Hintonburg is Ottawa's most energetic neighbourhood for independent restaurants, craft beer and gallery culture — a grid of residential streets west of downtown around Wellington Street West that has been transforming for a decade and hasn't stopped yet. The neighbourhood has a slightly grittier feel than the Glebe or Westboro, with mix of longtime residents, artists and young professionals that tends to produce genuine local character.
The best stretch of Wellington West runs through Hintonburg and contains a concentration of independent restaurants — everything from Korean fried chicken to Ethiopian injera to serious cocktail bars — at prices that are reasonable by capital standards. Pressed, Suzy Q Doughnuts, and the Wellington Gastropub are local fixtures. The arts scene includes a handful of small galleries and the monthly Art Battle events. The O-Train light rail line passes through the neighbourhood, making it accessible from downtown in under ten minutes.