Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Library of the Canadian Parliament
I’ve been to Ottawa three times. Two for business and once for a friend’s wedding. My first visit was for business and I remember walking the entire city in the middle of a heatwave. Despite the heat, I love walking and found it was the best way to feel like a local and explore every little detail. Luckily, my brother had spent some time in Ottawa and had given me some great recommendations for the food scene. I also ended up spending just over three hours at the Canadian Museum of War. The second time around, I was speaking at a conference at the University of Ottawa and this time, brought along a friend to travel with me. It was lovely as I was met with 2 other friends of friends and ended up having a nice get together. What made it even sweeter was the hotel I was staying at - the Albert at Bay Suite Hotel.
Attractions & Food
Albert at Bay Suite Hotel - I know it’s not necessarily an attraction but I have to mention this hotel as it only has suites. This means you get an entire apartment to yourself! If you are like me and like cooking or making your own food, then this is the hotel for you. The hotel was immaculate, beautiful, and had a TV in both the living room and the bedroom. Large couches and a dining table. I felt like I had a second home. Both my business trips were spent here.
Parliament Hill (The Hill) - yes you guessed it, the location of the Canadian Parliament, the gothic architecture is sure to wow you in addition to being able to take a tour! I was lucky enough to have time (and access to tickets) to do this and was met with a very warm and friendly tour guide (did I mention it was free?). Simply, go to the Visitor Welcome Centre and you can reserve a tour in advance (highly recommended).
The Supreme Court of Canada - This was my first "touristy” thing to do at Ottawa with a colleague and we had a blast. The inside was beautiful and lavished with imported woods and marbles. You can book a tour in advance and learn a whole lot more as you explore.
Canadian War Museum - By now, you already know that I love exploring museums. Believe it or not, I spent more than three hours here - that’s how much I like history. By the end, I was feeling a bit dizzy from all the reading and lack of water in the heatwave so if you’re like me, pack some extra water with you on your next trip. I did have my lunch and snacks prepared so that helped a lot. The museum is fascinating if you like the history of war. At the time, the seasonal exhibit was: Gladiators and the Colosseum - Death and Glory. I felt very lucky to be here at the time and it has to be one of my all-time favorite museum trips. I have always been fascinated by Gladiators so this was a treat.
Macaron et Madeleines - My brother recommended this gem of a french bakery and it was worth it! I personally love french pâtisseries and this one fits the expectations. I’ve never been to France but if you read reviews, people say that their macarons are better than the ones they’ve had in France. I guess it really depends on who’s making them but Chef Stephan is sure to impress you with his treats. I even took a picture with him as I’d heard my brother talk about him so much so he was kind of like a celebrity to me.
Update - October 2020 I am saddened to report that this bakery has been permanently closed. I am not sure what the reason was but I really hope Chef Stephan continues to share his talents - you are greatly missed!
Art-Is-In Bakery - They have everything! Bread (including baguettes), pastries, breakfast, sandwiches, this bakery will impress you if you have good taste. Online, they describe themselves as “…inspired by fine boulangeries of Paris and the funky cafés of Brooklyn…” The sandwiches will not disappoint so if you’re not sure where to get lunch, add this to the list!
Indian Food - I had lunch with my colleague and boss at this wonderful Indian restaurant and can’t believe I forgot the name. This is why I log everything here, so I remember the next time I visit. The food was great!
Great shawarmas - if there’s one thing Ottawa has a lot of, it’s pizza and shawarma places.
What I liked about the city
I liked how I could explore the city just by walking. Also keep in mind, my average walking time in all the cities I’ve visited across Canada is 8-9 hours so if you don’t like walking, I am sure there are other options like public transit or taking taxis/cabs. I loved the history in the city, feeling the energy of the parliament, the supreme court, and all the historical monuments. If you have a chance, a drive to the city in fall (from Toronto) is one of the most beautiful drives I’ve experienced (thanks to my friend who decided to have her wedding in fall). I also loved how the hill lights up at dusk - and lastly, the food was super. I remember I was walking around with my friend and we stumbled upon the opening of a Wine Rack. This meant, free wine, cheese, crackers, it was lovely, not to mention the super friendly grape mascots who were dancing outside to lure customers in. It worked for me and I ended up snapping a few photos with them.
What I found odd/disliked
The city can feel a bit bland at times as it’s no match for our neighbours in Quebec. I still found it very lovely for what it had to offer. My plans the second time to explore the other museums were cut short due to my friend getting sick, so I decided to look after him instead (and watch movies on TV like Titanic, Edge of Tomorrow). I’d love to go again and visit more museums.
