Canada is stepping up its hotel game this year, with over 10,000 rooms under construction; half of them set to open this year.
Whether you’re after a sleek tower stay, a quirky boutique or a room with a view, Canada’s newest hotels have you covered like the 6 a.m. donut rack at Tim Hortons.
From coast to coast, here’s a peek inside the five best openings, who they’re for and what makes them worth your time.
State of the art
Name: SonoLux
Where is it? Montreal
Who’s it for? Psychedelic sightseers; avant-garde adventurers
Number of rooms: 36
What’s it cost? From $437
If sleeping inside an art installation is your idea of a good time, this artsy inn in Old Montréal is ready to make that fever dream come true.
Opening in July, a short walk from Notre Dame Basilica and the Old Port, it’s a boutique operation tucked inside a historic neoclassical building. Inside is something more modern: an immersive sound-and-light experience, with 10 rotating exhibition rooms showcasing emerging contemporary artists.
SonoLux’s installations are interactive, so the art shifts as you move, making your late-night hallway wander technically performance art. These projections also illuminate the walls of Lumi, its lobby restaurant with a tasting menu, and downstairs cocktail lounge Subterra.
Thankfully, the rooms skip the chaos in favor of clean lines, natural wood and soothing earth tones. Each room has a king-size bed, a sofa bed, a full bath, a dressing room and an app to help you navigate the hotel’s ever-shifting digital dreamscape.
Park slopes
Name: The Otter
Where is it? Banff
Who’s it for? Mountain mamas
Number of rooms: 136
What’s it cost? From $181 in winter; $582 in summer
Opened six months ago by Banff Lodging Co., this new hotel offers a stylish, comfortable home base for exploring Banff National Park. Located in the Uptown Banff district, about a 20-minute walk from downtown’s main drag, the modern, wood-paneled hotel strikes a nice balance between cozy and contemporary, with rooftop hot pools perfect for soaking in spectacular mountain views.
It’s a great starting point for visiting Banff’s natural attractions such as Cascade Ponds, Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka, and a comfortable place to unwind after you get back. Its 34 suites and four accessible king rooms get high marks for their comfy beds, and guests praise the attentive service and underground parking.
Guests at the Otter also get free ROAM bus passes, which means they can skip the parking hassle when visiting popular spots like Lake Louise. Other nice touches include pour-over coffee and tea from neighboring cafe Suddenly Sally, and an on-site restaurant, Good Folk, serving local staples like Alberta beef and trout — perfect after a full day on the trails.
Raw material
Name: Nobu Hotel
Where is it? Toronto
Who’s it for? High rollers
Number of rooms: 36
What’s it cost? From $434 in a deluxe king room
Nobu Hotels has officially landed in Canada — about 40 stories above Toronto’s Entertainment District, the highest luxury hotel in the city. A short walk from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Scotiabank Arena and Toronto’s Harbourfront, this sky palace sits atop the already-sold-out Nobu residences.
What sets it apart? Oh, just the largest suites in the city, floor-to-ceiling Lake Ontario and skyline views, heated floors for pampered toes and Japanese wooden soaking tubs by the window — for soar muscles after using the gym’s Pilates reformer.
Naturally, Nobu’s food is a big draw here. Guests get VIP treatment at the two-level Nobu restaurant with a private entrance and priority reservations, plus the ability to order signature dishes straight to their rooms — yes, that includes sushi in bed if that’s your thing. The exclusive Sakara Lounge serves up all-day eats and a complimentary breakfast, and rooms have a mini bar stocked with snacks and wellness items such as collagen masks and probiotic drinks that are actually free (a unicorn in the hotel world).
Want to explore? Nab a cruiser bike and roll around town, or have the hotel’s new Mercedes G-Class electric SUV take you shopping.
Mind your manor
Name: Rosemead House
Where is it? Vancouver Island
Who’s it for? Amorous anglophiles
Number of rooms: 28
What’s it cost? From $437 per night in a Grove room; $510 in a Manor room
For travelers craving the charm of an English country manor, with all the modern comforts, Rosemead House delivers a regal escape just 10 minutes from downtown Victoria in Esquimalt. Newly opened this month, the historic 1906 estate has been reimagined with a playful nod to its Edwardian roots, offering a heady mix of heritage, Hollywood and high-end comfort.
The Tudor Revival property was previously known as the Old English Inn — a popular venue for weddings, honeymoons and the occasional visiting dignitary. Now, after a meticulous renovation the property has reclaimed its original name, Rosemead House, and its place back in the spotlight.
Expect British antiques, garden statuary from London’s Savoy Hotel and even set pieces Aragon founder Lenny Moy bought at auction from Netflix’s The Crown (including the dramatic Buckingham Palace gates). Half of the rooms and suites are housed in the original manor, and the others are located just behind it in a newly built wing called the Grove. Many have balconies, patios and ocean views.
Its on-site restaurant Janevca Kitchen & Lounge is where “Top Chef Canada” finalist Andrea Alridge serves wood fired-grilled fare blending Asian, Jamaican and Italian flavors — all beneath a dramatic, oversized faux maple tree.
A full-service spa is set to open later this fall, rounding out Rosemead’s transformation.
Bear necessities
Name: Fawn Bluff Private Lodge
Where is it? Great Bear Rainforest, BC
Who’s it for? Private investigators
Number of rooms: 5 bedrooms
What’s it cost? $14,175 per night
Looking for an escape so exclusive even Google Maps gives up? Tucked deep in British Columbia’s Bute Inlet, this newly opened lodge and guest cabin — originally built for Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley — is available only as a full buyout for up to 12 guests. No other bookings. No neighbors.
Just your group on 320 acres of pristine private wilderness a short helicopter or seaplane ride from Campbell River, BC.
The payoff for going this far off-grid? Next-level perks. We’re talking a private chef, daily housekeeping, paddleboards, kayaks and Starlink internet service. Hop aboard the lodge’s 49-foot Coastal Craft yacht complete with a skipper for whale watching, fishing or exploring the Salish Sea. Feeling adventurous? Head out with an Indigenous guide to spot grizzlies and black bears.
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