DoubleTree by Hilton Ottawa Downtown

The room was quite comfortable, and the bedding was just right. Overall, the hotel felt pretty good. Its location, right in the heart of the city, is particularly convenient for transportation and city walks. The front desk staff were very enthusiastic, always offering warm walnut pie, which made up for the slight inconvenience of the lobby renovation. They say it'll be finished in May, and looking at the renderings, the newly renovated lobby seems promising. There's one slightly unpleasant incident I'd like to mention. We booked a room with breakfast, and on the first morning, we went to the restaurant. After registering our room number at the entrance, the server immediately asked if we'd like coffee or tea. I asked for a double espresso, and she cheerfully arranged our seating while talking, which felt quite good. However, as our meal was nearing its end, the server presented a bill saying the coffee was an extra charge. This approach felt a bit disingenuous, and it's the first time I've encountered such a thing. I was a bit unhappy and immediately asked the server why they didn't inform us upfront when we were at the entrance. In our usual way of thinking, coffee with breakfast is perfectly normal. Seeing our displeasure, and noticing the $10 CAD tip we left on the table, the server beamed and said she would take care of the coffee bill, implying it wouldn't be charged. However, three days later, it still appeared on the bill at check-out. Although it was only $4 CAD, that's not the point. I complained about it at the front desk, and they also agreed that such a practice was inappropriate and offered to re-print the bill and refund me. I didn't want the hassle and declined. I'm only mentioning this in hopes that they won't resort to what frankly feels like a deceptive tactic in the future. Perhaps it was an individual server's action, but it ultimately affects the Hilton group's image. Because of this, I'd also like to offer a friendly tip to future guests.