Ottawa Dining Establishments Earn National Recognition for Romantic Ambiance
Two distinguished Ottawa restaurants have secured coveted positions on OpenTable's prestigious 2026 compilation of Canada's most romantic dining destinations. This consumer-driven ranking, which relies exclusively on reservation data and verified diner reviews collected throughout the previous year, highlights establishments where patrons consistently celebrate love and special occasions.
Riviera: A Seafood-Centric Sanctuary in the Heart of the Capital
Located on historic Sparks Street, Riviera has earned its romantic reputation through a combination of architectural grandeur and culinary excellence. The restaurant occupies a meticulously restored 1920s Art Deco building, a project chefs Matthew Carmichael and Jordan Holley envisioned over a decade ago. Diners are particularly drawn to its signature seafood offerings, with the iconic seafood tower frequently mentioned in reviews as a celebratory centerpiece.
OpenTable feedback consistently praises dishes like scallop crudo, Fogo Island cod, and lobster spaghetti, underscoring Chef Carmichael's renowned expertise with marine cuisine. The restaurant's design features vaulted ceilings, an open kitchen, and uniquely repurposed spaces—including washrooms located in the original bank vault. Despite dropping from 28th to 88th on the 2025 Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list, Riviera received the distinguished honor of having its bar named the best in Canada.
Zoe's: Elegant Renewal at the Château Laurier
Meanwhile, Zoe's at the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier has made a triumphant return following an extensive year-long renovation completed in late 2024. The dining room now boasts more than 2,000 OpenTable reviews, with patrons admiring its sophisticated atmosphere featuring a marble fireplace, open kitchen, grand piano, and the restored display of Yousuf Karsh's famous Winston Churchill portrait.
The restaurant enhances its romantic appeal with daily afternoon tea service and has announced a special Valentine's weekend menu priced at $125 per person. This curated experience emphasizes shared courses and fixed seatings, perfectly aligning with OpenTable data showing a 54 percent increase in Valentine's Day dining across the entire weekend last year.
The Methodology Behind the Romantic Designation
OpenTable's selection process is both rigorous and data-driven. The platform analyzes review volume and reservation demand across a full calendar year, specifically filtering for establishments where diners repeatedly tag their experiences as romantic. The resulting list, published by province in alphabetical format rather than numerical ranking, tends to highlight restaurants frequently chosen for anniversaries, proposals, and other intimate celebrations.
This recognition suggests that in Ottawa, romance has become closely tied to strategic advance booking and knowing precisely which dishes create memorable shared experiences. From seafood towers to elegant fixed-price menus, these two establishments demonstrate how culinary excellence and atmospheric design combine to create truly romantic dining moments in Canada's capital.
