Riviera Ottawa

Riviera is housed in a former bank building on Sparks Street. The space retains its high ceilings and original vault, standing a ten-minute walk from Parliament Hill.

This venue holds the no. 27 spot on Canada’s 100 Best, but the food is less self-important than the soaring architecture suggests. The kitchen leans into Italian and Mediterranean seafood traditions without the performative starch found at other spots in the city. While the room runs smart and elegant, it lacks the stuffiness often associated with high-concept dining near the capital’s landmarks. You choose Riviera because it feels like a grand event, yet the service remains sharp and efficient enough for a working lunch. It is a rare case where the historic scale of the building actually enhances the meal rather than overshadowing it.