Fine if you’re going to meet people, or don’t need to sleep. Honestly really dirty, smelly, and loud — the people were nice to chat with, but don’t expect to sleep at all. The sound transfers between all the rooms, and people will be in the main rooms all night. Mold in the bathroom! Also, my window wouldn’t lock, which was concerning since I was on the first floor and I didn’t feel safe. For the price (almost comparable to a hotel), I thought it would be nicer, or at least cleaner

Don't waste money here. Avoid rude staff in a dirty, old hostel. LOCATION - 5-10 minute walk to town, but, right in middle of a neighbourhood full of homeless people. Signs on the door tell guests not to open door to strangers "for your own safety". Also next door to what's probably a crack den. PRICE - too expensive for what you get. STAFF - unfriendly & mostly useless. When I checked in, the short, dark-skinned girl with curly hair was immediately giving me the evil eye. I guess the guy at the computer was in training, but it's nice to be told that to avoid thinking staff are just incompetent. I asked a question & had 4 staff telling me contradictory things; two weren't even on duty, but just hanging around at reception. I asked a simple question about work for accommodation to the short girl, & she couldn't give me any info at all & referred me to the manager. She just kept saying "I don't know" & didn't care & wasn't apologetic about being entirely useless. I asked another guy a few days later about mail deliveries. Maybe his English just wasn't good, but you should at least know the words you'll need in your job. He couldn't tell me anything either & referred me to the manager. The staff live there & don't seem to talk to any guests except for work. One German girl was nice enough. The curly-haired girl often played unpleasant/offensive music too loudly. It didn't set a nice vibe. One night, I needed to wash a bowl 10 minutes before the kitchen closed & asked the short, curly-haired girl if I could, because the "closed" sign was up. She barked "no" at me, & when I pointed out that closing time was in 10 minutes, she told me I'd have to come back after it opened. No one was even cleaning; she was making food. She was quite aggressive & horrible to be around. She was loud & obnoxious when talking & laughing with other staff. The owner was nice. Many people cancelled their stay early because of rude staff. CLEANLINESS - They tell everyone to take off their shoes at the door. It'd be okay if the place were clean with new carpets, but it's old, drab, & dirty. The kitchen is only closed for 30 minutes a day for cleaning. They have a compost bucket and recycling bins which is great. They don't even have duvet covers. I had to ask for a second sheet to put on top of it. I saw staff drop the duvets on the floor to fold them. The sheets are OLD & in dire need of replacement. I had to ask for a new set of sheets because the first ones were covered in hair. The second set wasn't any better. There are rats everywhere outside. I never saw one inside, but they were coming up the back stairs. I never saw the fridge being cleaned or the bedroom floors mopped, or even hoovered for that matter; there was a lot of dust in the corners; there was a small desk fan caked in old dust & grime. The couches are falling apart. You sit down & sink into them. I only once saw staff spraying disinfectant on the cushions. They should use covers & wash them regularly. There was a razor on top of the bathroom mirror for over a week. One day, water started pouring from the second floor (bathroom, probably) into the hallway right beside the kitchen, office, & reception. The curly-haired girl started screaming "eww" & "I don't know what to do". I watched another guest put a bucket under the main leak. A male staff member grabbed some towels while the girl just got in the way. SECURITY - not bad. The lockers are a decent size, and it felt safe enough, despite homeless people asking for a bed (they were turned down). BEDROOMS - the bunks are pretty good: you can sit up straight on the bottom one, but the foam mattresses are uncomfortable and I woke up with a sore back consistently. A couple of rooms have their own balcony. The rooms were hot and uncomfortable, the lounge too. ENTERTAINMENT - pretty good. They had board games, books, a TV, and a PlayStation.

