Reviews of Chateau Lafayette (The Laff) (Night Club)

Vladimir Aleman Delfs

Great beer, although prices are 50¢ to $1 more than other places. Lively crowd with screens for those who need a distraction. A lot of character as Ottawa's oldest bar.

Marcel Wuttke

This ist the oldest bar in Ottawa. It's 20 years older than Canada itself (started from the foundation of the nation) :) every saturday at 4PM a national countrysinger is performing a live gig here :) nonetheless it's worth a visit everytime ;)

Glenn M. Johnson

Gone are the days of the dirty dive bar Chateau Lafayette. Now it's modern, clean, and a lot more expensive. If you don't mind hanging out with Millennial hipsters, it's still the Laff, and the oldest bar in Ottawa. The legend lives on... sort of.

Véronique Chiasson

Fun place to go for drinks. They're open late nights every day, which is great for industry people when they get off work. Staff are very friendly and prices are right. Good place to hangout. Open mike is fun on Tuesdays, gets a good crowd.

Gameon Play

Great bar my friends got engaged there this weekend

Karen Quesnel (K)

An eclectic mixture of people gather here. The music offerings are also varied from Tuesday night open mic to Wednesday and Sunday residencies, live cover acts on Thursdays and Fridays and some great DJs on Saturday and Sunday. There is something for everyone. House specialities on the menu also show how quirky it can be but it's all delicious. Always a good time.

Claude Racine

Ok place to have a drink. Yes, an institution in Ottawa so definitely worth a visit. A bit tough on the edge but glad I went.

watashi wa Steve desu (JapanaCana)

This is must visit if want to experience a landmark bar in the downtown core, the Byward Market... It's surely not a posh place but it's historical and Ottawa's oldest bars still open. A couple of the local favourite celebrity talents frequent here to perform on a regular basis and offer great tunes to a fun, no-frills experience. The small patio is a good spot to sit solo or chat with friends while still enjoying the music going on inside. You'll not doubt meet some colourful people happening by. It's accessible (ramp may be a bit steep but there's often a friendly hand offered if anyone sees struggle.

Tungesh Kapil

Not many drink options and the outdoor seating options are quite limited. They have done well implementing preventative measures from COVID.

Robbie Mauger

Oldest pub in Ottawa, decent beer selection and with delicious pub grub. Recommend the donuts

Jon Mullin

Oldest pub in Canada. Good craick if you like old pubs.

Taylor La Fond

There's a reason this place has been around for so long! They don't try to be fancy and they knock what they do out of the park. There's a good drink selection, and all the food we had was excellent. A regular on the patio highly recommended the food while we were trying to decide whether or not to go inside for lunch. He was right! It's rough around the edges to say the least, but you can't argue with the prices, the quality, and the service. Thank you Lenny for taking great care of us and laughing with us. We'll be back for sure.

Giles Peach

As a stranger in town The Laff was a great place to get a drink and meet friendly locals. Fair prices ces, good vibes, great times. Highly recommended.

Michael Higgins

Awesome. Authentic pub. Love music amd vibe on a Wednesday was fantastic

SlowP

Nice place. Lots of history. Highly recommend the poutine!

Mike Perron

It's always great to have a pint at the oldest bar in Ottawa, love the Lafayette!

Jason Shanks

Its an cool pub with a history... Look it up.

Trishton Watson

Entertainment was great, lots of covers

Paul Atkinson

An absolute must do; Lucky Ron on a Saturday afternoon! Whether you're a local or a tourist, you have to see Lucky Ron.

Laroy Burgess

Great bar to do a little day drinking. Sit in the window and watch reality TV right in front of you.

Stephen Hand

Labelled the oldest bar in Canada, I was hoping for the interior to have a bit of character. Unfortunately, the interior is pretty bland and "divey". We went early Saturday evening, which is a primer for the live music / DJ event that most likely happened long after we left. A mixed crowd of young and old. The interior is a bit tight. We had the bobo balls (deep fried sausage balls) and the poutine which you can have smoked meat added at no charge. The poutine was quite good, with lots of cheese curds. The bobo balls are a hard pass. The place has a good beer selection.

Eric “Raging Cajun” Comeau

Love the Quarts of beer and Lucky Ron is a local favorite on Saturdays that no one should miss

Jeff Riddall

Ottawa landmark. Would rate it 10 stars if I could. Must visit for bar history buffs. Have a quart on me and ask for Gary.

Cam

The Alibi in the O! Last experience a let down. Short poured on vodka soda..twice...oh well...stick to the local favs...beer, beer & more beer...can't go wrong there.

Shane Bryson

Great burger and brew! Good service.

Amanda Fox

Good spot to come to with your friends! There always seems to be someone I know in this bar lol.

Michel Savoie

Awesome Lucky Ron Show always Great Time Good Friends Quart Beer Good Food Great Live Music Every Saturday Evening

Ashley Power

The chicken wrap was good but the chicken fingers were just okay.

Lee Janson

Inexpensive drinks. An interesting socio-economic mix of clientele. Just a really comfortable place to drink. They even recently added a kitchen and the food is pretty decent. You also get to feel like a giant on the way to their washroom.

J Gnome

One of the last remaining taverns in the market area. Great prices on beer. Good company. Lucky Ron on Saturdays! Gosh, after all these years the place,remains authentic . IF you want to explore Ottawa, and feel safe, start here . Damn, Google sure knows how to mis a good story.

Just Shar

Excellent place right on the market..clean and just a great place to have a few drinks.

Christopher

Menu was a little confusing about sides with entrees. Beers were good. Decent prices.

Banks Berckmans

The classic "oldest bar in Ottawa." Very reasonably priced drinks and experienced staff. Fellow patrons range from tourists to regulars and there is a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. A great bar for a chat when it's quiet. However, the regular and special events are where it really shines. Uniquely Ottawa performances with huge loyal followings happen weekly. If you want a "Ottawa" pub/bar experience this is the place to go.

Tim Gilhuly

Cool bar and staff. Friendly atmosphere.

Mary Lee Tuen

Very convenient bar to hang out. Music is a little too loud. Too many homeless people to bother you if you sit out at the outside deck. A place to hang out there late night.

Rhonda Elizabeth

An Ottawa institution...love the beer selection, the fire place, the vibe is great! There is a reason Ottawas oldest bar has not closed

Abigail Charron

Music is great, the ambiance is amazing the bartenders are genuine people that care about their customers.

