A Late-night walk through downtown Ottawa
How party goers feel about the city they live in
By the team
Ask anyone who works downtown, and they’ll tell you the same thing: Ottawa’s nightlife is unpredictable, but it’s evolving.
When asking anyone, from avid citygoers to bartenders and managers, they all have experienced nightlife to the fullest.
From 2022 to 2023: A shift?
The change from 2022 to 2023 wasn’t dramatic, but when looking back, one can see the difference. The people who actually notice are the ones who arrive early and leave late: the bartenders. They have experienced more than any average nightlife enthusiast.
“I feel like there definitely has (been a change), especially in the (ByWard) Market,” said Tayler Moelker, a bartender at El Furniture Warehouse on Clarence St. “It varies from year to year. Some years we are super busy down here, and other years, it kind of shifts to Elgin.”
Ottawa doesn’t have just one place to party; there are multiple ‘yellow brick roads’ leading to different bars and clubs around the city, each offering vibes that cater to different comfort levels and experiences. This year, according to Moelker, the crowds have leaned towards Elgin’s side of the ‘Emerald City’.
“I feel like this year it really shifted to Elgin because of all the new bars and restaurants opening up down there.”
Some lights glow brighter every year, shifting and changing. The Market’s crowds have thinned, then grown, then thinned again. Even the bars have evolved.
“It kind of changes, like Lieutenant’s Pump wasn’t really bumping in 2022,” Moelker pointed out, “but now it’s a big hit.”
Even though there are chances to view nightlife more negatively, people still let the light shine through:
Noah Gould, a content creator and nightlife lover, has been going out in Ottawa since 2013 and has seen the changes firsthand.
“We want the nightlife to evolve, and it’s different than what it was when I was 20, when I was 24, when I was 27, when I was 29, but it’s different in a good way,” said Gould.
Even though partiers may have been going out for years, there is one place that outshines them all: The Lafayette. Ottawa’s oldest standing bar is open 364 days a year with music gigs every day and no cover fees.
“It’s usually a fun atmosphere, live music every night,” said Scott McClinton, a bartender of seven years. “Everyone comes in, it’s usually a really good time. The place fills up really quick. There are new bands every night. They switch around, and they’re on rotation, so you never know exactly what you’re going to get.”
So many people love a good night at the Lafayette. Free entry? Where’s the pen?
“I started here just before the pandemic, and since then, it’s really amped up, I find,” McClinton said. “They’ve kind of always done no cover, but they have this nailed down now. This is their niche, and it’s working.”
The Coma that stopped Time
Five years ago, time stood still, the streets were barren and nightlife suffered: COVID was in town. But for some, COVID was a positive change, especially for the ones who attend The Lafayette.
“The Laff fills up the most on Fridays and Saturdays,” McClinton said. “It’s the weekend, and everyone wants to come out, dance and have a good time. It just completely fills up in here no matter what.”
The nightly crowds aren’t the only thing that changed. What started as a post-pandemic experiment trying to get people out of their houses turned into an every-night must-have that still attracts crowds nightly like a kid to a candy shop…but a more grown-up version.
“Ever since after COVID, they started doing free music every night, and it’s something that everybody needed, especially after the forced break that we all had,” McClinton said. “Once we started doing that, this place shot right up; it’s a good thing. You just come in here and you know something’s happening.”
The revival hasn’t been felt the same by everyone. Some places struggled more than others that don’t have the same standing.
Kyle Barrow, a Heart and Crown manager and bartender, felt the impact of COVID.
“I think in the past two-ish years, nightlife has definitely changed,” Barrow said. “We had that rough time during COVID.”
Barrow absolutely believes that the students are the centre of nightlife and have brought it back. “Especially after that, with the students back, it seems like they are back out and about on the town, that’s for sure.”
Gould has also been going out on the town for over a decade and has experienced Ottawa’s eras firsthand.
“When I was 20 in Ottawa, it was nuts here downtown, and I don’t think it has the same energy it had before,” Gould said before commenting on one nightlife figure, “The Night Mayor’s part of their job is to bring it back, post-COVID.”
