How to get more customers for an Ottawa restaurant: the ByWard Market, Winterlude and the office week

Ottawa is a capital city with several kinds of trade at once: federal workers, university students, tourists, residents of older neighbourhoods and event crowds. The restaurants that do best choose one or two of those groups and serve them well, rather than trying to serve everyone. This page looks at the calendar and the places where those groups meet.

How busy is the ByWard Market?

The ByWard Market District has reported that visits are recovering toward earlier levels. Those are counts of visits, based on mobile data, not sales, and a visit does not always become a meal. But the trend shows that people are coming back to the district. If you are in or near the Market, you are in one of the busiest parts of the city for foot traffic. If you are elsewhere, the lesson is that Ottawa's visitors do move around, and your task is to give them a reason to come to you.

What does the winter festival do for restaurants?

Winterlude brings the Rideau Canal Skateway and a program of events to the centre of the city. In 2026 it ran from January 30 to February 16, and the next edition is planned for January and February 2027, with dates to be confirmed. For restaurants near the canal, the Glebe, Centretown and the Market, these are some of the busiest winter weeks. Prepare for it:

1. Publish a warm-up menu. Soup, hot drinks, a quick lunch.
2. Take bookings for dinner, and state your terms.
3. Plan staffing early. Weekend crowds can be large.
4. Offer takeout for skaters. Hot items that travel well.
5. Think about your door. A heated entrance and a place for coats.

How does the office calendar shape your week?

The federal government's direction that most public servants be on site at least four days a week from July 2026 changes the weekday pattern for many downtown businesses. Executives were directed to be on site five days a week from May 2026. How much of that becomes lunch trade depends on your location, your menu and your speed. Count weekday covers by hour for a month, then decide whether to extend lunch or add a pre-order option. Do not hire on the strength of a headline.

How do you serve residents of your neighbourhood?

Ottawa has strong neighbourhood identities, from Hintonburg and Westboro to the Glebe, Vanier and Orléans. Residents want a reliable place to eat on a Tuesday, not just on a festival weekend. A set menu on a named night, a patio in summer and a reward for regulars all help. Join your local community association or business improvement area, and attend its events.

How do you work with students?

Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Algonquin College and La Cité all bring students into the city. They have limited budgets and plenty of opinions. A good lunch special, a shared plate for groups and a clear dietary menu all help. Ask a student society about a group booking in a quiet week.

What about bilingual service?

Ottawa is a bilingual city. A menu in English and French, and staff who can greet a guest in either language, are a quiet but real advantage, particularly with federal clients and visitors from Quebec. If you cannot offer full service in both, offer a greeting and a bilingual menu.

How do you keep your page current?

Most guests look you up before they arrive. Make sure your hours, menu and photographs are correct on your Google Business Profile and anywhere else you are listed. Update your hours for holidays and festival weekends. Reply to reviews with the same warmth you would use at the table.

How do you measure what works?

Keep a short list of numbers: covers by day and hour, average spend and the share of guests who are new. Compare your Winterlude fortnight with a normal two weeks. Compare weekdays before and after the return-to-office change. Share the results with your team, and choose one change at a time.

Are you looking for ways to be found by the people walking past your street?

Many Ottawa guests search by phone for food near them. Mosey is a food discovery app where diners rate the dishes they ate and search by dish and mood, which helps a business be found for what it cooks best. Nobody can pay to outrank you there, because Mosey Gold is earned from ratings alone.

More guides for your business:

• How many restaurants are closing in Canada in 2026, and why the numbers disagree
• How to get more customers for a restaurant in Saskatoon or Regina
• Are Canadians eating out less in 2026, and what brings them back?

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.