Is parking available at the property?

Self parking is available on-site for CAD 20.00 per day. Limited parking spaces are offered, and reservations are not required.

Is breakfast offered at the hostel?

Breakfast is available, and guests can enjoy a delicious selection. Specific details about the type of breakfast and serving hours are not provided.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 15:00 until 00:00, and check-out is at 11:00. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request, but additional charges may apply.

What accessibility features are available for guests with disabilities?

The property offers step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities in public areas. Specific details about room accessibility features are not provided.

Where is the hostel located in relation to key landmarks?

The hostel is centrally located in Ottawa, just steps from Rideau Canal and the University of Ottawa. It is approximately 0.1 miles from Rideau Centre and Rideau Mall, and 0.2 miles from Byward Market Square.

What are the policies regarding children at the hostel?

Children are allowed at the property, and guests aged 17 and older can check in. Specific details about age limits for free stays are not provided.

Stay at Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

Average nightly price at Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
January	US$62
February	US$58
March	US$55
April	US$70
May	US$107
June	US$101
July	US$101
August	US$114
September	US$99
October	US$67
November	US$58
December	US$62

What guests think

At Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel, travelers describe a unique stay in a historic former jail with friendly staff, generally very clean spaces, a central, walkable location, a simple free breakfast, and an engaging complimentary jail tour that adds context.

Rooms are converted cells and feel very small, and sound carries widely through the building, so light sleepers may need earplugs. There is no elevator and some guests noted temperature comfort issues or occasional bathroom and maintenance hiccups. Breakfast quality ranges from appreciated to basic. Come for the historic experience and location, not for luxury.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Common spaces like the kitchen and dining areas are widely praised, the free jail tour is a highlight, and on site parking is available for a fee; however, the building lacks an elevator and a few shower area conveniences.

Related guest reviews

10

Oleksandr

16 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice and clean, authentic, very convenient location right in downtown. Single-person rooms are just a bed's size but you actually don't need more! There is a shared space and kitchen which are nice and clean too. Highly recommended!

10

manon

30 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was excellent 😊😊😊clean, great breakfast, parking available, best tour ever....i would really recommend

6

Lori

12 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

1/2 hr to check in. I did not expect 8 flights of stairs 😢

10

Gemma

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very quaint place - lots of character!! They’ve kept just enough of the old facility to give you the sense of actually being in a jail, but everything else is modern. Ample kitchen space and dining areas. Very very clean - spotless!! Very comfortable place to stay. I had the 2 person room with bunk beds.

10

Tianbi

10 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Close to downtown and Rideau Centre, with many to choose for shopping and dining. Lots of public transportation nearby including the O-Train. The single room might be small, but makes sense because it was a jail you are probably interested just for the experience. Washroom, shower room and public area are very clean. Might be too hot and humid in summer. But again, it was a jail. Notably it does not have an elevator.

8

Shek

16 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

No elevator

8

stanley

22 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

shower room should have a shelf or hangers for shower stuff

10

Mona

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Parking is next to the Hostel for $20 a night

10

Paula

10 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

Friendly staff. Clean room, clean washrooms. Nice kitchen.

10

Brenda Gudalupe

30 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

As a person who loves to learn about history of different places this was such an amazing place to stay. I 100% recommend taking their free tour to learn more about the history of the jail it enhances the experience of your stay. I loved the small details throughout the building.

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Cleanliness

Reviews consistently note very clean rooms, bathrooms, and common areas, with housekeeping seen as strong; a few guests reported isolated issues like stained linens, bathroom problems, or minor maintenance.

Related guest reviews

10

Claudia

12 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Super hostel I had a great stay Sheets and room were super clean and so were the bathrooms I was really impressed The bed was really comfy Breakfast was good quality and very diversified ! The only cons would be the people that walk in the hallway you can hear everything but if you wear earplugs you’ll be fine ! Also close to everything, I recommend to walk in the city, all the principal sites are in a walkable distance

10

Andrew

29 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room. Clean common areas. Friendly staff. Unique stay - worth the experience. Pretty quiet the mid-week night I stayed there.

4

Núbia

21 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

No primeiro quarto que fiquei a tomada estava quebrada, fui realocada para um quarto do último andar. Como não havia elevador (o prédio é antigo), tive que subir 6 andares com malas. Nesse andar não tinha chuveiros disponíveis, então tinha que descer para tomar banho. A limpeza dos banheiros era bem precária. Ainda sim, o atendimento foi excelente, a questão histórica do prédio é bem legal.

