10 Best Things to Do in Riverside South This Weekend

Looking for something to do this weekend in Riverside South? This guide covers ten solid options—from quiet trails to busy patios—so you can actually enjoy the next forty-eight hours instead of scrolling through the same old suggestions.

What Makes Riverside South Worth Exploring?

Riverside South sits just south of Ottawa's core, straddling the line between suburban comfort and easy access to the city. The area has grown fast—new shops, better trails, and a food scene that's finally catching up with the population. You won't find tourist traps here. What you will find are locals who know where to grab a proper coffee, which paths stay dry after rain, and which patios still have seats at 6 PM on a Saturday.

The weekend crowds are different from weekday commuters. Families slow down. Cyclists take over the multi-use paths. And somewhere between Friday evening and Sunday night, the neighbourhood shifts into a lower gear.

1. Walk the Chapman Mills Conservation Area Trail

Start Saturday morning with the Chapman Mills Conservation Area trail system. It runs along the Rideau River, offers decent birdwatching, and rarely gets overcrowded before 10 AM. The main loop is about 3 kilometres—easy enough for kids, interesting enough for adults who'd rather not power-walk through a parking lot.

Spring and fall are the best times here. Summer brings bugs. Winter? The trail's technically open year-round, but ice buildup near the river makes some sections sketchy without proper footwear.

Bring water. There are no fountains along the route, and the nearest convenience store is a ten-minute drive. (The trailhead at the corner of River Road and Earl Armstrong Road has limited parking—get there early on sunny weekends.)

Is There Good Coffee Near the Trails?

Yes—and you'll want it after that walk. Quelque Chose Pâtisserie on Earl Armstrong Road serves a properly pulled espresso and pastries that don't taste like they came from a factory. The almond croissants sell out by 10 AM most Saturdays. The matcha latte? Surprisingly decent—not too sweet, which is rare in suburbia.

The space is small. On busy mornings, you're grabbing and going. That said, there's a small parkette across the street with benches if the weather holds.

2. Browse the Riverside South Farmers' Market

The Ottawa Farmers' Market operates seasonally at the Walter Baker Sports Centre parking lot. Hours run 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays from May through October. Vendors sell everything from heirloom tomatoes to sourdough bread to locally raised pork.

Here's the thing: get there before 10:30 AM if you want the good stuff. The honey guy—Beechwood Honey—usually sells out by 11. Same with the Castor River Farm booth and their grass-fed beef sausages.

Bring cash. Some vendors take cards, but the connection's spotty and the line moves faster with bills.

Where Should You Eat Lunch in Riverside South?

For a sit-down lunch, The Barley Mow on River Road delivers pub food that won't disappoint. The fish and chips use proper haddock—not the mystery white fish some places pawn off. The patio fills fast on sunny afternoons, so arrive before noon or after 2 PM.

Prefer something lighter? Pure Kitchen Riverside South (yes, the Ottawa chain) does plant-based bowls that actually satisfy. The "Southwest" bowl with extra avocado hits the spot after a morning of walking.

3. Explore the Rideau River by Kayak

Rideau Canoe and Kayak operates rentals near the Mooney's Bay area—about a fifteen-minute drive from Riverside South proper. Single kayaks run around $40 for a half-day. Tandem kayaks cost slightly more.

The paddle upstream toward Riverside South offers calm water, heron sightings, and a perspective of the shoreline you can't get from land. The current's gentle enough that even beginners manage the return trip without exhaustion.

The catch? They don't rent if the weather looks questionable. Check their website or call ahead.

4. Visit the Manotick Market (It's Close)

Technically in Manotick—not Riverside South proper—but the drive takes ten minutes and the Saturday market at Dickinson Square justifies the trip. This one's been running for decades, longer than most Ottawa-area markets.

Watson's Mill anchors the square. The working grist mill (built in 1860) offers tours on weekend afternoons. The market vendors surround the square, selling crafts, preserves, and produce from farms within fifty kilometres.

Grab an ice cream from Miller's Oven—the butter tart flavour is exactly what it sounds like—and walk the path along the Rideau River. The benches near the dam provide one of the better views in the area.

5. Catch a Movie at Cineplex Barrhaven

Sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate. When that happens, Cineplex Cinemas Barrhaven—technically in Barrhaven but a seven-minute drive from central Riverside South—offers the standard blockbuster lineup with reserved seating.

