Château Montebello is often described as a beautiful, warm, and unique place, with a large fireplace, lovely grounds, and a memorable atmosphere. Many guests also highlight the good service, cleanliness, welcoming staff, and a variety of activities, along with cuisine that is often greatly appreciated, especially at breakfast and the buffet. However, a few reviews mention dated or poorly soundproofed rooms, noise from children during certain periods, and inconsistent food or service quality at some meals. It is a good choice for a stay experience, but it is best to know that the family-oriented atmosphere and busy periods can sometimes interfere with the calm some guests are looking for.
Beautiful hotel with fantastic ambiance
This property is very cool but I wish I had have known how family oriented it would be before going. The rooms make you feel like you're at camp, the grounds are beautiful and it's situated on the Ottawa River with lots of activities. I went for an overnight with my husband to relax and have a romantic dinner but there were kids everywhere. Kids were running around the place the whole time, up and down the hotel room corridors, screaming inside and out. Even in the nice dining room there were little kids at dinner until 10pm. At one point we thought maybe there was a hockey tournament in town and that was why there were so many families there. At the breakfast buffet, more kids (many of them sick with colds- parents included) and because it was a self serve buffet they were touching everything. It was off-putting. I just figured at the price point and the fact that it's one of the Chateau properties, we would be having a more upscale experience but that wasn't the case. I think any couple planning to go should get this info before attending so they know what they are getting for the spend.
Good service
I attended the Sunday brunch on May 3rd, 2026, and unfortunately, it was a deeply disappointing experience—one that management should be aware of but doesn’t appear to be.|The buffet area is far too small to accommodate the number of guests. There was a long, winding line just to access basic items like scrambled eggs and beans, and the serving dishes themselves were undersized for the volume of guests. The bacon and breakfast sausages were of very poor quality (as was pretty much everything) comparable to what you might find at a low-end diner.|The prime rib station was almost comical; the staff member was carving from a piece of meat no larger than a fist. The smoked salmon was difficult to find and presented on a plate far too small for a buffet of this scale.|When I got to my table my food was cold. On my second visit to the buffet, I realized why—the warming trays were not functioning. They were either turned off or simply not working, as they were cool to the touch. This points to a serious lapse in oversight, whether due to absent management or a lack of attention to basic service standards.|More broadly, the poor food service reflects the overall state of the property. The building appears neglected, with peeling paint, deteriorating walkways, etc. The ownership and the Fairmount group have allowed the property to decline significantly.|At $85 per person, plus tax, this experience falls far below any reasonable expectation. I would strongly advise against brunch at this establishment.
I've been coming to Le Chateau Montebello since I was a kid, and it genuinely never loses its magic no matter how many times you walk through those doors. Stopped by last Friday evening with some friends for dinner, and the wild mushroom soup was exactly what the cold weather called for, rich and earthy and clearly made from scratch. The staff in the dining room remembered a couple of us from previous visits, which is a small thing but says a lot about a place this size. It is a true landmark, one of those spots that reminds you why living near the Ottawa Valley has its perks.
Amazing place!!!
I had a very disappointing experience at this hotel. I had driven out to Fairmont Le Château Montebello specifically to admire the property and enjoy a coffee. On arrival, I asked for a coffee and was told the barman was late, but that room service could assist. Instead, the front desk clerk and a member of room service began arguing in front of me about who should have to make it, as if it were an inconvenience or “indignity.” It was uncomfortable and unprofessional, and made me feel like a burden rather than a guest. Given the tone of that interaction, I chose to leave immediately rather than stay. For a hotel of this standard, this was a very poor first impression and far below what I would expect.
Great place! Great location. The restaurant is a bit pricey. Sad to see that the fireplace was not on, even though it was 4C outside
Amazing hotel, very charming, I just went there for lunch at "Les Chatignoles"... The Christmas decorations are magnificent, the chimney gives a very cozy feeling... Unfortunately I didn't stay at the hotel, so I can't really judge about the rooms and the whole experience... Maybe next time!
Chateau Montebello continues to be at the top of our list. Food ( the all you can eat breakfast buffet ) is superb.. The hotel’s facilities are warm and cozy. The swimming pool area is full of action and fun. Lastly, the staff are helpful and accommodating. Our five grandchildren love the castle. We shall return in late October . We cap off our evenings with family dinners at Le Bistro in the village of Montebello. Five stars!
