The capital city of Ottawa is a destination for international gay travelers where we can easily find gay friendly hotels Ottawa. Gay life here is generally open and accepted (gay marriage is legal throughout the province), and gay travelers are heavily marketed to.
Canada is a relatively gay-friendly country, with its largest cities featuring their own gay areas and communities, such as Toronto’s Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, Montreal’s Gay Village commercial district, Vancouver Davie Village, and Ottawa Bank Street Gay Village.
Ottawa is Canada’s capital, in the east of southern Ontario, near the city of Montréal and the U.S. border. Sitting on the Ottawa River, it has at its centre Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums such as the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in summer and ice-skaters in winter.
Top attractions to visit in Ottawa
- Parliament Hill and Buildings
- Canadian War Museum
- Rideau Canal National Historic Site
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- National Gallery of Canada
Best tours in Ottawa
- Exploring the Heart of Ottawa
- 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour
- Ottawa Highlights 3.5 Hour Bike Tour
- Best of Ottawa Neighbourhoods & Nature Bike Tour
- Experiencing Ottawa’s Vibrant Lights
See all tours in Ottawa on GetYourGuide.
1. Rideau Inn 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Ottawa

Located in the downtown area, this historic Ottawa property offers free WiFi in all areas. Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier Airport is 20 minutes’ drive away.
A TV is included in all rooms at Rideau Inn. A seating area and a desk provide added convenience. A balcony can be enjoyed.
Elgin Street is at 2 minutes’ walk and Rideau Canal is 5 minutes’ walk away from the Ottawa Rideau Inn.
Rideau Inn, A charming Edwardian home, circa 1916, in the heart of the capital, has operated since late 90’s last century providing comfortable, clean and economical accommodations in elegant surroundings at a superb location close to all downtown Ottawa has to offer. We are situated in the leafy residential neighbourhood known as the “Golden Triangle” bound by lively Elgin Street. And a bend in the Rideau Canal. It’s just a short walk from the numerous fine restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs found on nearby Elgin Street.
Museum of Nature is in a few minutes walk away. Parliament Hill, National Gallery, National Arts Centre, Rideau Centre shopping Mall, Byward market, Ottawa University and many more exciting hot spots in walking distance. Returning guests may happy to see the changes and upgrades that have been done recently.
he Rideau Inn B&B, located just a few doors off of Elgin Street, is the perfect central location for your visit to Canada’s beautiful capital city. Easy 20 minute walk to Parliament Hill, the Byward Market and many other tourist sights and destinations. The Inn is an old, converted home offering both guestrooms with a private bathroom and guest rooms with shared bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi. The Inn does have onsite parking, extremely limited number of spaces, additional charge is $9.00 per day. If you do not pre-request an onsite spot when you make your reservation, you will have to park in a paid parking lot, closest one is about 4 or 5 minute walk.
Lucie, the owner manager, is lovely, she is very pleasant, helpful and accommodating. The Inn provides a self-serve continental breakfast that is much more than the typical hotel version of a continental breakfast. There is a selection of boxed cereal, breads and spreads, croissants, buns or muffins, yogurt, boiled eggs, fresh fruit, juice, milk, tea and coffee. Lucie also has a beverage station for tea or coffee after hours. The rooms are not particularly large, but they are clean and comfortable. Our room was at the rear of the house and was very quiet. If you are planning a trip to Ottawa, the Rideau Inn is a great choice.
Close to main touristy things (15 -20 min walk to Parliament Hill or Byward Market – depending on how many red lights you hit along the way 🙂 but away from hussle and bussle of main tourist drag. Close to a ton of restaurants and nightspots on Elgin St., yet quiet for a good night rest. Word of caution – call ahead and reserve parking if needed – there are 3 spots only. Its B&B afterall not a massive chain hotel.
Parking on a street is expensive and spotty. Inn itself is very clean, stuff is crazy friendly and the place is comfortable. We stayed in Ontario room – (all rooms are named after Canadian provinces – which is a cute touch) which was delightful. On their website there are short descriptions of every room. Check them out before booking. A/C worked perfectly. ( we hit 30+ C weather – so it was really important) and the bed was beyond comfortable. A perfect place to rest after 8 hours of walking in the city.
Just as a rooftop terrace for a quiet drink after all the touring. Even from there you couldn’t hear nightclubs and busy pubs on Elgin on Sat night. The shared bathroom and shower were spotless and cleaned after each time someone took a shower. ( no shower after 10pm requested – totally understandable to respect other people’s quiet time) There are also rooms with en suites which we didn’t see. The inn is in the older house so expect some creaks and squeaks walking up the stairs but the place makes up for it in a lot of character – Canadiana theme throughout. The age of the house can be a problem if there are loud patrons. We didn’t hear anything in the room and everyone we met during breakfast in the morning was great! But not a party place for sure.
As for breakfast – a standard continental – nothing special but coffee was excellent, everything was good quality and croissants were freshly baked. Wifi worked ok but not great – couldn’t finish watching one quick 5 min news segment but for regular searching and photo uploading it was just fine. Maybe there were too many people on wifi – at the end – not a deal breaker. Also saw that people were leaving luggage after checking out for a day – always a plus in my books – didn’t look like owners mind it. All in all we really liked this place and would absolutely recommend it. A great find.