Brayan Lapalme

Good Beer but no service

Mike D

Great atmosphere, lively atmosphere. Kind of small for really busy nights.

Kheg VanHellSink

Open mic is fun the randoms r decent ppl the staff are good. Sometime it does get a little pretencuse

Tauno

The history of this place can't be beat (literally). Down to earth atmosphere and staff. The food is fantastic and well priced. Live music, darts, a vintage arcade table, TVs for sports. Something for everyone.

Philip Woodard-Knight

First time in Montreal. Fantastic place to just hang out. The bar staff incredible .

Val P

Amazing vibe. Great live music. Everyone was having a good time. If I ever come back to Ottawa I will definitely be coming back for a drink.

David Chartrand

U can't help but be impressed with this old gem. The moment featured a late afternoon game that was followed by a duo of guitars and the place was filled with patrons from all walks of life. Did i mention the cold beer?....twas marvelous!

Grace

Amazing atmosphere and great food and drink, I highly recommend an order of squik squik for the table.

Cyborg Tamara

My fave dive bar in town. Worth checking out any day of the week.

Dylan Zajac

I went for a happy hour pint. Great prices, decent service, and not super noisy/busy so I could hold a conversation.

Marinna C

Good food, cheap drinks, great atmosphere! I like getting drunk here

Terry

Quarts, blues on Friday night and Lucky Ron late Saturday afternoon. What's not to like?

Sarah Kealey

Rly nice now that they renovated it. Tends to get busy though and not a lot of food options for dietary restrictions

Christopher Hague

Always a good time. Love this place!

Joel Baxter

Oldest bar in the city, recentlyish renovated/expanded so more space but the bathrooms remain the same.

Jeff P

Great place to sit a d catch up with friends. Good food and great service.

Daniel Harvey (DanofSkyrim)

10 dollar quarts. Nice service. Good cheeseburger.

Dan Mincu

Went there on Saturday night and while for every other "shack" around people are lining up for hours and stepping on each other's toes this place was accessible reasonable and fun. No stupid coverage fee either. And yeah, of course a guy was forcefully dragged out of the bar and they almost had a fight in front of the entrance, but I think is the "norm" for everything that catters to a mostly young and inebrate crowd on the weekend nights. They have a cute mini-patio too and place is believed to be one of the oldest pubs in town!

Katherine Krige

Great bar in the Byward Market. Plenty of history in these walls. Saw some excellent local musicians and heard tell their open mic night is always popular. Worth it for the music and decent selection on the taps.

Will Peace

Great night with live music, great atmosphere

George Ralph

Great price and the Staff are very straight forward, no adtitude

Alset Wheats

Great place to kick back and have a beer. Can go with a group or drink quietly in the shadows. A favourite place to clear the mind and get away from things for a while.

Siddharth Dave

The 1849 ale (if I got the number right) is probably one of the most delicious ales I've tasted. This would be my go-to bar spot if I lived closer.

Manny Melo

Fun place for some drinks. Live music is good. Everybody seems to enjoy themselves and get along.

gary stacey

Great food but limited menu, a bar full of nostalgia!

Nick Gauts

Great spot for a pint or 4 . Saturdays 4ish come see the legendary Lucky Ron. Stomp your foot and cheers your beer .

Colleen Gildert

Live music . The menu is small but packed with delicious items. Cheese dips are home made and perfect for sharing. Variety of brews available. Located in the historic Byward market.

Joanne Paquette

Great place. Has been in the same location for 50+ years. Small patio, music, food, beer and great people!

casey p

Totally awesome place!! Saw the best duo ever there. Steamy boots!! Must go.

Michael B

Great view, great staff, great drinks. Should probably see my family more but I prefer The Laff.

Paco Bordeleau

The game machine ate my money and the staff was strict wmbut always for the good reasons. The beer is good and the atmosphere cosy and intimate

Julia Canning

Yet again a place where I wish I could give an extra half star! This place is an Ottawa insitution. The oldest bar in Ottawa, it is definitely still a place to sit and drink a quart of Labatt's 50. They also have some really great craft on tap. Including the mush sought after Dominion City Sunsplit. They just need to add some veggie options to menu to get full marks. No one comes there for the food, but us herbivores like to feel that we at least have the option of tempering our buzz with food.

Jerry Stepman

Not only was the food very good and well priced for the market, but our waitress was top notch in providing and excellent guest experience. I will definitely be back because of how attentive and friendly she is.

Jason Brown

A nice place to visit, but if theyre busy expect a packed space and a really long wait for drinks.

Josh White

Cozy bar. Gets very full very fast at night. Can order 710ml bottles of 50, which I've never seen before

crystal robinson

It's a cosy place that's sometimes a tight squeeze to fit in, but it contributes to the atmosphere. Lucky Ron plays on Saturday afternoon and everybody sings along. A great place to hangout!!

John Wishart

A must visit if you're in Ottawa; and easily one of the top 5 places in Ottawa to meet an alien. Excellent food, solid drinks, reasonable prices. Be aware, they require vaccine passports to use their patio.

Shambhavi Pundir

Good live music. Nice selections of beers

W Metz

Great bar... Decent prices... Things happening and big beers! That's right. You had me at big beers!!

Harry Lanceur

Even a nice place with people not really drinking too much alcohol compared to the places like the warehouse bar. I'm new to Ottawa and find the Ottawa people to be rather cold is specially The Warehouse Bar where I was just at where the owner biscuit kicked me out for walking around too much because there weren't any tables or seats that I was looking for.

Isaiah McKeown-Philip

Old style and cozy/ly constructed

John Ó Ríordáin

It has cool tunes, cool people and a relaxed vibe. And its source of lighting is a disco ball. Come on people! A nice break from the over priced dressy bars in the market.

Harold Young

Good Service and Funs times on the patio.

Charlotte

I like this joint! Good crowd, good drinks, the oldest bar in Ottawa. Always a good time

Crystal Waston

One of my favorite bars in Canada. It has a long history. The service is pretty good. They have a good selection drinks.