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10

Gemma

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very quaint place - lots of character!! They’ve kept just enough of the old facility to give you the sense of actually being in a jail, but everything else is modern. Ample kitchen space and dining areas. Very very clean - spotless!! Very comfortable place to stay. I had the 2 person room with bunk beds.

10

Celine

3 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I stayed at the Saintlo Jail Hostel for 2 nights and loved the experience! The concept is great and really well thought. I had a single person cell. It was tiny, but with the very high ceilings it was not oppressing, and felt very cozy! The room, bathroom and common areas were extremely clean! One of the cleanest hostels I have ever stayed at. The hostel is located in a very convenient place, about 10 minute-walk to the Parliament and 5 minute-walk to the Mall. Would definitely recommend staying there!

10

Paula

10 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

Friendly staff. Clean room, clean washrooms. Nice kitchen.

8

Christine

6 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location is very central and surprisingly quiet at night, at least near my cell. The breakfast is simple, and they offer non-dairy milk options, which is a plus. However, some of the doors to the cells on my floor (4th floor) were scraping against the concrete, which was an unpleasant sound. Additionally, one of the women’s toilets either did not flush properly or kept running continuously.

8

Hakan

15 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

War im Großen und Ganzen sehr gut nur was ich noch toll fand ich hatte keine Steckdose Neber meinem Bett nur so ein Beleuchtung Mit usb Anschluss aber leider ging das nicht also das usb die Beleuchtung hat funktioniert und neber der Matratze konnte man noch dreck sehen am besten beim nächstes mal kurz mit den Staubsauger drüber dann sieht es wieder gut aus

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10

Mackailyn

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean hostel! I just wish breakfast was a little earlier for those who need to head out before 7:30 am. Very friendly staff at the front!

10

Tom

2 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very friendly and helpful staff. Clean and well-maitained property.

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Rooms

Cell style rooms are extremely small and minimalist, with some guests finding beds or pillows firm; noise travels easily throughout the building, affecting light sleepers.

Related guest reviews

4

Robert

10 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

If i was to stay at this hostel again it will not be a single room. The room is literally 4feet by 6feet .

4

Ben

16 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very cool with a lot of history. Unfortunately, the bed and pillows were quite uncomfortable and ended up with bad neck pain. Would recommend bringing your own pillows. Room was clean, no bedbugs. Kept a lot of cool architectural things from the old jail to give it authenticity.

6

Tommi

10 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quite friendly staff. Very noisy (designed by fault, it’s a former prison) so I would recommend it for max one night only, if you are up for the experience. You can hear EVERYTHING, even whispers. The hostel provides ear plugs. The bunks were solid, positive side was that I couldnt tell if my pal in the upper bunk was tossing and turning or not. One washroom for men and for female every floor, can be further away from your room, so plan your visit there accordingly. The breakfast was a bit of a joke, some people even turned up there in the morning, looked at the (poor) selection and turned away immediately. If you want a proper breakfast, you need to have it elsewhere. Not really worth your money, unless you’re after the experience.

6

Derya

4 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I was excited to stay there as it's a unique location with an interesting history. However, I did not realise that the single rooms are basically closed only with an iron door, meaning that you can hear everything around you as if you were staying in a dorm room. I did not sleep well at all and for the price I did expect more in terms of comfort.

10

Tamara s

24 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cool spot for needing a one night stay it was safe, clean comfortable, and yes, tiny

2

Louis

30 May 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Rooms are not rooms, just three walls sticked to the bed and a door. Zero space around the bed, not event for a sheet of paper. The is the feeling of sleeping in a coffin.

10

Dominika

13 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I really enjoyed my stay. I found it amusing to rate my stay with five stars when my cell (aka room) was tiny and literally full of bed which left only a tiny space between it and the metallic door, but it was part of the fun of staying in this jail and I loved it :D A bonus to my stay was friendly staff and a tour of the facilities.

10

Patricia

10 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent hostel. Just wish there was curtains around each bed for privacy

10

Paul

22 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was my first time in a hostel. I really liked it's close location to areas I wanted to visit. I parked my car and walked for the majority of my time in Ottawa. I'm a light sleeper so someone coming into the room woke me up throughout the night but it's something I wasn't used to. Saintlo does offer a variety accommodations. Don't forget it's a converted jail, so that's pretty cool.

10

Margaret

17 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hostel is very clean and feels safe. Staff are friendly. Nice continental breakfast to get you started on your day. There are wall plaques with explanations of some of the jail’s unique features. One of these features is the “drum ceilings” which provided enhanced acoustics. The drawback for the hostel guests is that late party coming in at 3:00 AM cannot do so quietly. You can ask the front desk for ear plugs to get a better night’s sleep.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as warm, helpful, and welcoming, and tour guides get special praise; a few guests mentioned slow check in or isolated negative interactions.

