9 Best Hotels in Ottawa, Ontario

One- and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens make this 12-story hotel a favorite with those in town for an extended time. The hotel is so popular with families that it offers a children's program in July and August. Most suites have balconies. There are three wheelchair-accessible suites.

Luxury and attention to detail are paramount in this ultrahip boutique hotel, from the complimentary daily shoe-shines to personalized business cards. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the same firm that redesigned Tiffany's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City, the hotel's lean contemporary lines draw entertainers as well as business executives. Cozy gray goose–down duvets cover Egyptian cotton sheets. Guests arriving after 5 pm are greeted with a glass of sparkling wine, while complimentary Starbucks coffee and tea and their signature green apples are available around the clock.

Built in 1886 for John McGee, brother of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation, this Victorian mansion in the historic Sandy Hill sector is now a cozy B&B. Furnished with antiques, each room has its own distinctive charm and some have working fireplaces. The romantic Egyptian, Windsor, and Victorian Rose rooms have double whirlpool tubs. For families, there's an extra single bed in some rooms.

The area's only resort hotel, this 18-story tower in Silicon Valley is about a 20-minute drive from Ottawa. Guest rooms have modern furnishings in gray and raspberry and nice touches like coffeemakers and tea kettles. High-tech gadgets include a computerized seesaw in the wading pool. The Executive Health Centre provides medical fitness examinations and the spa has an on-site plastic surgeon.

This classic hotel's timeless elegance attracts so many celebrities, heads of state, and members of royalty that it has its own protocol manager. The Château was the dream of American Charles Melville Hays, a dream he never saw become reality. Hays perished in April 1912 while sailing back for the hotel's opening aboard the Titanic. One of Canada's greatest railroad hotels, it's named for Sir Wilfrid Laurier, prime minister from 1896 to 1911. Rooms are elegant though some standard rooms have only showers. Zoe's, the conservatory lounge, serves afternoon tea. The Terrace restaurant (open summer only) overlooks the Rideau Canal locks. Fairmont Gold Rooms (C$100 extra) offer complimentary Continental breakfast and evening appetizers.

In the former Carleton County Jail, this hostel is certainly the most unique place to stay in Ottawa. You can opt for a bunk behind bars in one of the old prison cells, a bunk in a dorm-style room with a window, or pay a little more for a room of your own. Private rooms on the upper floors have hardwood floors; the nicest are on the ninth floor. The only private bathroom is in the Warden's Apartment, two rooms with a kitchenette suitable for a family. Daily tours visit the original jail cells, death row, and the gallows, the 1869 site of Canada's last public hanging. Try your hand at the interactive exhibits about the history of crime and punishment.

Three multicolor glass sculptures, composed of individual pieces representing sea creatures, add a whimsical touch to the brown-tone lobby. The quirky works of art amid the conservative decor reflect the hotel's dual appeal. A 10-minute drive from the Parliament, this 23-story hotel has a marina, a spa, a game room for kids, a theater and casino, and other urban resort amenities. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms provide views onto one of two lakes and brighten the otherwise muted decor.

An 1838 converted grist mill houses Gatineau Park's only hotel, a 25-minute drive from Ottawa. Its serene forest setting alongside a waterfall attracts nature lovers, small business groups, and steam train passengers wanting to stay overnight in Wakefield. Inside the thick stone walls is a fine dining restaurant, a spa, and rustic but comfortable guest rooms containing Canadiana or Mission-style furnishings. Some rooms have gas fireplaces. This adults-only inn has no single room rates. Instead, you choose from a variety of packages; the minimum package is a room for two with full breakfast.

Attached to the Rideau Centre shopping mall and convention center, this 24-story hotel is in the heart of the city. All guest rooms have plush carpeting and elegant furniture. Signature "Heavenly Beds" are topped with fluffy white duvets. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide some of the best views in Ottawa (C$50 extra for rooms facing the Rideau Canal and the Parliament Buildings).