Viral Shah

Oldest and where you get one of the best beers. Must must visit this place of you are in Ottawa

Pratyu Kavuluri

We were here with our friends on the Halloween night and the service here is pretty fast. The staff are friendly and hygiene at this place is really satisfactory!

amin kazemi

Can't say enough about this place. Good vibes, great staff, friendly people, good music...best in downtown.

Eric Burant

The Lafayette is a place of history and legend- older than the city of Ottawa (and maybe even Confederation?!) the Laff is famed as the ultimate melting pot of downtown Ottawa demographics, crazy characters, an unpredictable soundtrack, and cheap drinks. The Laff has a great staff who have seen it all and a large group of regulars that you will become accustomed to seeing. The Laff has a great selection of rotating draught beer taps and quarts at a decent price. There's way more seating than there used to be, and in the summer there is a postage-stamp sized patio that is fun to claim, if you can. The bar is fairly dark because of the dark-coloured wood paneling and tables, and the bathrooms are a bit difficult to enter for tall people, as they are located in a former bank vault and you have to duck low (long story). Worth a visit at all times of the year.

Jacob Campbell

Amazing bar experience with great food and amazing atmosphere! There's no nonsense about pricing here and definitely you'll have that warm welcome feeling!

Katie Ward

I had only been to this bar once before I met my husband, now it's pretty much the only place I'll go. The bartenders are amazing, the staff are friendly. It's a lot roomier with the new extension. Lucky Ron is the cat's pajamas, and so is the Jenga. The best!

Jacob Laboissonniere

paid $6.5 for a gin an tonic and it was literally a drop of gin mixed with water. 0/10 would not recommend.

Mike M

I have yet to visit a more relaxed atmosphere in a bar than the Laff. Great staff!! Friendly and attentive. Reasonably priced drinks. The small outdoor patio is a plus.

Toby Hackett

Good place to sit down with friend's and have a cold one. Very good service.

Matt

Classic bar in the heart of downtown. Beer prices were reasonable and service was quick.

Sean Graff

The Laff is by far one of my favorite bars to return to. Amazing well priced food, excellent local craft beer and not too mention it's the oldest running bar in Ottawa!!

Ethan O'Sullivan

I walked in here by chance. I'm a huge Twisted Tea fan from New York City, the fact that I found it at the oldest pub and Ottawa serving my favorite beer is more than enough for me to go here, for me. It has a typical Irish pub vibe, which I like. Skully (the bartender) is very friendly, humorous, and treat you like a local. If you want that native experience in the oldest bar, at a local pub, in Ottawa — I highly recommend it.

Al

A classic on the go old pub. Nothing special about it other than being the oldest bar in Ottawa. Staff is "super chill". You pay on the spot for drinks. Cheapest place to get your hands on alcohol in the market. But this place is all about the atmosphere, relaxed and laid back. Feels like you're in a large ice fishing cabin .

Mikie

One of Ottawa's oldest pubs and still to the day mostly genuine. Nice and old. Great place

Griffin Polis

Great environment, but a bit loud for my liking.

Gary Hays

Had a great time here just coming for a late lunch on a Saturday. Food menu is small, but everything we had was excellent and it is well suited for a bar. Good beer selection. Friendly service. Really the whole package to go in and have a drink.

Natalie Smith

Excellent food and service... nice quaint atmosphere

Jason Szarkowicz

Great place for a casual beer, can't beat being the oldest in Ottawa.

Sudhanshu Jaitly

Oldest bar of Ottawa. Must visit place. Gud ambience, self services .

tom sabela

The "Laf" is one of Ottawa's oldest remaining taverns. Retaining it's rustic charm in the downtown market, it's a great place to drop in for a beer and listen to some quality live music.

Duncan Schroff

Oldest and best Pub in Ottawa

Denise Hill

We had a great time here. The bar staff were super friendly, great conversation and they gave us a lot of great recommendations of places to go around the city. The live entertainment was fantastic and the clientele were all friendly .

blair stewart

For the oldest pub it sill hangs with the big boys. Would highly recommend.

Tyler Hunt

Great music, great big bottles of 50, great times

John C

There are no servers at all. No real drink or food menus to be seen. I could understand the allure of this place if the drinks were cheap, but two beers cost $18. The decor and music is all over the place.

Tap TheApp

Really great place for live music and a cold one. Dominion Tavern across the road is a dive drug bar. Avoid it at all costs.

Alyssa Becker

Simple menu, historic location, friendly bartenders. Had a quiet lunch there on a visit in March. Would definitely return.

Ron Donaldson

Awesome establishment! Had some great nights here!

Joe Nimens

Saturday evening with entertainer "Lucky Ron" is an experience that every Canadian should attend at least once. Lucky Ron has done this Saturday show EVERY Saturday for 30 YEARS ! It really is extraordinary. Plan your whole weekend around the 5pm to 7pm show at "The Laff" You'll remember it forever.

Joanna S

Friendly staff and cozy hangout. Their cheeseburger and fries were excellent. Love that they buy from local farmers, sell local beers and showcase local talent. On other days, the jukebox is yours to select tunes. Best thing is that all kinds of people hang out here and all are welcomed.

Traveler Farlander

Great atmosphere, excellent service, good selection of beers. Can't miss out on the Laff if you're downtown.

Jessica Connors

Stopped by for a beer and some poutine to start off our pub crawl. Both were great, would definitely go back to try other foods. The squeaky cheese was amazing

Chris C

A cozy bar with reasonable drink prices and friendly staff. Wednesday is open mic night!

Roxanne King

What a cool place! The oldest establishment in the area and doesn't smell like it ????. The people who hang here are super cool and the selection of beverages is pretty good. Local brew on tap too.

Nehal Aggarwal

Great place to hang out with friends, nice food and music.

Denis Condie

Oldest tavern in Ottawa represents well with a mixed crowd of young and old. Recommend an afternoon beverage spot with a live entertainer regularly. Very comfortable and experienced staff that get on to the cold beer really quick.

Garfield Fisher

Update: favorite pub in Ottawa I've been walking by this pub for almost 15 years. Finally stopped in and fell in love. Great drinks and amazing sweet potato fries, and wings. The before and after photos should speak more than a thousand words. It is much bigger than it looks from the outside. And a great little place to people watch. Highly recommended.

wes porteous

Ottawa's oldest tavern. Quite popular and busy now. Seems to be missing that je ne sais quoi that it used to have.

isaaq Heide

The best freshly made burger and fries with service top to none and beer cold as ice. This family run bar has farm fresh food with its long lasted réputation for the area.

