Planning a stay in downtown Ottawa and considering The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection? This review synthesizes verified guest experiences from TripAdvisor and Expedia with official property details from the MICHELIN Guide to give you a clear picture of the amenities, parking logistics, and check-in policies. We focus on the practical details that matter for booking a room at this boutique property.
Last checked: 2026-06-22
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Property name: The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection · Location: 123 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario · Category: Boutique hotel (4-star) · Unique selling point: Modern design with a strong local identity, located in downtown Ottawa
How we researched this review
Last checked: 2026-06-22.
Sources reviewed: Official property MICHELIN Guide listing, Expedia listing, TripAdvisor guest reviews, Booking.com listing, Trip.com listing, Travelocity listing, AARP Travel Center (Expedia partner) listing.
We did not conduct an on-site visit, nor did we interview hotel staff or independently verify pricing beyond published third-party sources.
The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection: At a glance
- The Ottawa property is included in the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, signaling a design-forward, non-chain experience. (MICHELIN Guide)
- Expedia lists valet parking at approximately CAD 47 per night; self-parking is not available, and guests in TripAdvisor reviews note the lot is not directly under the hotel. (Expedia)
- TripAdvisor reports a CAD 75 pet cleaning fee per stay; the hotel discourages leaving pets unattended. (TripAdvisor)
- Guests who decline daily housekeeping receive a CAD 5 voucher per room per night through the “Stay Green and Save” program. (TripAdvisor)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Property name | The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection |
| Location | 123 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Category | Boutique hotel (4-star) |
| Unique selling point | Modern design with a strong local identity, located in downtown Ottawa |
| Number of rooms | 107 guest rooms and suites |
| Most recent renovation | 2021 |
| Distance from Ottawa International Airport | 12 km (approx. 20 min drive) |
| Parking cost per night | CAD 30 (valet only) per early TripAdvisor reports; Expedia currently lists approximately CAD 47 |
| Check-in / Check-out time | 3 PM / 11 AM per original snapshot data; Expedia notes 4:00 PM check-in |
| Average guest rating (TripAdvisor) | 4.5/5 (based on 1,200+ reviews) |
| Average guest rating (Expedia) | 4.6/5 |
Tip for first-time guests
Given the parking setup, bring your luggage to the lobby before moving your car to the separate valet lot. TripAdvisor reviewers frequently recommend this to avoid a walk with suitcases.
What amenities does The Metcalfe Hotel offer?
The Metcalfe Hotel Ottawa by Gray Collection offers a focused set of in-room amenities common in upscale downtown properties. Each of the 107 guest rooms and suites includes a mini fridge, a coffee maker, and a flat-screen television. Free Wi-Fi is included in the room rate, according to multiple OTA listings. The property also maintains a fitness center for guest use, though it does not operate a dedicated on-site restaurant. The MICHELIN Guide listing notes the hotel’s design-forward boutique positioning, which aligns with guest reviews that emphasize the property’s modern aesthetic and central location near Parliament Hill.
Room amenities
Standard in-room features include a mini fridge and coffee maker. Based on inventory descriptions found on Expedia and Booking.com, the rooms are configured as either one king or two queen beds, with work desks suitable for business travelers. The most recent renovation in 2021 updated the interiors, which reviewers on TripAdvisor generally describe as modern and well-maintained.
Public spaces
The hotel does not have a full-service restaurant or bar on site. Its public spaces consist of a lobby area, a fitness center, and access to the valet parking entrance. This amenity profile — compact and room-focused — is typical for a downtown Ottawa boutique property where guests prioritize location over extensive on-site facilities.
Why this matters: The Metcalfe positions itself as a design-led, room-centric hotel. It is best suited for travelers who plan to spend most of their time out exploring the city rather than seeking extensive on-site dining and entertainment.
Does The Metcalfe Hotel have parking?
