5 hot nightspots for an Ottawa Adventure

Despite a reputation that tends to paint the city as purely a government town, Ottawa, Canada, has a lot to offer adventurous travellers looking to have a wild night after their day tours of Ottawa. Indeed, there is a happening nightlife that is just waiting to be explored, and vacationers hoping for an unforgettable night might want to spend their evening in Canada’s Capital at one of the area's most celebrated watering holes.

Vacationers can start their night with tasty pub fare and a pint of ale at an Ottawa Institution, D'Arcy McGee's. Located at 44 Sparks Street, D'Arcy McGee's is a traditional Irish pub in the truest sense. According to Frommer's, the pub was shipped over piece by piece from Ireland, and it's stained-glass windows, dark wood and mosaic tiles are almost as celebrated as the bar's selection of imported and domestic whiskeys.

For travellers who have a more luxurious evening in mind, a trip to Zoe's Lounge could be just what the doctor ordered. This elegant lounge was named for Sir Wilfrid Laurier's wife, a former piano teacher and socialite. The establishment is a fitting tribute, as live jazz bands fill the parlor with swinging tunes and high end cocktails send visitors' heads spinning in a wonderful way.

So now that the pregame is done, where should vacationers stopping in Ottawa as they travel through Canada go to dance? Well, travellers who like their evenings wild will want to head down to the Byward Market District to check out Tila Tequila. Boasting "forever spring break" as their motto, Tila Tequila is a rowdy nightspot that features live DJs, great drink specials and music that goes all night long.

If visitors can't agree on what kind of music they'd like to dance to, they may want to head to the Junxion Public House, a multi-floored and multi-atmosphere nightclub that is sure to have something for everyone. Whether relaxing in the pub setting of the Public House, heading downstairs to the Underground to dance the night away or enjoying cocktails at the Courtyard Patio, Junxion has you covered for an exciting evening in Ottawa.

Members of an alternative lifestyle who are taking tours of Ottawa have plenty of options for nightlife as well. At the Lookout Bar in the Byward market, revelers can dance to local and national DJs, sample some tasty drinks or even croon along to one of their favorite songs with the bar's frequent karaoke nights.