Pierre Anderson

Great usual Saturday early evening with Lucky Ron as usual. Only wish we had table service although service at the bar was good.

Amira Nour

First time and definitely not my last. Came here on a Wednesday night. The food, service and live music were all great (and it's pretty rare to have all three be so good)!

sean white

Great bar with great staff always busy day and night live music every night in summer and I think there might be live music in the daytime not sure you’ll need to check.

Cassandra

Burgers were great, people working were helpful. A little too loud for conversation sometimes, but if you sit outside the energetic environment is pleasant. If I could rate it 4.5 stars that's what I'd do, but overall I enjoyed eating there so 5.

CJ Lauziere

Good folks, live music, afternoon sunlight in the patio. Good fun!

Jamie Rondeau

Pretty neat for the oldest bar in Ottawa. Jukebox to pick your tunes, nice bartenders, a fun environment and best of all, no cover. Ladies bathroom is disgusting though, so...three stars.

Steve Ryan

If you haven't been here you haven't seen Ottawa. It's a must see spot that is the oldest bar. Plain and simple and exactly what it should be.

Jorge Rosales

It is a very good place for a beer, the service from the bartenders is always very kind!!!

Rick G

Not a bad bar. Only complaint I have is that I ordered a beer finished the beer and was almost immediately told to either buy another beer or leave because apparently I was just sitting there for an hour which was not true cause I drink my beer fast and that was my first one so it's scientifically impossible for me to have been just sitting there also when I drink I drink to get drunk I don't just sit there in a bar not drinking beer. Other than that it's alright. Just like any other bar I been to around the market.

Jerome Levesque

Good place. Historic and all. Ok beer selection.

Dead Bush In Water

Has the best bread in the world

Mark Macdonald

The neat thing about the Laff is the diversity of the crowd it draws. On any given night you might encounter senior citizens, punks, sports fans, board game players, grouchy senior citizens, bachelorette partiers… who knows. The atmosphere is laid back and the place has a very broad appeal. The beer selection has improved since they expanded into the space formerly occupied by a Quizno's. In addition to the usual standbys (Keith's, Labatt) they now offer a menu of local craft brews. Prices are pretty average by Ottawa standards. Lucky Ron plays Saturday afternoons around 4 and has a devoted following.

Stefan Soto

Fantastic music. Best dive bar in the city. Go on a Wednesday just to listen to John Carroll's Tom Waits covers and drink reasonably priced beer.

Brandon Kemp

Classic Ottawa bar. Worth a visit if you've never been.

Eddie Despres

Sure I'll provide context. The server was rude and pretty insulting when we asked for a receipt due to paying with a company card. He gave us such a hard time it makes you think how he got to the price he told us or does he make it up as he goes. The drinks were watered down, even after asking for a double, the beer was warm and the glasses were dirty.

Francisco Alvarez

Newly renovated. Double the space they used to have. Great local beer selection.

Max Poulin

Casual bar, love this place. My goto place in the Market. Different from all the other places because people just go there to drink!! Not family friendly (unless your out drinking with your family I suppose lol). If you're looking for a place to have 1 or 10 beers they have common commercial beers as well as microbrews! Always good ambiance and fun people there!

JDE

Love the history of The Laff.... Great people Great Memories created right here in the heart of the Byward Market in the Heart of the Nations Capital Ottawa.

Kelsey Thompson

The original Ottawa gem when it comes to dive bars. The staff are fast and friendly, late night snacks are hot and crispy, and their generous with their servings. It's a fun place for sure.

David Moss

Great taste of wine. Services was good. Seating section was comfortable and clean. Eating experience was good. Staff were nice.

Jasen Coates

Went in after work with my bf and told we had to much to drink can't serve you worst place ever Went out side asked cop to blow and it was 0.0 alcohol there loss

Jessica Neil

After expanding back to its original size and reacquiring a kitchen, this place has strengthened it's position as a classic Byward Market pub. Good selection of beers on tap, makes great Caesars, and has an interesting pub food menu. Live music many nights of the week.

Len Johnson

Well worn local tavern (although it's much better than it was years ago). Good spot to chill in the Market.

Todd Johnson

Love this place live music Friday nights, the Lucky Ron Show Saturdays at 16:00 since 1999, reasonable prices, friendly staff, eclectic crowd

Sangeetha K

Had a good time - was a nice atmosphere - goood place to hang out with family or friends

Paully Rocks

Oldest bar in Ontario and well worth stopping by in chatting with the owner and staff that work there they have some very cool stories how about the place and how it's evolved over the years. They have a great selection of beers on tap and some awesome food if you're hungry had a blast hanging out there sitting on the patio watching people go by and chatting with Folks at the bar. Very reasonable prices for food and beers

Courtney Donovan

I've only been for the open mic nights, but the place is always warm and welcoming. The talent is plentiful and the service is amazing.

KELLY MACLAREN

The oldest pub in Ottawa. Great staff, interesting regulars and awesome entertainment. Great prices and quarts!

Jack Norlander

I can’t personally speak for the food here, but as for the beer and atmosphere the Laff is top class as far as Ottawa goes. A good spot for an evening with friends or for a solitary pint after work.

Turrel Remy-Branker

Meh it's a decent spot. I went here for the experience because apparently it's the first bar built in Ottawa or something....at least that's what I was told. Music was weak. Crowd was alright. Service was chill. Prices meh. Guess they alright. Basic experience here. For a traveler.

Fat hot

Really great staff that makes you feel safe and comfortable. You can enjoy a night out without worry

Albab Saifi

A good place to hangout with your friends. The prices are reasonable and the live music performance was like a cherry on the top.

Dean Fletcher

Ottawa's oldest bar! Very cool! The Bartender is great too guy too who's worked for there 30 years! Must visit and have a beer!

