Cheteau Laurier

Venue Guide · Downtown Ottawa

Château Laurier — Ottawa’s castle,
and everything that comes with it

Turrets, grand ballrooms, 18-foot ceilings, and Parliament Hill right outside the window. Some venues set a mood — this one sets a standard.

There are venues that look beautiful, and then there’s Château Laurier — a building that’s been part of Ottawa’s skyline since 1912 and still stops people in their tracks. The French château architecture, the limestone façade, the turrets overlooking Parliament Hill — before a single guest walks through the door, the setting has already done something most venues spend a fortune trying to achieve.

Inside, you have real choices. The Ballroom fits up to 800 guests under Renaissance-style ceilings and ornate chandeliers — the kind of room where a grand entrance actually feels grand. The Adam Room (often called the Wedgwood Room) is oval-shaped with sculpted ceilings, better suited for something more intimate. The Laurier Room sits somewhere in between, with Roman columns and warm cream and burgundy tones that photograph beautifully in almost any light.

For us, what makes Château Laurier stand out is the texture everywhere you look — carved moldings, mirrored walls, chandeliers that cast the warmest light — and then just outside, the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill waiting for portraits. You never have to go far to find something worth photographing.