CHECKING IN
Our favourite hotel stays.
1 PALÁCIO TANGARÁ
This neoclassical mansion turned luxury hotel is close to the hum of the city, but nestled in Burle Marx Park’s dense greenery. NUMBER OF ROOMS 141. WHAT WE LOVED Running in the surrounding park, home to plant species (like miltonia orchids) native to Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, before cloud-watching while floating in the outdoor pool with a butterfly-patterned tiled bottom. ORDER the six-course tasting menu at downstairs restaurant Tangará Jean-Georges where an Asian-inspired take on Brazilian cuisine (like sea bass in a sweet-and-sour jus and seared octopus with toasted sesame seed and yogurt dressing) was awarded a Michelin star last spring.
2 W MONTRÉAL
The property in a former financial-district bank building has become a refuge for business travellers and creative types alike, matching guests with tailored services: a map to the city’s best vintage shops, anyone? NUMBER OF ROOMS 152. WHAT WE LOVED Letting our jaws drop at the extra-high ceilings and windowed walls in a new open-concept (and aptly named) Extreme Wow Suite. Sit in the private terrace’s swing chair and peep at the bustle in Square Victoria below. ORDER French onion soup dumplings at the pop-up-inspired Nom Nom Cantine before a night out. On your way back, grab a Quebec gin and tonic spritzed with housemade perfumes at Bartizen.
3 HIGHLAND LODGE
A social hub for the Northeast Kingdom, this old farmhouse makes a case for classic country-inn cool. Guests have access to trails and kayaks on the lodge’s 136 acres around Caspian Lake, while inside, vintage wallpaper and an (almost) hidden passageway create a setting fit for a Nancy Drew mystery. NUMBER OF ROOMS 20, including 10 seasonal 1920s cabins. WHAT WE LOVED Joining local oddballs on the wraparound porch on Monday night, when the taco truck shows up. CULTURE FIX Catch the owner, a classically trained performer, singing impromptu arias at the grand piano. Or head to the tiny house bar for storytelling and music.
4 LORD NELSON HOTEL & SUITES
This 1928 downtown hotel recently emerged from a glitzy makeover (dig the handcrafted mouldings and chandeliers made with Swarovski crystals). NUMBER OF ROOMS 262. WHAT WE LOVED Gazing at the lobby ceiling featuring ornate medallions representing each Canadian province – except for late-joining Newfoundland and Labrador. The woodwork is often compared to the designs in the chamber of the Senate of Canada. ROOM TO BOOK
Any of 10 sunny Parkview suites that look out onto the Halifax Public Gardens and have a mix of classic and contemporary styles, including black and white tiled bathroom floors and sleek sofas for curling up next to the fireplace.