Longlong Yu

Bad service, the waiter looks unhappy, very slow to serve food and bee, bad experience in general

Jonny Muto

Best bar I've been to in Ottawa yet. Love the open mic

John O'Farrell

Absolute classic tavern from days gone by. A market tradition, you can still by beer by the quart. Great value and on the right some incredible locals. Drop in and taste a true Byward market experience

Lola Smith

Haven't been in years! The service was excellent however the food quality, quantity & presentation was mediocre for the price

Gil Felipe Gonçalves Miranda

Simple, good amount of beers and appetizers. Nice setting, just perfect

Derek Warner

Great place from drinks. Their DJ isn't bad either

George B KLA

What a wonderful place ! The bartender was nice and full of info about Ottawa! Great food ! Thank The Laff

David Barrera

eccentric locals drinking draft beer, belting out tunes from yesterday and today. epic internet jukebox and bringing your own food is permitted.

Karen Whitbread

The oldest tavern in Ottawa! I always have a great time there.

Natalie Popovic

Such a cool pamce for a casual.drink and fantastic local live music on Friday nights.

John Berichon

My favorite pub in Ottawa. I can't say enough about this place. Friendly easygoing atmosphere. Staff is wonderful.

Emily Mountjoy

An amazing place, with a great environment for people from all walks of life.

Aria Platts-Boyle

As a 19 year old, the vibe is totally different then the rest of byward market. It's super fun and a great place to go with any crowd.

Chris Davidson

Far and away the coziest bar experience in town. Terrific staff, great selection, and a large sitting area that doesn't feel like it's TOO big. An awesome watering hole or stop on the way home from the bar crawl. Their fried pickles are unbelievable.

Ellen Cheney

Nothing fancy, but exactly what you'd expect in a neighborhood pub. They have games and darts, and a nice fireplace. Pretty good gin and tonic, good beers. Bar service, not table service, but that felt right. Appropriately friendly staff. Lots of regulars and some tourists in the middle of February.

Amy

Super great atmosphere, friendly staff, in my opinion amazing variety of music. Prices are fairly average, a little on the higher end. They have a lot of local beers and a good selection of ciders! Have been multiple times and will definitely continue to go :)

Carl Bouchard

Great place to visit, nice view of the market, awesome beer, cheers.

Sean Blake

Decent beer selection, and good pub snacks. Pretty good atmosphere, and a lively crowd for the Lucky Ron show.

Sonya Gankina

Simple, perfect for casual drinks after work, not usually busy, reasonable prices for drinks

Cheri Kentie

Loved this place. Great waiter!!!!

Chris Duvall

Its open quite late. Came in for a late night drink and the kitchen stayed open a bit longer for me. Very helpful and nice staff. Alright food. Atmosphere is meh.

Alex Theodorou

Great place with a lot of locals and relaxed atmosphere. Drinks were a bit expensive but has a nice selection of local drinks. Overall, a nice spot tucked away in Byward market.

Shelly Tramposh

Weirdest, most outrageous singer I've ever heard. Fun crowd, and very friendly. Great cider on tap. Great sweet potato fries.

Peter Blouin

Popular with locals and visitors. Good selection of reasonably priced drinks and pub food.

Zhihao Eric

Bad service and environment. Only a few food was available and menu was only 2 pages. I don't believe this restaurant deserves 4 stars.

Distinctively Paint

Awesome little joint. Ordered the Montreal smoked meat and fries. Really delicious. It was everything I hoped it would be. Great friendly service. Lovely neighbour hood pub. Lawrence was totally welcoming and friendly. Would come back in a heart beat.

Gnomze

This bar has been around for longer than me! Small place even with the expansion since the Quiznos was closed next door. Can get quite loud, especially on Saturdays when lucky Ron is playing his infamous set (yes, same one every week). Beer is good, though the classic is still a pitcher of Labatt 50. Prices went up with the raise of minimum wage and are still expensive for the place in my opinion.

Emily Fudakowski

Lucky Ron and Quarts of beer; doesn't get any more Canadian than this. The oldest tavern in operation downtown, Byward Market.

Chris M. Rougier

Only place in Ottawa where truely everyone is welcome. Plus Labatt 50 in cans, pints, and quarts.

Sean LeBlanc-he, him

The dive part of the bar ain't so quaint upon visiting upstairs in rooming "house" cells upstairs...

Matt McLaughlin

Great beer bar and rowdy crowd on a Saturday afternoon

Ladislav Vašina

Great service, great live music. You need to visit this place.

Ryan Brown

The market area is plagued with below average British style pubs, this isn't one of them. This place has real history with all the warm welcome and friendly staff that you want in a pub. You can get a reasonably priced quart of domestic beer or a pint of craft beer. I reccomend siting at the bar and engaging in old fashion conversation. You have to choose the occasion to come here for though, I would look elsewhere for a nice meal.

Kelly Boville

Ambiance was lively, white wine was awful, but then they aren't known for their wine

sam madden

Had a few drinks service was slow .. they messed up the order ... but it was comfortable with a great atmosphere

Seeing the world In a different way

Located at 42 York st., in the heart of the Byward market, you will find Ottawa's oldest running tavern, the Chateau Lafayette House 'the Laff'. This Lowertown former hotel / brothel/ outlet store and long time tavern is a historic landmark dating back to before 1849. The Laff would have served Canada's founding fathers of Confederation (like Sir John A MacDonald), the Irish, French, Scottish and British craftsmen who lived and built the Rideau canal and Bytown buildings. Today (prior to covid) you can go inside, sit with a mix with folk ranging from the regular area people to celebrities like Dan Aykroyd. So come and enjoy a cold local draft beer, or a quart of 50 with some simple bar food while listening to some great live music. Btw, The prices are great too. If you like my reviews, photos or videos please give them a thumbs up. Enjoy your time in Lowertown in the Byward market..

Bruce Bowie

Lucky Ron show rules! Some attempt at table service could improve the overall experience but...it is the Laff after all.

Trailhead Yarns

It gets 3 stars because it had a great scotch that I love. The outside is nice but the inside has a major identity crisis, is it a dive bar or a historical landmark???

Brian Molerio

Great atmosphere, and wicked 613 beer selection.

Total Beauty Care By Silde Silde

The oldest bar at the Byword Market Hangout for fun, great music, cheerful people and cold beer! I Had fun on Canada Day !

Ross Gaskin

Home of the giant bottle and mini glass lol. Great time with family watching sports on the giant TV safely.

Dave Eyraud

Oldest bar in Ottawa? They've really upped their pub grub game lately. Great place for a pint and some deep fried goodness.

rakshit mitra

Not a good ambiance, little boring place

Ryan Pratt

This place opened in 1849. Apparently back then you took your own order and served yourself. Good to see old traditions being maintained

Ron Read

Sat at a filthy table for ten minutes waiting for a server, but none to be found. Went to one of the literally dozens of other choices available in a two minute walk. I love dive bars, but not bad service.

