The Oakes Hotel Overlooking the Falls
Free access to the 14th-floor viewpoint
About this hotel
The Oakes Hotel's 14th floor Observation level, free and unlimited for guests, is a genuine standout: a spectacular lounge overlooking the Horseshoe Falls that most nearby hotels simply don't offer without a paid ticket elsewhere. Fallsview rooms and suites carry unobstructed views of Niagara Falls itself, and select rooms add an in-room hot tub for a longer soak after a day at the water park. The Falls Incline Railway, providing direct access to the Table Rock Centre and Journey Behind the Falls, sits less than two minutes' walk away, and the on-site Applebee's covers a straightforward family dinner without venturing far from the room, and travellers comparing this property against others nearby should weigh that detail carefully, since it rarely shows up in a quick scan of the room photos alone.
- Free observation level
- Unobstructed Falls views
- Near Falls Incline Railway
Our take
This is a standout pick for anyone prioritising a genuine, unobstructed Falls view without paying for a separate observation ticket elsewhere. It particularly suits families wanting quick access to Journey Behind the Falls via the Incline Railway; travellers wanting a water-park-connected stay should look toward the Sheraton Fallsview instead, especially once the whole group has settled into a routine.
- ✓Visit the free 14th floor Observation level at sunset for the best light on the Horseshoe Falls, included at no extra cost for guests.
- ✓Book a Fallsview room or suite specifically for the unobstructed view, since standard rooms elsewhere in the tower may not include it.
- ✓Use the Falls Incline Railway just outside for quick access to Journey Behind the Falls without a long walk in Niagara's weather.
Why we love it
- Free unlimited access to the 14th floor Observation level
- Unobstructed Fallsview rooms and suites
- Less than two minutes from the Falls Incline Railway
- On-site Applebee's for easy family dinners
Why guests love itWe went up to the free 14th floor Observation level every evening of our stay, and it never got old watching the Horseshoe Falls light up from that height without paying for a single ticket. The Falls Incline Railway right outside also made getting to Journey Behind the Falls the next morning almost effortless with tired kids in tow, which mattered more than we expected going in.