Fancy a getaway but don't have time or cashola for a big trip? I hear you. Planning (and saving) for a vacation can be tough, so I'm always on the lookout for mini-trips here in our own backyard. Recently I discovered the Brookstreet Hotel, a new-to-me escape right here in Ottawa.
Brookstreet Hotel is located on Legget Drive in north Kanata, close to the Canadian Tire Centre (they're the official hotel of the Ottawa Senators). The property boasts gorgeous views of the neighbouring Marshes Golf Club, with the Ottawa River in the distance.
Despite its prestigious CAA Four-Diamond designation, this chic hotel ain't snooty. We were welcomed by cheerful staff at the reception desk, who gave us the scoop on the on-site Starbucks and surprised us with a room on the hotel's top floor. We could hardly believe the view!
Our suite was spacious and tastefully decorated with a massive king bed, a table/workstation complete with desk chair and love seat, an arm chair, flatscreen TV hidden in a pretty armoire, and a beautiful (AKA huge!) bathroom:
We were celebrating my hubby's birthday that weekend and they surprised us with sumptuous welcome treats and a handwritten card. I love the personal touch of a handwritten note -- it's so thoughtful, don't you think?
For dinner we popped downstairs to Brookstreet's on-site Perspectives Restaurant, headed by well-known local chef Clifford Lyness. Can I just say how much I love staying and dining under one roof? No coats! No boots! No travel time! Perfection.
Our server Roch was a fabulous guy, informative and professional, yet super friendly and seemed genuinely interested in how we liked our meals. Hubby and I LOVE food so we both opted for the table d'hôte, which gets you a starter, main, and dessert for $39. Quite a steal.
When it was time to pick a wine, Roch arrived with a handy iPad wine list! It was packed with helpful info like pricing, suggested pairings, and tasting notes, and with just a tap you could send yourself all the details of the wine you picked. The wines were well-priced (lots in the $40-$60 range) and we ate til we thought we'd burst (I nearly did).
After dinner we headed next door to Brookstreet's Options Jazz Lounge, which features FANTASTIC live jazz 7 nights a week. I'm a big jazz fan so this was a real treat! The place was packed; I was thrilled to see so much support for our local jazz scene.
Click the image below for a little taste of the night's tantalizing jazz:
The next morning we attacked the Sunday brunch buffet with gusto. For $32.95/person, you get access to a truly dizzying array of food, from waffles to southern pulled pork, to glazed salmon, to omelettes, to sushi, and even table-side eggs benedict at no extra cost. And a massive charcuterie spread. Fancy a drink? For just $2 more you can add a mimosa!
This is quite simply the best value for any gourmet brunch I've found in the Ottawa area.
Here's a glimpse at less than half of the cheese offering:
Did I mention dessert's included too? The dessert table was piled high with mini everything, so I grabbed as much as I could handle...
Crème brûlée.
Pecan pie.
Cheesecake.
More cheesecake.
Cream puff thingy.
After brunch, we eased into our food comas with a stop at Brookstreet's Au Naturel Spa. I'd booked us for a couples massage and both hubby and I were impressed with beautiful surroundings, the quality of the RMTs (good, strong pressure!), and the fluffy robes.
After our treatments, more surprises: out came glasses of wine and plates of macarons! Can I just move in? Please?
Book any spa treatment and you'll get access to Brookstreet's beautiful fitness facility and saltwater pool, even if you're not an overnight guest at the hotel. You can make a day of it! We forgot our swimsuits (derp) but the pool and hot tub looked goooorrrrgeous.
Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Brookstreet and are already thinking of:
1. Going back. Now please!
2. Giving their packages as Christmas gifts. I love giving experiences instead of stuff!
win brunch at brookstreet
I enjoyed Brookstreet so much that I want to give you a taste of this awesome local spot -- literally. I'm giving away a sumptuous Sunday brunch for two at Perspectives! Brunch includes evvvvvveerrrryyything you see here and I highly recommend wearing stretchy pants.
Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below and complete as many entries as you like for extra chances to win. Contest closes November 30, 2016, at 11:59pm, and I'll announce the winner shortly after.
Bonne chance et bon appétit!
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