This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
Cover image: Fourvière Hôtel, Lyon, France. All images courtesy of the hotels.

Cour des Loges

A Radisson Collection Hotel, Cour des Loges, welcomes you with a stunning courtyard that works as a lobby. With only 60 rooms, this property has a lot of unique, antique character, including a 14th-century staircase. Each suite is a unique, loft-style room furnished with period pieces and new age classics. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and spa, a fitness centre, on-site dining options, including Les Loges (Michelin star restaurant), and an EV charging station. It is a Michelin Guide property.

6 rue du Bœuf, Lyon, France | Map link
Rooms starting at $346 CAD
Book directly on radissonhotels.com to access special offers or your preferred booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Trivago

Hôtel de L’Abbaye and L’Artichaut restaurant, Lyon, France.

Hôtel de L’Abbaye

Set next door to the Basilica of St Martin d’Ainay, Hôtel de L’Abbaye is a luxury historic boutique hotel. There are only 21 rooms, each beautifully decorated with vintage and modernist classical pieces. The exterior is historically commanding, while the interior has been carefully renovated, preserving its old-world character. On site is L’Artichaut, a bistronomic Michelin restaurant. Located on the ground floor, this restaurant is a destination on its own, serving an original, creative menu and seasonal wine pairings.

20 rue de l’Abbaye d’Ainay, Lyon, France | Map link
Rooms starting at $433 CAD
Book directly on hotelabbayelyon.com to access special offers or your preferred booking site: Expedia | Trivago | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

MiHotel La Tour Rose

The beautifully decorated rooms with colourful furnishings and tropical wallpaper are perhaps the main draw to MiHotel La Tour Rose. But then, there are also the bathtubs, the fireplaces, and living plants under handmade lampshades. This Michelin-recognised hotel consists of high-end suites across six 18th-century apartments, a place you can truly make your own. All suites are unique and come with daily breakfast service, ie., freshly baked pain au chocolat.

22 rue du Bœuf, Lyon, France | Map link
Rooms starting at $202 CAD
Book directly on mihotel.fr to access special offers or your preferred booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com

MOB HOTEL Lyon Confluence

An eco-hotel with a stunning outdoor terrace, MOB Lyon Confluence is located in the waterfront district where the Saône and Rhône rivers come together. This noticeably contemporary structure, which resembles large-scale art from a distance, is also Michelin-recognised. The rooms are beautifully decorated with a minimalistic but fun and colourful touch. Hotel patrons have access to yoga classes, live music, pop-up shops, and other one-off events hosted throughout the year. In many ways, MOB Lyon Confluence is a part of the city’s cultural tapestry.

55 quai Rambaud, Lyon, France | Map link
Rooms starting at $318 CAD
Book directly on mobhotel.com to access special offers or your preferred booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Fourvière Hôtel, Lyon, France.

Fourvière Hôtel

Another Michelin Guide property, Fourvière Hôtel, is located in an upscale neighbourhood on a hilltop to the west of Lyon’s old town. It is a 19th-century convent turned 21st-century hotel, built around a large courtyard. Despite its rich history, the rooms are minimally decorated, leaning into the modern styles with black-and-white portraits of local historical figures hung on the walls. Guests have access to a 25-meter heated lap pool, a spa and gardens, and two restaurants, upscale Les Téléphones and the Le Bouchon bistro.

23, rue Roger Radisson, Lyon, France | Map link
Rooms starting at $255
Book directly on fourviere-hotel.com to access special offers or your preferred booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor

The post Where to stay in Lyon, France: Five unique hotels appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This trip was partially hosted by Explore Burnaby who did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia (BC), east of Vancouver and only 20 minutes away by SkyTrain. It is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada, with 120 languages spoken at home. So naturally, the culinary scene is a reflection of this diversity. From family restaurants to fine dining, Burnaby has it all, so bring your appetite, whether you visit the city for a day or stay here for a week exploring its ancient forests, mountainous trails, and urban corridors.

Metrotown is the city’s centre, but one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods is Burnaby Heights. This stretch of Hastings Street houses nearly 80 immigrant-run family food and beverage businesses, many of which have been here for generations. You can spend an entire day exploring the dining options in this neighbourhood or chip away at them one at a time. The Amazing Brentwood, on the other hand, is a new public plaza and shopping centre. Between retail stores are many larger restaurants and unique dining experiences, equally representative of the city’s diversity. 

House-made sausages and pickled preserves from Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli.

Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli

This is the “Heights,” a classic blade sign protruding from the building declares. A woman in a blue dress, just under, is frozen mid-swing, her name is Helen. Helen owned a famous children’s clothing shop in the Heights since 1956, and promised her space to the Cioffi family once she retired. Today, Cioffis own three side-by-side storefronts on Hastings Street, including Helen’s original shop. The business was started by Antonio Cioffi in 1989 and is currently owned by his sons, Rino and Sergio. In conversation, Rino admitted he only got into this business to help his father, “the food business is for life, I wouldn’t wish it on my children,” he added. And yet the passion and dedication are steeped into every corner of this business. 

Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli supplies both, local residents and Vancouver’s top kitchens with speciality produce, but you can also come in here for a meal or a sandwich, which many locals do on the daily. Porchetta and short rib sandwiches are the top sellers. And then there are the decadent cheese tortellini, imported from Italy (best served in cream sauce with bacon bits), cold tiramisus handmade by Italian Nona’s, house-made sausages, and imported Italian coldcuts perfect for a girls’ dinner or family gathering alike.

Google maps | Instagram | cioffisgroup.com

Cheese Tortellini, imported from Italy, charcuterie board sample with imported cold cuts and aged cheeses from Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli, Burnaby, British Columbia.

Peaked Pies

The company is rooted in love for food: Kerri Jones missed proper Australian pies from home, so her husband, Alex Relf, made her some pies. The company has four locations across BC, and the Burnaby outpost is a popular stop for lunch and takeaways among the neighbours. Kerri and Alex’s unique take on the classic Australian pie is a top-up tower of mashed potatoes, mushy peas, and savoury gravy. One pie is a whole meal.

The flaky, delicious pastry serves as a vessel for juicy meat fillings like AA Alberta beef, bacon and cheese, butter chicken, kangaroo, and locally sourced vegetables. Pies (and sausage rolls) can be bundled into a lunch or dinner combo with a cold pint of beer, salad, or a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice. 

Google maps | Instagram | peakedpies.com

Peaked Pies with mashed potatoes and mushy peas. Hannah, Peaked Pies Burnaby supervisor.

Di Chai Laotian Restaurant

This family-owned and operated restaurant, focused on seasonal Laotian food, is a unique stop even for Burnaby. This is “a house full of chefs,” co-owner Lena Truong joked, sharing their family backstory, while her brother, Chef Calvin Truong, worked in the back on preparing the meal. The Truong family immigrated to Canada from a war-torn country and built a small culinary empire. Di Chai is their latest opening, drawing on their mom’s recipes with a few modern Lao plates by Chef Calvin.

Lao food is meant to be shared at the round table, sticky rice cups, jaew (traditional dipping sauce), and hot sauce are at the centre. Every dish is refreshingly green and decadent. The best way to experience Lao food is a sharing plate. There are four on the menu, but Saap Saap will encompass most of the essential dishes in one. Perfectly seasoned beef jerky, decadent lemongrass chicken, juicy grilled pork, and lao sausages are just a few of the items on this show-stopping plate. For a lighter meal, Gang Som hot and sour soup has a light, but flavourful broth and a wealth of chicken and vegetables, the kind of bowl that can easily become a weekly favourite. 

Google maps | Instagram | Reservations

Saap Saap sharing plate; cover image is Nam Khao (crispy rice wrap), Di Chai Laotian Restaurant, Burnaby.

La Taquería Restaurante Mexicano

La Taquería have three concepts across Vancouver, and this Brentwood location is a classic Mexican restaurant. A spacious dining room spills out onto the terrace with views of the lively Amazing Brentwood. La Taquería is a cool spot you can come into for a snack, for a big date night, or a casual family celebration.

The menu is created by Chef Maria Ponce. Navojoa Mexican-native Chef Maria trained in award-winning kitchens across North and Latin America before settling in Vancouver. Staying close to the concept name La Taquería offers authentic Mexican food like the traditional Esquites served with queso fresco (sautéed corn), silky tuna tostada with citrus vinaigrette, and mole-forward main dishes like pork belly or tetela (triangular corn dough pocket stuffed with cheese). Guests have an option to add an agave flight pairing to their meal, which can include mezcal, tequila, and raicilla. 

Google maps | Instagram | lataqueria.com

Esquites, margaritas, and tuna tostada at La Taquería Restaurante Mexicano, Burnaby, BC.

Atlas Steak + Fish

A modern take on a traditional steakhouse, Atlas Steak + Fish is the kind of place you go to celebrate. The decor is elegant and atmospheric, heavy curtains and dim lighting setting an intimate mood. Located inside the Delta Hotels Burnaby Conference Centre, sharing the floor with Grand Villa Casino, the restaurant feels like a world of its own.

