Ten music nights a week, no cover, no reservations, no tickets — that is the standing house arrangement at The Laff, and it sets the terms of every visit before the kitchen does. The tavern sits on York Street in the ByWard Market, where the building has held a public room since 1849, and the modern version still gets used the way a downtown tavern is meant to be used: open daily from eleven in the morning until two a.m., a kitchen that holds late, daytime bottle specials, a four-to-seven happy hour, and a music calendar that asks nothing of you to take part in.
The menu is short, tavern-specific, and built for the night you actually plan to have. Poutine comes in small or large with bacon, smoked meat, or crispy buffalo chicken ranch as add-ons, which is the order that tells you how the kitchen handles the basics. Chicken or Cauliflower Wings let the table pick two sauces from Frank's Hot, Butter, Honey Garlic, Honey Hot, BBQ, or Scotch Bonnet Extra Hot, tossed or on the side. A Cheeseburger Deluxe sits on local beef and a local bun with a vegan-burger option for the table that needs one; Montreal Smoked Meat comes on local rye with a gluten-free or vegan bun on request; Skwik Skwik is fried cheese curds; Poches de Tourtiere arrive three to a plate; and the Snack Tray gathers seasoned fries, tourtiere pockets, chips and queso, fried cauliflower, and fried pickles into one shareable spread. Menu prices include tax, which sets the tone for the bill before it lands.
The Laff’s story reaches back to 1849, but the room still works like a daily tavern rather than a preserved attraction. That combination gives it a stronger identity than a normal ByWard Market pub.
The music program is not a one-off event hook; it is part of the weekly operating rhythm. Open mic, John Carroll, Lucky Ron, local bands, and DJ nights give different kinds of visitors a reason to use the room repeatedly.
The menu is practical: poutine, wings, handhelds, fried sides, and share trays, with tax-included pricing and recurring day-page specials. It makes The Laff useful for both a quick bite and a longer night out.
The Laff earns this through a weekly rhythm of no-cover shows rather than occasional entertainment. Open mic nights, John Carroll, Lucky Ron, local bands, and DJ sets make the music part of how the tavern is used.
The Laff is not just located in the ByWard Market; it is part of how the neighbourhood tells time. The 1849 origin story, family continuity, and everyday tavern use make it a true Ottawa anchor.
The tavern stays useful late: the room is open until 2 a.m., and the kitchen runs into the evening every day. That gives it more range than a daytime-only tourist stop or a music room with no food plan.
The value case is practical rather than flashy: tax-included menu pricing, snackable sides, happy-hour windows, and late drink specials. It is a downtown tavern that still feels usable for an ordinary week.
The menu is built around tavern comfort without becoming anonymous: Poutine, Chicken or Cauliflower Wings, Cheeseburger Deluxe, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Montreal Smoked Meat, and Skwik Skwik all have a job to do.
The Laff suits casual groups because Snack Tray, Chicken or Cauliflower Wings, Poutine, Fried Pickles, and other sides can carry a shared visit while the music keeps the night loose. People can drop in without turning the plan into a formal dinner.
Share the nuances of your visit to The Laff in Ottawa — the standout dishes, the room, the service.
Write a review