How much does a room costs at Rideau Inn ?
Prices start 82 $/night for Economy Double Room. The Senior Suite is 112$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This suite includes a large bedroom, a large living area with sofa bed and a fully equipped kitchen.
Where to book online – Rideau Inn – Gay Friendly Hotels Ottawa – you can find the best hotels deals in Ottawa during Festival d’été de Québec which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ottawa on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Arc The Hotel 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Ottawa Canada

This 4-star hotel is located in
and features a state-of-the-art gym. The hotel is 15 minutes’ walk from .The cosy rooms offer an iPod docking station, bathrobes and deluxe amenities. WiFi is available with daily surcharge.
Guests at Arc The Hotel can enjoy a drink in the ARC Lounge which also offers a full dining menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Room service is also available.
The National Arts Centre and the Currency Museum of Canada are 600 m away. Hotel Arc is also 15 minutes’ walk from the University of Ottawa.
An oasis of calm in this busy city, ARC the Hotel Ottawa welcomes its guests into a softly lit lobby with hardwood floors, designer furnishings, modern art wall hangings, and Japanese-inspired architectural flourishes. Business travellers appreciate the downtown location and high-speed Internet access throughout, but the hotel is also a favorite with couples indulging in weekend getaways. The hotel also offers the Arc Lounge & Dining, a virtual business center with high-speed Internet access (surcharge), concierge and valet services, and 24-hour fitness center.
This property has a great location right in downtown. The rooms are quite spacious, very clean and nicely decorated. The washroom has nice fixtures and the amenities provided were good.
We were on a high floor so we didn’t hear much noise from the street.
The staff was very nice at the front desk.
The only downfall is that you must use their valet parking which is quite expensive. It would be nice to have a self park option.
Would stay here again when next in Ottawa.
ARC the Hotel is very convenient in downtown Ottawa. From check in through to check out, service is as I have come to expect – I have stayed at the ARC on four or five occasions. The room is clean, bed comfortable and the bathroom compact with a full bath/shower. A call for additional bathroom supplies was answered promptly. Definitely on my go to list.
The ARC hotel in downtown Ottawa is a calm and relaxing place. I usually ask for a room away from the elevator facing the back streets. The rooms are small and very cosy. The staff is courteous and always helpful. I would recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a place built with imagination and a sense of the artsy as opposed to a hotel with very spacious rooms, but no character.
The room was spacious, clean, comfortable and quiet. The hotel looked like it was recently renovated with a modern look and vibe. My room had modern, dark wood furniture and a cream coloured leather-look headboard and the bathroom was fully tiled on all walls in white subway tile.I especially liked the personal, extendable wall-mounted vanity mirror. My room was cleaned daily and my coffee and tea replenished each day.
Obviously I was away during the day and the streets were busy with people but at night, the area emptied out and it was very calm and quiet for getting a good night’s sleep. They even provided a night table card with tips for getting a good night’s sleep and getting over jet lag and a card with yoga poses for relaxation. The location was ideal for touring the city being very centrally located and I felt very safe walking around at night alone.
Restaurants, ByWard Market, the Mall, Parliament Hill and the Nature Museum are all within a reasonable walking distance away (20 minutes walking).The staff were so kind, friendly and helpful. I liked the extra touch of having fresh cookies at the front desk at check in. I would recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Ottawa for business or pleasure.
This hotel is in the “Core” neighborhood so a 2 minute walk to Parliament Hill. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Always there to welcome you when you walk in or to wish you a good day when you leave. Exceptional! I had a great corner room on the 7th (top) floor which included a living room area. Bed was comfortable and the bathroom, although on the small side (it’s an old building) was very well equipped. Room was clean.

How much does a room costs at Arc The Hotel ?
Prices start 101 $/night for Intimate Queen Room. The Spacious Corner Suite is 133$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This suite features a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Additional amenities include a Keurig coffee machine, bottled water and mini-fridge. The bathroom contains a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.
Where to book online – Arc The Hotel – Gay Friendly Hotels Ottawa – you can find the best hotels deals in Ottawa during Festival d’été de Québec which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ottawa on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. The Westin Ottawa 4* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Ottawa

