We went down the rabbit hole to find Ottawa's Best Speakeasy
Jackalope
Below Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON
Open 5PM – late
Closed Sunday & Monday
Hours: Jackalope is open until late, but you may need a reservation.
Parking: We parked at the corner of Kent Street and Queen Street, which offers 6$ parking until midnight.
Visiting a hidden bar is always a treat: They’re fun to discover, they make great date spots, and it’s almost always guaranteed to scratch your itch for a great evening out.
Jackalope opened in early 2020, only a few weeks before the COVID 19 lockdown in Canada. This venue has a sister bar, Rabbit Hole, which opened some time before The Jackalope. We have visited this bar a number of times over the years and have seen it evolve to become even better.
The Space
Something that makes every visit to Jackalope enjoyable is the design and seating options. Sitting right at the bar is always a great choice because as you can see the drinks being made and discuss with the bartenders when they’re not busy. But virtually anywhere else in this bar is just as amazing: the narrow corridor with the vintage furniture and candles has its own vibe that is more intimate. Perhaps the most intriguing sight is the white jackalope head overlooking the patrons. Overall it feels very special to spend time in this space.
Because of hidden nature of speakeasies, there are no windows for sunlight and passer-bys to peek through. I find this to be a significant benefit because it allows for consistency in the ambiance. Tea candles do little for the vibe if the room is full of sunlight. But at Jackalope, it’s dark and moody all the time.
Except for the bartenders, who are anything but moody.
The Service
There are many beautiful venues to discover but it takes great bartenders to create consistently great customer experiences. In this regard, their bartenders are a big part of what makes Jackalope such a great bar.
For example, Georges Haddad, who is the Jackalope’s head bartender. Sitting at his bar, you’ll find that he’s an easy going conversationalist and a master at his craft. All the bartenders at this speakeasy are very knowledgeable when it comes to classic cocktails and creating balanced drinks. They do a good job to steer their guests in the right direction and can talk about the flavour profile of the drinks on the menu.
The Menu
Unfortunately we did not take many notes about what we ordered at Jackalope. We ordered a pasta dish, a whisky sour, a Trinidad sour, and 2 other signture cocktails. The food & the drinks were great. The signature cocktails were beautifully garnished and well-balanced.
Taking photos is not allowed at Jackalope. Nonetheless we took some non-compromising photos during our first visit.
The Bartender’s Choice: The bartender asked about a preferred base spirits and the desired the flavour profile to concoct this cocktail.
Mint Julep: I requested this classic cocktail, which was not on the menu.
