Elegant rooms, Italian restaurant From farm to table and retro swimming pool: The Royal Hotel is one of those personality-filled properties that have sprung up in recent years near Sandbanks, Ontario, in Prince Edward County.
Condé Nast Traveler magazine named The Royal to its list of the best new hotels in the United States and Canada this year, calling it THE place to stay in the region. So we went there.
For those unfamiliar with Prince Edward County (PEC), first imagine an agricultural region surrounded by the turquoise waters of Lake Ontario, with a mini-Eastern Townships feel, blonde sandy beaches, about forty vineyards, Victorian Homes, antique shops, markets, photogenic old barns and many farm-to-table restaurants. And all this, a 4-hour drive from Montreal.
The Royal Hotel will open in summer 2022 and is located on the main street of Picton, the region’s largest town with just 4,500 residents. It is housed in an iconic Victorian building dating back to 1879. This building used to be a prestigious hotel, also known as The Royal, but over the years it had turned into virtual ruins.
Double Room / Photo provided by The Royal Hotel
Doublespace /Photo provided by The Royal Hotel
Unable to save just a few bricks, the new owners completely renovated it, preserving its chic and classic side with a particularly refined attention to detail. There are now 33 modern, luxurious, designer and very “noble” rooms and suites. Many have fireplaces near the bed and all offer 5-star comfort.
Double Room / Photo provided by The Royal Hotel
Double Room / Photo provided by The Royal Hotel
Sarah Bergeron Ouellet
Outside, the Royal Hotel’s outdoor pool with a slightly retro feel makes you feel like the return of summer, as does the restaurant’s terrace, located in a cozy courtyard at the back of the house.
Jeff McNeill / Photo provided by Royal Hotel
Jeff McNeill / Photo provided by Royal Hotel
A restaurant you can fit into your itinerary
The restaurant is one of our favorites. You can sample the Italian and Prince Edward County-inspired creations of Chef Albert Ponzo, formerly of Toronto’s Sélect Bistro. At County Table, almost all of the vegetables and other fresh ingredients come from the hotel owners’ organic farm, nearby Edwin County Farms.
Sarah Bergeron-Ouellet and the Royal Hotel
What should you try on the menu? Arancini (which we could have eaten exclusively), kale salad (“massaged” with maple syrup), agnolotti del plin (“tasty” pasta!) and every vegetable side dish of the day. Also of particular note are the seadas, Sardinian desserts made with fried dough, pecorino cheese and honey (in this case from the chef’s hives).
Sarah Bergeron Ouellet
Coffee and spa to go
Among other things, there is something to discover on site, regardless of whether you are a customer or not: the Counter Bar, a bistro with a nice bar and a coffee counter, where it is worth stopping for a latte and/or a focaccia sandwich to take away.
Sarah Bergeron Ouellet
The Royal Hotel also has a cozy spa offering personalized facials and massages.
And if you’re staying at this hotel and plan to come out of your cocoon a little, don’t hesitate to ask the staff for advice on the little gems to visit in the county, especially out of season.
THE PRICE
- From $369 per night for the most basic room
- From $744 per night for the most luxurious suite
THE ROYAL HOTEL COMING SOON
- In Picton, Prince Edward County, Ontario
- 4 hours from Montreal
- 33 rooms
- 1 restaurant with terrace
- 1 bistro, with bar and café
- 1 spa with sauna
- 1 gym
- 1 seasonal outdoor pool
- Dogs are allowed in some rooms ($).
- Find out more: theroyalhotel.ca