The location is ok, close to Byward Market, and the clients were overall nice. This place has locks for sale for lockers (good quality, but not so many), 5 dollars each lock, and towels for rent for 2 dollars. I was surprised to see we could cook there and leave food inside the fridge. There was also free coffee and free tea.The Internet connection was good as well. Two situations made my experience bad: 1) dust: as soon as I got in, I felt my throat sore, and my nose blocked. I later found copious amounts of dust in the window shutters, ventilation fans, and radiators. I had to cover the radiator with a rented towel to be able to sleep at night. There is were also spiderwebs in the living room. I'm attaching photos. 2) I slept one first night in the women's bedroom, then I wanted to prolong my stay one more night. The older man at reception said there were no available beds in that room for that night and he tried to up sell a private bedroom. I didn't feel like spending that amount, so I choose a 4-bed bedroom. As soon as I got there, I found a gentleman that had been checking me out since the night before, making me feel uncomfortable. It was just the 2 of us, so I wasn't going to stay there. I went to reception to ask for another room, there was a young girl there, and I started saying "I know you don't have any bed available at the women's room, but..." and I was interrupted, as there were beds free for that night. I even said "maybe someone cancelled" and the girl shook her head meaning no. She was as life saver. I went straight to the 4 bed bedroom get the my stuff, and moved back to to my old bedroomm,,, that man was again staring at the me😅. Overall, it's ok for a night or two, but not for longer stays.

Neso room: Feel not so secured since the window's curtain is not totally black out. Window doesn't have lock so someone can actually open it and see what happens in the room. Location is convenient and bathroom is clean

I paid to up grade into a room with air conditioning and the bloody thing wouldn't even work well for our tiny 4 person room. It was the worst sleep! I checked out a day early and they didn't offer to refund the following night, even though I left at 7am. It was so dirty there too and everything is outdated. Terrible bunk beds. I'm extremely disappointed

Do not go there unless you're desperate. Very durty

I highly recommend this place if you want to stay for 2-3 days in Ottawa.This is in downtown. Room and bed are really comfortable and washroom is also clean and neat. Staff is very helpful and great. Also this has a Kitchen and storage facility, which is very useful for everyone. One point according to me needs to improve is wifi connectivity,because it's really low sometime.Overall it's a nice place to leave.

It’s a small room actually very small one and they have clean shared washroom. But the pathetic thing is that this single room cost around 88$ which was mentioned 75$ during online checkout. They didn’t mention the tax and other charges clearly. This is a horrible thing. This room isn’t worthy of 88$ . And one more problem is that if someone uses the washroom at night you will feel maritime torpedo is passing by. That was hilarious. I could not sleep properly. Otherwise the bed was clean. No bed bugs. The room is approximately 7ft*8ft. The receiption lady was very helpful. You can have weed in the balcony if you want

Easy booking process and check in. Location is excellent. This is the second time i have stayed here. It has a fully equipped kitchen, fridge (to keep your own personal food items), and access to a very small freezer(that really needs defrosting). There were a variety of room options so the coed forms are great if traveling with a mixed group. Some rooms had sink/toilet right in room. They also allow you to store your stuff before check-in or after check-out if you require that service. It is at your own risk, however I used it twice without incident. Some dorms have balconies. Bring a towel or expect to rent one x $2 They provide sheets, pillowcases, pillow, and blankets. Best part… location within minutes to the heart of it all .

I am only writing this review to say that I was charged twice for my stay and had to contact them to reverse one of the charges, which they did. Normally, I wouldn't bother writing a review about that, but while I was at the front desk there was a female traveler that was experiencing a similar issue. She paid for her stay online, but was told by one of the staff that she still needed to pay. They charged her a second time and processed a refund for one of the charges. Just be sure to check your statement a few days after checking out. I made a reservation for 2 nights and after making my reservation online, I was told that I would be staying one night in one room, and the second night in another room. Not a big deal. I checked out of my first room at noon, and I was worried that I'd be in limbo with my bags until check-in for the second room, but luckily the second room was ready at that time. Affordable, but simple accommodation. Walking distance to bars and restaurants. It is located in a neighborhood with a noticeable amount of unhoused people. I don't regret staying here, but I honestly wouldn't recommend to a friend and I will not be staying here again. *Google has a two star rating as 'OK', which is what I honestly thought. It wasn't poor, but wasn't good.