The VIP screens cost more but include wider leather seats and in-seat food service. Worth it for films over two hours. The regular screens are fine for everything else.

Tuesday is discount day. Weekend matinees (before 4 PM) save a few dollars too.

What's the Best Outdoor Space for Families?

Clarence Hancock Park wins for younger kids. The playground equipment is newer, the splash pad operates in summer, and there's enough open grass for informal soccer games. The shade coverage is decent—important on hot July afternoons.

For older kids and teenagers, Tom Brown Arena and its surrounding fields offer more space to roam. The skate park draws a consistent crowd on weekends, and the basketball courts stay busy until sunset.

6. Cycle the Trans Canada Trail

The Trans Canada Trail passes through the Riverside South area, following the old railway corridor. Heading north takes you toward Ottawa's core. South connects to Manotick and beyond.

The surface is crushed stone—fine for hybrid bikes, manageable on road bikes with wider tires, miserable on skinny racing tires. The grade is gentle, built for trains rather than steep climbs.

A reasonable Saturday loop: ride south to Manotick, grab coffee at Bridge Street Café, then return. That's roughly twenty kilometres round trip—enough to feel accomplished without needing a nap afterward.

7. Sample Local Breweries

Riverside South doesn't have its own brewery yet. (The closest—Stray Dog Brewing in Orléans—is twenty minutes east.) But LCBO locations in the area stock plenty of Ontario craft options for take-home sampling.

For on-site drinking, The Barley Mow and Tapworks both rotate Ontario taps regularly. Small Pony Barrel Works from Kanata and Tooth and Nail from Hintonburg show up often. Both breweries deliver the hoppy IPAs and clean lagers that define Ontario craft beer right now.

Weekend Activity Comparison

8. Try the New Restaurants on Earl Armstrong Road

The commercial strip along Earl Armstrong has filled out over the past two years. Korean Cowboy serves fried chicken and soju cocktails in a loud, fun atmosphere—better for groups than quiet dates. Chat Bar specializes in Chinese skewers cooked over open flame. The lamb skewers with cumin are the move here.

For something quieter, Alfa Pizza does thin-crust Neapolitan-style pies in a converted house. The margherita is simple and correct. The patio—added in 2023—seats maybe fifteen people. Get there at 5:30 PM to snag a table without a wait.

9. Walk Through the New Development Areas

This sounds strange—walking through construction zones—but Riverside South's newer sections include planned pathways and early landscaping that make for interesting exploring. The Arcadia development (south of Spratt Road) has installed trails that won't appear on Google Maps yet.

You'll see coyote tracks in winter. Rabbits year-round. And the occasional confused-looking homeowner wondering why someone's photographing their sod.

Worth noting: these paths aren't officially maintained yet. Wear shoes you don't mind getting dusty.

10. End with Sunset at Mooney's Bay

Mooney's Bay Beach sits just north of Riverside South proper, accessible via the connecting paths or a short drive. The beach itself gets crowded on hot weekends. The western edge—near the Mooney's Bay Park area—offers quieter spots to watch the sunset.

The horizon faces west over the river. Summer sunsets here run late—after 8:30 PM in July. Bring a blanket and something to drink. The Beach Shack concession closes at sunset, so stock up beforehand.

In winter, this same spot attracts cross-country skiers and the occasional brave soul testing the ice thickness. (Don't be that person without checking conditions first—the current near the centre channel stays dangerous longer than the edges suggest.)

When Is the Best Time to Visit Riverside South?

September through October offers the sweet spot—comfortable temperatures, fall colours along the river, and the farmers' markets still operating at full capacity. Spring (late April to May) works too, though trail conditions depend heavily on how much snow melted that week.

July and August bring heat, humidity, and crowds at the popular spots. The AC at Indigo in the Riverside South Shopping Centre has saved more than one overheated shopper.

Winter has its own quiet appeal. The snow quiets the usual traffic noise. The trails—when packed down—work fine for snowshoes. And the community rinks (check Ottawa.ca for locations) offer free skating most weekends.

Riverside South won't dazzle with world-famous attractions. What it offers instead is reliable, low-key weekend enjoyment—trails that deliver, food that satisfies, and enough variety that two days rarely feel repetitive.