Wellington West and Hintonburg: Ottawa’s happening ‘hoods

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Where does Hintonburg end and Wellington West begin? Your guess is as good as mine. Ask 10 random residents and you’ll get 10 different answers; my own hunch puts the dividing line right down Parkdale Avenue.

In the end, though, it doesn’t really matter. In the last decade or so, the entire stretch of Wellington Street West, from the end of Somerset Street to the beginning of Richmond Road, has increasingly been seen as one long, lively whole. You might visit to catch a play at the Great Canadian Theatre Company (which I’ll talk about later in this post), bowl a few games at West Park Bowling (1205 Wellington Street West), or learn to make vases and mugs at the Hintonburg Pottery Shop (1242 Wellington Street West). Or you might come here for festivals like The Happening arts festival (May) and the Ottawa Porchfest music festival (September)—when festivals are possible again, of course.

Whenever and whyever you come, however, you’ll likely be tempted by the huge variety of shops and restaurants—one of the highest concentrations of independent businesses in the city, I suspect. So let’s start there.

Wellington West/Hintonburg shopping

On the eastern edge of the neighbourhood, you’ll find the Tinseltown Christmas Emporium (1096 Somerset Street West), which draws fans of adorable ornaments and festive tablecloths year round. Next door at Malenka Originals (1098B Somerset Street West)—part shop, part creative studio—you can buy upcycled furniture, or take a workshop to learn how to use chalk paint, milk paint and other eco-friendly supplies to give your own outdated pieces new life.

Just past Malenka, Somerset Street takes a sharpish turn and becomes Wellington Street West. At that point, you can pop into Maker House Company (987 Wellington Street West) to shop for everything from cribbage boards to juniper-berry shampoo bars, all made by Canadian artisans (the shop has also been a great supporter of my local guidebook, so you might find it, too!). If all that creativity makes you feel crafty yourself, check out the yarns, needles and other fibre-art supplies, or take a class, at Wabi-Sabi (1078 Wellington Street West).

One of the ‘hood’s most venerable shopping destinations is the Parkdale Market (366 Parkdale Avenue), which dates back to 1924. From spring through fall, you can buy produce of all sorts here; in spring, it’s one of my favourite places to browse for hanging baskets and other garden plants. It also opens in the weeks before Christmas to sell Christmas trees and other holiday goodies.

Speaking of favourites: I never miss a chance to browse for travel (and other) books, geography-themed puzzles, travel accessories and, of course, maps at World of Maps (1191 Wellington Street West). And for the next few blocks, fashionistas can choose from all sorts of fabulous independent shops, including Muriel Dombret (1258 Wellington Street West), Flock Boutique (1275 Wellington Street West), Victoire (1282B Wellington Street West) and Allegro (1283A Wellington Street West). If you’re looking for outdoor clothing and accessories, check out Great Escape Outfitters (97 Holland Avenue).

Food and drink in Wellington West/Hintonburg

I don’t know about you, but shopping always makes me hungry. As I’m a bit of a carb-o-holic, I can rarely resist the Finnish-style treats at Suzy Q Doughnuts (1015 Wellington Street West). If you’re vegan, Little Jo Berry’s Bakery (1305 Wellington Street West) has you covered with egg- and dairy-free treats.

For fancy dairy treats, look no further than The Merry Dairy (102 Fairmont Avenue).

And if you’re just seeking a congenial, locally owned coffee shop, this neighbourhood is packed with them, including The Ministry of Coffee (1013 Wellington Street West), Happy Goat Coffee Company (35 Laurel Street) and two Bridgehead locations (at 1024 Wellington Street West and 1277 Wellington Street West).

Looking for something more substantial? Suya Palace (1066 Somerset Street West) is one of Ottawa’s few restaurants serving Nigerian-style barbecue, which you can enjoy with heaps of jollof rice and plantain. You could also chow down on hipster-ish breakfasts and sandwiches at The Third (1017 Wellington Street West), juicy burgers at the Hintonburg Public House (1020 Wellington Street West), wood-fired pizza topped with locally sourced ingredients at Tennessy Willems (1082 Wellington Street West), or Spanish-style tapas and South American specialties at The Soca Kitchen (93 Holland Avenue). The Table (1230 Wellington Street West) serves up vegetarian everything, from wraps to cakes, and Petit Bill’s Bistro (1293 Wellington Street West) brings a touch of the East Coast to Ottawa. (Try the lobster poutine—honestly, I usually hate both lobster and poutine, and I gobble this stuff up. Could be the mascarpone cheese sauce.)

In search of something to slake your thirst? As well as a craft brewery—Tooth and Nail Brewing Company (3 Irving Avenue)—the ‘hood is home to Bar Lupulus (1242 Wellington Street West), a gastropub with a diverse beverage list that includes craft beers, natural wines, ciders and even meads.

Finally, if you’re looking for goodies for your pantry or freezer, you could pick up innovative take-home meals at Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington Street West), super-fresh pasta at Parma Ravioli (1314 Wellington Street West), and bagels and a wide range of gourmet packaged foods at the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli (1321 Wellington Street West).

The Great Canadian Theatre Company: Cutting-edge plays

The Great Canadian Theatre Company (1233 Wellington Street West) has had a long, storied history. A group of Carleton professors and students launched it in 1975. It then moved to a nearby former fire station (now the Old Ottawa South Community Centre) before setting up shop in a one-time garage on Gladstone Avenue (now the Gladstone Theatre). Through it all, the GCTC never lost its focus on Canadian material, usually of the progressive, left-leaning variety.

In 2007, the professional company finally moved into its current, purpose-built digs. The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre includes the main 262-seat theatre, a 90-seat studio theatre, the Lorraine “Fritzi” Yale art gallery (which hosts regularly changing exhibitions by local artists) and a café. As well as plays, the schedule often includes concerts, readings, workshops, special events for seniors and students, and more.

You never quite know what you’re in for at the GCTC, but it’s generally a given that it will be a far cry from The Lion King. To give you an idea, one recent show was billed as an “apocalyptic cabaret” and “interspecies song-cycle” about climate change. Prepare to be challenged.

Did you know?

At Remic Rapids Park, just north of Tunney’s Pasture on the Ottawa River, you can see intricate sculptures of carefully balanced rocks created by artist John Felice Ceprano. From late spring until early fall, you can also enjoy some really tasty hot dogs and frosty beers at the Remic Rapids Park Bistro, which is particularly nice at sunset.

If you go

The approximate middle of Wellington West/Hintonburg, at the intersection of Wellington Street West and Parkdale Avenue, is five kilometres from Parliament Hill. To drive there from downtown, head west on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and exit at Parkdale Avenue.

It’s easy to cycle or walk to the area from downtown via the multi-use pathway along the Ottawa River. Multiple OC Transpo bus routes run through Wellington West/Hintonburg, and there are O-Train stations at Bayview (closer to Hintonburg) and Tunney’s Pasture (in Wellington West).

For more information, see the Wellington West BIA.

Other downtown neighbourhoods to check out

Want to discover some other cool downtown Ottawa neighbourhoods? Check out my posts on Westboro, Little Italy, New Edinburgh and the Glebe.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or pick up a copy of my guidebook, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide, from which this post is adapted. (The guidebook link is an affiliate link.)

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.