Stayed in many many hostels all over Europe, the US and Canada and this wasn’t one of the best. The owners/workers discuss guests like they’re an inconvenience to them - if they don’t reply to an email before 10pm cancel their booking - some of us don’t have internet access all the time! Wi-Fi does NOT work. Safari/chrome and certain apps are blocked. When brought up to the staff they did not care. Beds are INCREDIBLY wobbly, if the person above me moved once, I’d wake. Only 4 bathrooms for the 45? People staying here. You have to take off your shoes but the floors are dirty. Thank god I took crocs. Lacks a hostel vibe.

The place is well maintained and there is a common area for spending time with lots of games and books, they even have a guitar to play. The rooms are like different divisions in three floors and each room have bunker beds in it. The WiFi speed was good I was able to connect to it and work remotely. Suitable to single travellers not that good for family as I don’t know if they have private rooms. Thank you 😃.

I've held hostels in very high regard, especially Backpackers as a Global Standard but Ottawa Backpackers should be ashamed. Horrible place; as Ottawa locals we are not welcome. Very distressing as well that it's mandatory to show identification; so for someone who happens to have enough for an overnight stay, but either does not have identification for any number of reasons or prefers their privacy, it's staggering. The people were immediately unkind and shallow, easily agitated, rude and unaccomodating. Very unwelcoming. And Nota Bena there's no single sex dorms for anyone who needs a safe place at night. Very distressing and for the Nations Capital, disgusting.

Worst hostel experience I’ve had. Mostly older men staying there. Everything was falling apart and the place felt like a massive fire hazard. My bed was hard and I didn’t sleep because so many people in my dorm were sick, coughing and sneezing. Slept better on the couch in the rec room.

A memorable experience at the backpackers Inn hostel Review: I just had an incredible stay at the backpackers Inn hostel, and I can't recommend this place highly enough! From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the friendly and helpful staff who went out of their way to make my stay enjoyable. The backpackers Inn hostel offers comfortable and clean accommodation. The rooms are spacious and well-maintained, with comfortable beds and modern facilities. Additionally, the friendly and relaxed atmosphere allowed me to meet travelers from around the world and make new friendships. The hostel facilities are also excellent. The shared kitchen is well-equipped, which made it easy for me to prepare my meals. There is also a welcoming common area where I could relax, play board games, and chat with other travelers. The location of the backpackers Inn hostel is ideal. It is situated in the heart of the city, close to major tourist attractions, restaurants, and public transportation. I was able to easily explore the city and enjoy everything it had to offer. Finally, I want to emphasize the excellent value for money this hostel provides. The rates are affordable and competitive compared to other accommodation options in the area. Considering the level of comfort, facilities, and location, it truly is an unbeatable choice. In conclusion, if you're looking for an authentic, friendly, and affordable experience during your travels, I highly recommend the backpackers Inn hostel. I had a memorable stay and can't wait to return on my next visit to the area!

Came up to Ottawa for an event with my daughter, needed a place to rest our heads that was decent price. Bed wasn’t really comfortable but it was ok for the price. I was on budget and felt safe and secure. The price was right for two nights. I would def stay there again

Better than expected! I had the 4 beds dorm and it was nice. The staff was friendly and everything was clean! I recommend it!

Great place with their history on the wall🥰 One bad apple…besides that, it felt safe to spend the night. Friendly & informative.

Very old building. The floor is creaking and the beds are not comfortable. Lots of homeless people in the street. Very very small. Felt like someone turned his own house into a hostel.

Very old house. The attention of staff and owners is not nice. They are not rude but neither friendly, probably because they live in the hostel too. No options for breakfast. And one annoying rule to remove your shoes inside the house. I wouldn't come back.

The good things first: It is near Byward market, has functioning amenities and the Spanish, French and German staff was good. Now to the bad things: The place is old, a pipe burst when I was staying there, it isn't clean, the female American staff was rude and acted as it was her place.(talking very loudly all the time, not cleaning the place, being annoyed when people were sitting "on her seat" in the common area.) Manager didn't care and didn't act. Better stay at the barefoot hostel or saintlo, would only recommend to my greatest enemy.

