Picture Perfect Dining: 4 Of The Most Aesthetically Pleasing Restaurants in Ottawa

If you’re anything like me, when you go to a restaurant you want your ENTIRE restaurant experience to be incredible. Just about every inch of the restaurant needs to be picture perfect so you can snap a pic and make everyone jealous of where you are (jk, jk, or am I…) Well, that being said, for all you Instagram baddies, I’ve got your bucket list of the most “Instagrammable” and aesthetically pleasing restaurants you need to visit in the beautiful city of Ottawa.

1. First up on the list is The Green Door Restaurant. This breath of fresh air restaurant has a fully vegetarian menu full of delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes. Yes, they’re good even if you’re not vegan, okay relax. This unique spot boasts not only delicious food, but also its earthy toned interior that is sure to make your followers green with envy… Mua ha ha! The restaurant is decorated with an array of REAL green plants, making for the perfect backdrop for your next post on TikTok or Instagram. Oh yea and don’t forget to actually order some of the food! Some must-try aesthetically plated dishes are the “Green Door Salad” and the “Green Door Burger” and please actually eat it, don’t just take a picture of it and waste the food, that kinda goes against the main purpose of eating vegan/vegetarian.

2. If you really love Mexican food and may or may not be addicted to margaritas like me, then Zak’s Cantina is probably going to be your new favourite Mexican spot. This popular restaurant is located on Byward Market Square and is probably one of the most unique restaurants you will ever see. Right when you walk in you are blasted in the face with a bright and colourfully painted BUS (it is indeed supposed to be there, it was not an accident) that has a ceiling covered in a vibrant mural full of fun Mexican images and graphics. The restaurant is full of funky furniture to sit at and enjoy the experience, making it a perfect spot for a “somewhat” memorable night (depending on how much tequila is drank) out with friends. There’s no shortage of photo-worthy moments to capture and their cheesy nachos are to die for. Zak’s Cantina is definitely worth a visit.

3. If you LOVE street food and really LOVE Asian food, look no further because Sidedoor is your own personal restaurant heaven. This trendy spot is also located in the heart of the Byward Market and offers a unique dining experience. This place will for sure make you feel fancy af with it’s authentic stoned walls and soft, blue velvety booths (we love booths) and of course overly huge, in your face wood chandeliers and huge freaking plants everywhere. You can basically sit outside without actually sitting outside because of its greenhouse-like dining area full of windows which only means lots of picture-perfect natural lighting! A couple of must try dishes are the Green Papaya Salad and the Braised Beef if you want to taste what you’ll be served in heaven.

4. Last but not least, El Camino. Yes, I know, another Mexican restaurant but it’s just too good to not share! This Mexican-inspired restaurant has a fun and vibey atmosphere, complete with beautiful, concrete etched walls full of Mexican symbols that probably tell a story but all I know is it has cute little donkeys everywhere (who doesn’t love ass as wall decor). In the warmer months (which is basically only May-August if we’re lucky), they open up their cheeky lil patio for you and your friends to chill with your fancy margaritas and easy flowing Mexican beers. The menu features a variety of delicious tacos, but the real star of the show is their Elote, which is a grilled corn on the cob smothered in toppings that you’re not gonna want to share with anyone, not even one little piece of corn. And trust me, your Instagram followers will be begging for the name of this restaurant once you post a picture of you with your Mexican corn on the cob.

Ottawa has a lot to offer when it comes to aesthetically pleasing restaurants and we are LOVING it! The Green Door Restaurant, Zaks Cantina, Sidedoor and El Camino are all must-visit spots for us foodies looking to spice up our Instagram feeds with the least amount of editing skills needed as possible.