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..

The oldest pub in Ottawa! Good location and various beer taps with reasonable prices. It was fun time! I would visit again for sure!

I hear it's one of the oldest bars in Ottawa

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.

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.

Stopped in with an out of town visitor just to experience the atmosphere in the oldest bar in Ottawa. Loved it! Beer is the most popular drink here, and there is always live music with a band or DJ.

On Saturday November 11, Remembrance Day I went to this bar first time ever (and will be my last time too) and I was physically ejected by the bouncer at the door. Not knowing that it was not allowed to show any signs in this bar, I showed a sign praising Veterans for their sacrifices on this Remembrance Day, but the bouncer at the door, instead of asking me to stop showing signs or asking me to leave the bar, he physically and without any warning ejected me. He also said something rude that I won't repeat here. I reported this rude behavior privately to their website and they confirmed that display of any sign is not allowed in their bar and they said that the bouncer was following their protocols which likely include rude behavior too because they refused to take any action! They claimed that the bouncer did not even read my sign and acted according to their rules!. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in the crowd who witnessed this improper behavior that night to act as my witnesses. This is a cheap small dump in my view and no wonder they don't charge cover as it has to be free for people to enter (in my case I won't go there even if they pay me). But if you want to have a safe place where you will be respected, I recommend you AVOID this bar. Pay a few dollars cover change and go somewhere else. There are plenty of places nearby with safe, fun, and respectful environment. Edit: - Response to their response. I NEVER bypassed the lineup. It was 1:15 am. There was not a single person waiting to get in that late at night when I entered. I was never asked at the door not to enter by the bouncer. I NEVER behaved erratically. I was dancing like others but never erratically. I did not consume alcohol that night and never have used illicit drugs in my entire life. Not a single word came out of my mouth, never mind shouting. I did wave a sign not knowing it was not allowed but if I had been told it was not allowed, I would have stopped and left the bar. They claimed the bouncer never read the sign but outside I told him it was a sign remembering our veterans for their sacrifices. His reaction was the same. Either the bouncer lied to them about all these, or they are making up false stories in order to excuse or even try to justify this very rude behavior. I have no interest or reason to suddenly come here and make stories about this bar. Most of my reviews here are positive or very positive. Only the waving of the sign is true. We do agree to disagree, and that part is true too.

Best price in town thus far. Great fried chicken wings with your choice of sauce. Side fries can be sweet potatoes and were tasty and crispy. Good music from ‘80. Variety rock , country and a little bit of every thing. Everything is nice. I highly recommended this place. Must try.

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)!

There is a staff there, he is a little big and tall; this young Man is quite agressive.

I just went to Lafayette Bar , there is a Man a staff there; he refused me because I didn't cover my nose , I have asthma that's why ; he told me that I was drunk , never been in my life. I took a video about him. I will make sure it will be on any media. This summer , I saw him when he was violent with a guy , I went there many times and I am not a trouble maker. I will also post his picture on Google review soon. It doesn't make sense to me.

Shockingly my first time visiting the Laff. Why did I wait so long? Delicious Deep-Fried pickles were consumed with a perfectly served pint of a hazy NEPA by BTP. Staff are friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. I will be back again very soon.

If you want an authentic, rustic Canadian experience this is the spot to go, the one bartender I didn't catch his name but you'll know, big beard and inviting personality. Great experience. I will be featuring this great historical bar in one of my publications 10/10

Cammy and I popped in for a quick lunch and drink and ended up staying for a good 3 hours. We ate Montreal Smoked meat sandwiches with the best hot, fresh fries and adult beverages. We met some dope locals and had great conversation. It was lovely!

I just turned 50 but still like to go out. The Laff has people of all ages, so everyone can feel comfortable. Their open mic night is a great place to perform or just listen to musicians.

Great selection of local brews and the staff was outstanding. Will definitely be back!

