommodate celebratory gatherings.
Lighting is thoughtfully calibrated. The room is bright enough to function as a dining space yet dim enough to support a late-night cocktail atmosphere. Small table lamps and tea candles cast a warm yellow glow that softens the space.
The soundtrack is present at a low level. Conversation inevitably generates some noise during peak hours, but never to the point of discomfort. Despite regularly operating at capacity on weekends, Mati manages its room well; the space never feels crowded or chaotic.
Service is consistently efficient. Guests are greeted promptly at the door and offered seating whenever possible, though reservations are still advisable on busy nights. Water service begins promptly and is refilled regularly throughout the evening.
The staff’s appearance reinforces the restaurant’s tone: bartenders wear black leather aprons, and the overall presentation is professional without appearing overly formal. Even during busy periods, bartenders take moments to engage with guests seated at the bar.
The back bar itself is extensive. More than twenty Scotch whiskies sit alongside a range of premium tequilas and other fine spirits. While classic cocktails are not explicitly on the menu, the bartenders are comfortable making them on request. Off-menu orders, such as a whisky sour and a mezcal Penicillin ($20), were executed without hesitation.
The winter 2025 menu featured elements such as matcha cream, cilantro oil, gold dust, gochujang honey, rosemary syrup, apple spice shrub, and orange blossom. By fall 2025, the bar had moved toward ingredients including rosewater syrup, fruit-loop syrup, super lime juice, cashew orgeat, brown butter rum, acid-adjusted grapefruit, kumquat oleo saccharum, cantaloupe-infused tequila, and custard mascarpone whip. Notably, the menu rarely repeats ingredients across drinks.
Presentation is meticulous. Cocktails are served over clear ice in ribbed tumblers or coupes, resting on steel coasters, with black beverage napkins. Garnishes are deliberate and varied, giving each drink an individual identity.
Daybreak (22$): this libation begins with apricot on the nose. Upon tasting, it has a very unique and memorable flavour. The kumquat oleo sacrum adds a controlled level of sweetness. Overall, it’s bitter, fruity, and alcoholic, and has a smooth finish thanks to the VSOP.
Banana Boat (20$): This delicious Mai Tai riff begins with cinnamon smoke and mint on the nose. The sweet house-blended banana rum is fantastic. It comes in a bamboo-style tiki glass filled to the brim with pebbled ice.
Jubilee Negroni (18$): This cocktail offers a surprising interpretation of the Negroni structure. Similar to the White Negroni, it is built with gin and Luxardo Bitter Bianco rather than traditional Campari. The drink appears visually minimalist: clear liquid, clear ice, and a small lemon peel garnish. Despite its elegance, the profile leans sweeter than expected.
Modern Medicine (21$): As the name hints, this libation is inspired by the Penicillin. Japanese whisky replaces Scotch, and a masala spice blend stands in for ginger syrup. Garnished with candied ginger, the drink remains whisky-forward but notably less sweet than the classic inspiration.
The food menus offered many lavish options, proving that Mati is a place where you can go to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays & anniversaries. Some examples are the seafood tower (option of 2 or 3 stories) & the tomahawk steak (listed as the Angus Long Bone). We ordered:
A dozen East Coast Oysters (46$): Tasty and fresh. They were beautifully presented on pebbled ice.
Beef Tartare (30$): This was a delicious tartare. The main flavours were capers and beef. It was a small portion at that price.
Yellowfin Tuna Crudo (28$): The tuna flavour was fresh and evident as it was barely hidden behind the spicy aioli and Greek olive oil. Alike the beef tartare, it was a small portion at that price point.
Overall, Mati is a restaurant and bar that we have visited many times and will visit again. You won’t regret an evening of cocktails at this venue. The food is great, although it is overpriced when comparing the portion sizes to other similar local establishments. The drinks are excellent, and the service is always very good. It’s a beautifully designed space with great seating options. It can get quite pricey, but the quality is always at the rendezvous.
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