La Bottega Nicastro, Fine Food Shop – ByWard Market

La Bottega Nicastro is truly a specialty supermarket gem in the heart of the ByWard Market. If you’re looking for unique, high quality ingredients, this is the place. From specialty items like spicy eggplant jars, perfect for elevating any sandwich at home, to an incredible selection of imported Italian goods, they always have something you won’t easily find elsewhere.

And the sandwiches? Simply the best. Fresh, generous, and packed with authentic flavour every single time.

Overall, a super fine supermarket right in the Market. A must visit spot in Ottawa.

I had great assistance from Pat the owner of La Bottega, it is not my first time in the store as a local however it was my first time looking for ingredients to prepare a lovely risotto for my husband. Pat saw that I needed assistance and was quick to help me find all the ingredients I needed and explain to me the process of how to prepare the risotto (take my time).

Great service. I will be back.

After months of putting it aside, me and my friend finally had the time to get together and try this place. The store layout was beautiful, the staff were amazing and friendly; not to mention, the sandwich did not disappoint 🙌🙌 Everything was fresh. There were no preservatives or anything of that sort (you could literally taste the olive oil inside the mayonnaise). The portion size you get for the price is mind blowing in this economy. (The two lovely ladies serving made the experience 100x better !)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A True Taste of Italy — Ottawa’s Finest Italian Market!

La Bottega Nicastro in the ByWard Market is, without a doubt, the best Italian store in the city. I’ve been going there for years, and my mom has been a loyal customer ever since it first opened — we’re talking nearly 30 years ago! It’s a true family tradition at this point.

You can find anything and everything Italian here — from the finest olive oils, pastas, and sauces to an unbelievable selection of meats, cheeses, and pantry staples straight from Italy. The quality is consistently outstanding — everything they carry is top-tier, and you can truly feel the love and passion for what they do.

It’s incredible how much they offer. Whether you’re after a DOP product, fresh cheeses, or artisanal goods you’d only expect to find in Italy, they’ve got it. You can not only pick up pastries, sandwiches, and ready-made foods, but also everything you need to make authentic Italian dishes at home — top-quality flours, an amazing selection of oils and vinegars, cookies, biscotti, amaretti, Nutella, jams, and preserves.

Every visit feels like stepping into a true Italian marketplace — warm, vibrant, and overflowing with incredible flavors.
An absolute gem for anyone who loves real Italian food and culture 🇮🇹✨

Ever since my wife discovered La Bottega, this store has become a regular part of our lives — and without any exaggeration, we’ve been shopping there every single week. It’s a true Italian gem in the city, offering authentic products straight from Italy.

Every week, we buy prosciutto and Italian cheeses here. We especially love the blue cheese (I’m not exactly sure of the name, but the taste is unforgettable!). Normally, we go for the Canadian prosciutto, but today we made an exception and tried the Italian one — it’s saltier and, in our opinion, just a bit fattier, which makes it even more flavorful. We also picked up bocconcini cheese today — it was incredibly soft and delicious.

The staff at La Bottega are always kind, helpful, and welcoming. It’s always a pleasure to shop there — they’re happy to offer suggestions and recommend the best options for your meals. Today’s visit was no exception — amazing service as always.

Tomorrow we’ll be making pasta — part of our ongoing love for Italian cuisine. For the past six years, we’ve mostly been cooking with Italian pasta and olive oil — and La Bottega is where we get our olive oil too.

Thank you, La Bottega, for the atmosphere, the quality, and for giving us a little taste of Italy every single week.