{"id":390,"date":"2026-02-06T20:27:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/?page_id=390"},"modified":"2026-02-25T17:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:34:19","slug":"a-late-night-walk-through-downtown-ottawa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/a-late-night-walk-through-downtown-ottawa\/","title":{"rendered":"A Late Night Walk through downtown Ottawa"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A Late-night walk through downtown Ottawa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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How party goers feel about the city they live in<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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By the team<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A large neon sign floats above Ottawa\u2019s oldest standing bar and reads \u201cChateau Lafayette House\u201d on York Street. Photo taken Feb. 9. By Mila Leclair<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ask anyone who works downtown, and they\u2019ll tell you the same thing: Ottawa\u2019s nightlife is unpredictable, but it\u2019s evolving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When asking anyone, from avid citygoers to bartenders and managers, they all have experienced nightlife to the fullest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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From 2022 to 2023: A shift?<\/b><\/p>\n

The change from 2022 to 2023 wasn\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like there definitely has (been a change), especially in the (ByWard) Market,\u201d said Tayler Moelker, a bartender at El Furniture Warehouse on Clarence St. \u201cIt varies from year to year. Some years we are super busy down here, and other years, it kind of shifts to Elgin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bartender Tayler Moelker sits by the bar at El Furniture Warehouse in the Byward Market on Jan. 27. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ottawa doesn\u2019t have just one place to party; there are multiple \u2018yellow brick roads\u2019 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 \u2018Emerald City\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like this year it really shifted to Elgin because of all the new bars and restaurants opening up down there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some lights glow brighter every year, shifting and changing. The Market\u2019s crowds have thinned, then grown, then thinned again. Even the bars have evolved.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of changes, like Lieutenant\u2019s Pump wasn’t really bumping in 2022,\u201d Moelker pointed out, \u201cbut now it’s a big hit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though there are chances to view nightlife more negatively, people still let the light shine through:<\/span><\/p>\n

Noah Gould<\/span><\/a>, a content creator and nightlife lover, has been going out in Ottawa since 2013 and has seen the changes firsthand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Gould.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though partiers may have been going out for years, there is one place that outshines them all: The Lafayette. Ottawa\u2019s oldest standing bar is open 364 days a year with music gigs every day and no cover fees.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A chalkboard sign reads \u201cLive Music Every day! No Cover Charge\u201d and sits in front of The Laff, helping attract customers daily on Feb. 9. Photo by Mila Leclair<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cIt\u2019s usually a fun atmosphere, live music every night,\u201d said Scott McClinton, a bartender of seven years. \u201cEveryone comes in, it\u2019s usually a really good time. The place fills up really quick. There are new bands every night. They switch around, and they\u2019re on rotation, so you never know exactly what you\u2019re going to get.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So many people love a good night at the Lafayette. Free entry? Where\u2019s the pen?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started here just before the pandemic, and since then, it\u2019s really amped up, I find,\u201d McClinton said. \u201cThey\u2019ve kind of always done no cover, but they have this nailed down now. This is their niche, and it\u2019s working.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Coma that stopped Time<\/b><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Laff fills up the most on Fridays and Saturdays,\u201d McClinton said. \u201cIt\u2019s the weekend, and everyone wants to come out, dance and have a good time. It just completely fills up in here no matter what.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Scott McClinton (aka Scotchy) working a shift behind the bar at The Laff on Feb. 9. Photo by Matthew Grieve <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The nightly crowds aren\u2019t 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\u2026but a more grown-up version.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEver since after COVID, they started doing free music every night, and it\u2019s something that everybody needed, especially after the forced break that we all had,\u201d McClinton said. \u201cOnce we started doing that, this place shot right up; it\u2019s a good thing. You just come in here and you know something\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The revival hasn\u2019t been felt the same by everyone. Some places struggled more than others that don\u2019t have the same standing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyle Barrow, a Heart and Crown manager and bartender, felt the impact of COVID.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think in the past two-ish years, nightlife has definitely changed,\u201d Barrow said. \u201cWe had that rough time during COVID.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Barrow absolutely believes that the students are the centre of nightlife and have brought it back. \u201cEspecially after that, with the students back, it seems like they are back out and about on the town, that’s for sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gould has also been going out on the town for over a decade and has experienced Ottawa\u2019s eras firsthand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was 20 in Ottawa, it was nuts here downtown, and I don’t think it has the same energy it had before,\u201d Gould said before commenting on one nightlife figure, \u201cThe Night Mayor’s part of their job is to bring it back, post-COVID.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The \u201cNight Mayor\u201d nobody knows<\/b><\/p>\n

