Landmarks

Chinatown Ottawa

Name: Chinatown Ottawa
Address: 675 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON, CA

71 locals recommend

Location

675 Somerset St W

Ottawa, ON

Centretown West

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Tips from locals

Gina And Nathan

March 11, 2020

Ottawa’s Chinatown is a compact and multicultural community centred around Somerset Street West, between Centretown and Little Italy (just west of Bronson Avenue). History - In the early 20th century, the area that is now Chinatown was home to mostly working-class Irish and Italian immigrants, while the local Chinese population was scattered throughout downtown. After the First World War, Chinese immigrants set up businesses along Somerset Street West. When Ottawa welcomed thousands of Vietnamese refugees in 1979, many settled in the area. Through the 1990s and 2000s, the neighbourhood developed an official identity and was eventually designated as the Chinatown Business Improvement Area. A beautiful Chinatown Gateway, or Royal Arch, was unveiled in 2010 as a joint project with Beijing, Ottawa’s sister city. Sights, shopping and dining - After entering the impressive Gateway at Somerset Street West near Bronson Avenue, you’ll feel inspired to explore diverse businesses like funky local soap brand Purple Urchin. And you’ll easily satisfy your sushi, pho, ramen or dim sum cravings at the many Asian restaurants. Visit the traditional Yangtze Dining Lounge for classic Chinese cuisine, or the festive Shanghai Restaurant – open since 1971 – for Asian dishes and drag queen karaoke on Saturday nights. Finish off the evening with cocktails and live entertainment at a venue like the cozy The Art House Café.

Karl

October 12, 2018

Between Centretown and Little Italy lies our own historic Chinese neighbourhood. The annual Remixed Festival actually makes you forget that preconception of boring bureaucrats that people have of this town.