What to see (and eat!) in Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood

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Disclosure: I visited several of the sites in the post for free for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

In the late 1800s, the central Ottawa neighbourhood of Sandy Hill was home to VIPs seeking a peaceful enclave somewhat removed from the raucous rabble. You can still see traces of that posh heritage on certain streets lined with lovingly maintained Victorian mansions.

Over the decades, Sandy Hill has become much more multicultural and economically diverse. On its western edge today, you’ll find rooming houses and the University of Ottawa. Along Mann Avenue, small shops cater to new Canadians. And along Range Road, ambassadorial residences overlook Strathcona Park and the Rideau River. (The park itself is home to the summer outdoor productions of Odyssey Theatre.)

All of this diversity makes Sandy Hill a rewarding place to explore, especially on foot. Start at the airy Ottawa Art Gallery (50 Mackenzie King Bridge), which focuses on artists with an Ottawa connection. The tiny gallery shop is filled with unique items; head to the light-drenched Jackson Café for small plates or a glass of wine. Admission is free, the gallery is fully accessible, and there’s even free childcare at certain times.

Shop, eat and drink in Sandy Hill

Geographically, the enormous CF Rideau Centre (50 Rideau Street) is part of Sandy Hill, and it’s pretty much the main retail game in the ‘hood. However, if all that shopping makes you hungry or thirsty, venture out of the mall for something different.

At sleek Norca (Le Germain Hotel Ottawa, 30 Daly Avenue), the emphasis is squarely on Canadian techniques and ingredients, and you can choose from dishes such as chestnut-stuffed rabbit saddle or a beef burger with bacon jam.

Another hotel restaurant worth checking out is The Albion Rooms, tucked into a ground-floor corner of the Novotel (33 Nicholas Street). The farm-to-table menu changes frequently, but try the excellent blackened rockfish, if you see it. The craft cocktails are delicious, too.

In a former church near Laurier House, Working Title Kitchen + Café (330 Laurier Avenue East) is a little bit of all things to all people: a coffee shop, a bakery, a Sunday brunch hub (the pretty patio fills up quickly) and a creative dinner spot serving combos such as beef short ribs with grits and fenugreek curry with smoked tofu.

And on the north edge of the neighbourhood, Mexico City-born Hugo Crespo whips up tacos, tortas de chilaquiles, quesabirrias and other authentic Mexican street food (including halal options) at Sí Señor (506 Rideau Street).

Polish your kitchen skills at Le Cordon Bleu

Sandy Hill is also where you’ll find the only Canadian campus of Le Cordon Bleu (453 Laurier Avenue East). One of the world’s most famous cooking schools, Le Cordon Bleu was founded in Paris in 1895. It now has campuses all over the world to teach students everything from knife skills to the secrets of a perfect baguette. The Ottawa location is housed in an 1874 mansion that subsequently served as a Second World War military residence, a university dorm and a private gourmet club before being converted to its current use in 2000.

Walk in the footsteps of prime ministers

One of Sandy Hill’s grand mansions is now Laurier House National Historic Site (335 Laurier Avenue East). Once home to prime ministers Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King (not at the same time), the Second Empire-style building is now a wonderfully quirky place to visit.

On “white glove” tours, you can pick up and examine artifacts such as King’s cigarette case, and the home often hosts interactive plays, afternoon teas on the porch, escape rooms and other special events. In the third-floor library, keep an eye out for King’s crystal ball, which he received as a gift. Some guides claim he never used it, but I personally suspect he couldn’t resist the temptation to give it a whirl—perhaps in an attempt to commune with the ghost of one of his many dogs, all named Pat. (Yes, I’m fascinated by King. He just seems so quintessentially Canadian—staid on the outside, eccentric on the inside.)

Sandy Hill’s Jeopardy! connection

Did you know that the late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek was an alumnus of the University of Ottawa? I have a whole post about local sites associated with Alex Trebek, including several in Sandy Hill.

If you go

Sandy Hill, immediately southeast of Parliament Hill, is easy to reach. It’s near the Rideau and uOttawa O-Train stations, and is served by multiple OC Transpo bus routes. On foot or by bike, take the multi-use paths along the Rideau Canal or the Rideau River; you can use the Adàwe Crossing or the Corktown Footbridge to cross the waterways. You can even paddle or skate to Sandy Hill.

Visiting from out of town and want to stay longer? Use the map below to find and book accommodation. (Disclosure: I’ll receive a small commission if you do, at no extra cost to you.)

For visitor information, see the Downtown Rideau website.

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Pick up a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide, from which this post is adapted, or the sequel, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide. You can also subscribe to my free weekly newsletter.

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.