Featuring an indoor pool, the
is located next to the and the Shaw Centre. The non-smoking hotel offers a restaurant, bar, and free public WiFi.Every guest room at the
is equipped with a 50″ flat-screen TV. In-room films are also provided.A hot tub and fully equipped fitness centre are offered at the Westin Ottawa hotel. Squash Courts, floral services, and a 24-hour business centre are all available. The hotel also features 2 on-site restaurants, Daly’s and the Shore Club. From May to September, bicycle hires are available for a fee that benefits a local children’s hospital.
The Ottawa Art Gallery is 5 minutes’ walk away from the Westin Ottawa hotel. The University of Ottawa is 15 minutes’ walk away from the hotel and Parliament Hill is also within walking distance.
Rest assured with our Commitment to Clean experience at The Westin Ottawa hotel. Our modern hotel is located in the Ottawa business district across from the Rideau Canal, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our renowned Shore Club restaurant is a popular dining choice for hotel guests and Ottawa locals alike. Stay active during your visit to Canada with our hotel’s fitness offerings, including our indoor saltwater pool, our modern fitness center and our private squash courts.
In terms of the amenities, we were pleased that the TV allowed us to access Netflix and the WIFI was extremely fast and reliable! Sometimes I have issues connecting my work laptop to hotel networks, but it was a seamless experience at the Westin. The room itself was quiet, large and comfortable, although the decor was a bit bland.
The Westin arguably has the best location in the city, so it was easy to go out for walks, access the Rideau Centre, walk around Parliament Hill and go out for drinks and dinner in the Byward Market.
The highlight of our stay was the hotel staff. Everyone was professional, friendly and helpful. Shannon at Daly’s Express helped us with our complimentary breakfasts both mornings. She enthusiastically provided excellent service and went out of her way to make sure that we were happy – Our specialty coffees were delicious!
First off, the location is prime. So easy to get to from the highway, and directly connected to the mall. Easy to grab Starbucks without going outside. There are endless options a five minute walk away for food and entertainment.
This hotel was in a great location downtown. Easy access to the convention centre. Not a far walk from ST. CATHERINES STREET which is the heart of downtown Montreal for shopping etc.
The lobby was welcoming and the bakery/coffee shop upstairs was delish. The rooms of the hotel were was spacious. Bigger than the average room. I would definitely come back to this place.
The Hotel is centrally located and within a walking distance to several city attractions. The Hotel is connected to one of the main malls in Ottawa and is extremely convenient. You can also walk across the street and be in the Market; a main area in downtown Ottawa with restaurants and pubs. Quite simply, I cannot stress on the importance of such a prime location.
The Hotel itself is very clean and well maintained. Staff are very friendly and helpful. I had to change my room a couple of times due to personal preference and there was no hassle with the staff at all. Thank you for that!
The rooms are very clean and spacious and the view of the Parliament is simply amazing from the room (if you go for the Parliament View Room).
All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and I will definitely return to the Westin the next time I’m in Ottawa.
Besides a great room, we had a wonderful breakfast each morning that we were there. The wait staff were very friendly and professional. The food was simply amazing. This hotel is downtown and has easy access to the Rideau Center mall. From there you can wander around the Byward Market with it’s abundant selection of fine restaurants. I would highly recommend this hotel.
LOCATION:
Can’t be beat. You can walk right into Rideau Mall without going outside, and then onwards to Byward market via HBC. Or walk out the front door and be at the seat of Canada’s government in less than five minutes.
ROOM:
For an older hotel the rooms are in fantastic shape—the only downside was the cheap coffee maker. I splurged on a deluxe room with floor to ceiling views of the Parliament Buildings, which didn’t disappoint.
FOOD:
Buffet (and à la carte) breakfast was good but expensive, ditto for room service. I’d recommend getting a rate with breakfast included to avoid bill shock at checkout.
VERDICT:
A fine hotel choice if you can afford it. If you can’t get someone else to pay.
Proximity to downtown and the University of Ottawa were important for us, and the Westin is really in the perfect location. We had two rooms on a “second room half-price” deal – one was a king corner room and the other was a two-double deluxe room, on the 14th floor. Both were bright and spacious with great sightlines overlooking the National Arts Centre, Parliament buildings, and downtown. The corner room actually had windows facing east, south, and west, so we had a great overall panoramic view. T
he only problem, I’d say, was that the huge floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to let in more street noise that I’d have hoped. Despite being on the 14th floor, we could still hear people talking down at street level. Not so much that you could tell what they were saying, but definitely you could hear their voices quite distinctly. Even with the air conditioning fan turned on high and the heavy drapes closed, it was hard to ignore. Otherwise, the rooms were very good. Beds were comfortable, bathrooms were spacious, bright, and very clean.
We had plenty of space to spread out, a coffeemaker with Starbucks coffee, free wifi, and a bar fridge at our disposal. Very good service from the front desk and the concierge, and we particularly appreciated the loan of umbrellas since Ottawa seems to be back in monsoon season. Overall, a very good experience, although I think next time I’d ask for a room facing away from the noise of the street.

How much does a room costs at The Westin Ottawa ?
Prices start 172 $/night for Traditional, Guest room, 1 King, No view. The Deluxe Parliament View, Guest room, 1 King, Parliament view is 219$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This double room features air conditioning.
Where to book online – The Westin Ottawa – Gay Friendly Hotels Ottawa – you can find the best hotels deals in Ottawa during Festival d’été de Québec which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Ottawa on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.