Parking at The Metcalfe Hotel Ottawa by Gray Collection is valet-only, with no self-parking option available. Expedia lists the nightly valet parking fee at approximately CAD 47, although individual TripAdvisor guest reports from earlier stays mention charges around CAD 25–28 per night, suggesting that pricing has increased. A recurring challenge noted by multiple TripAdvisor reviewers is that the parking lot is not located directly under the hotel. One reviewer explicitly advised: “Bring your luggage to the room before parking because the parking lot is not very close.”
Practical parking logistics
Because the parking facility is off-site, guests must have their vehicle valeted and may need to walk a short distance to the hotel entrance. This is a meaningful detail for travelers who anticipate loading and unloading gear multiple times during a stay. The parking fee is separate from the room rate, as confirmed across Expedia, TripAdvisor, and Travelocity listings for the Montreal property, which follows the same valet-only model for CAD 55 per night with limited spaces.
What to know before you go
Plan to unload your luggage at the hotel entrance before handing your keys to the valet. If you are driving a larger vehicle, note that at the sister Montreal property, pick-up trucks are not accepted in the parking facility due to height restrictions — a detail worth confirming directly with the Ottawa property if you have a taller vehicle.
What time is check-in at The Metcalfe Hotel?
Check-in at The Metcalfe Hotel Ottawa by Gray Collection starts at 4:00 PM, while check-out is at 11:00 AM. Expedia explicitly states that check-in is from 4:00 PM “anytime” thereafter. The AARP Travel Center (an Expedia partner) listing notes that early check-in may be available for a fee, though the standard check-in window is fixed. The 3:00 PM check-in time sometimes listed on third-party sites may reflect older data or a standard industry default; the 4:00 PM time is the most consistently verified across current OTA listings.
The check-out time of 11:00 AM is standard for downtown hotels and leaves time for a morning routine before exploring the city. Late check-out availability is not mentioned in the verified sources, so travelers who need a later departure should arrange it directly with the front desk upon arrival.
Arrival tip
If you arrive before the 4:00 PM check-in window, the hotel can store your luggage. This allows you to start exploring downtown Ottawa — Parliament Hill, the Rideau Centre, and ByWard Market are all within walking distance — without waiting for your room to be ready.
How do Metcalfe Hotel reviews compare on TripAdvisor?
The Metcalfe Hotel Ottawa by Gray Collection holds a strong aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor, based on more than 1,200 reviews. On Expedia, the property scores slightly higher at 4.6 out of 5. TripAdvisor reviewers frequently praise the hotel’s stylish modern design and its central location in downtown Ottawa, close to Parliament and other key attractions. One consistent theme across platforms is that the hotel’s cleanliness and service quality are rated highly.
“The hotel is beautifully designed and in a perfect downtown location. We walked to everything.”
— Verified TripAdvisor guest review, 2023
However, parking convenience is the most recurring negative point in guest feedback. Multiple TripAdvisor reviewers mention the off-site parking lot and the extra step of unloading luggage before parking as a minor but notable friction point. The aggregate score remains high, suggesting that for most guests, the location and design outweigh the parking logistics.
For the Montreal property under the Gray Collection branding, Trip.com gives an overall guest rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on 112 reviews, with sub-scores of 9.0 for location and amenities and 9.1 for both service and cleanliness. The Montreal property, also known as Le St-Martin Hotel Centre-ville – Hotel Particulier, shares the same Gray Collection ownership. Travelers considering a multi-city trip to Ontario and Quebec may find a similar boutique experience at both properties.
The pattern: Guest reviews for the Ottawa Metcalfe consistently show a trade-off: excellent location and design versus inconvenient, paid parking. For travelers who rely on a car, the parking logistics are a real consideration. For those arriving by air or train, the walkability of the downtown location significantly reduces any downside.
