The Laff — Restaurant in Ottawa

Me and My friend have went to the laff over the span of June and July. one night me and my friend were walking around the byward around 2-3am when we saw the group of security from the laff and we were like oh lets say 'hi' so we went over and I was flirting with one of the security 'I was drunk' then one of the securities friends started to film me and the security guy and was laughing which made me super uncomfortable and I walked away. then the next night me and my friend went back and were talking to security about getting the managers number they just pointed to the number beside the door. we saved the number and the only reason we asked was for our safety because of the behavior of the staff from the previous night,

The next couple of weekends we danced, hung out with people in the laff and over had a good time, no problems. so flash forward to a couple weeks ago we go to go in and the security is like you can't come in tonight and we were like what is the reason and they refused to give it to us, so we tried multiple times to ask and still nothing they never gave us a reason. then the security guy was like take a break tonight and come back next weekend we still tried and asked for the reason still super nice but still nothing. flashforward to the Monday I called the manager and explained the situation and she said they shouldn't do that and that they are putting a bad image on the place itself and was super nice and said she would look into it.

The following Friday comes up and my friend goes and tries to get into the laff and they said she's banned when asked for the reason the security didn't give it to her at all. so she left. I called the following week and asked the manager about it and she was telling me that the staff didn't tell her anything last time I spoke to her and that their wasn't a reason and it was just for a break for the night which I was like okay and then updated her on what happened tom my friend and she was like oh I look into it.

Then the following weekend me and my friend try and go again because we really like the vibes inside and the music. as we are walking up security stops us and says we are both BANNED which I was like what? so then we walked away but the turned back to speak to a different security person who was nice to us in the past and they again didn't give us a reason and was talking to us and was being super nice but then the security that said we were banned came up and was like "their banned walk away from them." me and my friend the walked away in shock. I then spoke to the manager/Owner a few moment ago and she said we weren't banned and that if we were security has that right and there doesn't need to be a reason and to try and come again another time because we weren't technically banned...like what?? anyways I spoke to her about the securities behavior and that we still don't know the reason and she that they said we were speaking to them during their shift which A we weren't and B continued the manager/owner continued to blame us on the phone and when I asked her if we can come in and show you the evidence we have on them because we do have recordings she stated 'what would you like me to do about that' in a very rude tone.

Overall I'm very upset with the communication between staff and the continues harassment received from security. Plus I feel the manager/owner only was taking her securities word for it plus was praising them highly.

At the end the day to the people who read this its your choice in going there but good luck because you can't even complaint without getting put down over the phone by the owner/manager. has anyone had any similar experience? Also if there is any spelling mistakes sorry I was in a rush to write this and was feeling...

Small bar with older crowd in the middle of Byward market in an old building and always busy on Saturday nights. Not recommended as a dance bar in other 6 nights of the week as it is very quiet. Also the place is run by all males. The security and bartenders and DJ are all male. What happened to equal opportunity. Get some female staff maybe you can attract more female customers too and make the place much more interesting. The ratio of male to female customers is at least 2 to 1, sometimes even 3 to1. Attract more females by hiring female staff.

Unlike neighboring dance bars this one has free admissions which is nice. I come in usually for a brief time as I usually visit several bars on Saturday nights and if I like it, I buy a drink and stay for half an hour and if don't like the atmosphere (usually if it is too crowded or if there are too many guys) I leave right away without any damage to my wallet which is great.

There is a very limited space in between the tables and chairs where the patrons use that space to dance. I suggest maybe removing a few of those tables and chairs after 11 pm on Saturdays when the bar gets crowded.

I love the pop music (usually top of the pops songs in the 80's and 90's) that the D.J. in this bar plays. This is one single factor which attracts me to this bar. Unlike other bars (Club 27 and City at Night) I really like the music in this dance bar.

The bartenders are polite and but, in my view, slow not up to speed. Maybe they should share the profit as incentive to work faster It took me 15 minutes in waiting to get a drink last Saturday. The Saturday before I waited 10 minutes waiting next to bar waving my $20 bill, but I gave up after a while and left. Since the only income of this bar is from selling drinks (free admissions) then I recommend hiring more (female) bartenders. I promise it pays off big time with this update.

Edit - Thank you for your extensive response. I certainly didn't mean firing anyone. They all do a good job. I was suggesting hiring new (female) staff as bartenders as your only income is from selling drinks and I for one have changed my mind about buying drinks many times because of long time i have to wait to be served. There are only two bartenders serving many hundreds who visit the bar between 11 pm to 2 am...

Enjoyed my first time visiting The Laff with friends in September 2025, while I was in town for a work conference. It was Tuesday Open Mic Night and the atmosphere was electric! Busy place with a variety of locals playing on stage …keyboard, guitar, trumpet…was a real blast! And here’s the kicker…I had so much fun on that hot September eve that I accidentally forgot my beloved black knit sweater that I have owned for decades and had been lovingly repaired recently by my Nanny. When I got home that week (3 hours from Ottawa) I realized I didn’t have my sweater with me and began the daunting task of trying to track it down…knowing my chance of finding it, much the less retrieving it at this point - 3 days later - was highly unlikely. I sent an email to the general email address of The Laff recalling I had worn it that night but wasn’t sure if it had made it that far into the evening…like I said, it was a gorgeous hot September evening so I had been carrying it with me from the hotel, to the conference centre to several shopping places, then to dinner…in essence, everywhere I went. To my surprise and delight a message from Dominique, the Manager at The Laff, appeared in my email inbox saying she believed she had found my missing sweater. After a few emails and a phone call, Dominque assured me she would reunite me with my sweater no matter what. She took the time to ship it to me at the company’s expense (I paid them back when it arrived). Dominique also sent me text message updates and made sure the shipping company kept me personally in the loop with regard to its return. LONG STORY short…I can’t say enough good things about this establishment and its dedicated, genuinely awesome staff. THANK YOU DOMINIQUE AND THE LAFF…you renewed my faith in strangers, gave me a great story to tell and have solidified me as a fan for life! I look forward to returning to Ottawa and spending more time enjoying the outstanding experience that is a visit to The...