Chateau Lafayette

I get the whole history around this place and the area. The gimmick isn’t lost on me. John A. MacDonald among other famous/​political people drank here. There is also the connection to the local music scene or so I’ve heard. Now dive bars aren’t my thing to begin with, but I’ve been to more than my fair share. To me the Laff is a step down from an average dive bar.
Firstly, there was a vomit smell that emanated from God knows where. This is never a good thing when enjoying a drink. The washroom had more flies in it than customers inside the joint. The AC seemed to be blasting ultra cold air in our corner. A good chunk of the patrons looked kind of well … my first question would be «do they have homes?» And the bartender was yelling extremely aggressively to some unfortunate person who wandered in. Not my cup of tea, but if you like dives maybe this place is for you.

this is definitely my kind of place. a bit dirty, dark interior, and great music. the musician playing that evening was so perfect — his voice and instrumentals could have been straight from a vinyl. they have the standard beers on tap: keiths, moosehead, rolling rock, stella, goose island, and the like. you can show up here in jeans and a plaid shirt straight from work. or put on some heels and grab a drink with a girlfriend. or grab a beer and lurk in the corner alone as you let the music cleanse you.
they also have boardgames but i didnt see anyone playing. beer is cheap. bathrooms arent the cleanest. and the bartender has a good sense of humour.

We had just gotten into town and needed a place to unwind and enjoy a couple drinks. This place was perfect for that. The atmosphere was relaxed and the bartender was friendly and attentive. They had plenty of board games to play which is a completely underrated bar amenity. The laff seemed like an appropriate place to be no matter your age or motivation for the night; the people watching is almost worth the trip itself. Also, props to them for using decent alcohol in their mixed drinks while keeping the prices affordable.

It would be unfair of me to give the Laff two stars based on the country/​folk music that’s played every Saturday only because it’s not my favourite, so this review is more so based on the flooded and dirty women’s washroom, stinky B.O. aroma, and dirty atmosphere in general. The regulars are actually lots of fun and they do create a real community-​like spirit in the place, but I’ve just never had a good time at the Laff, despite my best efforts.
Can’t go wrong with cheap beer, however, so hats off to that.

Justin the bartender is a great guy who knows his regulars and knows how to keep his customers happy. Very unassuming place to go for a drink and relax after work. Yuppie free atmosphere, and barely any scent of axe body spray on way in the door.

I came to Ottawa to visit a couple friends from college for good times, beer and poutine. Although I went across the street for poutine (and ate it here) I had a lot of the other two.
We arrived early on Saturday afternoon and got a table near the jukebox, but more comfortable to stand. Stayed for numerous pitchers, the bartender and staff were friendly and quick, even when The Lucky Ron Show started and the place was getting tighter. The crowd was fun and lively.
Note, the place is fairly small dare I say intimate, with low ceilings (watch the step coming out of the men’s room, I popped my head my second trip). Prices are reasonable. No food, but there is a food stand across the street and a Quiznos next door, with an entrance that was sometimes open from inside the bar. Sidewalk patio for enjoying the weather.
When I return to Ottawa, I will be definitely make a return to The Laff.

This is my favorite in Ottawa by far. It’s the best hole you’ll ever have an amazing time at.

It is what you make of it. Came in with a few buds, crowd was friendly. Jenga, 1L bottles, everyone singing Bohemian Rhapsody and dancing to A-​Ha. Solid pick for round 2 of barhopping.

Stopped on for a couple of pints with a friend one weekday afternoon. Small bar, very friendly service. Felt like a foreigner because all of the other patrons seemed to be regulars. ;)
If I lived closer to the market I could see this place being a regular haunt for me.
We enjoyed a couple of Rolling Rock beers.

All the words for LR are superlatives. I am finding iit hard to string them together into coherent paragraphs so here are a bunch of impressions. If they appeal to you, run to the Laff next Saturday. The legendary Lucky Ron hasn’t missed a Saturday in 20 (?) years but I am kicking myself that yesterday was my first visit.
— The Lucky Ron show is not just a guy, it’s an experience. Cast members include The Lovely Kathleen (devoted wife and roadie), Dave the Sound Guy, and Handsome Johnny (mostly he dances).
— Like Rocky Horror Picture Show or Sing-​Along Sound of Music, there are tons of audience responses, actions, dance moves, etc. My faves were «Ring of Fire», the evangelical «I Saw the Light» (which somehow morphs into The Who’s Tommy as the finale…)”, and chucking unlit cigarettes during the Stompin’ Tom Classic, «Tilsonberg.»
— Despite the goofing around, this guy really has some talent. (In a former life, I think I might have been married to LR’s long-​lost brother so I know a bit about the country genre). LR’s voice reminded me of George Jones — especially the way he could go from growl to choir tenor in half a breath. The comparisons to Stompin’ Tom are obvious but to me Ron is more evocative of Canadian legends Wilf Carter and Hank Snow (go google them).
— The menu is simple: Quart bottles of beer. Order a ‘50’ if you’re a local. Order a Beau’s if you’re a local under 30). Hungry?
— You can bring in sandwiches from the Quiznos next door or the chip truck outside. Nobody minds.
— The average age is 19 to 75. Grandmas and grubbies and bikers and college kids, francophones and anglos. A special spot on stage right is designated for the wheelchair of a disabled young woman who, reportedly, does not miss a show.
— Arrive by 3:30 if you want any hope of a seat for the 5:00 show. However, standing up and dancing is just as good. Also they open the front wall of the bar so the stage is open to the street and the homeless guys can dance too.
— The Laff is a dive bar. One of Ottawa’s oldest and most venerable. Dress code casual.

Oh the Laff, it’s quickly becoming my go to bar in the market. It’s a friendly local watering hole with good beer prices and drinking board games. It’s one of the only places I know of where I can drink a quart of 50 and play drinking Jenga. It isn’t the cleanest bar in town, and the «kitchen» consists of going to the neighboring Quizno’s, but once you are here, you really don’t care, it’s not a place to go to eat. It’s a place to go and listen to good music, talk to friendly people and relax.

The wonderful owners and patrons of this bar tolerated my large group of 15 people until closing time. We were sending a colleague off before her retirement and this joint suited us perfectly! There is something to be said for closing the oldest bar in Ottawa.

Commonly known as «The Laff» this place is one of the oldest establishments in Ottawa. It was founded in 1849 and I don’t think it’s changed much.
No one judges you and if you’re looking for the Château Laurier you’ve come to the wrong place!
The best nights are Wednesday or Saturday afternoon.
John Carroll plays every Wednesday night and will simply blow you away. Saturday is the big party with people coming in from all ends of Ottawa to witness «Lucky Ron». Picture Stompin’ Tom in a tiny bar with people drinking giant 50’s with people screaming along to his songs.
I’ve been to three of his shows and they’re pretty well the same each time but always incredibly entertaining and well worth the price of admission (none!). It’s the perfect way to get your Saturday evening started downtown.
«Lucky Ron» is must for locals and out-​of-​towners. Heck, the man ran for mayor!