Dows Lake Pavilion
Dows Lake Pavilion
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Large pavilion on Dows Lake with restaurants and a marina that serves as a year-round recreational center.
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Address
Neighborhood: The Glebe / Dow's Lake
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1,296 within 3 miles
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256 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
211 reviews
Excellent
82
Very good
84
Average
27
Poor
9
Terrible
9
Tanja
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Couples
Terrible staff was completely indifferent. Their website says last boat out is 6:30 pm. We showed up at 6:02 pm to be told last boat out is at 6 pm. Complete indifference, not even a sorry.
Written September 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Book Momma
Toronto143 contributions
Jun 2022
Dow's Lake is a nice place to walk around, get a meal, and enjoy the view. After we enjoyed dinner at Mexicali Rosa's, my family rented a kayak and standup paddle board. It was a bit cool that night and the paddles kept splashing water into the kayak so everyone got soaking wet from the waist down, but still an enjoyable time.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julius Naredo
Toronto, Canada83 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
One of the best things to do while in Ottawa. It was my parents’ first time in a pedal boat while my wife and I had our first time together in a tandem kayak. My nephew’s first time too and he loved it, felt like a captain and a pirate!
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GERRY G
Lakeshore, Canada68 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Visiting family, we went to the Dragon Boat Races. We stopped in to warm up and get some lunch. The view is incredible and that matches the staff and the menu.
The staff never stopped moving and they all had smiles on their faces.
I will go back the next time we are in town.
The staff never stopped moving and they all had smiles on their faces.
I will go back the next time we are in town.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony T
Ottawa, Canada49 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
Ok this place you can rent a kayak or paddle boat by the hour and then if you go have something to eat in one of the 3 on site restaurants ,you get two hours parking when the restaurant stamps your receipt. I liked the Mexican style restaurant ,guadalaharrys . I liked the natchos I had there.
This review is more about the kayak and canoe rental place. I don't recommend it at all, because the equipment if so used and worn out ..... The paddle boat was very awkward to paddle and it was constantly taking on water. I had to return 20mins earlier because the boat was sinking. I complained but got no discount instead I was told the paddle boat was sinking because my friend and I was too heavy. :( Anyway its not my favorite place for that experience but if your from out of town its something to do.
This review is more about the kayak and canoe rental place. I don't recommend it at all, because the equipment if so used and worn out ..... The paddle boat was very awkward to paddle and it was constantly taking on water. I had to return 20mins earlier because the boat was sinking. I complained but got no discount instead I was told the paddle boat was sinking because my friend and I was too heavy. :( Anyway its not my favorite place for that experience but if your from out of town its something to do.
Written July 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sims7891
1 contribution
Jul 2013
My family and I took a trip down to dows lake to go for a paddle on the kayaks.
Coming up to the service counter a smile couldn't be found. On a beautiful day like today I couldn't see how that would even be possible. After we had filled out our info we were not told what to do or where to go just give us your money and figure it out for your selves.
Once we figured out who was sending us off in the kayaks (we rented 2 tandems) I couldn't see 2 that were there. I asked why and the women said to me "well u get some you loose some" umm excuse me ? We were told we get 2 tandems. I saw that there was 1 tandem and 2 singles so suggested since they sent off our other kayak can we take the singles out instead and pay the same? We got a snotty "well I guess so". Getting help into the kayaks wasn't a pleasant experience. Simply a "get in" and no direction as to what the best way to get in would be. Not even a have a nice time. Just a shove in the right direction and that's about it.
Coming back was the same experience. Nothing .. Not even a hello.. Just get out and that's all.
It seemed to be all students so I wouldn't expect amazing service but to feel like you're being a bother isn't a great way to spend a nice day out on the water.
Will not be giving these people my money here again.
Coming up to the service counter a smile couldn't be found. On a beautiful day like today I couldn't see how that would even be possible. After we had filled out our info we were not told what to do or where to go just give us your money and figure it out for your selves.
