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The Best Escape Rooms in Ottawa That Will Provide Unforgettable Thrills 

As someone who’s always been an avid fan of mystery shows, detective novels, and true crime podcasts, escape rooms have become my favorite pastime. 

After all, there’s nothing more immersive than this. Of course, the next level is solving real-life mysteries, but we’ll leave that to the pros, alright?

Anyway, I practically suggest escape rooms every chance I get. Don’t fancy a drink with friends this weekend but we all still want to hang out? “Hey, guys, how about we try this new escape room?”

Looking for a fun date idea with someone I barely know, hoping to break the ice? You guessed it—I’ll be taking them to escape rooms! 

With that in mind, consider me the escape room aficionado, here to guide you through all the best spots where you can unleash your inner puzzle master. 

This journey is filled with thrills and maybe even a few questionable decisions along the way (yeah, I’m looking at you, Team “Press All the Buttons and Hope for the Best”).

1. Room Escape

Website: https://www.roomescapeottawa.com
Address: 1860 Bank St #3b
Contact details: +1 613-523-2282
Operating hours:

  • Monday – 5 PM to 10 PM 
  • Tuesday to Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM 

Room Escape is one of the exciting options for an immersive entertainment experience in Ottawa, offering seven 1-hour long adventures where you are tasked to do a variety of challenging puzzles.

Each room offers a different difficulty level, so you can choose according to your preferences. 

If you’re seeking something on the easier side but still require a bit of a challenge, I definitely recommend trying out Serial Killer Charade, which I’m sure fans of true crime would enjoy.

For escape room pros craving something extremely difficult and stimulating, check out Warlocked, the toughest challenge of all. 

Here, you’ll have the chance to stumble upon ancient magic and unravel its mysteries amidst a thrilling adventure.

2. Escape Manor

Website: https://www.escapemanor.com/ottawa
Address: 292-A Elgin St
Contact details: +1 613-695-1655
Operating hours:

  • Monday to Wednesday – 4 PM to 12 AM
  • Thursday and Friday – 11 AM to 2 AM
  • Saturday – 10 AM to 2 AM 
  • Sunday – 10 AM to 12 AM

With multiple locations across the city, Escape Manor provides easy access to thrilling escape experiences. 

That said, I recommend going for the downtown locations since there are a total of six escape rooms there compared to others of two to four. 

As a fan of the exceptional consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, trust me, you’ll want to try the room called Sherlock. Basically, the great detective is missing and it’s up to you to interpret the clues and find out where he might be. 

Open to a maximum of six people, this escape experience is a 1-hour long adventure. 

If your little ones want an adventure of their own, there’s also Escape Manor Junior in the Nepean location where you can immerse the whole family in the thrilling tales tailor-made for younger players. 

3. Jigsaw Escape Rooms 

Website: https://jigsawescape.com
Address: 12 Byward Market Square #2
Contact details: +1 613-422-6542
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10:45 AM to 11 PM 

Located in the vibrant ByWard Market, Jigsaw Escape Rooms stands out in the neighborhood as a prime destination for those seeking thrilling immersive adventures to do with their friends. 

There are seven rooms to choose from, but there are two particular ones that specifically shine more than the rest – CSI: The Study and The ByWard Market Butcher. 

If you’re a fan of the famous series or have caught wind of it in the past, you know CSI is all about riveting crime-solving adventures. In the escape room, you’ll be able to enter the CSI world and be a detective yourself! 

So, prepare those shades and killer puns!

Meanwhile, The ByWard Market Butcher might just be the most immersive one of all, considering you’re already located in the district. 

I hate to break it to you but you’re about to be one of the butcher’s victims! The task is to get out of there alive or become the next item on the menu.

4. Lockdown Ottawa Escape Room 

Website: https://lockdownottawa.ca
Address: 1080 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester
Contact details: +1 613-680-5625
Operating hours:

  • Monday to Thursday – closed
  • Friday – 5 PM to 11 PM 
  • Saturday – 2 PM to 11 PM
  • Sunday – 12 PM to 6 PM 

Lockdown Ottawa Escape Room offers 45-minute captivating experiences that catapult you into thrilling scenarios where every decision counts.

There are five stories to choose from, each providing exhilarating storylines that will excite you to keep on playing. A personal favorite of mine is CarnEvil, perfect for fans of murder mysteries. 

You’ll be tasked with finding a killer in a series of gripping challenges and clues.

This escape room is good for two to six players. 

5. Unlocked Ottawa 

Website: https://unlockedottawa.com 
Address: 329 March Rd Unit 202, Kanata
Contact details: +1 613-509-1322
Operating hours:

  • Monday to Wednesday – closed
  • Thursday – 4 PM to 9 PM 
  • Friday – 4 PM to 10 PM 
  • Saturday – 10 AM to 10 PM 
  • Sunday – 10 AM to 7 PM 

Located in the charming suburb of Kanata, Unlocked Ottawa provides excited visitors with five different kinds of escape rooms, each offering unique themes and challenges to captivate players of all ages and interests.

Compared to other escape rooms in the city, you can choose your preferred difficulty for every room, so you can tailor the experience to suit your group’s skills and preferences.

Aside from escape rooms, Unlocked Ottawa also offers other thrilling experiences such as board games and a virtual reality murder mystery.