While in Canada, it only makes sense to visit Ottawa — Canada’s capital and seat of its federal government. Ottawa is a city where stately government buildings meet vibrant neighborhoods, rich history, and natural beauty. Located in eastern Ontario on the banks of the Ottawa River, it sits right on the border with Quebec, blending English and French cultures. So off we went to explore Parliament Hill and the ByWard neighborhood.
Centre Block is the main building on Parliament Hill. It is home to the House of Commons and Senate chambers, with the iconic Peace Tower rising in the center. Even while under renovation, its dramatic silhouette defines Ottawa’s skyline and it is one of the most photographed buildings in Canada.
The Centennial Flame is located directly in front of the Centre Block. Its symbolic eternal flame is surrounded by bronze shields of the provinces and territories. It was first lit on January 1, 1967 to mark Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation.
After circling the historic buildings and taking in riverside views, we made our way down to the vibrant ByWard neighborhood.
The ByWard Market isn’t just a hotspot for food and shopping — it’s one of Ottawa’s oldest neighborhoods, and it owes its name to the city’s founding father, Lieutenant-Colonel John By who was tasked with canal construction and laying out a new town to support it. He carved the area into “wards.” The section around the public marketplace became known as the By Ward— named after him.
Nearly two centuries later, ByWard Market is still buzzing, with open-air stalls, cozy cafés, street performers, and history on every corner.
And now, it’s time to try a BeaverTail — the Canadian fried pastry, not the furry critter.
BeaverTails are hand-stretched dough that’s flattened into an oval or paddle shape, then deep-fried until crisp outside, fluffy inside. They were invented in 1978 in Ontario and became an Ottawa tradition by 1980. Traditionally finished with classic cinnamon sugar, they now come in dozens of creative variations from Nutella banana bliss to salty-sweet maple bacon mashups. There’s something to satifsy every sweet craving.
The other delicacy Ottawa is known for is shawarma. The city’s shawarma scene began booming in the late 1990s. Ottawa has become something of a shawarma hotspot in recent years, thanks to its vibrant and diverse Middle Eastern and Mediterranean communities. They have brought authentic spices, recipes and techniques
Ottawa boasts more shawarma and falafel spots than any other Canadian city, earning it the nickname “Shawarma Capital of the World” outside the Middle East .
Before we high-tail it out of Ottawa and roll on to Montréal, here’s a look at the Queen Victoria Monument — a striking trio featuring the regal Queen atop, a proud lion symbolizing Canada, and a spirited young woman representing the growing nation.
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