Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario – A small, deep blue pillow emblazoned with 124 Q in big, gold letters sits just below the pillows, setting off the crisp, white linens and light grey headboard. On the wall to the left, wide swaths of blue swirl across a pale canvas. There are two grey-blue area rugs, but what you mostly see are medium-dark wood flooring, which offers a clean, modern look that you might see in a fancy, midtown Toronto condo.
There are plenty of places in this quaint little village with overstuffed furniture and chintz pillows and images of British royalty. The 124 on Queen Hotel and Spa is not one of them. Rather than build another “typical” NOTL hotel your aunt Mildred might love, the folks who oversaw the recent 124 on Queen renovation and expansion (39 new suites) went the opposite direction. And nailed it.
“There’s really nothing like it in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” general manager Eric Quesnel said during a tour I took of the now 72-room property earlier this summer.
124 on Queen Hotel and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The units in the new wing, which is where I stayed on my visit (room 208 if you want to know, which is quite large and has a separate living area, a kitchen, dishwasher, fridge and freezer, two LARGE televisions, a dining counter, a lovely sofa and one and-a-half baths), are called the Signature Collection at Q.
The blues and whites in the rooms are a deliberate nod to the Niagara River and nearby Lake Ontario, as are the naval bits in the lobby, which is part of an old Customs House that dates back to 1825.
“We were aiming for a timeless, classic style,” Quesnel said.
There are tons of great features you might not notice at first glance. The Nespresso machines have separate tubes for hot water for tea and coffee, so tea drinkers won’t get coffee flavours in their cup. They’ve put cedar strips in the closet so your clothes will smell great. And the hair dryers are industrial strength, so you won’t blow a fuse on the night of your big date.
In addition to the main building, the hotel has villa units around the corner, just a few meters from the main hotel. They’d be terrific for a family or small group, such as a bridal party. They also use space in a couple of adjacent buildings, including The Gate House (more on that in a minute).
The rooms are beautiful. The 11,000 square foot spa is just as spectacular.
A room at the 124 on Queen Hotel and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
There’s a skylit hydrotherapy area with a large, “warm” pool that anchors the main area. There’s also a large hot pool with powerful jets for your back or, if you twist yourself the right way, your aching feet. The sauna features rocks and an old-fashioned ladle so you can add a bit of water, while the eucalyptus steam room is a soothing, sweet-smelling delight.
One unusual feature (not yet open, unfortunately), is a snow room, where actual snow flakes fall from the ceiling. The rooms are sometimes found at European spas, and on some cruise ships, I was told.
The spa has 10 treatment rooms and offers manicures and pedicures. They also have massage treatments, including the Vitality and Serenity programs. Vitality is billed a massage that “purifies and energizes. Utilizing the vivid herb of sweet Marjoram and warm stones, the treatment captures the verve and vitality of Crete with its optimistic scents, cooling oils and traditional, tension-relieving techniques.”
In addition to the spa, the fitness centre has all the latest gear, including a virtual fitness leader to help with your program. There’s also new wedding space that can accommodate more than 100 guests, and they have plans for an outdoor yoga space. The underground parking garage is handy for winter, and there’s a Starbucks attached to the lobby.
Many visitors think of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a summer destination, but Quesnel said it’s great – and quiet – in winter.
One of the hydrotherapy pools at 124 on Queen Hotel and Spa, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
“The wine tastes the same, and you’ll get all the attention at the winery when you visit,” he said with a smile,
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Of course, the spa would be just as good – perhaps even more enjoyable, in winter. Well, maybe not the snow room.
They’ve built a bar behind the lobby, but I was told they don’t yet have enough staff to open it. A pretty courtyard with a fountain makes for a great place to relax in a comfy chair and leads to Treadwell, a fabulous farm-to-table restaurant that’s often rated the best in town.
Our reservation came with a breakfast package at Treadwell Cuisine, where I enjoyed outstanding brioche pain perdu (French Toast) with crème fraiche, strawberries, blackberries and Ontario maple syrup. My wife had a tremendous omelette with whipped goat cheese, whole chanterelle mushrooms and truffle oil. I was told the mushrooms weren’t local, but at least they were from Saskatchewan, so points for buying Canadian.
Brioch Pain Perdu (French Toast) at Treadwell Cuisine in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
(I had lunch at Treadwell earlier this summer and it was magnificent. The mussels, which don’t appear to be on the menu right now, were hands down the best I’ve had anywhere on the planet. The lobster club sandwich with double smoked bacon and goat cheese was as decadent as it sounds, and just as delicious.)
You also can walk a couple meters and dine at The Gate House. We went before dinner and enjoyed a glass of Sand and Gravel Ontario Sauvignon Blanc and a glass of Tawse Rose on the front patio, which looks like a covered driveway. It’s massive, and it’s one of the top places in town for al fresco dining.
The property also includes a place called Budapest Bakery, which makes scrumptious-looking chimney cakes, a Hungarian specialty.