Really nice place to stay for a solo travelle, great dorm style beds. The only problem i had that individual bunks didn't have curtains for that your personal space feeling

This was an excellent place to stay for the price! People who were there were friendly for the most part a couple of rude French people but most were okay! Able to cook your food in kitchen as long as you can wait your turn, the bathrooms are clean and the place is tidy, free wi-fi TV downstairs lots of decks and porches to sit on, the neighborhood is a bit of a shambles and lots of drugged up people on the steps across the road but kept to them selfs for the most part!

The only reason I booked this hostel was because the jail hostel was closed until the spring. Let's just say that you get what you paid for. Bathrooms were musty, beds were uncomfortable. The only good thing I can say is that it was located near Byward. I would never come back.

Cleanliness mediocre. Unpleasant Manager (owner?). Missing hostel vibe, I am an avid traveller. Beds are squeeky. Stay only if you have no alternative and are looking for a transactional time

You won't be allowed to see the room and beds or even enter the premise before 1 pm. Very inconvenient. I went with bags to check out the place and hopefully check in but the lady didn't even invite inside to exchange a conversation during a terribly cold weather

Great location,right across downtown! Good staff behavior, well maintained kitchen and living space. Rooms are fairly good too! I found the washroom neat and clean! Highly recommend this place!

The main staff member was horrible. He was rude, and brash and swore at me behind my back as soon as it was turned. I had paid in advance and they came and woke me up and accused me of not paying and harassed me like I was some kind of deadbeat. There is absolutely zero that was professional about the main staff member. Swearing at clientele and talking badly about them behind their back is unacceptable. I do not know what this gentleman's problem is but I get the impression he does not have much respect for others. The card reader did not work the first night and they almost refused to let me stay. When I went for my check in before closing time nobody was there and nobody would answer the phone. They also do not accept Canadian passports as valid ID. What kind of backpacker hostel does not accept passports? The place was almost empty and they were treating me like somehow I was taking up valuable space. They refused to allow me to put my bag in storage while I went to buy a buss pass. They tried to kick me out while I was booking my transportation to my next destination. They want you out the second your booking ends, even if they are almost empty. Totally unfriendly towards travelers, digital nomads, and backpackers. I have stayed at hostels all over Canada and this was the only negative experience. This place is run like an episode of the Looney Tunes. I do not know if they have a headquarters, but I intend to report them.

Best location in the city. Walking distance to everything. A+

Quaint, clean and well-organized. The staff are also very welcoming. Best place to stay in Ottawa if you are on a budget in a very central location. Just 5 minutes walk to the Byward Market and all the actions.

This was a pretty nice hostel, it had a nice homey feel and it was nostalgic for me(boarding school). I only stayed one night but it was a cool experience...also that shawarma place by the hostel....you gotta check em out.

The hostel is disgusting. It is not safe I booked a room with 4beds.Two people slept above me.A total 5 people was in the room during the night. I did not pay for this and for the first time I experienced that there were more people in the room than there should have been. I sent a written complaint because in the morning no one was at reception and I did not receive a response. The bathroom is shared with several rooms and it was terribly dirty.this is mine first bad review .

I had the pleasure ro spend with weeks in this hostel. I was warmly welcomed, amenities were numerous, location was quite convenient with pubs, stores, transit and tourist interests. But the one most important thing that would keep me coming back was the staff. Helpful, super friendly, and altogether loving folks, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place. A home away from home

Amazing staff, awesome guests, comfortable, affordable, free coffee & tea, locker service, BEST location, clean facilities!! l had such a great experience, l would definitely return for another adventure, and recommend to anyone!

I just spent one night there and the service was great. Courteous staff, tidy room ready for me and the bathroom was clean. Everything I needed for that night and morning was there, and for a very affordable price. Will recommend 100% 👌

Good for the price, except the wifi was not very strong on the top floor. It worked great from the main floor though and they had some desks there to do work. They have luggage storage and free coffee+tea, which are helpful.

