The Downtown Ottawa Hotels You Ought to Know

Former railway hotels like the Fairmont Château Laurier are enduring landmarks from Victoria to Halifax. Located across the canal locks from Parliament Hill, the hotel’s French Gothic style closely mirrors the copper roofs of the adjacent seat of government.

As a National Historic Site, the hotel creatively updates its furnishings while maintaining the architectural heritage of the building. Sealy mattresses and hypo-allergenic pillows greet guests at the end of the day, along with enviable views of the city and the water.

Even if you’re staying elsewhere, this five-star hotel still necessitates a daytime visit. Our recommendation: give your feet a mid-afternoon break from sightseeing and take your Afternoon Tea at Zoé’s.

A newcomer to Ottawa’s hotel scene, the Andaz Byward Market is a sleek addition to the neighbourhood, strolling distance to the National Gallery, the Mint and Notre-Dame with the Market and its restaurants right at your doorstep.

This Bullfrog-powered green hotel has all of the creature comforts you’d expect from the upmarket venture of the Hyatt group: rain shower heads, sumptuous linens and floor-to-ceiling windows to start.

Two food and bev outlets liven the Andaz around the clock. Tuck into Chef Stephen La Salle’s locally-inspired menu at Feast + Revel; from braised elk meat to their ‘bal de neige’ which marries a maple parfait pop with a grapefruit granita. On the 16th floor, indulge in a Sazerac and an order of Rum and Coke Pork Belly from the city’s highest rooftop bar at Copper Spirits & Sights.

A favourite of trivago users coming to Ottawa, the Delta on Lyon is an affordable pick for visiting families and groups alike. Book into the Club Level rooms and be treated to the Club Lounge with complimentary refreshments and snacks and a memorable view from the 25th floor.

Families will be particularly interested in the hotel’s 2 Queen deluxe rooms and the 2 Queens Suite which can sleep up to six. Pets are welcomed, too, so no excuses not to bring the whole gang to town!

This self-defined “affordable luxury” pick from Le Germain Hotels Group is a real crowdpleaser. With an air of Swedish lagom (“just enough”) in design and amenities, the guestrooms may appear simple but the details shine with goose down comforters, Egyptian cotton sheets and yoga mats on request.

The Altcetera Café, open around the clock, will be able to satiate any craving big or small and hosts a weekday Happy Hour for those coming back from a day of meetings on “the Hill” (or for those looking for a relaxed welcome home after checking off the 999 things to do in Ottawa).

For those of us looking for an independent shake-up from the big chains, ARC The Hotel might just be the boutique stay you’re looking for. Couples on a weekend away ought to book the Romantic Luxury Suite complete with a deep-soaking Roman tub.

All of the amenities you’d come to expect from a Downtown Ottawa hotel are present: daily newspaper to stay abreast of the news on the Hill, high-speed Internet for a bit of Netflix streaming and Keurig coffee machines make getting out of bed all the easier.

Another landmark downtown Ottawa hotel, the Lord Elgin, in fact, shares the same design heritage as both the Château Laurier and the Royal York, which were all designed by architects Ross & Macdonald.

Well-appointed modern rooms are complemented by an on-site lap pool, whirlpool, sauna and fitness centre for those looking to stretch out. Our suggestion is to book a Parkview room overlooking Confederation Park and the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard parade that passes daily over the summer months. When in Ottawa!

Straddling the attractions of Downtown Ottawa and the dining and shopping indulgences of Byward Market and the Rideau Centre, the Westin Ottawa is a home base that keeps you close to it all when visiting Ottawa. Guests familiar with the Westin chain will be pleased to know that their signature Heavenly beds, workout room and terrycloth bathrobes are on hand.

Unique to the Westin Ottawa, let the hotel guide you on a thrice-weekly morning 2k or 5k tour on the Rideau Canal Skateway. No skates, no problem! The concierge will be happy to send you out with a pair of sturdy Bauers.

From the lineage of business-savvy European hotels, the Novotel Ottawa keeps you close to work and play in the nation’s capital. In-room work areas, a Nespresso machine, and high-speed WiFi keep both business travellers and leisure visitors at ease.

The Albion Rooms serves up a “farm-to-table” small plate menu that fittingly takes the best of Ontario, Quebec and global inspirations. For the 5à7 happy hour crowd, unwind with a charcuterie board sprinkled with Ontario wild board rillette and Grey Owl goat cheese hailing from Quebec.