Starling Restaurant & Bar · Apothecary Cocktail Lounge · 54 York Street, Ottawa
Holiday Parties
Two floors, one kitchen, and a cocktail lounge in the basement that stays open after dinner ends. We host holiday parties from a table of fifteen to a full buyout of the building.
The Swalwell-Borbridge Building was designed by Ottawa architect William Hodgson and has stood here since 1875, older than the current Parliament Buildings. Its early occupants included an undertaker, a baker and a wholesaler, a mix that reflects how varied commercial life in the ByWard Market was in the 19th century. Our second floor is a private room. Our main floor dining room can be booked whole or in sections. Downstairs, Apothecary Cocktail Lounge runs to midnight Sunday through Thursday and to 1am on Friday and Saturday, so a party that wants to keep going has somewhere to go without leaving the building.
Below is what each space holds, how we price a booking, and every menu with the prices on it. If you already know your date and your numbers, skip to the bottom and email us.
The Spaces
Second Floor
Private events only, booked in advance
Not open to walk-ins. The room is yours for the length of your booking.
Main Floor Dining Room
Whole room or by section
- Front section, the booth section closest to the doors: seats 34
- Bar section, from the brick half wall to the bar: seats 62, plus 10 bar stools
The bar section is the only part of the dining room we can run a cocktail style party in without a full buyout.
Apothecary Cocktail Lounge
Downstairs, open late
72 seated with the back room closed. Standing is capped at 60: the room has too many choke points to run it any fuller.
How We Price a Booking
We do not set a flat minimum by day of the week. Every minimum spend is worked out for your event specifically, based on the start and end time, the style of service, and how many front and back of house staff we need to run it properly and for how long.
Partial buyouts of the dining room also carry a minimum spend, calculated on the specifics of your event plus the average sales in the section you would be taking over for the night.
Send us your date, your headcount and roughly how long you want the room. We will come back with a number.
Deposits
- A 25% deposit of your calculated minimum spend, including tax, is due when you confirm the booking.
- If there is no minimum spend but there is a set menu, the same rules apply, calculated on total food cost including tax.
- Your deposit comes off your final bill. The balance is settled at the end of the event.
Cancellations
- All cancellations must be in writing and acknowledged by management.
- More than three months before the event: deposit refunded in full.
- One to three months before: we retain the original 25%.
- Less than 30 days before: the full deposit is lost.
Cocktail Receptions
Stand up · passed canapésHow many pieces per guest, as a guide.
Light Snack
Pieces per guest. A light accompaniment to drinks.
Moderate Refreshment
Pieces per guest. More substantial bites to satisfy hunger.
Full Meal
Pieces per guest. Designed to replace a sit-down meal.
Classic Canapés
$60 / dozenMinimum 2 dozen per item.
Premium Canapés
$72 / dozenMinimum 2 dozen per item.
Interactive Grazing Stations
per personDesigned for social movement and high-impact presentation.
Dinner
Minimum 15 guests · prices exclude tax and gratuity
Sparrow
$85 / personThree courses. Soup, salad, main.
Gold Finch
$105 / personThree courses, plus a cocktail hour of five canapés per guest.
Kingfisher
$120 / personFour courses, plus a cocktail hour of five canapés per guest. Adds dessert.
The Cocktail Hour
Gold Finch and KingfisherFive canapés per guest. Choose three options from the classic canapé assortment, or the deluxe charcuterie board.
Upgrade the canapé selection to the premium assortment, $5 per person.
The Dinner Menu
All three tiersFirst Course · choice of
Second Course
Main Course · choose three options for your group
Dessert · Kingfisher only
Upgrade
Our Holiday Favourite
The Turkey Dinner
$85 / personDecember and January only.
First Course
Second Course · choice of
Third Course
Morning Robin
$1,000 room rentalBrunch in our private dining space. Order à la carte from the regular menu, no set menu required. The rental includes a three hour slot, available between 9am and 3pm.
Drinks
Open Bar
Cocktail Hour
$50 / personCurated selection of beverages, including bar rail, wine by the glass and draught beer.
Cocktail & Reception
$65 / personCurated selection of beverages, including bar rail, wine by the glass and draught beer.
Premium Cocktail & Reception
$75 / personCurated selection of beverages, including top shelf bar rail, wine by the glass and draught beer.
Doubles, shooters and non-alcoholic drinks are not included. The bar closes during dinner service and reopens afterward.
By the Glass
Dinner Service Wine, by the bottle
The Finer Details
We host corporate and private functions across both floors. These terms let us confirm that everything you have chosen is available and that we are staffed properly for your night. Every function is different and we are flexible. Exceptions get made on an individual basis.
Before your event
- Confirm your menu and your guests' meal selections at least one week before the date.
- Confirm your wine choices at least two weeks before.
- Confirm your final guest count 48 hours before, so you are not charged for people who drop out.
Charges
- All food and beverage is subject to applicable taxes plus an added 18% gratuity.
- $150 coordination and planning fee for groups of 50 or more.
- $300 for exclusive buyouts and wedding receptions.
- $1,000 ceremony fee.
Book It
Tell us the date, how many people, and roughly how long you want the room. We will come back with your minimum spend and hold the date while you decide.
hello@starlingottawa.ca
613.421.0820
54 York Street, Ottawa, ByWard Market
