Best Bars on Preston Street (Little Italy)
Preston Street has long been associated with Italian restaurants, but in recent years, the corridor has slowly developed into one of Ottawa’s most appealing destinations for serious drinks. Within a relatively short stretch of road, a cluster of establishments now deliver cocktail programs that rival those of the city’s most celebrated bars.
What distinguishes Preston Street is the diversity of its drinking culture. Some venues focus on classic cocktail technique, while others integrate ambitious beverage programs into refined restaurants. Together, they form a corridor where cocktails are well-crafted and where each establishment brings a distinct identity to the neighbourhood.
The Moonroom
Classic Cocktails | 442 Preston Street
Few venues have shaped Ottawa’s cocktail culture as enduringly as The Moonroom. One of the city’s oldest cocktail bars still in operation, it helped establish the standard for craft cocktails long before the current wave of cocktail bars existed. The bar remains devoted to classic cocktails executed with accuracy.
Just as important is the atmosphere. With its dim lighting and intimate layout, The Moonroom remains arguably Ottawa’s coziest cocktail bar, a place where guests converse over well-made drinks.
Mati
Live Fire & Raw Bar | 428 Preston Street
Mati has become one of Preston Street’s most popular destinations. The restaurant’s live-fire kitchen and raw bar draw steady crowds, but the cocktail program is equally central to the experience.
Beneath the restaurant lies Sidecar, a speakeasy-style lounge. Together, the restaurant and its hidden bar have cemented Mati’s status as one of the most dynamic venues on the street.
Perch
Canadian Ingredients & Innovation | 300 Preston Street
Perch stands among Canada’s most ambitious fine-dining restaurants, and its cocktail program reflects that same level of precision. Bar Manager Shannon Marshall approaches drinks with a distinctly Canadian lens, crafting cocktails built exclusively from locally sourced ingredients.
At Perch, cocktails become an extension of the restaurant’s philosophy of sustainability and local sourcing, offering guests a memorable experience.
Ek Bar
Indian Cocktail Bar | 225 Preston Street
Ek Bar brings a distinctive voice to Ottawa’s cocktail scene as the city’s first Indian cocktail bar. Owned by Michelin-starred chef Hemant Bhagwani, the venue blends luxury dining with a cocktail program inspired by the flavours and spices of the Indian subcontinent.
The bar’s drinks showcase layered aromatics, bold spices, and carefully balanced sweetness. In doing so, Ek Bar expands the city’s understanding of what a cocktail program can be.
Ward 14
Neighbourhood Bar with Character | 139 Preston Street
Ward 14 defies easy categorization. Part late-night bar, part consignment shop, the space is filled with quirky décor items, all of which are for sale. The atmosphere is casual, making it one of the most distinctive stops on Preston Street.
The food menu consists of snacks. A hot dog paired with the “Takes Two to Mango,” a spicy margarita, has become my personal go-to. Ward 14 offers something different from the street’s more refined establishments: a relaxed neighbourhood bar.
Preston Street’s Cocktail Corridor
Together, these five establishments illustrate how Preston Street has evolved beyond its traditional identity as a dining destination. Today, the corridor supports a diverse and ambitious drinking culture, from classic cocktail dens to fine-dining bars and experimental concepts.
For those exploring Ottawa’s cocktail scene, Preston Street offers a rare concentration of venues where serious drinks and great hospitality exist within a few short blocks of one another.
For a broader look at the city’s top venues, see our guide to the best cocktail bars in Ottawa.