Blake Thibault

honestly such a weird and wonderful bar. early evening its filled with government workers having a quick drink after work, then once about 930/10 hits its packed with all the servers/customer service folk who know how to party. the jukebox literally has every song you could want- which is hilarious because at night (after midnight) it becomes nothing but really intense punk/metal music and rap. i love it.

Raj Wasson

Great fun with friends. Good selection of beer and a classic Ottawa tavern. This place is mainly casual and I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for something upscale.

Sam Laporte

A must see while visiting Canada's capital! The place has an authentic tavern feel, a small terrace, a nice selection of beers on tap and a great selection of music.

Michael Phelan

This is a real bar. Most aren't.

Colton Hroncich

I have been here on a few occasions. I love it everytime. It is a great place to go with friends or by yourself. If you can, grab a beer, and go sit by yourself out on the patio and just watch the people and cars. It is so nice to do, and is just very relaxing.

Arielle Bisson

Fun, friendly and feels like home. The staff are great, the musicians are amazing and the drink are fairly priced. Always à good time

Mark Held

Good place to get together for drinks with friends. If you want attention from the staff I found you really had to flag them down. But aside from that it was a lively pub with friendly people. Over all extremely pleased atomesphere.

Dan dzzz

It's Chateau Lafayette... what's not to love.... oldest bar in Ottawa Ontario Canada... speaks for itself... cozyish/small but plenty of seating...good selection behind the bar... awesome staff.. EST 1849....

Ian Toone

Blood on the door, broken dreams on the floor... This is probably my number one over all favorite place in Ottawa!! Quarts of 50 and a seemingly unending supply of great acoustic guitar players are two of the best things. And a wonderful variety of patrons.

Nick Kazan

A great place to go for a few drinks. I didn’t find any of the prices to be anything special but I’ve only been here a couple times. I’m sure they have weekly deals, they just weren’t presented neatly in the bar.

Lauren Y. Zimmerman

We heard it was the oldest bar in Ottawa, so had to check it out. Locals call it "The Laf". Looked like a typical bar. Small patio on the street. We had a blast playing Jenga. They have the game at the bar for customers to play.

Claude Guay

Great place to go for a drink. Nice local on the Market. Good selection of beer and drinks. Live music most night with lots of seating capacity. No parking, but parking garage close by.

Norman Quenneville

I myself work in the hospitality industry and this place is a 3rd world country act. Last week I'd dropped in on a Tuesday afternoon (being my Saturday) to have a couple of pints and mingle with the patrons. After my first pint I'd bought a round of Jacks and ordered a second pint. At this point I'd noticed two women sitting at the bar and decided to join them and strike a harmless conversation. Next minute one of the bartenders tells my buddy that he's going to punch me and that I'd better leave, then being rushed by 3 men and one being an undercover police officer. This place is shady. ..

andino bartek

Great staff, cozy. Fireplace, football game on the TV, and classic rock on the speakers

Daniel Pakuts

Great bar with super good selection. Live music too.

Matthew Bieber

Once, a shining beacon of what a dive bar should be. Regulars, cheap bottles of 50, dank, kind of sad. Now, a bland pub, thankfully not Ye Olde style, but lacking the charm and atmosphere of old. Sad days.

Adam Werner

Good beer selection, great relaxed atmosphere

Stephen Michell

Great bar. Good prices. Nice patrons. Great craft beer selections. Food is standard pub fare. Definitely recommend!

mark finan

Great selection of beer and a pretty patio to have one on.

Alex Gameplays

Excellent place to go, people who give the service are so kind, the local beer is so good. I definitely go back there :)

Glen Tremblay

The oldest bar in Ottawa, and proud of it. You'll see the boast proudly scribbled throughout the establishment. This is a great place to drink a beer and watch the game Though even with its failry recent expansion (RIP Quiznos) limited seating is something of an issue. Overall a great atmosphere and not pretentious which is a refreshing change from the bars surrounding it.

Michael Brown

Great place to stop for a drink and a snack. Service was great and I loved the atmosphere. I would recommend, and will certainly return when possible.

Samuel Dubé

Great place for live music. Seems most artist go it privately or it all goes off organic traffic. Still, not a bad night so far. They've been around forever for a reason, they know how to pick them ????

danielle orr

Went to the bar on Canada day. It had a great atmosphere. It was busy but we were still able to get a table and there was no line to get in. Service was fast, friendly and helpful. Good place to go for a casual evening with friends.

Peter Bradley

Quaint pub (claims to be oldest in Ottawa). Friendly service, good draft selection, 2 for 1 apps and great tunes playing.

S Battig

What a wonderful place. Eclectic people, great staff, great music. I highly recommend John Carroll's show and also his open mic. Great entertainment.

Lee Best

Not a bad bar great beer and good food

Penny Scissons

Always a fun time! It's happy place to spend some time. Staff is awesome. Lucky Ron is back!

S Carter

I was there the other day for lucky Ron. I got there very early and was immediately put off by the staff. It took some flagging to get them to pay attention - they said they were ‘having a meeting with the accountant’ . I feel this should be done on their own time and not behind the bar while customers are waiting. I was especially put off by this one bar tender in a baseball shirt who’s name I didnt get (he would never be friendly enough to give it)- he was so stand-off ish, was condescending when I ask a question about the local beers. I’m sorry for not being trendy enough to be there- I won’t be back

David Howell

Historic bar in the centre of the market. Comfortable atmosphere and cozy setting. Decent service but a bit busy and a bit too "hip" for some.

Jeremy Keast

An authentic dive bar as far as I can tell. Cozy and comfortable without being upscale, which is reflected in the prices. The staff seem annoyed when tasked with their core responsibilities, like pouring/serving beer, but you'll quickly see it as part of the charm if you dont take it personally. Their open mics on tuesdays have a welcoming atmosphere and get pretty jovial as the bar fills with more unemployed musicians. An essential stop for any drinking night in the market.

Sandesh B

Live music nights the place is on fire!

Shariff Ahmed

Great live music daily

Roxxy Smith

Nice bar if you wanna go and get some beers.

