Little Italy Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Little Italy featuring signage, café scenes and a city
Little Italy which includes street scenes, signage and outdoor art
Little Italy showing street scenes, a bar and outdoor eating
Little Italy which includes street scenes and signage
Little Italy featuring interior views, signage and art

Find authentic Italian restaurants, lavish street festivals and a century-old Catholic church in this historic immigrant neighbourhood in Ottawa’s southwest.

Enjoy a romantic evening over a plate of linguini in Ottawa’s Little Italy. Settled by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, this neighbourhood features an assortment of old, family-owned restaurants and is a celebration of Italian heritage. Visit during June, Ontario’s Italian Heritage Month, to experience the area at its most lively.

Start out at St. Anthony’s Church. Due to a curve in the street below it, the church’s copper steeple is visible from several blocks away. Established in 1913, the church has long been a meeting place for the neighbourhood’s Italian community. Tour the inside to see the fresco paintings on the curved ceiling and the ornate stained-glass windows. Cross the street to Piazza Dante, which features a splash fountain where kids can play during the summer.

Head over to Preston Street for lunch or dinner. While no original restaurants remain from Little Italy’s early days, you can find many authentic eateries that have been in the neighbourhood for decades. Splurge on dinner at the luxurious Giovanni’s or head to La Roma for a more affordable meal.

During the first week of June, the area hosts Italian Week, a spirited celebration of Italian food and culture. Every night, Preston Street is closed to traffic, allowing restaurants to spill out onto the pavement. Musicians and dancers perform along the streets and chefs vie for your business. Join in the procession to St. Anthony’s Church or attend Assaggi Night to sample a variety of traditional Italian foods.

See the iconic arch entrance to Little Italy on Preston Street with its simple red sign located in the middle of a metal arch, which reads “Little Italy” in cursive. Find another entrance further south on Preston Street and admire the whimsical sculptures entitled Bambini, which depict a soccer team through the eyes of a child.

Little Italy is located west of downtown Ottawa and south of the Canadian War Museum. It is easily accessible by bus.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Little Italy Hotel Deals

Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Fairmont Chateau Laurier

4.5 out of 5
1 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON
The price is AU$284 per night from 24 Oct to 25 Oct
AU$284
24 Oct - 25 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Ottawa. Enjoy 3 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,813 reviews)
"There no self parking at the hotel, only valet parking available, and have to pay separate !!"

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2025

Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Hôtel Chateauneuf Gatineau—Ottawa

Hôtel Chateauneuf Gatineau—Ottawa

3.5 out of 5
2 Montcalm Street, Gatineau, QC
The price is AU$125 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
AU$125
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Gatineau. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Byward Market ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,045 reviews)
"The food is good"

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2025

Hôtel Chateauneuf Gatineau—Ottawa
Les Suites Hotel Ottawa

Les Suites Hotel Ottawa

4 out of 5
130 Besserer St, Ottawa, ON
The price is AU$215 per night from 13 Oct to 14 Oct
AU$215
13 Oct - 14 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in Ottawa. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and a health club. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (5,063 reviews)
"Carpet in room needed much better/deeper cleaning. Engineers that designed the access to the parking lot (3rd floor for sure) from rooms should be sentenced to 10 years of moving large suitcases through the inadequate and poorly designed access doors"

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2025

Les Suites Hotel Ottawa
The Business Inn

The Business Inn

2.5 out of 5
180 MacLaren Street, Ottawa, ON
The price is AU$168 per night from 19 Oct to 20 Oct
AU$168
19 Oct - 20 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Ottawa. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (7,863 reviews)
"We recently booked a room at a hotel on short notice and were pleasantly surprised. The room exceeded our expectations, offering a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. The amenities provided were well-maintained and added to the overall positive experience. We truly appreciated the cleanliness and ..."

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2025

The Business Inn
Lord Elgin Hotel

Lord Elgin Hotel

4 out of 5
100 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON
The price is AU$270 per night from 13 Oct to 14 Oct
AU$270
13 Oct - 14 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Ottawa. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,446 reviews)
"It was a pleasant hotel. Definitely caters to an older clientèle but that also meant a private swim in the pool."

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2025

Lord Elgin Hotel
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Downtown Ottawa East by IHG

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Downtown Ottawa East by IHG

2.5 out of 5
235 KING EDWARD AVENUE, Ottawa, ON
The price is AU$195 per night from 26 Oct to 27 Oct
AU$195
26 Oct - 27 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Ottawa. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,540 reviews)
"We had to ask for towels on the third day. Beds were not made up daily, but that doesn’t bother us too much. Room was clean, had plenty of lamps, easy chair with foot stool, good TV and desk. No carpet smell. Came with fridge and microwave. Breakfast area was better than most such ..."

Reviewed on 6 Oct 2025

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Downtown Ottawa East by IHG
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Little Italy

Ottawa featuring snow

Centretown

4.5/5(8 area reviews)

Known for its abundant dining options and interesting museums, there's plenty to explore in Centretown. Top attractions like Elgin Street and Canadian Museum of Nature are major draws, and you can catch the metro at Parliament Station or Lyon Station to see more of the city.

Centretown
Ottawa which includes snow, a bridge and a cascade

Glebe

You'll enjoy the live music and monuments in Glebe. You might want to make time for a stop at TD Place Stadium or Rideau Canal.

Glebe
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum showing a park

Civic Hospital - Experimental Farm - Central Park

While you're in Civic Hospital - Experimental Farm - Central Park, take in top sights like Rideau Canal and jump on the metro at Carling Station to see more of the city.

Civic Hospital - Experimental Farm - Central Park
Canadian Museum of History showing modern architecture and skyline

Hull

5/5(2 area reviews)

Hull is a destination visitors seek out for its interesting museums, casinos and stunning river views. You might want to check out attractions like Canadian Museum of History or Casino du Lac Leamy while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Hull
Default Image

Old Ottawa East

While in Old Ottawa East, you'll enjoy the sporting events. Catch the metro at Lees Station to see top sights like Rideau Canal while you're in the area.

Old Ottawa East
Byward Market featuring street scenes, a city and markets

ByWard Market

A noteworthy feature of ByWard Market is its popular shops. While you're in town, be sure to stop and check out Byward Market Square and Rideau Centre.

ByWard Market


Little Italy Travel Guide

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