Many of the menu items are prepared tableside with a flair, adding a layer of entertainment to the meal. Premium cuts like tomahawk steak and beef carpaccio are accompanied by butter-poached asparagus with Béarnaise sauce and whipped brie mashed potatoes. Top-catch seafood is always on the menu, and the Atlas signature is the crowd-stopping seafood tower, which lands on the table in a cloud of white fog. To close out the meal, baked Alaska is set a flame tableside, adding crisp toasted streaks to the otherwise pillowy, cold dessert. 

Google maps | Instagram | atlassteakandfish.com

Chef Olya Karpova, a Marriott Masters of the Craft award winner, restaurant interior, and Baked Alaska prepared tableside at Atlas Steak + Fish.

Seafood Tower and Beef Carpaccio at Atlas Steak + Fish Restaurant, Burnaby, BC.

Getting to Burnaby

From the airport

If you are travelling from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) SkyTrain is always an option and will take you through Vancouver to Metrotown in about an hour. The best way to get to Burnaby from YVR is by car. You can rent a car at the airport or through Turo (a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace). You can also order a taxi or an Uber, or prebook a private transport with companies like Star Chauffeured Services. Some hotels offer a free shuttle service from the airport.

From Vancouver

If you are staying in Vancouver, you can take the SkyTrain, Millennium or Expo Lines. The Expo line from the Waterfront takes 20 minutes to Metrotown, for example, which makes it very accessible for lunch or dinner. Taxis and rideshares are always an option as well. 

Find a hotel in Burnaby 

Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, 1 King 2 Room Executive Suite and just some of the breakfast options.

The post Eating out in Burnaby: from comforting family recipes to show-stopping seafood towers appeared first on Paths to Travel.

As a young adult, Malcolm Campbell wanted to be a photographer, but like most teenagers entering adulthood, he needed a job. The early days involved working in casual restaurants with his friends, “like a bunch of misfits, we had a lot of fun”. With time, the interest in culinary arts grew into a passion. Having completed The Red Seal and VCC’s culinary programs, Campbell decided to spend some time abroad, reconnecting with his Scottish roots in the UK. The Ritz London was the ultimate launchpad to what grew into a rapid culinary pursuit from London to Lyon, Toronto, and eventually, Halifax.

Soft murmurs of Mystic were drifting through Halifax long before Air Canada named it Best New Restaurant in Canada. Tucked away under a 40-foot interactive sculpture, Tidal Beacon in Queen’s Marque, Mystic blends into the environment. Through a dimly lit entry, guests are welcomed by a wide-open space, illuminated by natural light from the Halifax Harbour. Pine green upholstery, driftwood panels and furnishings, subtly layered textures, and weathered stone in the dining room bring the natural landscape in. A gallery of found natural objects is curated across the chef’s galley – a foreground to a team creating dishes with surgical precision in a soundless open kitchen. 

Kateryna Topol: Is Mystic the one that finally feels like home?

Chef Malcolm Campbell: I got this opportunity at Mystic, and everything just kind of lined up, and I was like, “Say that again?” I got to hire 3-4 people who used to work with me before because I know how they work, and having that trust level in somebody, especially for something like Mystic, is very important. We just clicked as a team with the front of the house too, everyone came together pretty seamlessly.

When you think of the menu from when we opened to now, I’d like to think there is a huge improvement in the way we run the kitchen, the way we do service. There are things we need to work on for sure, but that’s the daily grind, the refinement, it’s been a pleasure so far. It’s been really, really fun.

KT: Very cool. In the restaurant description, there is this wholesome statement about your people and how they are “the storytellers of this land, sea, and air” – can you please speak to this a bit

CMC: Yeah, definitely, even before we opened, we did a lot of foraging. It was the end of summer, there was so much out there, we were trying to find farms and unique ingredients and suppliers, and it was just a massive learning curve that, I think, we’ve all enjoyed so much. We try to keep to the Maritimes, and if not, there are some things we do get from other spots in Canada, but primarily, the dish needs to speak of Nova Scotia with the ingredients.

Some ingredients are ok to mix, selfishly also because there are a lot of ingredients I love to use at the fine dining level that may not be from Nova Scotia, but the question is: how could I use that as a vessel to showcase what is from Nova Scotia? Foie gras is a great example, no one is really making foie gras here, but everything else on that dish is Nova Scotia: the berries, the local foraged sumac, all those other things come together to make that dish a Nova Scotia dish.

Mystic restaurant exterior and summer Discovery Menu. Images by Kateryna Topol.

KT: Our server mentioned he forges for you near his cabin. Is that common among the team?

