Don MacCulloch
Google
The Andaz is an upscale hotel in the downtown market area of Ottawa. It offers complimentary wine (vouchers) upon check-in and a valet service for parking. My room offered plenty of space (and entryway, full-size bathroom, and coat room) with beautiful views of the Byward market. The lighting options were pleasant and offered my partner several different opportunities to take photos for Instagram under different conditions. The service was attentive and pleasant but lacked charm.
Now for the "not great" lol
The room was too hot. The thermostat says 17 degrees but it feels like 20+ at all times. Although you can open a windows, it is fall after all, but have fun trying to sleep with all the sirens and noise of a downtown on the weekend.
The room is very obviously stripped down, with the minibar devoid of any paid options, and only 2 complimentary water bottles, despite hosting wine glasses and an opener. Who hurt you, Andaz? The coffee selection for the lowest base keurig coffee are also the cheapest possible options: its not terrible, but definitely doesn't fit the upscale price and attempted atmosphere.
Our toilet seat is cracked and broken. Honestly, we didnt even notice until it pinched my partner in the morning. Not very upscale.
The walls and furniture are covered in marks. Its not a new hotel, its used and enjoyed, but again Andaz has upscale pricing so it really diminishes the feeling of value for money.
Construction! Apparently there's still construction right beside the Andaz. Nobody told us anything. It's not showing on their website, but apparently it's bad enough that they left ear plugs in the room to help us sleep. So upscale.
The rooftop lounge. Honestly, other than the oddly high pricing on some non-alcoholic items, its a nice space with very attentive staff. What I didn't enjoy was the below-mediocre DJ playing way too loud. It's not a nightclub, and if it wants to be a nightclub, hire better DJs. Bad music, bad mixing, and high volume do not work together.
Overall, I had a nice experience but I don't think its worth the price. If my work booked me a room here on business, I'd be happy, but I would never pay my own money to stay here again.