The Ottawa restaurant landscape experienced a significant transformation in 2025, marked by a familiar cycle of closures and exciting new openings. This constant evolution has resulted in a more diverse and intriguing culinary scene for diners to explore in the coming year.
December Openings Expand Culinary Horizons
The final month of 2025 saw a notable expansion of dining options across the city. Openings ranged from a highly anticipated fine-dining destination in Chinatown to a 24-hour vegetarian South Asian spot in Kanata. The downtown core also welcomed its first taste of Armenian and Uyghur cuisines, adding to Ottawa's global food tapestry.
The Crown Jewel: Antheia Arrives in Chinatown
No opening was more eagerly awaited than Antheia on Somerset Street West, which launched in early December. The restaurant is the brainchild of chef Briana Kim, the winner of the 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship. Kim first announced plans for Antheia in the fall of 2023, following the closure of her acclaimed plant-based restaurant, Alice, in Little Italy in early 2024.
Named for the Greek goddess of vegetation, Antheia is described by Kim as a "fermentation R&D lab" and features a 16-seat chef's counter. It offers a multi-course tasting menu experience. The cost is $225 per person, which includes tax and a 20% service charge. Reservations are handled through a pre-paid, non-refundable but transferable ticket system released on the first of each month for the following month.
Kim reports that tickets have been selling out within an hour of release, attracting guests from various cities.
Other Notable Developments on the Horizon
Meanwhile, another celebrated Ottawa chef, Marc Lepine of Atelier, continues work on his second restaurant, Sauterelle. Announced in June 2024, the Somerset Street West project will feature an indoor garden. As of fall 2025, no specific opening date had been set.
Looking ahead to early 2026, the Fairmont Château Laurier is preparing to launch a modern Japanese-inspired restaurant by internationally renowned chef Akira Back. This will add Ottawa to the global map of his restaurant group, which includes locations in cities like Paris, Seoul, and Bangkok.
The year 2025 proved that Ottawa's dining scene is resilient and ever-evolving. While some establishments closed their doors, the influx of ambitious new concepts, led by highlights like Antheia, promises a vibrant and sophisticated culinary future for the capital.
