Bags packed I was thrilled to head out to The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello Hotel which is 1 hour outside of Ottawa in Montebello, Quebec. The cedar chateau is the world’s largest log cabin and the national landmark has hosted a variety of distinguished guests such as Governor Generals, a variety of Canadian Prime Ministers, His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, Princess Juliana of Netherlands, Princess Grace of Monaco and even Bing Crosby!
Upon checking in I was highly impressed by The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello which makes the rustic log chateau feel very luxurious. It was not surprising to discover the hotel won Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award in 2016 as throughout my stay I was provided me with amazing customer service. From a speedy check-in, attentive waiters, to small unexpected surprises such as the hotel’s valet that provided me with cold water when driving home, throughout my stay I found the staff to be extremely attentive.
My Room
For my stay, I had a river view room that overlooked the patio and the river off into the distance. The room has wood paneled walls, plaid curtains and throws blankets that worked well with the rustic decor. For me, the true highlight of the room was the plush bed which was super comfortable.
Throughout the room, there was unique rustic decor choices, for example, the wood log chair, wood framed mirror, or even sculpted wood table lamp.
The bathroom was small, but functional and provided some wonderful smelling soaps and lotions, along with a shoe polish cloth to clean off your shoes prior to dinner.
Dining Options
Exploring the grounds I spent a large amount of my time out in the sun on the patio next to the fountain or in the outdoor pool and hot tub. The outside terrace is the perfect place to grab a drink or a light lunch. For those looking for other drink options, there are plenty of option including Bar La Seigneurie, the Lobby Bar, and the Golf Clubhouse.
For dinner, there is the option of the Bistro La Seigneurie which is more casual and offers more kid-friendly menu options, but I went to the Aux Chantingoles to eat in the grand dining room.
Dinner started with bread and a refreshing amuse bouche served with a celery straw.
Next, for an appetizer, I order the cheese plate which was a selection of cheeses from the local Fromagerie Montebello served with wild blueberry compote.
Following a palate cleanser, I had tender slices of deer served with potatoes and a berry sauce which was cooked to perfection.
To finish the meal I had one of my favorite desserts, a decadent chocolate lava cake which just like the previous courses was beautifully plated.
I was delighted to discover the breakfasts was just as delicious. After a lazy start to the day, I had the best waffles I’ve ever had, topped with berries, whipped cream flavor-packed packed rhubarb sauce. The next time you visit Montebello I highly recommend ordering the waffles, you won’t regret it!
What To Do
While staying at The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello there is certainly plenty to do for free include swimming at the indoor or outdoor pool, relaxing in the three hot tubs or two dry saunas, working out in the gym, or playing a game at one of the many sports courts (including squash, tennis, badminton, basketball, or croquet), renting a bicycle, kayaking or canoeing, trying a round of mini golf, or learning how to do stand-up paddleboard.
For the majority of my stay, I spent it swimming or relaxing in the hot tub. When you visit you need to check out the indoor pool which is a largest indoor pool Canada and is perfect for swimming laps.
Another must-do activity is to sit by the massive six-sided stone fireplace in the lobby, with a cup of coffee and borrow a board game from the hotel. It is a wonderful way to spend a rainy evening.
For those looking for a bit of adventure, for a free, you can also rent a land rover for an off-road adventure or try Explora Geo-Rallye.
When visiting in the winter, there is also skates, snowshoes, snowmobiles, snow tubes and a variety of other equipment to rent.My two favorite winter activities to do at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello are dogsledding and the horse-drawn sleigh ride tour.
Just a short walk away from the hotel there is also Manoir Papineau National Historic Site, a wonderful cheese shop cheese shop, Chocomotive chocolate store, and the microbrewery Les Brasseurs. While a 10-minute drive away you can see Canada wildlife at Parc Omega animal park.
Final Thoughts
I loved everything about my stay at the iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, from food, the comfortable bed, numerous activities to do and tremendous customer service I can’t recommend strongly enough staying at the hotel.