The “Night Mayor” nobody knows
When experiencing change throughout downtown Ottawa, some can’t help but wonder who made the change. Who is behind the nightlife mask?
The answer: Matthew Grondin. Appointed night mayor in 2023, Grondin was given the responsibility of shining a new light on the capital’s nightlife scene.
An article written by Jess Reia explains how Grondin’s position follows a trend of North American cities hiring people to help with nightlife.
Reia, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, explained that the Night Mayor focuses on safety, diversity, tech advancements, modern policies and ensuring that those with a lower income are not being priced out of nightlife.
Grondin faces the challenge of shining a light on Ottawa’s night scene, which has a much smaller economy compared to Toronto or Montreal.
But from party-goers to bar owners, many people say they’re still in the dark.
“I think I heard something about that, but it didn’t affect here,” said Moelker when talking about any impact the new night mayor has made.
Moelker also commented on ways that she felt Grondin could be more engaged with the community.
“I think Instagram and social media are the main ways to promote stuff like that, but there definitely could be more nightlife things. Like, I don’t live in this area, but I’ve worked here for years,” said Moelker. “There definitely could be more night things because there is always so much happening during the day.”
While some feel the night mayor isn’t doing much, his perceived lack of presence in the community isn’t deterring people from going out.
Gould has a very positive view, unlike others, when it comes to the Night Mayor.
“I’ve been having a good time, so I think he’s doing great,” he said. “The night mayor is killing it, and they should keep working on it because Ottawa downtown, when I was a kid, was one of the best places in Ontario or even in the country, and I feel that it can be that way again.”
On a separate note, even though the Night Mayor may not be well-known, the oldest bar in the city definitely is: The Lafayette. Though they have been an active participant in the city’s nightlife, they aren’t aware of the Night Mayor.
“I haven’t heard a thing about that dude at all. He has a 9-to-5 job; he’s not out at night. The Lafayette’s success is absolutely independent from the night mayor. The place is 176 years old. Maybe he has come here, but I’ve never seen him.”
Safety in the City
Walking through the streets, the feeling of safety is incredibly important, and at The Lafayette, it is known as a safe place.
“There’s a wide age range we attract at the Laff,” said McClinton. “We’ve got to watch out for everybody, you know. We want to make sure everyone’s having a good time, feels safe. That’s kind of your main concern as a bartender.”
McClinton said that creating a sense of safety isn’t just about managing the room; it’s about making space for connection. Once people feel looked after, that’s when everyone can truly enjoy themselves.
“People need music, and they need to be social,” said McClinton. “And I think that’s one of the things, especially these days, there’s a lot of loneliness out there, and the younger generation has a hard time just going out there and seeing and meeting people. If we can make it easier for them to do that and actually be social, it’s a healthy thing, and it works for everybody.”
With different musical events each day, it’s hard to go wrong by visiting The Lafayette. Whether the vibe is to enjoy some dad-rock classics with DJ Poundkey or Sunday afternoon coffees with a side of live jams, the 167-year-old family-owned business offers it all at their location on York Street.
A city that’s still learning how to stay out late
Ottawa’s nightlife isn’t dead. It’s inconsistent, evolving. It’s a nightlife built on micro-moments: the glow of the Warehouse sign, the smiles seen through the windows of Zak’s Diner, girls holding each other’s hands while they bound over mounds of snow, and the joy radiating from The Lafayette.
“It’s a good crew of people, very eclectic. Young to old and everybody in between. Lots of life,” said McClinton. “It’s a really good spot, which probably translates well to the crowd. Everyone does well here. Everyone’s always watching out for each other.”
No matter what you are looking for, a smile, a laugh, or some kinship, nightlife will find you and ensure a good time.
“To people who might say Ottawa’s nightlife is ‘dead’, you’re silly,” said McClinton. “Ottawa thrives with that. We just need to keep our venues alive and going. There’s always stuff to do if you know where to look. It’s out there; you just have to broaden your taste and expand your horizons…Just go out and check stuff out, you might surprise yourself.”