An exceedingly good looking wine bar and fine dining restaurant located in the heart of Ottawa’s ByWard Market is attracting droves of tourists and locals in search of quality produce and a slice of authenticity.
Despite co-owner cum chef Dominique Dufour referring to Buvette Daphnée as a ‘Quebec wine bar,’ the 1,500 square foot venue also invites guests to tuck into an appetising menu comprising of sharing plates with ingredients sourced from brilliant, local producers, think croquettes de cretons; morels stuffed with duck sausage; swordfish crudo and much more.
Designed by IVY Studio, Buvette Daphnée is housed within an industrial building and features a simple, mostly open layout; the dining area found out front, while the prep kitchen is tucked away at the back. Visible from the outside, the dining area is divided into two parts: the seated area and a bar, the former possessing an eight foot high ceiling, banquette seating and standard-height tables, and the latter boasting a higher 15 foot ceiling, the open kitchen, a 36 foot long U-shaped bar, and high-top counters for a less formal ambience.
Inspired by the classic diners of Quebec, the design has a touch of retro cool thanks to a colour palette of caramel, brown, cream, and a contrasting light blue. The original exposed brick was preserved for the exterior walls, while glossy cream-painted v-board panels cover most surfaces and add a warmer and more welcoming atmosphere.
From a team with deep roots in Quebec and years of experience in Ottawa — both of which can be felt through the food, drink and design — Buvette Daphnée is already a talking point of the city’s hospitality scene, and represents another aesthetic win for its Montreal-based designers.
Buvette Daphnée Ottawa Photography, Alex Lesage.