Related guest reviews

10

María Cristina

6 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

El personal fue muy amable

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10

Jan Denise

20 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We loved our stay at Saintlo so much that we felt sad to leave. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly, and they truly made us feel at home. When you stay at Saintlo, you get a free jail tour and access to fun guest activities! Ariel, who plans the events, was amazing—she even walked us to the Winter Wander and pointed out sights and historical details along the way. Simon led our jail tour, and he was the funniest guide ever. We still repeat his jokes! The free breakfast was great, too—they offer bagels, cereal, fruit, and eggs. Staying at Saintlo made us appreciate Ottawa more!

10

Elizabeth

23 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Stayed 3 nights, first time staying in a hostel and truly enjoyed every second of the experience. The hostel staff were very nice and helpful. The atmosphere was very welcoming and calm. Enjoyed the common area's and interacting with other guests. Highly recommend staying here!!

6

Lori

12 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

1/2 hr to check in. I did not expect 8 flights of stairs 😢

10

Natalie

14 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very easy check-in! A little difficult figuring out the area with lots of construction atm. Very clean and neat facilities and stay, as well as very friendly staff.

10

Donald

16 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel is the perfect place to stay for the solo traveller or backpacker on a budget. The rooms, or rather, jail cells, are clean and comfortable. The location is perfect being close to the Rideau Shopping Centre, National Arts Centre, Parliament, and many other downtown Ottawa attractions. There is the chance to meet others from all over the world, learn a bit of criminal history in Canada, and the complimentary breakfast is a plus.

10

Andre

14 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Outstanding quality and style in jail cell accommodations, very friendly staff, fully equipped kitchen, exceptional heritage building!

2

Daniel

21 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Grave and unnaceptable direspect, total lack of judgement and non-sense blinded miss-management from the assistant manager, her male assistant and 2 female receptionnists. Total shame. If you want to be respected as customer when you address unnaceptable customer service, DO NO STAY at this hostel. This hostel will only mock you. Insane. Shame on the managers of this hostel.

10

Mackailyn

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean hostel! I just wish breakfast was a little earlier for those who need to head out before 7:30 am. Very friendly staff at the front!

10

Tom

2 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very friendly and helpful staff. Clean and well-maitained property.

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Location

Central downtown location within easy walking distance of ByWard Market, Rideau Centre, Parliament, and transit; some guests experienced nighttime noise from nearby venues or construction.

Related guest reviews

10

oluwabukola

12 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A very convenient and accessible location

8

Stewart

12 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 6 nights

Excellent location next to the shopping mall and transit hub

10

Donald

16 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel is the perfect place to stay for the solo traveller or backpacker on a budget. The rooms, or rather, jail cells, are clean and comfortable. The location is perfect being close to the Rideau Shopping Centre, National Arts Centre, Parliament, and many other downtown Ottawa attractions. There is the chance to meet others from all over the world, learn a bit of criminal history in Canada, and the complimentary breakfast is a plus.

8

Linda

22 May 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Près de tout, très bien situer, bon rapport qualité prix. Petit déjeuner bien, bon café. La visite de l'ancienne prison fut très intéressante. J'ai beaucoup aimer l'endroit. Le seul bémol est le bruit en face l'auberge, construction.

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10

Libertine

16 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great little place, stayed for only one night but was impressed by the cleanliness of the female dorm room (#701) , which even had its own full bathroom. Breakfast is only bagels, hard boiled eggs and some fruits. Area is quite safe, close to Mackenzie Bridge and Rideau St, lots of fast food places on nearby Dalhousie St. Easy walk to the Rideau Canal promenade, National Arts Centre and Rideau Centre. Rideau station on the convenient O-train.

8

Vivian

4 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It is in a really walkable location.

10

Clara

17 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect location and cheap: all I need !

10

Paul

22 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was my first time in a hostel. I really liked it's close location to areas I wanted to visit. I parked my car and walked for the majority of my time in Ottawa. I'm a light sleeper so someone coming into the room woke me up throughout the night but it's something I wasn't used to. Saintlo does offer a variety accommodations. Don't forget it's a converted jail, so that's pretty cool.

10

Mona

7 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hostel is right downtown

8

ashkan

21 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything in this property is well maintained and clean. The only issue is that there is a nightclub next door (I guess) and the noise is really annoying which continued till 3 am.