Coach John Ottawa

Excellent Pub Food. Everyone smiling and having a great time. Bartenders are really quick. !!!

Matthew Bennette

I love this place to be honest with you! Great place to come for a beer with friends! The atmosphere is nice and the drinks are very cheap! I love it! I would suggest this place to anyone wanting a fun night out with friends or with your SO.

Subhajit Chatterjee

Just ok type... I ordered a beer , bartender immediately handed over the PoS machine to.me... That was odd and rude... Whatever it is his people judging capability is 0, I cancelled the transaction (by mistake), then entered whole amount with some tip (he didn't deserve though) to the poor guy...

alexandre champagne Roberge

This is the best place to have a cold 50 with your friend. My favorite place in Ottawa. The music is great, the people are great and the food is alright. Can't go wrong at the chateau.

Matt Cox

Cool spot. Live music and friendly staff. Lots of beers on tap and plenty of bar space and booths. Good spot to stay for a while if you’re hopping around byward market. It’s easy to get to and there’s a lot of e scooters around

Ian Gallant

Used to go for the rough sawdust floor kinda vibe. Recent renovations killed some of the charm but it's still the best dark dingy place to day drink.

Joshua Mathias

Good music, good people!

A Currie

Best dive bar in town! Make sure you go on Saturdays at 5pm and check out Lucky Ron! And order a quart of 50!

Joey Pelletier

This is a popular meetup place after work. The service is typically OK. We love to hang out here for a few hours and chat.

Patrick Hagarty

Fantastic as always. Love the place immensely and the staff are top notch especially Lawrenve, Jose and the party animal Lenny

John Veitch

Not bad, not good. Great for people watching, pretty hilarious actually. Worth the trip if you have nothing else going on for the night, you'll definitely be surprised at the crowd. Every single demographic is here and it's so worth it just once... you'll see!

Michael Chaplin

Very crowded for a Saturday at 5pm but when Lucky Ron is playing, it makes sense.

Madison Deppe

Tiny, grungy hole in the wall. Just what you want, sometimes. Many memories and conversations to be had and made here.

Trevor Brookes

Best jalapeño poppers in town!

Rene Pilon

I went not wanting to go, but a friend and his girlfriend twisted my arm, so I grab my girlfriend and we all went to this really old bar and we're plensently surprised with both the ambiance and food. I started with the deep fried cheese curds as a appetizer then finished with the smoke meat sandwich for the main, wow truly empressed loved all of it including my labatts 50 to wash it all down.

Carey Rogers

Its like going to that place where everone knows your name . They remember us l am sure and know they dont know us by name but treat you like they appreciate our patronage. Thats not everywhere you go anymore for sure. Food is awsome and service great!

Ryan Declare

Awesome place, oldest bar in the city! Good times and great food!

Tamara Barrick

Delicious wings and sweet potato fries.

Old N' Bald Bald N' Old

Great place to have a cold one.Friendly staff and decent vibes.One of the oldest bars in town. Decided to head to The Laff after being told by the big buffoon behind the bar at the dominion,across the street from The Laff, he wasn't serving my friend and I.The Laff is the place to go to enjoy a game or just to have a cold one at the end of the day.

Greg Anderson

A must visit if ever in the nations nation's capital. The Laf is the oldest pub in ottawa and has great local talent entertaining everyone. A great atmosphere and theres no shame in running in for pints with your kids. My daughter loved watching everyone have a great time and meeting Lucky Rons wife. If bouncing around the byward market. Stop here for beers.

marcel d

Has come a long way from the days it was a hookers bar back in the 60's and 70's. I was living in the area and went to school nearby. Everybody in the neighborhood knew what was going on there. Has given way to a higher class of people and a nice place to meet friends and have a cold one. Friendly there.

jean-pierre gadoury

Great place to have a beer with friends

Todd Scott

A relaxed and fun atmosphere, with a nice variety of drinks and foods for all tastes! A good mix of entertainment too!

Tony Pollard

Beer was a touch pricy, music was good but a bit to load to enjoy, atmosphere was a bit hit or miss.

Scott Rooen

The Lafayette is great place for a drink, food and live music. It is in a historic stone building, which provides a great atmosphere. But its the people that work there who welcome you like you've been long time friends. If you're looking for a place to relax, enjoy the surroundings and the people, this is a great example of a classic Canadian neighborhood pub.

James Kayorie

Poor service access to their patio is strictly for regulars.. seems to me .3 x I wanted to eat and drink there and to busy or no service. Ignored by staff

Bruno Villegas

Good food, good prices, and good staff. Everyone there was amazing and friendly

Adam Derome

Not a bad place, not a great place. The Laff, as it is affectionately known, is a place of last resort. It is always welcoming, and always open. It may not have the most unattractive people, but it doesn't have the worst. Open on Christmas, New Years, and Easter, it is the last bastion for the Ottawa market - a place where all are welcome.

James Sheridan

Outstanding place!! A plus!! A must see!! Lucky Ron on Sat (a show within a show).You will not be disappointed! But the multi level parking spot right beside the laff (east of it but beside it) between york and george st,,the price for parking is outrageous$$$$$$$$ park 15 min away and walk !!!!!!! $21 for less than 3 hours ummm that is a crime

Rojas Metcalf

Absolutely amazing place. I visited here for the first time this summer. I'm from the states and I loved every moment. I met wonderful people and to absolutely amazing women I befriended. I'll be back again and again every year.

caroline loth

No service, takes too long to serve a burger with fries and two steamed hot-dogs.The price is too high for the small amount of food they gave us. There was only a couple that ordered before us and we waited for 45 minutes at least. As people came in, a family decided to walk out and most people that went there only took drinks and no food. Before we came in, we checked the reviews and was pretty disapointed. We got our food at least and I liked the fries.

Mike Saper

My Go To spot on Sundays mostly but always good events running during the week with John Carroll and Lucky Ron at the helm

Anne Maltais

Lots of history that place it s also the oldest tavern in Ottawa .Must have the experience to check it out .! ...

Dan L

Best bar in Ottawa. Classic Tavern. Wheelchair accessible show floor, no wheelchair accesible bathrooms. Excellent staff, efficient and in control. Check out Lucky Ron (Ottawa Legend) on Saturdays at 5pm.

