Review of My Stay at the Brookstreet Hotel
It’s almost Christmas, and Anniversary is coming up; every single year I get stuck in this huge delay of completing unfinished work, Christmas shopping and preparing an effortful Anniversary gift. With work being quite hectic in the past few weeks, it was too late to book a vacation anywhere out of the city. I decided to look at getaways nearby. I heard from a few friends that the Wakefield Mill Inn & Spa was a great place to relax for the weekend. However, I was too late for that and ended up staying at the Brookstreet Hotel, which is located in Kanata. I have never heard about this hotel, but after some researching, reviews seemed positive so I decided to give it a try.
They offer many packages based on what you’re looking for, which can end up scoring you a pretty good deal. I purchased the B Together Package which included:
- One night’s luxury accommodation (available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights)
- Three course table d’hote dinner at Perspectives Restaurant
- Breakfast at Perspectives Restaurant
- Access to Flex Fitness Studio with saunas, whirlpools, indoor and outdoor salt water swimming pools
- High-speed WiFi
- Parking in the secure underground garage.
On top of that, I also booked a spa session at Au Naturel Spa for a one hour full body massage. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any openings in the morning, so I was booked for 1:30 PM. Before checking in, I had spoken to the hotel agent about this and had asked for a late check out and without much consideration, he had said: “Thank you Ms. Huang and your checkout will be extended to 1:30 PM”. Absolutely great service.
While arriving to the hotel, we weren’t too sure where to park as they had both an outdoor and indoor garage, so I had decided to check in first. The hotel agent saw that I had purchased the B Together Package and asked me what the occasion was for. I told him it was for my Anniversary. He looked at me, smiled, entered something into the computer and returned to me with a free upgrade to the Deluxe King Suite with Golf Side View on the 16th floor (the hotel is 18 floors high). I was quite blown away by the service offered by Brookstreet at this point and my stay had not even begun. He then gave me a key to park in their underground garage.
The Room
The room was gorgeous.
The Living Room Area
The Bedroom
Bathroom
View from the Room
The Restaurant
We then made our way downstairs for dinner at the Perspectives Restaurant. Our package included the Table d’Hote, so we had expected a three course meal. However, as we were greeted by our server, he had mentioned that it was only a credit and if we wanted to choose anything off the menu, we could and the credit would be taken off. This was a great option, but we decided to stick with our original plan. The restaurant features dishes created by Executive Chef Clifford Lyness, who was the former Executive Chef at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.
The Menu
Confit Duck Leg
Confit Pork Belly
Pan Seared Salmon with Chorizo Hash
Both dinner and service was very good, our server had come to check on us a few times to make sure everything was going well. They also have a Bring Your Own Wine option which charges $10 for a cork fee Monday to Wednesday, and $25 cork fee the rest of the week. A wonderful alternative if you plan to drink a lot.
The Lobby and Amenities
The lobby itself is very modern and contemporary. There is a bar with live music and café in which you can grab your caffeine fix. For many of us, this is very important. Asides from that, they also offer a cosmetic and dental service, a collaboration car rental service with Hertz, and a large gym facility.
I managed to find time for the gym facility and pools, which also included a whirlpool and sauna. The gym facility was much larger than other hotels I have stayed at and was complementary to all guests staying at the Brookstreet hotel. I loved the fact that they had touchscreen monitors on the bicycle machines, it helps you pass the time while you’re trying to burn those weekend cheat calories away!
Flex Studio
Touchscreen Monitors
The Breakfast
The package we purchased included a breakfast buffet at the Perspectives Restaurant. Since it was a buffet, I did not expect too much. Surprisingly, it was quite good, I especially liked the omelette as it was freshly made on the spot. The brunch was just beginning as we were about to pay for the bill and I managed to peek over to see a few dishes I would have liked to try. For $15 more than breakfast, I will definitely give this a try next time.
The Spa
To end my stay at Brookstreet, the 60-minute spa session I booked was extremely relaxing, just as the front desk agent had promised. I am not really a massage type of person, so I had asked the representative over the phone to recommend some massages fit for my needs. She suggested the 60-minute full body relaxation massage. My masseuse Nick was great and was constantly checking up on me to make sure he wasn’t putting too much pressure on the stressed parts of my body.
The Flaws
Unfortunately, one of the downsides to Brookstreet Hotel is that it does not offer a loyalty program. You will not be able to collect points or redeem rewards for upgrades and free nights. I would love to stay at Brookstreet again, however, the price is quite expensive for the Ottawa area. If they were to offer an incentive, I would be more inclined to return at an earlier date.
Before staying at Brookstreet, many reviews had said that travellers (especially wedding parties) had problems with the elevator access to your room. How this works is that your room key will only give you access to your own level in the elevator. As a guest at Brookstreet, this makes me feel very secure and reduces the opportunities for guests who are not staying at Brookstreet onto your hotel floor. However, as a huge wedding party with guests scattered on different floors, this could be very frustrating as you will not have access to other wedding party levels unless you have their room key.
The Goods
There was always something happening in the Brookstreet lobby. For some people, this can be quite frustrating and loud. However, I loved how they organized a Santa Clause and Santa helper to go around the building handing out candy canes and taking pictures. We have yet to have snow here in Ottawa, so seeing all this definitely brought up the festivity level.
Brookstreet also has a “Be a Green Guest” program which allows you to earn a $10 credit each day you decline room service. This does not include the day in which you need to check out. Asides from that, if you do end up staying at Brookstreet, you can easily earn some credits which can be used towards food and beverages. A great green option offered by this company.
It’s clean, modern, contemporary and comfortable. From the hotel lobby to reception area, to hotel room, restaurant, pool, spas and services, the place looks like five star quality. Service is exceptional and the staff is very friendly and caring.
The Bottom Line
My first experience at the Brookstreet hotel was extremely positive and I hope to visit again in the summer to try out their outdoor activities such as golfing and swimming. If you’re planning for a stay in Ottawa, I highly recommend Brookstreet Hotel. Unfortunately, it is located on the outskirts of the city, so you will need a vehicle in order to travel the city comfortably.