When experiencing change throughout downtown Ottawa, some can\u2019t help but wonder who made the change. Who is behind the nightlife mask?<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer: Matthew Grondin. Appointed night mayor in 2023, Grondin was given the responsibility of shining a new light on the capital\u2019s nightlife scene.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An <\/span>article <\/span><\/a>written by Jess Reia explains how Grondin\u2019s position follows a trend of North American cities hiring people to help with nightlife.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grondin faces the challenge of shining a light on Ottawa\u2019s night scene, which has a much smaller economy compared to Toronto or Montreal.<\/span><\/p>\n

But from party-goers to bar owners, many people say they\u2019re still in the dark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think I heard something about that, but it didn’t affect here,\u201d said Moelker when talking about any impact the new night mayor has made.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moelker also commented on ways that she felt Grondin could be more engaged with the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI 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\u2019t live in this area, but I\u2019ve worked here for years,\u201d said Moelker. \u201cThere definitely could be more night things because there is always so much happening during the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While some feel the night mayor isn’t doing much, his perceived lack of presence in the community isn\u2019t deterring people from going out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gould has a very positive view, unlike others, when it comes to the Night Mayor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been having a good time, so I think he’s doing great,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Content creator Noah Gould is enjoying a Guinness at the Heart & Crown on Jan. 27. Photo by Matthew Grieve<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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\u2019t aware of the Night Mayor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t heard a thing about that dude at all. He has a 9-to-5 job; he\u2019s not out at night. The Lafayette\u2019s success is absolutely independent from the night mayor. The place is 176 years old. Maybe he has come here, but I\u2019ve never seen him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Safety in the City<\/b><\/p>\n

Walking through the streets, the feeling of safety is incredibly important, and at The Lafayette, it is known as a safe place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a wide age range we attract at the Laff,\u201d said McClinton. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to watch out for everybody, you know. We want to make sure everyone\u2019s having a good time, feels safe. That\u2019s kind of your main concern as a bartender.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

McClinton said that creating a sense of safety isn\u2019t just about managing the room; it\u2019s about making space for connection. Once people feel looked after, that\u2019s when everyone can truly enjoy themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople need music, and they need to be social,\u201d said McClinton. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s one of the things, especially these days, there\u2019s 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\u2019s a healthy thing, and it works for everybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With different musical events each day, it\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A city that’s still learning how to stay out late<\/b><\/p>\n

Ottawa’s nightlife isn\u2019t dead. It\u2019s inconsistent, evolving. It\u2019s a nightlife built on micro-moments: the glow of the Warehouse sign, the smiles seen through the windows of Zak\u2019s Diner, girls holding each other’s hands while they bound over mounds of snow, and the joy radiating from The Lafayette.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good crew of people, very eclectic. Young to old and everybody in between. Lots of life,\u201d said McClinton. \u201cIt\u2019s a really good spot, which probably translates well to the crowd. Everyone does well here. Everyone\u2019s always watching out for each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter what you are looking for, a smile, a laugh, or some kinship, nightlife will find you and ensure a good time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo people who might say Ottawa\u2019s nightlife is \u2018dead\u2019, you\u2019re silly,\u201d said McClinton. \u201cOttawa thrives with that. We just need to keep our venues alive and going. There\u2019s always stuff to do if you know where to look. It\u2019s out there; you just have to broaden your taste and expand your horizons\u2026Just go out and check stuff out, you might surprise yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Late-night walk through downtown Ottawa How party goers feel about the city they live in By the team A large neon sign floats above Ottawa\u2019s oldest standing bar and reads \u201cChateau Lafayette House\u201d on York Street. Photo taken Feb. 9. By Mila Leclair Ask anyone who works downtown, and they\u2019ll tell you the same […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-390","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=390"}],"version-history":[{"count":85,"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":861,"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/390\/revisions\/861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/wherethecityis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}