157 Clarence Street, K1N 5P7 Ottawa, Canada
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ByWard Blue Inn Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to ByWard Blue Inn on Clarence Street, you immediately get that “I’m in the right place” feeling. The three-star property sits right in the heart of Ottawa’s most vibrant neighborhood, and honestly, the location alone makes this place worth considering. I mean, when couples are rating the location 9.4 out of 10, you know there’s something special about where you’ll be staying. The building itself has that welcoming, unpretentious vibe that makes you feel at home rather than intimidated.

Location & Neighborhood

Here’s what you need to know about staying in the ByWard Market area — it’s absolutely the best spot to base yourself in Ottawa. You’re literally steps away from the famous ByWard Market building with its weekend farmers’ market and year-round shops. The Rideau Canal is just a short walk south, and Parliament Hill? You can actually walk there in about ten minutes. What I love most is how the neighborhood comes alive at different times — bustling with office workers during lunch, transforming into this lively dining and nightlife scene in the evenings. Plus, having private parking at the hotel is honestly a godsend in this part of the city where street parking can be a real headache.

The Rooms

The accommodations strike that perfect balance between comfortable and practical. You’re not getting bells and whistles here, but everything you actually need is thoughtfully provided. The rooms are clean and well-maintained, with that cozy feel that makes you want to settle in after a day of exploring the city. What impressed me most was the attention to detail — little things like good lighting for reading and enough outlets for all your devices. The beds are genuinely comfortable, which matters more than fancy amenities when you’re planning to walk all over Ottawa during the day.

Breakfast Experience

The breakfast setup here is actually quite impressive for a three-star property. They offer both continental and American options in a buffet style, which means you can grab something quick if you’re rushing out to catch the Changing of the Guard, or sit down for a proper meal before exploring the museums. I was particularly pleased to see gluten-free options available — that’s not always a given at hotels in this price range. The breakfast area gets busy around 8 AM, so if you’re an early riser, you’ll have more space and selection.

Why Guests Love It

What keeps people coming back to ByWard Blue Inn is that rare combination of prime location and genuine value. You’re paying three-star prices to stay in what’s arguably the best neighborhood in Ottawa — that 9.4 location score isn’t just a number, it reflects how much easier this makes your entire trip. Whether you’re here for business meetings downtown, romantic dinners in the Market, or tourist attractions like the National Gallery, everything feels walkable from here. It’s the kind of place where the staff knows the neighborhood well enough to point you toward the best poutine or tell you which nights have live music at the local pubs.

ByWard Blue Inn Accommodations

AccommodationDetails
Twin Room with Balcony2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
Queen Room with Balcony1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
Standard Queen Room1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
Two-Bedroom Suite2 × 1 large double bed and 2 × 1 double bed for 4 adults, 1 child
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Reviews of ByWard Blue Inn

  • Laura from Spain (9/10)

    Very comfortable, central and clean. Breakfast was great!

  • Anita from Canada (8/10)

    Original art throughout. Very pleasant place to stay!

  • Marlene from Canada (9/10)

    Located centrally to many services and attractions and many are walkable.
    The hot and cold choices for breakfast offer variety. The staff are friendly and helpful.

  • Tammy from Canada (9/10)

    The location was perfect for exploring the byward market, clear direction to parliament.
    The staff were exceptional.
    The little kitchenette was a bonus.

  • Jac1976 from Canada (8/10)

    Everything except the bad service at reception.
    No hello, no thanks, no good night, no smile. Only that hard face where you feel it, you're interfering with my YB video watching

  • Katarzyna from Canada (9/10)

    Great place, walking distance to shops and attractions, great breakfast, clean room! Highly recommended!!!

  • Lynn from Canada (8/10)

  • Brenda from Canada (9/10)

    Perfect location close to everything
    Breakfast was excellent
    Nice variety of food

  • Sellers from Canada (9/10)

    Breakfast was excellent, loved the croissants, the hot part as well (meat, eggs, potatoes.)