Janick Cormier

The Laff is always great. Drinks are cheap and the food is oddly very good. Try the deep-fried cheese curds, you wont be dissappointed.

Sam

Waited 15 minutes to get served last time I was there to no avail. I Ordered the fries once and they were disgusting and tasted like they had been cooked in-month-old oil. Entertainment is good on Wednesday nights though and usually worth the poor service . Wait staff can be rude and service poor .

Mikey Blanchard

Always the best of times. Just go in. Enjoy. Be kind or leave.

aM N

They allow kids and sleepers. Old pub nothing special. Might as well. Good selection of beers.

Martin Little

Great food and service.

mike crabtree

Good beer, friendly no fuss traditional pub atmosphere. The Food?.....well as I said great beer and good atmosphere.

Bryan Hendry

Ottawa's oldest and best pub for tasty beer!

Bella Khidhir

No servers! Food was mediocre at best. Why would anyone want sour cream with chicken wings? Fries extremely salty. Bar has a real identity crisis.. through decor/food/music/atmosphere I couldn't tell if it's Irish, country, Blues, or sports bar themed. Could also be a board game bar too?? Needs rebranding asap. Had an opportunity to be a really unique historical spot that reminds you of generations of Canadians since the Confederation hanging out there and drinking some pints, but instead you find yourself surrounded by tasteless tacky decor that has seen better days.

E B

Lovely, historically valuable space. Friendly staff and laidback atmosphere. The new(ish) expansion is bright and inviting. Definitely check out the musical performance nights. Great place to relax with friends.

Mark Schaefer

We always spend an evening at The LAFF. First time was just because it's the oldest in town. We go back many times because it is a great comfortable environment, good entertainment John Carroll is excellent (We'd night). The expansion was a great idea and the food is top notch. Definitely stop here on your visit!

Carly

Such an amazing bar full of character and heart! Great atmosphere with excellent service. The new renovation is so inviting that I often stay for an extra round!

Jennie Rickards

Travelling from the UK, it's a nice little Canadian bar. Bar staff were a tad grumpy

Stephanie Cowie

Very welcoming and friendly staff. The food was fresh and very delicious! A great experience!

Dan Cloutier

Great spot, great staff. 1 of 3 places I enjoy drinking at.

Steve McCarthy

Great bar with good food great staff and good live music!

Jason Wilton

The laff is an institution. Best bartenders in the league. And they expanded?!?! Oldest and best bar in Ottawa. Too bad Scully sucks at his job. Otherwise amazing!

kirsty strong

Best caesars, amazing music, friendly and attentive staff. Great find in ottawa

Eric

Staff unwelcoming and standoffish. Lots of lousy people hang around there. Really mixed uneasy energy. Could use an in-house psychiatrist with all the types that show up.

Cin Lou Who

The mix of age groups was great and the DJ had a good mix of music. Definitely going back.

Glen Barber

Small bar in the market with live music and outdoor seating. Great atmosphere on Saturday afternoons.

Ron Bradimore

Excellent service and as always cold beer.

Dan F

Great place to relax chill and have fun meet up with some friends. Great atmosphere. Only thing I hated about this place is how easy some people get drunk and are stupid and seeing my ex girlfriend that said i was the problem and she needed time alone to heal and get her self esteem back till I caught her with her coworker (new boyfriend) that she cheated me on and after catching her she put charges of harrassment and stocking because I tried to fix are brake up thinking it was me that she said was the problem right. Anyway after seeing her there with her new stupid looking bf and her coworkers I stop going cause it would be only trouble. Other than that great place to bad the bar can't stop from having cheating crazy ex girlfriends from going.

Karl MacKinnon

Old haunt,, great service, good selection.

j mcd

Great atmosphere, friendly, excellent prices on quarts. Has been around forever.

a d

nice servers, great stout! no Sons of Kent beer although i suggested they bring in this great craft brew!

Jennifer Apple

Only the beer saved this from being a one-star review. With God as my witness, do not eat any vegetarian food here.

Luc Guerin

Great atmosphere. Live entertainment is very good. Will be back.

Dave Taylor

Nice place nice atmosphere was only in for a beer though cannot comment on food.

William Verreault Milner

Basically an icon in the market... and there's a reason it's been in business so long. Great customer service, good prices, and there's always something different going on, from open mics on Tuesdays to a hip hop dance floor on sundays.

G L

I believe Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette was sitting at the bar but it could have just been that guy who works at Irving Rivers.

Twin T

This place has been here for a very long time. The food is bar food . The corn dogs are good homemade pogos and the wings are not bad themselves. The poutine is not the best poutine around. I guess they are big on the beer 50. The Service is simple, walk to the bar and order. They have an old jukebox on site. Overall the atmosphere is good. The bartender / server still has the old change unit on there belt. Please like this review and some pictures.

Stéphane Laviolette

Great simple and old-fashioned bar. Always live music. Oldest bar in Ottawa. An Ottawa classic.

Lee Foreman

Nice place and friendly service. Oldest bar in Ottawa.

Joseph St Jean

Great bar...great painting...lots of people...good service....always worth a stop when downtown

Imogen W

Always so much fun. Real people, great music a wholesome reintroduction into the social world for me.

Lynn Hornby

Fun historical pub with great bar staff, a gem in the middle of the Market

Cynthia Mae West

super great place in the market to people-watch, chill out, enjoy a good drink. definitely a take-initiative place in terms of service bc usually theyre pretty damn busy, heads up.

Desiree D

The laff has a special place in my heart. I'm younger than the typical crowd but I always feel at home & the live music is fantastic. Will keep coming back here always. My go to spot in Ottawa!

Holly e

Definitely an interesting vibe here with a mixed ground of old and young people. Music was good, drinks were served fast. It isn't a hip, trendy place but it is still fun on a Friday or Saturday night. I recommend this place for people who don't take themselves too seriously and are looking to have a fun night.

Daniel Richer

Local drinking establishment with a169 years of history, good pub food, cold beer but warm staff

Juanita Banfill

Love this place. Just tried their new Buffalo Chicken Wrap! Super good.!! Can't think of anything better. And they make their own Fries that come with some dip that's way better than Ketchup!!! Coming back for more of that!!!

Penny Needham

Oldest bar in Ottawa!! Awesome patio! They have 710ml beer!!

Thomas kerr

Great staff and beer selection