Fairmont Château Laurier Review: Here’s What It’s Like to Stay in a 112-year-old Castle in Ottawa

"Seen from a boat on the Rideau Canal, the property appears “like something out of a storybook,” towering over the canal with clear skies and sunset making it feel almost cinematic; its romantic exterior and interior routinely draw brides and bridal parties in the lobby on Saturday nights. The hotel’s origin story is tragic and specific: Charles Melville Hays, the businessman who commissioned the building and who had dreams of a transcontinental railway and several hotels, died when the RMS Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, days before the chateau was set to open. Several travelers claim supernatural guests and there’s a ghost tour offered through The Haunted Walk; while the reviewer did not experience anything, a fellow writer reported her closet light turning on and off several times. Parts of the interior can feel eerie — long, almost dizzying hallways described as something out of "The Shining" and a beautifully gloomy indoor saltwater pool — but there are plenty of shining moments as well. Room details are varied thanks to the original castle floor plan: 18 rooms have two bathrooms (a real lifesaver for families and groups), rooms feature modern touches like a 55-inch television in the sitting area and a king-size Sealy bed, and the reviewer did encounter two live bugs and one non-working outlet during their stay. Dining options on-site are limited to La Terrasse (outdoor, scenic, menu ranging from ratatouille to pizza; the vistas make it “hard to say ‘no’ to that second glass of Chardonnay”), Café Laurier (light bites, salads and pastries, note: closes at 4 p.m.), and Wilfrid’s Restaurant (spacious dining room offering à la carte or a breakfast buffet — the reviewer ordered French toast with mascarpone cream and a side of back bacon, finished with mint tea; service was speedy). Afternoon Tea normally takes place at Zoe’s but, during renovations, is served at La Mezzanine with offerings on the sweet-meets-savory menu such as blueberry scones with mascarpone cream and house-made strawberry jam alongside herbed goat cheese sandwiches. The fitness offering includes a health club with premium machines, free weights, and personal flat-screen televisions on the equipment, plus the indoor saltwater pool. Accessibility and sustainability specifics are notable: 11 accessible rooms and accessible public areas (entrance, restrooms, restaurant, fitness center), service dogs welcome, and nine rooftop bee hives whose honey is used in the newly launched "Royal Reserve" body product line. Location is extremely central — within a 10–15 minute walk of the National Gallery of Canada, ByWard Market, the Royal Canadian Mint and many restaurants, and just steps from the first brick-and-mortar BeaverTails; in winter, guests can skate via the Rideau Canal, which becomes “the world’s largest skating rink,” provided the ice reaches the required 30 centimeters thickness (which typically requires 10 to 14 straight days of -10 to -20 degrees Celsius). For more exclusive value, the "a hotel-within-a-hotel" Fairmont Gold offering provides private check-in, personalized concierge and butler services, access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge, and complimentary continental breakfast, evening canapés, and dessert." - Danielle Harling