Fairmont Chateau Laurier

When Fairmont Château Laurier first opened its doors in 1912, it was already considered an iconic edifice standing along the streets of Ottawa. Plans for the hotel were drawn up in 1907 by Charles Melville Hays, the General Manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway of Canada. Unfortunately, Hays would never see his project completed, as he perished during the sinking of the RMS Titanic. As for the hotel's name of Laurier, it was dedicated to Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who secured the location for the railway company.

Its iconic French château-style architecture was intended to contrast and complement the neo-Gothic silhouettes of Parliament. Decades later, this architecture became protected as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980. Its proximity to Canada's most important administrative institutions made it a favorite for visiting leaders and ambassadors, as well as celebrities and other people of renown. It is even believed that some dramatic deals and agreements were made within its walls.

Fairmont Château Laurier embraced the architectural idealism that represented the early 20th century, blending the elegance of the French Renaissance with the ornate splendor of Victorian Gothic. However, creative disagreements with the original architect, Bradford Gilbert, forced a switch to the Montreal firm Ross and MacFarlane. Construction began in 1909 and finished in 1912. The exterior took heavy inspiration from the Renaissance manors of France’s Loire Valley, following conventions like pitched roofs, conical turrets, and dormer windows. The facade was made using Indiana limestone, carved with floral and heraldic motifs, and lined with Tiffany stained-glass windows.

Just like the exterior, the hotel's interiors were made with high-quality materials and artistry. The grand lobby gleams with Belgian marble floors and hand-molded plasterwork. The public areas were each given a theme; for example, the Laurier Room had a neoclassical motif represented by Roman columns, while later additions like the 1929 east wing were dressed in English and Scottish Baronial styles.

Zoe's

Dining with elegance and class doesn't necessarily mean you should be tied down to specific cuisine. At Zoe's, guests can enjoy a multi-faceted dining experience, enjoying the services of a restaurant, lounge, and tea house all in one place. The restaurant serves numerous options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Items range from small plates and international mains to contemporary dishes, all prepared in an open kitchen. The lounge offers a vibrant bar menu, with live jazz music every Friday and Saturday evenings. A posh Afternoon Tea service is available every day, featuring signature English scones, open-faced sandwiches, and decadent sweets. For those planning a personal celebration, Zoe’s also accommodates private events and themed menus.

Opening hours:
Restaurant: 6:30 am - 10 pm
Lounge:
Sunday to Thursday: 11 am - 11 pm
Friday & Saturday: 11 am - 12 am
Afternoon Tea: 11 am - 3:30 pm

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made via their official website.

La Terrasse

La Terrasse provides a beautiful alfresco dining setting, although that also means it only operates seasonally, during the warmer months. The venue is positioned along the Ottawa River, with views toward the Parliament Buildings and the rolling Gatineau Hills. Items consist of shareable plates, big personal servings, and a variety of light bites. While the dining is casual, the fare ranges from charcuterie boards to salads, burgers, and pizzas. These all definitely go quite well with the beverages menu, which includes cocktails, local beers, and chilled wines.

Café Laurier

Another wonderful dining spot with lovely casual vibes is Café Laurier, which focuses on comforting snacks and beverages. The staff serves ethically sourced beans from Happy Goat Coffee, along with a posh selection of LOT 35 specialty teas. For the food, you'll have a number of tasty options to choose from, including pastries, savory snacks, sandwiches, salads, and other grab-and-go items. It's perfect whenever you need a hot or cold drink that will perk you up, such as an energizing espresso blend or a flavorful specialty tea.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:30 am – 4 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 6:30 am – 5 pm

The historic heart of Ottawa makes for a suitable backdrop for an equally momentous wedding. At Fairmont Château Laurier, you can celebrate ceremonies and receptions of various scales. The hotel’s event planners will be eager to assist in organizing every step of the event, matching your plans with the property’s formal spaces, and coordinating other aspects such as catering, decor, and entertainment. The hotel's many historic corners also make for fine photo opportunities, and you can take inspiration from Yousuf Karsh's artistic photos on display. To help you plan the event, Fairmont Château Laurier offers customizable wedding packages that are based on your expected number of attendees. These packages can also accommodate the full schedule and can involve separate rooms for the ceremony and receptions.

Here are a few of the hotel's available venues:

Ballroom - An opulent and spacious events hall inspired by the extravagance of the Renaissance.
Capacity: 800 guests

Adam Room - Stylish and lavish room, gleaming with flamboyant fixtures.
Capacity: 450 guests

1912 - A cozy, speakeasy-style lounge, perfect for small themed weddings.
Capacity: 40 guests

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

Fairmont Château Laurier sits in the historic heart of Ottawa, close to several of the city’s important sites. Parliament Hill, the seat of Canada’s federal government, is filled with iconic Victorian Gothic architecture. The Rideau Canal, which runs from the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized as a testament to North American industrialization and engineering. During winter, the frozen canal is open as the world’s longest naturally frozen skating rink, while during May, it becomes a major scenic thoroughfare for the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Also along the canal and Parliament Hill is the Bytown Museum, Ottawa’s oldest surviving stone building, with exhibits of the city’s evolution from a frontier settlement into Canada's capital. The National Gallery of Canada hosts major Canadian and international art collections and is itself an architectural landmark, while historic neighbourhoods like Sparks Street hold events such as the Ottawa International Buskerfest and Ottawa Ribfest.

If you're planning a corporate function or private celebration, Fairmont Château Laurier's facilities and venues are available for reservation. You'll also have the support of the hotel's events team, providing assistance starting from preparations and planning, all the way to the events conclusion.

Professional meeting spaces include dedicated boardrooms, hospitality suites, and larger halls, letting you scale up or down depending on the number of guests and attendees. These come equipped with audiovisual equipment, while add-on services like catering can also be availed. The hotel is also quite popular for hosting social events, such as birthday and anniversary celebrations, receptions, or community gatherings.

Here are a few of the venue options:

Ballroom - Largest, most ostentatious events venue of the hotel, dating back to 1912.
Capacity: 800 guests

Laurier Room - Magnificent events hall with a posh neoclassical style.
Capacity: 225 guests

1912 - Classic lounge designed like an early 20th-century speakeasy.
Capacity: 40 guests