ARC The Hotel

This hotel is a gem and a refreshing change from the large chains. It’s clean, fashionable, and cozy, with personable, welcoming, and helpful staff. Well situated for work and exploring.

Great location. Easy walking distance to Parliament Hill and not too far from the Byward Market area. The room (Premier King) was quite small but adequate. We found the bed and pillows were comfortable. The closet needs a light. We had to use flashlights to look through clothes and shoes, and the safe was useless without a flashlight. The bathroom is very small and has one light hanging over the sink. The position of the hanging light is awkward for use of the mirror, eg makeup. Better lighting, including the shower would be appreciated. Our package included breakfast, which we really enjoyed. The eggs Benedict was excellent. All staff were friendly and professional. Parking requires going down a very narrow side alley. We were able to find a parking spot each night but had to park in a huge puddle one evening, ~2cm deep. There is low hanging ductwork so you have to watch out to avoid hitting your head. You also have to walk back along the narrow alley to get from the parking garage to the hotel. I was always concerned about encountering a car coming in along that alley but we were lucky.

Came down for 3 nights, 4 days of work. Unexpectedly resolved everything on day 2. Hotel refunded the extra night! Lovely staff who were very accommodating. Very good area which satisfied our needs. Parking was extra but was worth the cost.

A great location for exploring Ottawa downtown. Reception staff were efficient and friendly and there is a nice little bar and restaurant. We didn’t eat here as there were some big (and loud) TVs on all the time which we dislike. The room was spacious although the décor was a little dated. The bathroom was small and the bath was too shallow for an adult. We liked everything else about the room from the big windows, responsive heating system, thoughtful lighting, generous seating area and the most comfortable bed and bedding we have slept in ever in a hotel.

I had a very quick, easy check in because I completed pre check in online. If you get a text and email with your name and this hotel, it’s likely legitimate. Pre check in made the in‑person process take less than a minute. Room 515 had a few issues: the desk light never worked, and the fridge initially wasn’t cold. After notifying the front desk, they fixed the fridge, but the desk light stayed out. Some improvements would require renovation: a light inside the closet (which is where the safe is very dark), easier bedside light switches (current switches require bending behind the dresser), and extra drawers (there’s only one, though there’s open shelving). There’s a small dent on the wall from the swing bar deadbolt in the unlocked position. Blackout curtains work very well (I couldn’t tell night from morning). One side of the bed has two outlets and two USB ports on the dresser; the other side’s outlet is behind the dresser. No clocks are provided, bring one if you need the time. The safe is firmly bolted to the floor and roomy enough for a laptop. Room cleaning was flawless; staff even left my pillow arrangement intact. Noise isolation was excellent, I couldn’t hear neighboring rooms, even when nearby doors closed. Wi‑Fi was fine for browsing and light video, but inconsistent. A speed test at ~9pm showed 4.82 Mbps down / 4.90 Mbps up; daily random re‑authentications and slower speeds at times made it unreliable for video calls. There’s an Ethernet jack at the desk, but you must bring your own cable. Elevators are small and on the slower side, rated for nine people, but with luggage/backpacks realistically fit about three people. A complimentary water bottle was left daily on the dresser, a pleasant unadvertised touch. Overall: quiet hotel, short walk to multiple public transit stops and Parliament Hill. Good if you want a simple, peaceful room and don’t need much other than to sleep and use the bathroom.