Ottawa finally gets the Fairmont bar that it deserves.
Zoe’s Lounge
1 Rideau Street
Open from 11AM to 2AM
Parking: Park in the By Ward. There is also valet parking for hotel overnight guests.
Hours: The opening hours are very generous: open at 11 am every day of the week, making Zoe’s Lounge the most available cocktail bar in the city.
Zoe’s at Fairmont’s Chateau Laurier has been around for many years. The inspiration behind this bar is Wilfrid Laurier’s wife, Zoe. In that spirit, we find at Chateau Laurier the Wilfrid’s (restaurant) and the Zoe’s (restaurant/ lounge).
Unfortunately, Zoe’s bar hasn’t always matched the caliber of bar that one finds at other Fairmonts across Canada, such as the Q Bar (Victoria), 1608 (Quebec City), Nacarat (Montreal), Library Bar (Toronto), and Botanist (Vancouver).
However, the recent extensive renovations can be best described as Zoe’s rebirth in which the only thing that hasn’t changed is the name. More specifically, the bar has, among other things, moved to what was previously referred to as the “Reading Lounge” within the historic Chateau Laurier. By doing this, Zoe’s bar and restaurant have been physically and conceptually separated into two separate entities: Zoe’s Lounge and Zoe’s Restaurant.
The space
Although the renovations were significant, certain elements from the reading lounge stayed the same. For example, we still find here the hand-carved dark wood panels and moulding more than 10 feet in height that wrap around the lounge. Added during the renovation is a huge dark marble bar counter that boxes in the bartender’s work area at the heart of the lounge. This new layout allows the bartenders to work from centre stage.
There are plenty of dimly lit brass and marble table lamps and wall sconces, as well as a new fireplace whose chimney seems to float from the to ceiling down to the lounge. The walls showcase many photographs taken by world renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh, including the famous “Roaring Lion”.
The service
Upon entering Zoe’s Lounge we were greeted and invited to take a seat wherever we like. The vibe at Zoe’s Lounge was elegant yet comfortable with velvel sofas and banquettes found in every corner of the lounge. Every seating option seemed better than the next. Nonetheless we chose to sit at the bar to see the bartenders at work.
The bartenders and the servers were polite, attentive and welcoming. There was a slight delay in service as the bartenders were quite busy when we arrived. To alleviate the wait, the waitor offered a bowl of complimentary nuts.
The bartenders proved to be knowledgeable, passionate about their craft and attentive to the customers. For example, one bartender discussed different scotch flavor profiles with a customer who wanted to try a scotch served neat but didnt know which one to choose. At another instance, the bartender proposed to adapt one of their signature drinks to make it more to my liking. The result was a delicious and very well balanced cocktail.
One issue we faced is that the bar ran out of an ingredient required to make their signature cocktail “Smoldering Ember (21$)”, which prevented us form trying that item from the menu.
We then asked the bartender to make us two different classic cocktails that were not on the menu, which he executed without any difficulty. It was also at this point that we noticed the bartenders were free-pouring, which added elegance to the execution and faster service, all while demonstrating their experience behind the bar. And between all this, despite how busy they were, the bartenders found time to chat with us and the other guests.
The waiter was excellent. Every time our glass was low, he came around and filled our glass.
The menu
The menu did not list any classic cocktails; only signature cocktails & mocktails. However, the server noted that the bartenders can make any classic cocktail upon request. The bar kept certain signature cocktails from their old menu, such as “The Statesman” (a cedar-smoked whisky cocktail). Otherwise, the cocktails on the menu were new.
The cocktail menu boasted in-house ingredients such as cinnamon-apple syrup, jalapeno-infused tequila, and black pepper-infused gin. The bar also has its line of spirits, which they employ in their cocktails: The Lion’s Roar Whisky, Emilie’s Vodka, and Wilfrid’s Whisky.
There was also a dedicated lounge dining menu, although we have not yet tried it.
For the Record (21$): This cocktail was perfectly balanced to our taste; however, the bartender said it’s typically sweeter. He toned down the syrup ratio for us.
Whisky Sour: This simple cocktail was delicious. It’s a classic cocktail that isn’t on the menu. The bartender got the sweetness level just right. I was expecting it to be served in a sour glass, but I digress.
Gin & Tonic: Another classic cocktail.
All in all, the new Zoe’s Lounge is a great cocktail bar that meets the level of excellence that you would expect from Fairmont. The majestic entrance of the Chateau certainly adds something to the experience. The layout, design and historic character of the lounge provide the perfect atmosphere for the cocktail enthusiast.