Beautifully new conference centre. I went to the FI conference here, and felt the venue contributed…read moreto the success of the event. Lots of natural light, comfortable seating, and modern interiors. Conveniently located right next to Rideau centre, and it connects to the mall too!

Since it's opening, I've been to the Ottawa Convention Centre about 6 times, with the latest visit…read morebeing today, for the Wedding Palace Bridal Show. My husband-to-be and I just got engaged and decided to attend the show to get an idea of all the things we should be planning for in the next year or two. While being around hoards of women tend to give me "b*tch, please" anxiety, all of the vendors' booths were set up in organized aisles, which helped us weave through the crowd and tame my OCD tendencies as much as I could have in such sardine situations. I've been here for the Food and Wine Show, a couple of women's shows, Sexapalooza, and last year's wedding show. Though it's always packed with people, I don't remember there being this many vendors wall to wall. Not going into too much detail about the specific event, the actual venue itself is pretty ginormous for its prime, downtown location. With all of the glass globe windows, it's pretty hard to miss. I must admit, however, that because the large events I've attended are held on the top floor, it takes 2-3 escalators to get up there, and though I'm not afraid of heights, my first time going up those things made my eyes pop out of a head a little bit when I looked back and down after getting to the top. They seem so long and steep! Obviously, considering the height of the building, but still! Oh, and who could forget the ATM so strategically placed right at the top of the escalators before entering the main area through the open doors. It's been awhile since I've bought anything to eat there, but they usually have food and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. You can take the drinks around with your while you peruse whatever show is currently happening at the time, and there's also a fair-sized seating area with tables to eat at, and some couches to lounge on when your feet need a rest. Multiple restrooms are also easily accessible all around, though I found waste bins to be scarcer than they should have been for such large groups of people. The decor isn't anything special, really. It's generally a greyish color, but at night they turn on different colored lights, like pink and blue. Because of this, the venue lends itself to both business- and pleasure-related events. Of course, you can rent out the space for your own events, but I'm sure the cost will be up the wazoo, just like the coat check, which was $3 each and no two-coats-on-one-hanger allowed (whatever, I'm cheap, so sue me). 5/30 #30DaysOfYelp

The Glebe Community Centre is a unique structure in the heart of the Glebe. It offers a multitude…read moreof programs for every age group and interest, including painting, theatre, yoga, pottery, sports, dance, baking and cooking classes, dog obedience classes and even random classes like soap and bath-bomb making. Their prices are usually reasonable, but the classes fill up very quickly, so make sure to register well before the first class begins. If you live in the area, you'll receive a calendar for the upcoming season with a grace period to plan your next class. The centre also has many day or weekend long events, such as plays, craft fairs, jewelry shows and food shows. If you're in the area on weekdays between 11:30am-3pm, stop by The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room for some food. The prices are a bit high and there's not much selection, but the food is fairly wholesome and usually organic. They don't accept debit or credit card, so bring cash!

This is an amazing community feature right in the heart of one of the loveliest spots in the city…read more I've recently had the opportunity to drop by with two little ones to bring them to playgroup and their toddler music class, and I was blown away. I would never have suspected from the relatively boring outside of this building that the inside is alive with great programming. You're greeted by a lovely staircase that leads up to Scotton Hall - the "gym" that Reviewer R mentioned. This is a stunning room with huge vaulted ceilings, stained glass, a kitchen and tons of room for the little ones to run around during playgroup (which is what I was there for!). It would also be amazing for an event. The playgroup was amazing. The facilitator Andrew, was great with the kids and there's even snacktime for kids and parents. The music class is similarly well-run and all the staff I have interacted with her are sweet and friendly. There' a whiteboard in the front lobby that details all the happenings going on that day and it's always packed! They have tons of classes (I even say mention of a "mother-daughter glee group" - unreal!) for all ages and the prices aren't bad at all. There's a great play structure outside for the little ones, as well as a sweet Thomas the Tank Engine table under the stairs. Be sure to ask the lovely lady at the front desk for the trains - clearly these have gone missing in the past, haha! If you're in the area, this is a great option for activities for kids and adults alike. Pop in and see the space - you won't be disappointed!

