Top 5 food shops and markets in Ottawa

CBC called Di Rienzo's a beloved deli in Ottawa's Little Italy in October 2026, and CTV reported it has been in business for more than 50 years. Narcity listed it in August 2024 among the city's best sandwich spots. Owner Paolo Di Rienzo told reporters: "We do everything fresh, fresh, fresh. We cut it fresh the way you want it."

• “Beloved Di Rienzo's deli in Ottawa's Little Italy is for sale”

  CBC · news · October 2026 (opens in a new tab)

• “Di Rienzo Grocery and Deli, a beloved Ottawa sandwich shop, is up for sale after more than 50 years of business.”

  CTV News, Ted Raymond · news · October 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

• “Large sandwiches on your choice of bread, double meat and two kinds of cheese, all the toppings”

  Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti · best-of list · August 7, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Apt613 wrote in August 2024 that La Bottega has been an important foodie fixture in the ByWard Market for thirty years. Narcity listed it in August 2024 as a true representation of Italian sandwich making. Appetito Magazine featured it in November 2024 as Ottawa's prime destination for the finest Italian ingredients.

• “Ottawa's prime destination for the finest Italian ingredients”

  Appetito Magazine, Justin Patulli · feature · November 6, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “La Bottega has been an important foodie fixture in the Byward Market for thirty years.”

  Apt613, Kiersten Vuorimaki · review · August 9, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “It's a classic! It's a true representation of Italian sandwich making.”

  Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti · best-of list · August 7, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Capitale Eats reviewed Paninaro in February 2024, writing that there is a level of care seldom seen when it comes to sandwiches. Narcity listed it in August 2024 as the only Ottawa spot making schiacciata sandwiches, noting it uses flavours like artichoke creams and truffle honey.

• “There's a level of care seldom seen when it comes to sandwiches.”

  Capitale Eats, Ralf Joneikies · review · February 28, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

• “Nowhere else is doing a schiacciata sandwich, nowhere else is using flavours like artichoke creams and truffle honey,”

  Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti · best-of list · August 7, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Apt613 visited District Deli in May 2025, describing it as an old school deli and sandwich bar with no frills, but a whole team of friendly people behind the counter. The shop is on a residential corner a few blocks north of Wellington Street.

• “This place feels like an old school deli and sandwich bar, with no frills, but a whole team of friendly guys behind the counter.”

  Apt613, Kiersten Vuorimaki · review · May 9, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

Narcity listed Il Negozio Nicastro in August 2024 as an Ottawa Italian deli where the sandwiches are made using products pulled right off the shelves of the store, alongside a list of North American-Italian classics from Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

• “they boast a menu of classic Italian sandwiches that'll knock your socks off using product they pull right off the shelves of their own store”

  Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti · best-of list · August 7, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Photo: Il Negozio Nicastro's website