Excellent poutine! Fries are thin and plenty of curds. Best I had in Ottawa. Also went back for open mic night. This place has it all and has an authentic vibe to it. I'll definitely be going back next time I'm in town!

I had a craving for their sweet potato fries because I do not know what they do to make them so delicious that I can never find that quality anywhere else. The staff are amazing and like always the atmosphere is less pub and more nostalgic for me. #oldestpubintown

Amazing place to drink a beer and feel like community. What a bar should be.

We've been going to the Lucky Ron Show for years and years and years. Amazing time, I always recommend it to anyone who is passing through Ottawa!

A very traditional place in OTTAWA with very good music and beers. I loved the honey garlic sauce (but the chicken wings a little bit raw on the inside)

This is the oldest tavern of Ottawa, a must for people visiting the city, the have great choices of beers and spirits, there are some food plates if you get hungry. Saturday is when Lucky Ron plays, it is almost an institution here.

We have been going to the Lucky Ron show at the Laff on Saturday afternoons since he started playing there. He always packs the place. We bring friends and family all the time, and everyone has a great time. It's an Ottawa tradition. Lucky Ron never disappoints. The crowd loves the show and always sings along. You have to arrive early to get a seat. Enjoy the video of Lucky Ron's classic songs made famous by Johnny Cash. We will be back soon.

Awesome burgers, amazing service, very friendly staff. Would recommend stopping in!

Because if CoVid and travel restrictions, it’s been a while since we could make it to the Laff. Had to take our daughter now that she was old enough to see The Lucky Ron show. Had a great time! A couple Big Labatt 50’s, couple drafts, poutine, and snacks. They bought a hat to commentate the outing. Always a great time at the Laff. We always seem to strike up conversations with the people there. Such a friendly spot. You can’t help but have a good time. I remember some of the same customers from 3 years ago!

I have been to the 'laff' a few times now.I love the informal, friendly atmosphere here. Grab a drink, find a table and if you get lucky you may get to hear some good tunes. The bar has a good selection of local beers, generous helping of snacks all at great prices. Such a central location; a definite stop on my next Byward market visit.

You have to stop in Oldest tavern in Ottawa THE LAFF friendly staff responsible price. Character-History

I love the Laf. Been around forever, through so many incarnations. It's looking good, and def looks Historic. For example, Look at this new wall receptacle. Installed at table height, it comes complete with 2 charging ports. That, is the perfect example of this fine establishment staying relevant and at your service 🇨🇦🤟🕊️🌅💜👊 ( Oh dear I do have to say, the Steamy Dogs, are not really authentic unless the buns are in the steam tray with the dog. Please do this and I will eat a ton! 💜)

Great environment for a drink with someone

I have been here a handful of times over the years. It was a busy night on the Tuesday I went, sadly the bartenders were not super attentive, it is a nice spot for their open mic nights, and they have some amazing talent. Hoping this is a one off for the bartenders and they'll be more attentive to the bar next time.

Great Wifi.

The oldest tavern in Ottawa. They have live music every night after 9. Cool atmosphere and reasonably priced drinks.

Friday night, social, fun, vibrant!

Nice place for a drink and live music. They have a nice patio too. The night I went (Friday in September) they had an excellent band. However the place seemed a bit over-packed. Some patron spilt water on the band's equipment, which ended the show.

Best place in town

Live music 7 days/week; great local draft list; good pub food; friendly staff. In the heart of the Byward Market, the Laff is Ottawa's oldest bar and a true icon.

Just like all the other bars in the area. Decent drinks at a decent price. Nice staff. When they get busy there. Still understand. They guess this is because nobody wants to work in in the world. Staffmate are stopped there good. We enjoyed all the drinks and we enjoyed them. Hope to see you soon

Delicious burger! Staff is very friendly and attentive, unfortunately can't speak for cocktails and beers this time but definitely a good place to stop by in if you're at thr Bywater

(Translated by Google) Excellent venue (Original) Excellent lieu

I want to like this place. The atmosphere is really good. The food is fine. But where it goes wrong is the lack of service. There's nothing to indicate there's no table service (which is rare these days in a place that serves food), the bus person will stare at you and see you confused but not address it. Security had to finally tell us. This place definitely caters to locals at the cost of new patrons.

