Bars and restaurants in Ottawa go all out for the Christmas season

Bars and restaurants in the capital are going all out for the holidays with decorations, lights, and festive cocktails. CTV’s Camille Wilson reports.

Many bars and restaurants in Ottawa are elaborately decorated with festive décor and Christmas-themed drinks for the holiday season.

Staff at Nan’s Parlour, one of the festive restaurants, say they get quite packed and most times have a waitlist going.

“It just brings a lot of festivity into the ByWard market. It also brings in a lot of customers. People love to enjoy the Christmas spirit, and we love to reciprocate that kind of energy,” says bar manager Kyle Barrow.

Nan’s Parlour bartender Regan Ashe says drinks change in popularity every year and this year’s theme is based off of Christmas songs and Christmas movies.

“We try to go around that and elevate classic cocktails. It’s a lot of trial and error and a lot of collaboration. It takes like three months of trying different cocktails to really finalize any of our drinks on our menu,” says Ashe.

It’s no different on Elgin Street. The Standard, Good Neighbour and the Elgin Beer Project are participating in the Sippin Santa Miracle, a combined Christmas cocktail menu with specialty cocktails that come in ceramic holiday mugs.

“We started this about eight years ago,” says Duong Hoang, co-owner of The Standard, Good Neighbour and Elgin Beer Project. “It’s a big annual thing for a lot of families and friends whenever they get back in Ottawa. We take pride in knowing that we are the hub for Christmas when it comes to restaurants, bars and specialty cocktails.”

The owners say it’s all about having fun and helping everyone get in the spirit.

Customers coming out for the festive experience say it works.

“We are grad students at the University of Ottawa and we’re very busy at this time of the year, so we haven’t been in the Christmas mood at all. We decided to come here to really get those Christmas vibes,” says Stefanie Gard.

“As soon as I came in and saw how decorated was and it was incredible. It’s hard to not feel the Christmas spirit, especially in a place that’s done up so beautifully,” says Calvin Schuler, a customer at the Good Neighbour.

For friends Rebecca Berthiaume and Rebecca Comeau, this is their third year kicking off the holiday season at Nan’s Parlour.

“This is like coming to your grandma’s house on Christmas Eve, surrounded by all the nostalgic Christmas decorations. It’s glitter, it’s lights. It’s just, pure joy and it’s over the top, which is exactly like what I want on Christmas. I just want excess and happiness,” says Berthiaume.

“All day at work, I’ve been telling people, don’t stress me out. I’m going to Nan’s after work,” says Comeau.

Union 613 and the Jingle Bar are also participating in the festive experience.

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