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Highlander Pub
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Highlander Pub
17 reviews in English
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Review from Dean D.
Typical pub fair food at a reasonable price. I just had to try the fish and chips and wasn't all that impressed. Aulde Dubliner & Pour House in my humble opinion makes a much better fish and chips meal. I found the fish and chips at the Highlander to be greasy, older oil and a smaller portion. The menu was reasonably priced with some really enticing dishes, I just felt like a pregnant women that night with a pickle and ice cream craving; just craved fish and chips instead. I will say this, they have an outstanding collection of scotch. Just about any scotch you could imagine, they have. Price ranges from a few bucks to well over $300. I'm not a big scotch drinker, so I went with the more moderately priced scotch. I also like the cute girls in the kilts. I can do without the guys in the kilts though.
They have a very good selection of beers. Madelaine D. got it right...the best way to go is with their beer "sampler". For those of us who sometimes just can't make up our minds as to what scotch to try, The Highland Pub has an answer to that dilemma. They have a number of Scotch "Flight's". You choose the flight you want which includes several different samples and this way you get to sample a number of different choices from their vast selection at a fairly reasonable price. Finally, they often have live entertainment. The bands I've seen are usually pretty good and the Pub gets pretty crowded. Summers are great because they also have an outside area as well. Overall, a nice place to go. -
Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011 3 photos
With so many pubs in the market I seem to end up here again and again and again. Why you ask? Well, for one, the food is much better than typical food pub, and at a very reasonable price ($9-$12 for a proper meal).
They also have their own beers, and if you're new to the pub, the best way to go is with their 'sampler' of beer. You get to choose 4 quarter pints of beer for about the same price as a regular pint ($1.43 each). I should mention, they're known for their whiskey and have an impressive selection to choose from.
The most recent visit (an evening visit) was solid as usual! We showed up with a group of 8, and despite the fact the place was packed they managed to find us a table after not too long in a very comfortable spot with half of our group sitting along a bench (I always choose the bench given the option).
After we had all had a nice meal and a sampler or two of beer the band showed up to play some live music.
The older of the two gentlemen in the band was hilarious to watch. If he caught you with your eyes on him he'd suddenly turn the 'cool' factor way up and just groove away eyes closed, full body into it for a minute or two until he noticed you had stopped watching when he'd go back to being pretty chill. On top of the entertainment factor of the band, they played some pretty good music.
Overall this is a great pub in the market and one I'm sure I will be back to.Listed in: Ottawa
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Review from Coy W.
3/7/2011
I walked by here today and was reminded of some very poor service at this place. I've been here 3 times and all 3 times the service hasn't been great.
The first time was during the World Cup so that was no big deal as their patio was rammed full. The next time I went back it took forever to get any service from anyone. This included getting the items we ordered.
The last time was when a friend of mine was in town and saw the pub when he had walked by it the previous night. We met up to order the beer samplers. The beer samplers are good, as is the scotch menu but our server was horribly rude to us the whole time we were there and hovered our table like a hawk. I wasn't sure why, maybe she had a bill stiffed earlier in the night on a patio. I overheard her later saying that she was waiting for us to leave so that she could leave because she wanted to go somewhere. I thought that was ridiculous considering it was only 9:30pm. Once I heard that we settled up and left. I wish she had just asked us to move to another section as I was enjoying the beer. -
Review from Richard M.
Mission, BC
6/11/2011
Good beer, good atmosphere acceptable food, friendly service.
Ate and drank here during a Stanley Cup final game (Vancouver v Boston). Staff were friendly and the food (fish and chips) was not bad, fresh and hot, not too greasy.
Regular north American beers augmented with English ale and more single malts than you can shake a stick at. The game was followed by a bit of live music as well. Nice patio outside, but a nit smokey so we stayed inside.
Good pub. I'd visit again. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2010
The Patio Experience: 4 Stars
-Whatever those gorgeous yellow and white flower-like things are- they're amazing. When not knowing which patio to camp out on during beautiful day, the choice is made much easier by these structures. Umbrella things, keep doing what you do.
-Cute kilts on the staff!
-Slow to get helped at first
-Fast to get the food and drink
The Food Experience: 3 Stars
-A cafeteria-style TRAY. Yes, a full TRAY with white wax paper to cover the bottom holding our nachos.
-Red onion, green peppers, jalapenos were spread evenly
-Salsa could have been punchier
-A little heavy with the salsa so some chips were a little on the soggy side
Solid 3.5 on this whole experience but I would definitely come back to try more of the classic food and drink some stuff they're famous for. Now, to round up? To round down? I will round up because I really am a fan. -
Review from Kenny B.
7/14/2009
Close to my hotel, had whiskey, and decent food.
Got to eat outside on the patio. Was a decent place, I probably should have sat at the bar instead of by myself. Probably will do that on a future trip out to Ottawa.
I had a steak sammich and a couple of different whiskeys. Nothing particularly spectacular but decent nonetheless. -
Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
9/18/2008
British pubs typically tend towards one of two themes. There's the English-style which will have the usual dark-wood features, English iconography such as framed England or Manchester United shirts on the wall, and a name with two words separated by an ampersand (e.g., The Hammer and Nail, The Rapscallion and Cheese Sandwich). There's the Irish-style which looks similar in interior to the English-style except with Irish things on the wall, and a name that is from some obscure word found in Gaelic (e.g., Fáinne Seamróg). It's rare that you find a Scottish-themed pub. This one is pretty swell.
Done up like the English and Irish-style before it, it's a cozy, comfy place to come in, have a pint, and enjoy some Scottish fare, which, by the by, is far from drab as the reputation precedes. The pub itself is independently owned and is not taken over by corporate franchising. Oh, another reason to enjoy. Seventeen beers on tap and 140 (that's one hundred and forty) scotches available. It'll take you a while to get through the wall of whisky but I'm sure you'll find it worth it. -
Review from Josh M.
