Ottawa’s Brookstreet Hotel: For Travel or Local Enjoyment

If you were following my tweets last weekend, you will have noticed that I was participating in a mini staycation here in Ottawa at the Brookstreet Hotel (or should I write resort? More on that later).  The Brookstreet sponsored my weekend stay to introduce me, my family, and my lovely readers to all they have to offer.

I’ve decided to break down my post into two. This one is going to focus on our date night at the hotel and some thoughts about other types of stays there, and the next one will focus on family travel with the kids.

First off, the Brookstreet is very active on social media, so it’s not a surprise if you already are following at least one of their social accounts.  In 2011, I hosted a business workshop at the hotel and was really happy with not only the set up, but the food and service. I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with all they had to offer.  Even so, I was still pleasantly surprised by our stay.

A few details to begin:

The hotel is located in West Ottawa in Kanata and it’s important to know that you aren’t going to be downtown, clearly.  You will have to drive or bus if you are leaving the hotel for whatever reason.  Having said that, while it’s not a traditional Ottawa tourist setting, the hotel offers so much on site, that you may find you won’t need to leave.  The spa, golf, pools, food and family activities at the hotel provide a lot of entertainment for a variety of travellers.

Brookstreet offers an indoor and outdoor pool. Local Ottawa residents can purchase a membership that offers them access to the pools and the gym.  The indoor pool has a small child area with shallow water, a see saw and fountain.

The Golf Course is beautifully set and a golf destination (and yes, there are special Golf and Stay packages).

TRAVEL TIP:  The outdoor pool is a popular spot so get there early, or later to avoid the peak crowds. We found after 3:30 pm it seemed to clear out a bit but I suspect each day differs. Even if you don’t get a chair, bring your gear and enjoy!

There are two full restaurants and a cafe at Brookstreet.  Plus, there is outside pool food and drink service.  See what I mean about the resort feel?

There’s a spa on site.  The hotel treated me to a pedicure when I first arrived and the service was friendly.  Keep an eye out for spa deals that come up every so often, from what I understand the Au Natural Spa is a popular locals destination as well.

Why Brookstreet?

My first recommendation is that if you are planning on hosting a retreat, business meeting, or professional development day/series, check out Brookstreet.  The potential seems endless. The meeting rooms are nice, there are a variety of restaurants and the grounds offer a break for employees and participants to relax.

There are also packages for Bachelor/Bachelorette parties that look like a lot of fun. I could see this easily being a place for a weekend with friends or family, whether you live out of town or not.  There are also promotions combined with Canadian Tire Centre events. 

The Options Lounge has a small, but assorted food menu and extensive drinks menu.  What’s especially outstanding about the lounge is that every night of the week there is live Jazz.  It makes for a pleasant place to meet up, even if you aren’t staying over.  If you are a guest at the hotel, it’s a nice way to end the evening.

TRAVEL TIP: There’s a drink special each night, plus a 2-for-1 snack deal on Friday’s from 4-6 pm.

Perspectives is the hotel’s flagship restaurant. We enjoyed a dinner, breakfast and their brunch during our stay and we can say that all of us would want to go back. The food was so delicious for every meal.  It was very difficult to choose from all of the options, plus the kid-friendly menus were a hit when my children arrived.

The rooms themselves have a very boutique feel. We stayed in a larger Junior Suite with gorgeous windows, a separate bedroom and tile shower.

Our Stay

The Friday night we stayed without the kids, so between my spa treatment and our time in the Jazz Lounge it was a very relaxing evening.

After a delicious breakfast in Perspectives on Saturday morning, we went to pick up the kids to spend the day and night having fun as a family.  Stay tuned for that post with more tips and exciting hotel features!

A few things in particular stood out during our stay (minus the family features which I will write about in another post) 

-Their green initiative programs

-The service (my husband told me a few times to make sure I wrote about how wonderful the service was, and I agree)

-The food was a culinary experience

-The comfort of the beds

-Even if you live in Ottawa, it’s worth booking reservations at the restaurant for supper or brunch, plan a date night for live jazz, or head to the spa.  The hotel may be local, but it has a destination feel once you are there.

Whether you are travelling out of town, or planning a staycation, check out Brookstreet Hotel!

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Disclosure: My weekend stay at the Brookstreet was provided for by the hotel.  Sure, everything does seem easier to enjoy and indulge in when it’s being compensated, but all opinions in this post are my own.  We had a great stay and both my husband and I agreed that the food, ambiance and hotel offerings would bring us back.