Westboro is a riverside neighbourhood west of downtown Ottawa, along Richmond Road and the Ottawa River. It has evolved in the last twenty years from a quiet residential area into one of the city's most active eating and shopping strips — full of independent outdoor gear shops, coffee roasters, brunch spots, and the kind of relaxed bars that close at a sensible hour. The vibe is outdoorsy and slightly affluent; the residents look like they've just come back from kayaking on the river, which many of them have.
The Ottawa River beach at Westboro is one of the few urban beaches in a Canadian capital, and on warm summer days it fills with locals swimming, paddleboarding and watching the Ottawa skyline from the water. The multi-use path along the river connects Westboro to downtown in both directions. Bridgehead Coffee, Ottawa's homegrown ethical coffee chain, has one of its best locations here.