I visited Le Belvedere last night for a wedding, and was very impressed with the setting and…read moreambiance. The building is at the top of a hill. Drivers take note: the road up Le Belvedere is basically a glorified dirt path. It was extremely steep and twisty. I cannot imagine what it would be like to drive through in the rain. Let's just say with drove with great caution! Also, be sure to keep a look out for the street signs because the GPS on my iPhone didn't recognize all of the tiny roads. Once you safely reach your destination, you will find a pretty building overlooking gorgeous trees and lakes as far as the eye can see! It was truly spectacular. The view alone is worth the trek up the hill! The building itself is a decent size. The wedding I attended was around 120 people and we all fit comfortably inside. There are massive windows showcasing the spectacular views, a bar, patio/deck space, and even a fire pit for those chilly nights. The food was good, as far as wedding food goes. I had grilled salmon with vegetables. The salmon itself was overcooked. The outside was actually crunchy, almost more like chicken than fish. However, the flavors were great and the presentation was very appealing. The drinks at the bar were very tasty and the bartenders were super friendly. All of the staff we encountered were very hospitable and helpful. It made the wedding experience very enjoyable, at least from a guest perspective! Overall, I would say, if you are willing to make the drive out, Le Belvedere is an excellent event destination.

I was here for a wedding. The views were fantastic, you can see for miles. In the autumn, the…read morecolours of the trees is majestic. The food I had here was wonderful. We had a summer salad with strawberries and pecans, and a healthy portion of peppercorn seasoned filet mignon. The speakers are as high quality as any urban night club. The sub woofers have ample power and there were over a dozen speakers pouring top quality sound onto the dancefloor. I think this is a great place to have a wedding. It was worth the approximately 60 minute drive from Ottawa. If you're driving, ask for directions before you go, the GPS satellites get poor reception up in these hills/mountains and all of the big 3 cell companies lose signal here at times.

This sailing club has lots to offer, whether you have a boat or not…read more Want to try out sailing? There's a company that teaches out of this club, Advantage Boating. They supply the boat. Want to race? Sign up to crew on someone else's boat, and make some new friends. Moving to Ottawa with your boat? Call them and see if they have an opening. From Laser racing and on up to the larger boats there's something for everyone. Nice people, well maintained docks and a strong volunteer corp make this a great club.

Facilities are adequate for Ottawa. The Galley is okay- good for a snack, sometimes the food is a…read morelittle pricey. Their patio is very nice to hang out on a summer night after a sail. Bathroom is usually clean.

I loved my stay at Hotel Indigo in Downtown Ottawa. I am glad that I chose to book a room here…read moreduring my first trip to the Capital. It's situated in a great location and is within walking distance to Parliament, Major's Hill Park, and Rideau Canal. You can even walk to Elgin Street from there. My boyfriend and I drove to Ottawa from Jersey, driving through Pennsylvania and New York State. After seven hours on the road, we were beat. Luckily, we found a parking spot in the hotel's available underground parking garage and went through check-in at the front desk fairly quickly. When we got to our room, we dropped our bags and rested. The beds were comfy and the room was nicely decorated. The bathroom had a shower and there were Aveda toiletry products on the sink counter (loved them). We didn't get one of the rooms facing the lobby, so our window looked out to the street. Overall, I liked our room. Plus, there is free Wi-Fi. There is a restaurant downstairs. Didn't try the food, but we had a couple of beers there after a long day of sightseeing. The gym in the hotel was good - it has variety of machines and free weights. The hotel also has a pool. Also, there is a little business center where you can use a computer and printer; I pulled up our MapQuest directions there which was very helpful. Next time I come to Ottawa, I'll most likely book here. Highly recommended!

I don't know what to expect when I saw the facade of Hotel Indigo. It looks like an old traditional…read morehotel but the interior is nicely decorated with a boutique hotel feel. The room we stayed in was spacious with excellent amenities: Aveda Beauty Products and Keurig Coffee Maker. I love the location as it is just a few blocks away from Parliament Hill and walkable distance or a short taxi ride from Byward Market. With only 106 rooms and lack of conference facilities, you know you would not be overwhelmed by groups and groups of Conference goers like other bigger hotels in the area. Indoor Swimming Pool and 24/7 Fitness Centre Free WiFi Access throughout the property. Great place to stay if you visiting Ottawa.