Perfectly located at downtown Ottawa, the OBI (Ottawa Backpackers Inn) is a perfect place to stay, especially when on a budget. Everything is managed as you would expect from a hostel but even better. As long as everyone cleans up after themselves & nobody gets mad if it's forgotten sometimes: Everything runs beautifully well & smooth. The bed I got was in the 'North America' room. It was very comfortable and the sheets I got were clean and let me sleep well. The check-in process was easy and enjoyable. Every single bathroom I had been using was super clean & nicely furnished. Hot water supply always warmed up really quickly. The kitchen offers everything you can imagine to need. Including a well-lit, big fridge. I was overall satisfied and my expectations were even exceeded. Unfortunately I only had time to stay for a single night this time. Hopefully I will be back soon. Thank you! 🫶🏼💎🌟❤️

The hostel is located in an old house but overall the rooms, washrooms and kitchen are ok. The staff is extremely nice and welcoming. However, the beds make a lot of noise when you move which can be uncomfortable when you are trying to sleep. Also, they have bed bugs.

Amazing experience at this hostel! Staff is super friendly and it's a house that gives you this homey feeling, with a living room & kitchen. Met some wonderful ppl, would definitely recommend !

A guy working here told me he's channelling princess Diana and he's the king of the world. The next day he came into the living room and sprayed strong bleach all over the furniture with 2 people inside and all windows closed. And something about "pure blood" I don't know like, other than that guy, people are pretty friendly.

I would like to refer this Inn to everyone, it a budget Inn in Ottawa city centre. It’s a perfect Inn with good environment and administration. Free wifi, coffee and tea. You will be given a bedsheet, cover sheet and pillow with a key to your room. Only your roommates can enter your room and you can lock your belongings in locker. (theft chances are zero %) Administration is perfect and maintains whole Inn clean and tidy, I really like the person there.

Two old, rundown houses The location is in one of the worst drug/homeless areas in Ottawa, even though in walking distance to Byward Market, museums, and the Parliament. One good thing was that the staff was polite, the young lady from Frankfurt, Germany was very friendly. The bathroom and the toilet were well cleaned. But there was not a single hook where you can hang your belongings. AND: This bathroom had to be shared by about twenty people... women and men - Rooms are extremely small and musty, and barely any space to place clothes and suitcases - I got a wrong WiFi password from the receptionist, tried for hours to get an Internet connection - Fridge did not work, was totally warm, and only the freezer worked - Microwave was "out of order" in one kitchen - No window screens anywhere - which means windows had to be locked during warm weather in order to avoid mosquitos - Furniture looks like resourced from a garbage dump and so was the sleeping pillow - Bedding was made out of cheap plastic, and the mattress was very thin - Scared of bed bugs... Never again in this one-star place! But: you get what you pay for

Dirty washroom with mold. Rooms not soundproof. No heating in the room lol - there was a plug-in radiator, but I was afraid it might cause fire at night. Not much daylight in the room - view covered by the terrace above.

Great hostel! Fantastic vibes, the staff are so helpful for settling into the hostel and navigating Ottawa. All the other guests were also friendly and the common spaces are set up well for mingling while also allowing privacy in bedrooms. There's a bunch of brochures and maps for things to do in the city. I would return to here in a heartbeat! Adore the old buildings, rich in history and the bones of the buildings will last forever - the house fits in so well with the surrounding architecture of the area. The hostel has done an excellent job of maintaining the character of the houses but also fitting in hostel rooms. The neighbourhood is a bit dicey due to a homeless population but as a single female traveller, I never felt in danger. A strong no was needed for one person asking for money but otherwise my time went by problem free. The hostel is in a great location which makes avoiding problems easy and also easy to reach the big sites of the nation's capital.

It's the best price for the location right by the main streets, also get a shared kitchen, bathrooms, and choice of sleeping accommodations.

I loved my stay. The staff was amazing and helped me with every question I had. They were extremely friendly and helpful. The check in was easy and quick and without any troubles. The owner is also a cool dude. They had a super comfortable living room and there was always nice music playing from the reception. The kitchen is a super place to meet other travelers and cook. They have everything you need in the kitchen, also free water, coffee and tea for everyone. The water is even filtered. The bathrooms and beds were clean and nice. If you expect hostel standards you'll be amazed by how good this hostel here actually is. I would always come back.