Canada doesn't always make the shortlist when long weekend planning season hits. If your brain goes straight to the Hamptons, Ojai, or maybe somewhere in Europe if you're feeling ambitious, you’re not in the wrong (necessarily). Hear me out, though: the parts of Canada that exist outside Toronto and Vancouver are doing something special in the boutique hotel space right now. It’s really a shame they don’t get the same airtime. We're talking about a Norwegian-named inn inside a St. John's Victorian mansion, a wine country motel that ended up on Netflix, and an architectural marvel perched on the edge of the North Atlantic that might be the most jaw-dropping hotel on the continent.
Your long weekend plans just changed. Below, six of the best boutique hotels in Canada worth booking right now.
Dvele Inn
St. John's, Newfoundland
Best for: Design lovers who want to experience the wildest corner of Canada in style
Dvele Inn’s name comes from the Norwegian word for "linger"—and once you're inside this lovingly restored Victorian mansion in downtown St. John's, you’ll see why. Owner Susan Drover has curated every finish, furnishing, and fixture with an obsessive eye for detail: it's a fully designed home away from home, stocked with velvet bedding, rain showers loaded with products from local scent partner East Coast Glow, and a daily complimentary cocktail and house-made treat. Fly into St. John's International (YYT)—it's a 10-minute drive from the airport—and build a few days around it. Walk up to Signal Hill for views over the harbour, spend a night on George Street for live music and a proper Newfoundland screech-in, and eat as much local seafood as you possibly can. Come between June and September for the best weather, or target mid-May to early June if catching icebergs along the coast is of interest.
From $472 per night
The Wilfrid
Milford, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Best for: Couples and food-obsessed travelers who want the full farm-to-table fantasy
Chef and designer dream team Frank and Nancy transformed a wholesome 1850s farmhouse into one of the most quietly compelling adults-only B&Bs in Canada. Five acres of farmland, century-old barns, a vineyard, a firepit, a library, and a Scandinavian sauna and water circuit make up the grounds, and a chef-prepared multi-course brunch each morning made from sustainably sourced ingredients seals the deal. There's a two-night minimum, which is perfect for a long weekend. It’s about two and a half hours east of Toronto on Highway 401—you'll def need a car. But the drive through the County is beautiful if that’s any consolation. While you're in Prince Edward County, pop by some of the wineries along Closson Road, and if you’re feeling beachy, Sandbanks Provincial Park has some of the best freshwater beaches in Ontario.
From $338 per night
Drake Devonshire
Wellington, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Best for: Culture seekers who want lakeside vibes with a creative edge
Originally built as an iron foundry in the late 19th century, the Drake Devonshire has become one of Prince Edward County's most celebrated stays: a lakeside retreat that transplants the Drake's Toronto cool-factor to the countryside without losing any of its edge. Thoughtfully designed rooms, locally inspired farm-and-lake-to-table dining, a lakefront sauna and cold plunge, pickleball courts, boules, and a rotating art walk make it easy to fill a long weekend without leaving the property. Plus, live music, author visits, and art exhibitions mean there's always a reason to stick around. Getting here isn’t to bad, either—it’s two and a half hours east of Toronto by car, or you can hop on the VIA Rail to Belleville and take a 30-minute taxi from there. It's an all-season property; summer is stunning on the lake, but a winter stay with the frozen shoreline outside and a fire going inside makes for the perfect long weekend getaway.
From $263 per night
June Motel Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach, Ontario
Best for: Friend groups who wants beach energy without flying south
The June was created by April Brown and Sarah Sklash—two best friends who quit their Toronto jobs in 2016, bought a dingy roadside motel in Prince Edward County, and completely reimagined what staying at a motel could look like. The Sauble Beach location is their second act, and it’s very much HAP-approved. It’s a 24-room boutique hotel a short walk from the beach, with an on-site restaurant, pool, lobby bar, and nightly campfires with s'mores. The vibe? Retro-feminine and effortlessly cool. The whole operation got the Netflix treatment with Motel Makeover, which followed April and Sarah through the renovation. To get here, it’ll be about a two and a half hour journey north of Toronto; as a bonus, build in a day trip to Bruce Peninsula National Park, about an hour further north, for some of the most dramatic scenery in Ontario.
From $261 per night
June Motel Prince Edward County
Picton, Ontario
Best for: Wine country weekenders
If the beach isn't calling, April and Sarah's original location trades the shoreline for wine country. Off-beat bedrooms pair tropical wallpaper with rattan furnishings and bay views, the lobby bar's checkered floors and disco ball lamps backdrop breakfasts and fine local wines, and the pantry is stocked with regional treats and finds from women-owned brands. Every room comes with a full or mini wine bar—fitting, given that you're sitting in the middle of one of Canada's most exciting emerging wine regions. Borrow one of the hotel's free bikes to get into Picton, or book a guided tour for a proper deep dive into PEC's 40-plus vineyards. Make sure to book your stay well ahead of time; this one fills up most weekends quick.
From $214 per night
Fogo Island Inn
Joe Batt's Arm, Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Best for: Anyone ready to be humbled by a hotel (seriously)
There is nothing to compare Fogo Island Inn to, so we won't try. Designed by Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders, the 29-suite inn perches on stilts above the North Atlantic. Every room faces the ocean with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the furnishings are handmade by local artisans. A pioneer of regenerative tourism since opening in 2013, the inn operates as a social business: 100% of operating surpluses are reinvested into the local community. There are no TVs. Guests forage for berries, go cod fishing, and immerse themselves in an island and community that most of the world hasn't found yet. Getting here is part of the experience: fly into Gander (the inspiration behind the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away) drive an hour to the Farewell ferry terminal, and take a 45-minute crossing to the island. The Michelin Guide awarded it three Keys. Book it now.
From $2380 per night
Canada
