Raise a toast: Superb spots for champagne in Ottawa
Frothy bubbles, elegant flutes, that one-of-a-kind tingle – nothing says “special occasion” quite like a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. Whether you’re looking to celebrate an engagement, an anniversary, a promotion or simply the weekend, here are some excellent places to clink your glasses.
Restaurant 18
18 York St, Ottawa ON K1N 5S6The 16-page wine list here is renowned among Ottawa oenophiles, while reviewers from enRoute to CNN have lauded the fare – such as herb-crusted rack of lamb and roasted black cod with truffles – as among the city’s best. As well as a small selection of bubblies by the glass, you can choose from more than a dozen vintages from around the world by the bottle, at a very wide range of prices. Savour it all in an upscale but not stuffy dining room that features exposed stone walls, white linen and cozy lighting.
Vineyards Wine Bar Bistro
54 York St, Ottawa ON K1N 5T1Even though it has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year for more than a quarter century, this atmospheric basement wine bar isn’t pretentious. The extensive wine list, which offers a small but carefully chosen selection of sparkling wines and champagnes, includes a handy page of wine terminology. Ask lots of questions; the knowledgeable servers are happy to answer. Try the cheese or charcuterie boards, each served with a baguette. The crowning touch: live jazz three nights a week.
The Metropolitain Brasserie
700 Sussex Dr, Ottawa ON K1N 1K4The parent restaurant of the Savoy, this busy French-style restaurant serves a wide range of sparkling wine cocktails. Sure, you can get a classic kir royal, but why not try a Champs Elysées (bubbly and Calvados) or Sicilian Kiss (sparkling wine with Disaronno and Southern Comfort)? If you prefer your bubbles straight up, there are almost a dozen champagnes and sparkling wines by the bottle, with some available by the glass. Another Wine Spectator award winner, Metro is also home to one of the city’s biggest oyster bars.
Beckta Dining & Wine
150 Elgin St, Ottawa ON K2P 1L4Located in the historic Grant House, this award-winning restaurant offers both a sophisticated dining room and an intimate 50-seat wine bar. In the bar, which doesn’t take reservations, guests can enjoy top-quality nibbles such as pozole with smoked pork belly as they sip vintages from a 25-page list. Deep leather chairs give the space a club-like atmosphere, and sparkling wines range from moderately priced prosecco through a variety of French champagnes to a few bottles made for that once-in-a-decade splurge.
Signatures Restaurant
453 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa ON K1N 6R4Not surprisingly, French wines reign supreme at the lone Canadian outpost of the legendary Cordon Bleu culinary institute. However, you’ll also find Italian and Canadian sparkling wines, at prices ranging from modest to stratospheric. Housed in a Victorian mansion, Signatures offers inventive takes on classic French cuisine, such as sautéed escargots with celery root purée or venison loin with port wine figs. Thoughtful touches and unexpected amuse-bouches make it a popular destination for special occasions.
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