TL;DR/The Short Version: Cool event space in the Zibi complex…read more The Long Version: I've been to Place des Festivals Zibi twice now, both for Cirque du Soleil performances, but they hold other events there too like the Gatineau Festibière (beer festival). My first visit to Place des Festivals Zibi was in 2017 when they first opened and my second visit was in 2024. They have parking on-site, which I used during my 2024 visit. It's quite large and while not paved (and had no parking lines painted) it wasn't too chaotic (but I was sure to come earlier, park near the exit, and I backed into my parking spot to facilitate a quick getaway, lol). Our parking was included in our show tickets but signage said it was $20 otherwise. For the events I went to, they had security who checked your bags and you have to walk through a metal detector. The security staff were pleasant and respectful. The washrooms were port-a-potties, but they were the most modern port-a-potties I've ever seen (mind you, I avoid public washrooms as much as possible and even more so port-a-potties, so I haven't used many in my life, haha). These things had flushing toilets and running water (!) They were like the washrooms in airplanes and trains. I think these were brought in by the Cirque du Soleil folks though, so the type of port-a-potties might depend on what event is going on. The event space itself is large. I'll talk a bit about my experiences there, but keep in mind they were both for Cirque du Soleil shows (Volta in 2017 and Echo in 2024). For Volta, I was there on I believe Media Night (it was 6 years ago and my memory of details of it is not the best, sorry), so I got some bonus perks like free champagne and some snacks like pretzels and macarons. For Echo, my husband won a pair of VIP tickets through Hilton Rewards and our experience was magnificent. The VIP tent opened an hour before the show and we were greeted with red or white wine and Prosecco. There was an open bar. They had a small self-serve food station and staff walking around offering more food. The self-service station had cold cuts, cheese, spreads and salads. The staff distributed food were cute small plated portions dishes like pulled beef with mashed potatoes, chicken with rice, gnocchi and fish tacos. The food was delicious and staff were professional. We got popcorn for the show. For intermission, we had access to the open bar and the self-service station was filled with mini desserts. We also got a gift which was a tote bag and an umbrella. The VIP experience was excellent and we loved it, especially since we won the tickets, lol. The price printed on the ticket was $290 per ticket. This did not include the "meet the artists" after the show component, which I believe is the next tier of VIP tickets. So we didn't meet the artists, haha, but two artists did come by the VIP tent for some photo ops briefly before the show. Kudos to the event organizers for not overselling VIP tickets. The VIP tent was not overcrowded, between the actual tent and the cordoned off outdoor area, there was lots of space and tables and plenty of food to go around. There was never a long line up for self-service stations, the food was regularly replenished and used plates and cutlery were cleared in a timely manner. Everything worked like a well oiled machine. Entrances were well marked and which entrance to use was on your ticket. They had ushers to help you find your seat. When the show was over they had people directing traffic. I was impressed how things were well organized. (203)

Great venue. I recently attended a wedding there and really enjoyed myself. The food was good…read more Staff were polite and amazing, and we were able to celebrate with the newly weds until the next day! The setup was beautiful as well. Kudos to management and team! I was highly impressed!

One of these days I actually WILL get in to try the cafe. But darn it - I'll have to try that again…read morebefore 2:30 pm! We were about 45 minutes too late for this today, as we were looking for a coffee date together. Meanwhile, I've got to say that this is a great big facility; bright and clean, except I can't speak for the cafe coz I missed it again! The garden centre is open till 5:00 but the cafe closes at 2:30. They do cater weddings, and as a result this facility is more upscale; expect to pay over $30 per person. They will provide the staff, linens, and food of your choice. I will keep trying to get to the cafe for breakfast or lunch, and re-evaluate the experience once I am able to do that.

We had our small wedding at the Orange Art Gallery and the venue was perfect.  The art on the walls…read moreadded a very nice dimension and the character of the building and terrace were enchanting.  The bar was flexible in meeting our desire of showcasing Canadian craft beer, wine and liquor and the bartenders were, as several guests commented, extremely nice and friendly yet professional and mixing a mean drink. Art on the walls also provided spectacular and unexpected backdrop for some of our best wedding photos.    We recommend Orange Art Gallery for small to medium weddings and other functions.

We were in Ottawa to attend a small wedding and this gallery was the venue. It was very charming…read moreand we enjoyed viewing the art as we mingled with other guests over champagne. If you are in the neighbourhood it is an interesting spot.