Beautiful place, nice snacks
It is another great Fairmont location, wide historic property but honestly I was little underwhelmed by the service and state of the room. Door knobs, windows, bathrooms are very mediocre for the standard of Fairmont and its price, no water bottle, no place to get a good coffee in the morning etc. We came there for 3 days to celebrate my son's first birthday as we wanted to spend some time in peace and celebrate among us. I made request while booking online, made a call a week earlier and also upon checkin again requested if some basic gesture of room decoration can be made/provided in the room for my son's birthday. Every time they said concierge is not here today, but will communicate. And nothing happened at all. We did massage service, while booking they said for March offer it will be 155$ for 60 minutes, we both sequentially booked our session, final bill was 212$ plus tips, false information and just standard way of extracting more money then earlier informed. We did breakfast buffet and dinner at their restaurant and mentioned for dinner also same thing(to have a candle and cupcake or something if possible) and they again both times did nothing. But we saw another family's child getting a sparking candle next day at buffet. It really tripped me and made me a little furious. I gave less tip at buffet (first two times tip was standard) and waiter had the audacity to come a loudly say to us(we are brown and not white and I feel hence) did you add tip correctly sir or you want to increase. I didn't expect this behaviour from the staff, first of all I filled my own coffee and plates at the buffet, you served me bill while I was eating plus you deliberately failed to do anything extra on our special occasion and then this. I left my remaining food immediately andbmy wife that server 20$ cash(cause she thinks white people already feel low of us) I was staying last weekend at room 221, no need to add a reply saying contact us and we care blah blah, go find your servers and coach them how to behave
I stayed here two years ago and had a really great experience, came back this weekend and it felt a bit different. It was very loud, with children running around each floor and I heard shouting in the corridor past midnight, which made it hard to relax. The staff were lovely overall, but the place didn’t feel as clean as before. In the room, a few of the smaller lights weren’t working, and everything felt a bit old. The towels/robes were also quite scratchy, and overall it just wasn’t as cosy as I remembered. The spa was really nice and the staff there were the best!!
landmark appeal, but the rooms feel dated. The grounds are genuinely beautiful and worth the trip alone. The reception area with that massive fireplace is impressive—it’s the kind of space that justifies a Fairmont stay. The rooms are what you’d expect from an older property: smallish, dated finishes. There’s a funky smell throughout the hotel that reads like mold, which is hard to overlook. Service was courteous and helpful. The pool is amazing, and the kids’ playroom is a solid addition for days when you’re stuck inside. If you’re coming for the setting and the experience rather than modern accommodations, you’ll get what you came for.
Totally enjoyed my stay here. The hotel is beautiful, and I really love the wooden buildings. It felt like staying in a cozy wood house, which made the experience unique and relaxing. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The only small issue was that the room didn’t include a few basic hotel amenities such as water bottles and slippers, and there were some insects around the light. Other than that, everything was great and I was happy staying here.
When planning a quick birthday weekend adventure, I had planned on staying at The Queen Elizabeth and Le Château Laurier then returning home to Toronto. However, one of the reservation agent alerted me to Le Château Montebello and its relative proximity to Ottawa BUT that it is the world’s largest log cabin! Given how I tend to be, according to many as they breath a sign of relief, rather “one of a kind” so this discovery seemed the like the perfect place to celebrate my birthday and wrap the weekend and it definitely was the right decision. The experience was incredibly memorable made possible in part by the actions and attention to detail made by the Fairmont team…including Vic (whom my two pups were ecstatic to say hi to). Fairmont is nothing if not consistent in the level of service provided to guests regardless of property - which is why whether through work or for my own time, Fairmont is where I prefer to stay when traveling.
This is an hotel that you can go just to be there. All the activities are there you can have so much fun without getting out of the hotel grounds.
We stayed here with Volvo Canada. I would like first to mention that the staff here were very friendly and passionate about their place of work. I have not experienced this in a while. The breakfast buffet might be the best one I’ve seen in North America; it would compare to something you would see in Europe at high-end hotels. Well worth every penny. The pool has a certain Aurora that would be impossible to replicate today. The only negative parts are that the rooms feel dated, I understand it’s a wooden building, and it has nothing to do with it being old. I would rather have something more vintage than something that looks and feels like it’s from the 80s.
Service around the bar was not always easy, but it was lovely sitting in front of a roaring fire. Beautiful grounds with walking paths. Great dinner and brunch the next day. It would be really nice if there was a way to avoid standing in line for ages before - even though we had reservations we were told everyone has to do the line. The room was very hot and the heat did not seem adjustable.
Great place, we’ve been coming here for 25 years. Unfortunately, having dogs barking beside our room all night and again near the fireplace took away from the relaxing weekend we were hoping for. Very disappointing.
We ate at Nymark and were not overly impressed with the food nor the service. The food was lukewarm warm, and for the price the flavours and selection were a bit lacklustre. We had heard good things about Nymark. Perhaps it was an off day. The desserts were the only redeeming thing for the evening. The server seemed dismissive and took a while to make his way back to our table throughout the dinner.
We recently organized a very exclusive couples relationship retreat at Calumet | Falls - Retreat & Spa just a few minutes away on the same road. Some guests stayed at the bottom of the highest private waterfalls in Canada, while others stayed at the Château Montebello. Both were incredible destinations and everyone was deeply impressed. The setting created the perfect environment for couples to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with each other. The natural beauty, privacy, and attention to detail made the entire experience truly unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to host such a meaningful retreat at the bottom of the falls. I will be returning to both places with my partner next month!
Stayed in Montebello for a few days over Spring Break, and as always the service was great. Lots of activities and things to do (curling, sliding, swimming, game room, etc), and when you want to relax and take it easy the large fire place in the main area is just the best. Tried the restaurant for supper for the first time and was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was. Highly recommend
Everything was great from the room to the food. I really enjoyed walking on the cross country ski trails and the setting is amazing. I also participated in a curling bonspiel and just love the facilities.
Fairmont Le Château Montebello is truly a one-of-a-kind place. Walking into the lobby and seeing the massive six-sided fireplace immediately sets the tone — warm, inviting, and steeped in history. As the oldest log cabin hotel in the world, the architecture alone makes it worth the trip.
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