Downtown Ottawa is the central area of Ottawa, Canada. Like other downtowns it is the commercial and economic centre of the city. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north the Rideau Canal to the east, Somerset Street to the south and Bronson Avenue to the west. The area east of the canal but west of Nicholas Street, which includes the Rideau Centre, is also normally considered downtown. The neighbourhoods around the central business district are also generally referred to as being downtown. These include Centretown to the south and Sandy Hill and Lower Town to the east. North of the Ottawa River the centre of Gatineau, Quebec can be considered an extension of Ottawa's downtown.

Downtown Ottawa is dominated by government buildings, including the Parliament of Canada, and the Supreme Court. Most of the buildings are office towers containing the various government departments. While most of Ottawa's high tech industry is based elsewhere it also has a significant presence in the downtown core. The downtown also contains a number of apartments, hotels, and condominiums as well a single family homes and townhouses along its edges. The towers of downtown Ottawa tend to be quite squat as legally they cannot be taller than the Peace Tower, so as not to overshadow the Parliament Buildings.

Downtown Ottawa has a grid pattern of streets with a number of the streets being one way. in the east Elgin Street is a ceremonial route and sight of many prominent buildings and landmarks. West of it is Metcalfe Street and then O'Connor Street, both of which are one way. Next is the most important north/south: Bank Street. It runs through the heart of downtown as is an important commercial centre. West is Kent Street and Lyon, Bay and Percy, these one way streets are fairly minor. To the west Bronson a major avenue that forms the western edge of downtown.

The furthest north street that crosses downtown is Wellington Street home to the parliament and many other government buildings. South of it is Sparks Street, most of which has been closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian mall. South of this is Queen Street, and then Albert and Slater which carry the Transitway through downtown. Next is Laurier Avenue and then Gloucester, Lisgar, Cooper, and then Somerset.

Politically it is in the riding of Ottawa Centre.

Transitway stations

• Metcalfe Transitway Station
• Bank Transitway Station
• Kent Transitway Station
• Bay Transitway Station

Downtown churches

• First Baptist Church
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Dominion-Chalmers United Church
• Knox Presbyterian
• St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church
• St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church
• Church of St. John the Evangelist