Unlike many of the larger cities in Canada, Ottawa lacks in trendy hotels for travel to stay at while visiting the capital of Canada. Earlier this year I had the pleasure to tour Le Germain’s new chic hotel, the ALT Hotel Ottawa which ideally located right downtown on Slater Street, across the street from major transit and a short walk away from the Rideau Center and Parliament buildings.
ALT Hotels, which are located in several major cities across Canada, focus on a no-frills-chic concept where modern design is offered for a standard affordable price.
Check-In
Upon arriving at the hotel for my staycation I was greeted by warm and friendly staff who were outstanding. Checking in went quickly, and within minutes I had my key and was ready to see my room.
I was blown away by the welcome package which was left in my room. Seriously whoever drew the welcome sign thank-you so much it put a huge smile on my face. In addition to the more standard features of maps and city guides, I adored how the ALT Hotel had a printed sheet with local events and activities that were taking place while I was staying at the hotel, which is such a handy feature for travellers.
My Room
The ALT Hotel offers 2 types of rooms, with the only difference being a number of beds in the room, there are rooms with 1 bed or 2 beds. The room I stayed in was the 1-bedroom.
I appreciated the minimal design, which offered everything I needed to provide a relaxing break.
Just behind the bed, there was a small coffee station which had several roasts of coffee, a small detail that made this gal who loves dark roast extra happy to find she had a choice of coffee roasts.
Across from the bed was a spacious desk area with USB outlets to charge your tech essentials and a large TV.
The room also featured a large comfortable accent chair, a full-length mirror, and good sized closet for storing clothes.
The bathroom was very well lit and offered a small mirror on the wall perfect for putting on makeup. Yet the real glory of the hotel suite had to be the shower.
The spacious shower had a dense water flow showerhead and a rather sexy see-through feature into the bedroom which also brought lots of natural light into the shower.
The only thing I did find odd, was the bed didn’t face the see-through shower, so I guess the panel was designed more for natural light than a sexy feature for couples.
Around The Hotel
Unlike most hotels, the ALT Hotel in Ottawa does not have a hotel restaurant, but a restaurant in the hotel would be overkill as the prime location right downtown places it within a few minutes walk from several great restaurants including Clover, Sansotei Ramen, or if you are looking for a bar with a plethora of beer options make sure to check out the Bier Market.
The ALT Hotel in Ottawa does offer a bar and coffee shop on the main floor where you can grab a quick breakfast and a latte or a glass of wine.
Right next to the bar there also is a pool table next to the bar that is a great spot to meet other hotel guests for a quick game before you head out for the night.
While exploring the hotel I was marvelling about some of the modern furniture such as the red knot chair or wine cork stools and cage light bulb fixtures, which adds to the chic vibe of the hotel.
Each floor in the hotel has its own bright colour, which is combined with exposed cement, houndstooth wallpaper, and a white textured illuminated wall feature which will appeal to trendy travellers.
For $159 a night, the ALT Hotel Ottawa is a much-needed addition to Ottawa for trendy and modern travels looking to stay in the heart of the city for an affordable rate. I love this hotel and will recommend anyone visiting my hometown to stay here.