For years, conversations about the National Capital Region’s beverage scene have largely centred on Ottawa’s cocktail bars. Across the river, however, Le Cellier has spent more than a decade building something equally worthy of attention. Since opening in 2013 inside a restored Victorian home in Vieux-Hull, the restaurant has established one of the region’s most comprehensive wine programs while maintaining a level of food and hospitality that has allowed it to outlast many of its contemporaries.

Separate dining rooms occupy the home’s original layout, creating an intimate atmosphere that feels removed from the surrounding city. The pace is relaxed, conversations remain comfortable, and every element encourages guests to settle in for a bottle.

The restaurant’s greatest strength is its cellar. With more than 250 bottles, Le Cellier offers one of the best wine lists in Ottawa-Gatineau. The collection spans nearly every major European wine region, as well as carefully selected Canadian and New World producers. Burgundy, Loire Valley, Rhône, Bordeaux, Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily, Rioja, Priorat, Douro, Austria and Germany are all represented through independent producers as well as internationally recognized estates. The selection ranges from approachable bottles around $50 to celebrated wines including Château Latour, Gaja Barbaresco, Dom Pérignon and Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle.

The wine list encourages exploration. Guests can order Scheurebe from Germany, Nerello Mascalese from Sicily, Grüner Veltliner from Austria or Chenin Blanc from the Loire by the bottle. At the same time, the by-the-glass selection introduces lesser-known regions alongside familiar classics. Dedicated sections for orange wines and the rotating “Dernière Chance” collection of final remaining bottles further reinforce that this is a living cellar.