8/23/2009
I closed this place down my first night in Ottawa. This is a town full of Irish pubs, so I felt like I was sticking up for the underdog by taking my dinner and entertainment at the Highlander.
They had good local beers, trivia contests, a friendly and sociable staff who are okay wearing kilts, and some quite excellent pub grub -- again, with the sheer number of pubs nearby, several of which I dined at but none of which I remember now, this is a mark of distinction.
If and when your business or your muse takes you to Ottawa, enjoy a pint at the Highlander. You'll be glad you did. -
Review from Devon B.
Calgary, AB
10/9/2008
Here is my bias: I have a lot of Scottish blood in me, so I can't say that I am impartial when i write this review.
With that being said, a Scottish themed bar is hard to find. Everything is an Irish pub nowadays. I find this interesting, because although the Irish do drink a lot, they aren't the only ones.
The Highlander is a nice bar right in the market. Actually, I think it's only real downside is that it is located on Rideau Street where it meets William. This means in the summer there are a lot of tourists, and a good amount of homeless people (not a shot to them) outside. The patio of The Highlander is huge, so sitting outside is tempting, depending on what all is going on outdoors.
Beyond that, it is a great place. Live music is a fairly normal sight, and the atmosphere is welcoming. The bar is nice and they have a great selection of scotches for those who like to dabble.
I'd suggest this is a place to get a night started, or to have a few drinks with friends on a quiet summer night. -
Review from Azim A.
Ottawa, ON
10/24/2008
Without a doubt, by atmosphere alone, the Highlander is one of the liveliest pubs in the city. With a very large patio, up-tempo, usually Scottish-themed live music that's actually good, and a central location, the Highlander makes for good times.
It's Scottish background gives it an edge in terms of uniqueness over the plethora of Irish bar's in the area, with guys in kilts playing the bagpipe a welcoming regularity here, and beckoning people here from hundreds of metres away. For those heavy drinkers, the whiskey and scotch selections (140 in all) are plentiful. You can also brew from one of their 17 taps.
The food, by bar standards, is really good. Check out their sandwiche selections for a good hearty lunch, and try the Triple Mushroom New York Sirloin Steak, which is refreshingly good. The food selection is somewhat limited, but this reflects that they focus on what they have and make it good, and avoid following the mistakes of other pubs, who tend to spread their food quality too thin over many items. The Chicken Pot Pie is also deliciously Scottish.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from John S.
8/24/2011
my wife and I went there twice during two visits to Ottawa. The ambiance is great and the food is superb. The first visit we had fish and chips and they were outstanding. The second time, we were looking for something "casual" ordered The steak burger with salad and it was cooked perfectly and salad was superb, with awesome balsamic vinaigrette. In both cases we were served by outstanding wait person that was very attentive to us, and provided superior service with a optimistic attitude.
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Review from heather s.
3/10/2009
Whenever I have a layover in Ottowa, I always make a bee line for this place for an after work. The bartenders are always great personable. They make me feel like a local even if it's just for the evening!
I think this place is the unofficial layover hangout for our flight crews in Ottowa! -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
11/5/2008 1 photo
As I've said before, I'm not an enormous fan of Irish, English or Scottish bars, but I can't help but be enamoured with the Highlander Pub. The staff is so friendly, funny and down to earth, you can't help but feel a bit more at home when you arrive. The atmosphere inside is cozy with booths and tables tucked along the narrow space. Outside, the patio is huge and a great place for large groups. You're also right on the cusp of where the ByWard Market meets Rideau Street, so you're guaranteed to see some interesting characters and sights, including buskers. Actually, keeping with the flavour of Scotland, there's sometimes someone playing a bagpipe outside the pub.
If you're coming to get hammered with friends, take advantage of their...hmmm, I'm not sure what they're called. It's basically a personal keg for your table that looks like a blender met a large bong and the baby coming out is a beer tap. Yum. They have 17 types of beer on tap and 140 single malt scotches. -
Review from Jessica A.
Ottawa, ON
11/6/2010
Highlander Pub offers one of my favourite pastimes: trivia night. Every Tuesday fans gather to play "PubStumpers" a trivia game which complies general knowledge, music clips and multiple choice questions in various rounds. It's one of my favourite ways to spend a Tuesday, though I would recommend ordering dinner before trivia begins at eight. It is difficult to eat and share quiz booklets at the same time. While I'm not a fan of the mirco-brew Highlander does offer a wide variety of enjoyable drafts, I'm a particular fan of the Hobgoblin, a English stout that is difficult to procure anywhere else in Ottawa. Grab a pint, some (semi) intelligent friends and spend a Tuesday night at the Highlander!
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Review from Big E.
9/7/2010
On both visits, got the same thing, an awesome hamburger with fries and a beer. Only complaint is that it was a super hot summer day and the place was burning up inside. Service could be better, prices are just ok but believe me, the food is great! Will definitely go back.
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Review from Claudia G.
Ottawa, ON
7/20/2010
Decent pub in the downtown core. Good local beer, and the trivia contest can be a lot of fun. The pub food is about what you'd expect for this kind of spot, extra points for having haggis on the menu.
The single malt list isn't bad either. The one drawback is that the place can get very noisy at night. -
Review from Erik G.
3/24/2009
Good beer (they have seasonal microbrews from all over), lots of whiskey selections, and good food. I had a goat cheese salad the first night I went there, and it was really good - I highly recommend. The next time I had a mustard beef dish over mashed potatoes - it wasn't as good. The burgers seem to be good - all the people I went with ordered them and liked them. The service is great too.