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

Always welcoming and hospitable.

I loved this place, they have live music six days a week.

My friends and me went for lunch and our orders was delivered really fast. The staff and service were great and food was good good as well. Thanks the staff.

Great place to either start or end your night out on the Byward Market. Live music is always great. Please bring back the darts board.

Where to start. I don’t make it a habit to leave one stars at all but when this many things go awry, it’s clear it’s not just an off moment. My boyfriend and I stopped for lunch. He left his card with the bartender to start our tab, who told us to sit anywhere and that we’d have to come order everything directly from him at the bar. We headed to the only empty table on the patio, where we cleared off the dirty dishes from the previous guests and took them to the bar. We ordered our drinks and food, the food itself was fine. I went inside to pay the tab and the new bartender on bar had no idea what tab I was talking about. I told the new bartender what was ordered and paid. The card that being held wasn’t returned to us so that needed to be cancelled, as we had already left town when realizing it hadn’t been returned. While that was our error for leaving the card being held while trying to sort out the bill, why hold a card at all if you aren’t going to keep a tab on it and have to have people reiterate what they ordered when it’s time to pay? All in all, a bit of a mess.

Was here celebrating a life lost. Loved the atmosphere and the food was good. As a non-drinker, I appreciated the choice of non-alcoholic beer. It was very difficult to get in/out, using my wheelchair and I was warned the bathroom wasn't ♿ accessible, so I didn't try

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

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

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!

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 .

Came here on a day trip to Ottawa and was impressed by the service of our waitress Angel. She was extremely nice and accommodating! She was very attentive and was very proactive about her service. She went above and beyond for us! As for the drinks, there is an extensive menu and is about $10 for each of our beers. There is a lot of seating inside and the outdoors aren’t too shabby either. Location is in the Byward market so it is convenient and close to most other restaurants.

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!

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

The Alibi in the O! If your a fan you'll know what I mean. Definitely a must stop for a beverage.

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.

Big lols all around. Thanks for all the beer!

The sandwich is great.

Great bar my friends got engaged there this weekend

(Translated by Google) excellent place for a night out with friends (Original) excellent endroit pour une soirée entre amis

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

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

Best service ever!

Love your castle always brings good memories😊

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

10 dollar quarts. Nice service. Good cheeseburger.

Last of the great old bars

Not a bad bar great beer and good food

Good stuff 😁😁

You can’t go wrong at Lafayette! Best pub with great live music. Can’t wait for it to be open again!

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

Got to be the first to play on the new stage addition tonight. I'm part of history. Holding back tears.

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.

Loved the home beer & poutine!

Love the atmosphere

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

There is a tall guy and a bit big , he works there and he is very aggressive.

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

Why the staff is so low class there.

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.

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.

Wonderful as always. Doing a great job during covid.

I used to go often and liked this place until they stole my stuff a week ago. Although the staff and security tried to cooperate by providing the phone number of the people who run the place, I called the manager to see if they would be able to help in any way by providing the security footage so I could raise a report to the police. They first questioned why I had their phone and denied to help me with the worst attitude ever and even I was told to disregard the issue by saying that my stuff was not valuable and that the police will not do anything. I also messaged them in Instagram about the situation and the reply was the same, awful, unfriendly and very defensive and just mentioned they will check the cameras last Monday without any feedback so far and that I should not leave my stuff unattended. So, if you are planning to go to this place neither the people that go there neither the management (who do not care about your safety as a customer or the safety of their own place) represent what it is supposed to be the nice local people from Ottawa. My friends and I will not go there anymore and we will spread the worth amongst others to let them know this situation in order this does not happen to them. Good luck to the oldest pub in Ottawa and btw I indeed reported the incident to the police.