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Dining

Complimentary breakfast is appreciated and sufficient for many, but several reviews describe it as basic or inconsistent in quality and timing.

Related guest reviews

10

Jan Denise

20 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We loved our stay at Saintlo so much that we felt sad to leave. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly, and they truly made us feel at home. When you stay at Saintlo, you get a free jail tour and access to fun guest activities! Ariel, who plans the events, was amazing—she even walked us to the Winter Wander and pointed out sights and historical details along the way. Simon led our jail tour, and he was the funniest guide ever. We still repeat his jokes! The free breakfast was great, too—they offer bagels, cereal, fruit, and eggs. Staying at Saintlo made us appreciate Ottawa more!

6

Tommi

10 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quite friendly staff. Very noisy (designed by fault, it’s a former prison) so I would recommend it for max one night only, if you are up for the experience. You can hear EVERYTHING, even whispers. The hostel provides ear plugs. The bunks were solid, positive side was that I couldnt tell if my pal in the upper bunk was tossing and turning or not. One washroom for men and for female every floor, can be further away from your room, so plan your visit there accordingly. The breakfast was a bit of a joke, some people even turned up there in the morning, looked at the (poor) selection and turned away immediately. If you want a proper breakfast, you need to have it elsewhere. Not really worth your money, unless you’re after the experience.

8

Matthew

14 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall, it was a gokd stay. I enjoying my cool jail cell room. Comfy bed and very clean. My only gripe woukd be the breakfast. The quality and variety could use some work. The coffee is terrible to be honest and the only tea they had was the cheap, low quality Red Rose tea brand. They have fruit but no yoghurt or granola to complement it. The cereal the have is Fruit Loops, Corn Flakes and Cheerios...perhaps some nicer options? Lots of room for improvement with the breakfast. Having said this, it was still a satisfsctory stay.

10

Mina

29 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and generous breakfast

10

R. Elizabeth

14 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really loved this place! It's so unique and what a fun experience. A true hostel, with all the fun, great vibes, good music and charming atmosphere. The offerings of a tour of the jail, plus a yummy breakfast were wonderful additions. It's been a while since I stayed in a hostel, but it was really fun, as always.

8

Georgina

23 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent value, great location and clean,tidy rooms and common area. Breakfast was included and great choice of food!

10

Libertine

16 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great little place, stayed for only one night but was impressed by the cleanliness of the female dorm room (#701) , which even had its own full bathroom. Breakfast is only bagels, hard boiled eggs and some fruits. Area is quite safe, close to Mackenzie Bridge and Rideau St, lots of fast food places on nearby Dalhousie St. Easy walk to the Rideau Canal promenade, National Arts Centre and Rideau Centre. Rideau station on the convenient O-train.

10

XUAN

29 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Recommend, clean bed, free breakfast and jail tour.

8

RUIZHE

10 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The breakfast is wonderful.

10

Mackailyn

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean hostel! I just wish breakfast was a little earlier for those who need to head out before 7:30 am. Very friendly staff at the front!

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Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1	2 $59	3 $57	4 $57	5 $57	6 $57	7 $58
8 $57	9 $57	10 $64	11 $57	12 $60	13 $57	14 $72
15 $60	16 $58	17 $57	18 $59	19 $58	20 $57	21 $60
22 $60	23 $57	24 $57	25 $57	26 $60	27 $60	28 $57
29 $60	30 $60

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1 $61	2 $67	3 $67	4 $60	5 $61
6 $63	7 $61	8 $72	9 $71	10 $61	11 $61	12 $61
13 $61	14 $61	15 $61	16 $61	17 $61	18 $61	19 $64
20 $61	21 $61	22 $66	23 $65	24 $61	25 $61	26 $69
27 $68	28 $65	29 $66	30 $66	31 $61

Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

Prices for Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 10 Bed Female, Shared Bathroom

Twin Room (Twin Cell,1 Bunk Bed,Shared Bathroom)

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 6 Bed Women Only, Shared Bathroom

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 8 Bed Women Only, Shared Bathroom

Room, 1 Twin Bed (Authentic Jail Cell (3X9) Shared Bath)

Double Room (Double Jail Cell, 1 Double Bed, Shared Bath)

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 4 Bedroom Women Only, Shared Bathroom

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 4 Bed Mixed, Shared Bathroom

Double Room, 1 Double Bed (With Bathroom)

Deluxe Shared Dormitory

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 8 Bed Mixed, Shared Bathroom

1 Bed Shared Dormitory, 10 Bed Mixed, Shared Bathroom

Guest reviews of Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

Prices for upcoming dates