Novotel Ottawa City Centre — Downtown / Rideau
A reliable international chain with a central location near the Rideau Centre and ByWard Market, solid standard rooms and an indoor pool — great for families and anyone who wants chain consistency.
Novotel Ottawa City Centre sits on Nicholas Street in the heart of Downtown, near the Rideau Centre (big mall), ByWard Market and the Rideau Canal, with Parliament Hill walkable. That central spot makes both sightseeing and shopping easy. It's an Accor chain hotel offering reliable, predictable standards.
"Family-friendly — kids stay free + spacious family rooms"
Novotel-style rooms are larger than average, contemporary, clean and well-equipped. A key strength is being family-friendly — kids stay free in their parents' room (per policy), and family rooms work well. Beds are comfortable and soundproofing is okay.
Facilities are complete for this tier — an indoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar. Handy if you want somewhere for the kids to swim after a day out. Starting around CAD 180, it's good value for a central location with a pool.
Service is the international chain standard; staff are professional and handle things well. It suits families, travellers who like brand certainty, or business travellers wanting a central location at a sensible price.
Worth knowing — as a function-focused chain hotel, the atmosphere may lack the character of a boutique or historic property. If you're after something unique or design-led, it can feel a touch generic.
Also, parking is charged (normal downtown) and rates rise in high season like everywhere. Overall it remains a value, dependable central family pick.
For families from Thailand, a Canadian visitor visa is required, and Ottawa being bilingual is good to flag for kids learning either language. The Nicholas Street location is a short walk to the Rideau Centre mall and ByWard Market, with O-Train Rideau close for museum-hopping. The indoor pool is a real bonus after a long sightseeing day, and the kids-stay-free policy makes the maths friendlier than it first looks. It won't wow you with character, but as a dependable, well-located family base it quietly does everything right.
Bottom line: Novotel is a value family/chain pick with a central location — pool, spacious rooms, kids stay free — safe and predictable for everyone.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central, near the mall and ByWard Market
- ✓ Spacious, family-friendly, kids stay free
- ✓ Indoor pool and gym
- ✓ Reliable international chain standards
- ! Generic atmosphere, little character
- ! Parking charged
- ✓ Spacious, family-friendly, kids stay free
- ✓ Indoor pool and gym
- ✓ Reliable international chain standards
- ✓ Central, near the mall and ByWard Market
- ! Parking charged
- ! Generic atmosphere, little character
- 💡If you want unique character — it's a standard chain → see Andaz/Fairmont in our list
- 💡If you're driving — parking is charged → check ahead
- 💡If you go in high season — rates rise → booking ahead is cheaper