What do you look for in a hotel stay? Comfort? Location? Reputation? All three? Me being an influencer and a creature of comfort, coziness is pretty much top of my list, followed by “instagrammability”. What can I say?
During my recent stay at the Le Germain Hotel Ottawa, I was fortunate enough to get all three. This boutique hotel delivered and when memorable experiences meet amazing and warm service, you must treat that like gold. Throughout my stay at the Le Germain, I took advantage of all of its great amenities, but more on that in a bit.
For the past several years, I have been travelling so much at a moment’s notice that I got used to staying in any old hotel. The last experience at a hotel in Toronto was so miserable (the staff was uncaring and cold), that I vowed to impose on my Torontonian sister from then on.
Le Germain is known for its luxe decor and amenities, so I was very excited to be gifted with a lovely staycation at their new Ottawa location. Ryan and I packed our overnight bags and headed downtown to start our weekend in style.
Located in an up-and-coming part of the downtown core, Le Germain Hotel Ottawa is located on Daly Street next to the new Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG). It’s worth mentioning also that Le Germain is a brief walk from the Rideau Centre, my home away from home. The hotel is beautiful – a mix of chic modern looks and comfort. The lobby is sophisticated and elegant…a nice introduction to this hotel.
The staff was fantastic and efficient, providing us with a brief yet detailed rundown of all of the hotel’s amenities. We were escorted up to our Signature Room which offered a sweeping million-dollar view of the city, including Parliament Hill.
Modern yet inviting, our room was beautifully appointed with contemporary furniture and decor, and a cozy King-sized bed covered in a thick, dreamy duvet. I immediately fell backward onto said cozy bed in the most dramatic fashion I could. That bed felt like a warm hug. Le sigh! No need to run to out for coffee – The Signature Room comes complete with a Nespresso machine, capsules. Feel like getting a little turnt up? Your favourite tipples are stocked in the mini-bar.
After settling in (and signing onto the free wifi), Ryan twisted my rubber arm to head down to the hotel’s Norca Restaurant & Bar for some pre-dinner cocktails. I ran to the bathroom to touch up my lipstick and was pleased to see it stocked with some of my favourite toiletries by Molton Brown. While I put my face on, Ryan played some smooth tracks on the rooms Tivoli Bluetooth stereo.
We finally made it to the restaurant and sat at a couple of high-top tables across from the expansive copper bar. Ordering up some house-made charcuterie, we were also treated to Caesar cocktail-based hors d’oeuvres prepared specially for us by the chef along with a few glasses of nice cava.
Following that, we enjoyed a fine dinner of grilled lamb cotelettes and East Coast lobster, scallops and Humboldt squid (!!). Everything was delicious, but we weren’t surprised as Head Chef, Dominique Dufour is impressive, honing her cooking skills in England, Spain and across Canada. After dinner, we headed out to meet our friend Katrina for a cocktail in Westboro. Pascale, our lovely valet, offered us a complimentary ride in the hotel’s Lexus RX 450h SUV. I told you we spent our weekend in style!
The following morning, we decided to start our day back at Norca to enjoy brunch. Chef Dominique Dufour has a huge interest in vegan cuisine, locally-sourced ingredients, and nutrition and it showed. The Continental breakfast was quite continental indeed with many healthy options including sweet potato hashbrowns, smoked salmon, sliced avocado, eggs of all sort, buckwheat pancakes, peameal bacon, a wide selection of fresh compotes, oatmeal, cold-pressed juices and more.
End-of-summer sales at nearby Nordstrom were calling my name, so while Ryan went to work out at Le Germain Ottawa’s beautifully appointed gym, I got my shop on.
Those of you looking to visit Ottawa should treat yourself to a stay at this beautiful hotel. If you wish to explore the Byward Market, it’s only a short walk away. Surrounded by cute boutiques, cafés and the stellar Ottawa Art Gallery, Le Germain Ottawa is perfectly situated in downtown Ottawa.
Of note, the picturesque Rideau Canal is within walking distance also, along with scenic Parliament Hill. Other amenities that the hotel offers are the Le Nordik Spa Experience and the Sweet Suite Promotion to enhance your summer getaway (until September 30th), which will be of interest to all those attending this week’s City Folk music festival.
I also highly recommend a visit to the OAG which is connected to the hotel. Recently opened, the OAG showcases Canadian art with a large collection of regional art. Once you’re done viewing the collections, treat yourself to a meal and stellar cocktails at the OAG’s Jackson Café. Complete with decor that is Architectural Digest-worthy and dishes made with Ayurvedic ingredients, you will not be disappointed. I certainly wasn’t!
That weekend was truly memorable thanks to Le Germain Hotel Ottawa. To be able to have a restful weekend in such a chic environment is exactly what this luxury-lover needed.
*Many thanks to Le Germain Ottawa for the complimentary suite in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