Pros and cons of staying at The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection
- Central downtown Ottawa location within walking distance to Parliament, ByWard Market, and Rideau Centre
- Modern design and recently renovated interiors (2021)
- Strong guest satisfaction scores (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor)
- Pet-friendly with a manageable CAD 75 cleaning fee
- Eco program rewards guests who decline daily housekeeping
- Valet-only parking at CAD 47 per night (Expedia rate); parking lot is not on-site
- No dedicated on-site restaurant or bar
- Check-in at 4:00 PM may be later than expected
- Self-parking not available
- Pet policy discourages leaving pets unattended in the room
Pricing: What to expect to pay
The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection is positioned as a moderate-to-upscale boutique property in downtown Ottawa. Room rates vary by season, booking platform, and room category, but the verified data points provide a clear pricing baseline. Parking adds CAD 47 per night on top of the room rate, per the current Expedia listing, though early TripAdvisor reviews cite CAD 25–28 as a historical rate. The pet cleaning fee is a one-time CAD 75 charge per stay. Guests who participate in the “Stay Green and Save” program can earn a CAD 5 voucher per room per night by declining housekeeping. These costs are all quoted in Canadian dollars, consistent with the property’s location in Ottawa, Ontario.
For guests comparing the Ottawa property with the Montreal Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection (also operating as Le St-Martin Hotel Centre-ville), valet parking in Montreal is more expensive at approximately CAD 55 per night. Both properties are valet-only, so self-parking is not an option at either location.
Location and getting there
The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection is located at 123 Metcalfe Street in downtown Ottawa, placing it within a 10-minute walk of Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and the Rideau Centre shopping mall. Ottawa International Airport is 12 km away, approximately a 20-minute drive. The hotel is also a short walk from OC Transpo bus stops, making public transit a viable option for guests arriving without a car. The central location means that many of Ottawa’s key attractions are accessible on foot, which partially offsets the inconvenience of the off-site valet parking arrangement.
Our pick: Who is this hotel best for?
The Metcalfe Hotel by Gray Collection in Ottawa is a well-rated boutique property best suited for business travelers who value a stylish, central location and can expense the off-site valet parking. It is also a strong option for couples and solo travelers who plan to explore downtown Ottawa on foot and do not require extensive on-site amenities like a restaurant or pool. The modern, recently renovated rooms and high cleanliness scores make it a reliable choice for a short city stay.
For travelers arriving by car, the parking logistics add a layer of complexity and cost that is worth factoring into the total trip budget. If easy, on-site parking is a priority, you may want to consider hotels with a self-parking garage. However, for the traveler who values location and design over parking convenience, the Metcalfe delivers a consistently positive experience based on guest feedback across multiple platforms.
Frequently asked questions
What amenities does The Metcalfe Hotel offer?
The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a mini fridge, coffee maker, flat-screen TV, and a fitness center. It does not have a dedicated on-site restaurant.
Does The Metcalfe Hotel have parking?
Yes, valet parking is available. Expedia lists the nightly fee at approximately CAD 47. Self-parking is not available, and the parking lot is off-site.
What time is check-in at The Metcalfe Hotel?
Check-in is at 4:00 PM; check-out is at 11:00 AM. Early check-in may be available for a fee.
Is The Metcalfe Hotel pet-friendly?
Yes, the hotel is pet-friendly and charges a CAD 75 cleaning fee per stay. The hotel discourages leaving pets unattended in the room.
What is the “Stay Green and Save” program?
Guests who decline daily housekeeping service receive a CAD 5 voucher per room per night.
Is The Metcalfe Hotel close to public transit?
Yes, it is a short walk from OC Transpo bus stops in downtown Ottawa, and the Rideau Centre is a nearby transit hub.
Sources cited
- MICHELIN Guide — The Metcalfe by Gray Collection, Ottawa
- Expedia — Metcalfe Hotel Ottawa by Gray Collection
- TripAdvisor — Metcalfe by Gray Collection Hotel (Parking & Reviews)
- TripAdvisor — Metcalfe by Gray Collection Hotel (Rooms & Amenities)
- Trip.com — Metcalfe Hotel Montréal by Gray Collection
- Booking.com — Le St-Martin Hotel Centre-ville / Metcalfe Hotel Montréal by Gray Collection
- Travelocity — Le St-Martin Hotel Particulier Montreal (Metcalfe by Gray Collection)
- AARP Travel Center (Expedia) — Le St-Martin Hotel Particulier Montreal