  • Cheikh from Canada (9/10)

    Staff was very friendly and helpful.
    The breakfast was good and of higher quality. Room and bathroom was large and clean. I was pleasantly surprised !

Surroundings

What’s nearby:

  • Stanley Park: 1.6 km
  • Lansdowne Park: 4.1 km
  • Currency Museum: 1.7 km
  • Museum of Nature: 2.6 km
  • Major’s Hill Park: 600 m
  • National War Memorial: 1 km
  • Billings Estate Museum: 5 km
  • National Gallery of Canada: 750 m
  • Arboretum Experimental Farm: 7 km
  • Hiawatha Park & Conservation Area: 16 km

Restaurants & cafes:

  • Restaurant Atari: 50 m
  • Cafe/bar Nuvo Lounge: 100 m
  • Restaurant Burger Factory: 100 m

Top attractions:

  • Peace Tower: 1.2 km
  • Rideau Hall: 2.2 km
  • Rideau Locks: 900 m
  • Bytown Museum: 1 km
  • Laurier House: 1.4 km
  • Canadian War Museum: 3 km
  • Confederation Square: 1.1 km
  • Canadian Museum of History: 1.8 km
  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum: 5 km
  • National Museum of Science and Technology: 7 km

Natural beauty:

  • Lake McKay Lake: 3.4 km

Ski lifts:

  • Skyline: 17 km
  • Pineault I: 20 km
  • Pineault II: 20 km

Public transport:

  • Train Bayview: 3.8 km
  • Metro Lyon Station: 2.1 km
  • Metro Parliament/Parlement: 1.5 km
  • Train Ottawa Train Station: 4.4 km

Closest airports:

  • Smiths Falls-Montague Airport: 75 km
  • Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport: 11 km

Facilities

Ski:

  • Ski storage

View:

  • Inner courtyard view
  • Garden view

Bedroom:

  • Linen
  • Wardrobe or closet

General:

  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • Mosquito net
  • Wake-up service
  • Hardwood or parquet floors
  • Heating
  • Car hire
  • Lift
  • Fan
  • Family rooms
  • Ironing facilities
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Iron
  • Wake up service/Alarm clock
  • Room service

Kitchen:

  • Dining table
  • Coffee machine
  • Tumble dryer
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kitchenette

Parking:

  • Parking garage
  • Accessible parking

Bathroom:

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Bath or shower
  • Slippers
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Bathrobe
  • Hairdryer
  • Bath
  • Shower

Outdoors:

  • Terrace
  • Garden

Wellness:

  • Sauna

Activities:

  • Bike tours
  • Walking tours
  • Cycling
  • Skiing

Living Area:

  • Dining area
  • Seating Area
  • Desk

Food & Drink:

  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Snack bar
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Tea/Coffee maker

Accessibility:

  • Upper floors accessible by elevator

Room Amenities:

  • Drying rack for clothing

Languages spoken:

  • English
  • French

Cleaning services:

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ironing service
  • Dry cleaning

Safety & security:

  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Smoke alarms
  • Security alarm
  • Key access
  • 24-hour security
  • Safety deposit box

Media & Technology:

  • Flat-screen TV
  • Cable channels
  • Telephone
  • TV

Reception services:

  • Invoice provided
  • Luggage storage
  • 24-hour front desk

Business facilities:

  • Fax/photocopying
  • Business centre
  • Meeting/banquet facilities
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House Rules at ByWard Blue Inn

Pets:

  • Pets are not allowed.

Check-in:

  • From 16:00
  • Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in

Check-out:

  • Until 12:00

No age restriction:

  • There is no age requirement for check-in

Cancellation/prepayment:

  • Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required option.

Guest reviews

Staff:

9.1

Comfort:

9.0

Location:

9.6

Free WiFi:

8.7

Facilities:

8.7

Cleanliness:

9.1

Value for money:

8.9