Once we figured out who was sending us off in the kayaks (we rented 2 tandems) I couldn't see 2 that were there. I asked why and the women said to me "well u get some you loose some" umm excuse me ? We were told we get 2 tandems. I saw that there was 1 tandem and 2 singles so suggested since they sent off our other kayak can we take the singles out instead and pay the same? We got a snotty "well I guess so". Getting help into the kayaks wasn't a pleasant experience. Simply a "get in" and no direction as to what the best way to get in would be. Not even a have a nice time. Just a shove in the right direction and that's about it.
Coming back was the same experience. Nothing .. Not even a hello.. Just get out and that's all.
It seemed to be all students so I wouldn't expect amazing service but to feel like you're being a bother isn't a great way to spend a nice day out on the water.
Will not be giving these people my money here again.
Written July 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob_S_987
Ottawa, Canada22 contributions
May 2011 • Friends
Where do I start....to put it nicely, our waiter had B.O. that overpowered the food. Seriously - it was eye wateringly nasty. The wine we chose wasn't on the list, so the waiter made up a price. The lamb meatballs that came with one of the pasta main courses were raw (cold!!) in the middle. The other mains were very forgettable. Desert was even worse. Great atmosphere, but management seems to have forgotten they're running a restaurant and not a dance club singles scene. Three attempts to have our pungent waiter summon the manager went ignored and unanswered. The experience was so bad, we actually wrote a note on the back of the bill with a contact number, in the hope that someone, anyone, there actually cared about their clientelle. To date, no reply. We're never going back. I have no idea who is writing the positive reviews for this place - they couldn't have been there the night we were!! Perhaps there is another Lago out there with great food and good service.
Written August 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsay K
1 contribution
Nov 2014
Went to an event at Dow's Lake, the restaurant was great they validated my parking, and the event coordinator gave me a parking pass for the remaining balance, which I thought was great. When exiting the parking lot the parking attendant was very rude and tried to charge me the full $12 maximum even though I had the stamp for the free two hours plus the other ticket, I had him call the restaurant to check with them( because he didn't believe the card for the free parking) The owner of the restaurant got on the phone and I heard him say that the maximum was $6 not $12(with the parking validation that I had) and he varified the free parking ticket. The parking attendant got off the phone and still said I owed him $3. So how did it go from $12 to $3? Was not impressed that he was trying to rip me off!!! Not to mention the parking lot is dimly lite!
Would rather park down Preston and walk next time!
Would rather park down Preston and walk next time!
Written November 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lecdm
Ottawa, Canada35 contributions
Jun 2012
Basically the only place in Ottawa to rent a pedal boat, canoe or kayak to explore Dows Lake and other parts of the canal in Ottawa. It gives a different experience of the canal than how most people know it - as a skating rink. Brave folks can even go through Hartwells and Hogs Back locks to make it all the way to Mooneys Bay. Good times all around.
The trouble with Dows Lake though is how poorly it promotes itself. Other than the boat rentals and a service spot for power boaters, it's just a mix of mediocre restaurants. Their website is hard to navigate and they don't always answer the phone or emails. It seems they could do more to actually be involved in the city.
The trouble with Dows Lake though is how poorly it promotes itself. Other than the boat rentals and a service spot for power boaters, it's just a mix of mediocre restaurants. Their website is hard to navigate and they don't always answer the phone or emails. It seems they could do more to actually be involved in the city.
Written August 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mobile17749
Hull, Quebec1 contribution
Well. Charging a buck for changing from boots to skates is a bit much. I took my sons and it would have cost us 3 bucks. I choose not to pay and to have our dinner after our skate elsewhere. So I guess the restaurant lost 60 bucks in income and a client. If the parking were free which it isn't, I would have sucked up the petty skate-changing fee.People go to skate along the canal and not for Dow Lake Pavilion. The management is lucky that they are so closely linked to the best tourist attraction Ottawa has and should be thankful for the business that the canal brings and not look at it as a way to pay the heating bills. That's what tenants do. Not their clients. It seems that the management should be looking at ways to help its clients increase it business by making the Pavilion more accessible to all rather than being cheap and turning people away. In turn they could chage more rent and pay the heating bills.
Written May 13, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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