CMC: Yeah, I take some things from home as well. My wife is from Chech Republic, and she likes to grow. We always have a little garden going, so sometimes I’ll come into the backyard and take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and bring it to work with me. With the Discovery menu as well, you can change it daily. I don’t have to have it costed out and written out, it doesn’t have to go to print, we do everything in-house. One of our SAs, Harper, has beautiful handwriting, so she writes the menus by hand, and they look gorgeous. The next day, it’s like change this and change that, we got five of these at the market, I found some baby strawberries on the trails, and we kind of put a dish together.

We have 15 portions, and then it’s gone. I have stuff in the restaurant from my daughter – this big shell she found in the backyard in the garden, I cleaned it and brought it to work. There are little bits of coral and ocean rock from my fish tank that now live on the rail in the chef’s galley. And some antlers from Cape Breton, you know, some little trinkets here and there.

KT: How did you go about learning how to forage?

CMC:  The district chef, Bill Osborne, was a great support for a lot of things. He had already been foraging to gear towards Mystic. And my sous chef, Cameron Benns, does a lot of that as well… There are a couple of books floating around about Nova Scotia terroir, what’s edible and so on. I will always steer away from mushrooms personally, so we use an expert, Fred Dardenne, from WildFoods. He does a lot of foraging for us, knows where the spots are and gets mushrooms that are harder to find and don’t have a big yield.

KT: I’ve heard you are seen at Farmer’s Markets quite often

CMC: Yeah, usually in the summer. It’s so much better than ordering from big suppliers, especially when we are not crazy busy and don’t have time to wander around the woods for 3-4 hours. We just buy enough of what we need for a day or two. And all the farmers are there, so it’s a good selection of different things from the island. We get to support local farmers and have great relationships with them. There are a few that we really like, like the saffron farm located about an hour and a half from here. They have the best saffron I’ve ever tried, and I can get it fresh-grown in Nova Scotia, it blew me away. It’s primarily used in our pasta recipe but also in sauces and chocolates.

KT: You also preserve a lot of these ingredients ….

CMC:  Yeah, to use in the winter. And there are a few things that the flavour changes when we do a cheong, which is a sweet fermentation when you add equal weights of sugar to, lets say a berry and then you extract the syrup after 3 to 6 months, so we did that last year, Rosehip cheong was really good, we use it for dessert and then we paired it with parsnip because it was available. But it’s also great because now that we have a year under our belt, some things are really starting to come in, especially a lot of the vinegars. I’ve been playing with them personally. Pine vinegar, for example, takes 6 months to a year to make, and we have it now and use it for beef jus, gives it like, a Je ne sais quoi.

…Same with lemon, we will use vinegar instead, primarily goldenrod [common, native Nova Scotia flowering herb], that’s our base vinegar for a lot of things. Sugar too, a lot of recipes need sugar, so instead we’ll use our own black honey to sweeten things and would use goldenrod instead of the lemon, so we’re still getting that sweet and sour that you need for certain items and recepies but it’s using local stuff that we made ourselves, without importing lemons from California or Mexico.

KT: So no lemons at all?

CMC: We do have some that we use in the bar, but in the kitchen, we try not to use it at all. I don’t want to say we don’t use anything that’s not from Nova Scotia, because that’s not true, there are things that we do, but we try hard not to. There is often a substitution that we can find closer to home.

KT: A lot of these preserves are on display at the bar 

CMC: Yep, that’s a beautiful set-up there, right when you come in, we just call it “fermentation wall” technically, most of it is there, but we have a lot stored in the back and in the kitchen. The bar has its own program too, using the same philosophy on bespoke cocktails as we do. It’s very fun to see the same ingredients at the same time, we can learn from each other, see different techniques.

KT: That would also mean the cocktails pair better, cocktails with the food…

CMC: Yeah, we had a cocktail with chanterelle mushrooms in the summer that would go through the pass, it’s very fun and unique. And we do a couple of tailored dinners for that, called The Long Pour. The dinner is based on the cocktails and drinks first and foremost, and the food is second. We have one of the best sommeliers in the country, Samuel Melanson, so we do wine dinners as well. When we opened, Mystic was chef-centric, but it’s not really a chef-driven restaurant – it’s a team-driven restaurant, so this was a way for us to share some of the spotlight.

KT: You have a few special dinners coming up

CMC: Yes, it started last year. At first were only open Wednesday to Saturday, so when we opened on Tuesdays, it wasn’t as busy, so this was a way to try to generate some interest on the slowest day of the week. And it’s just turned into this whole thing now. We did a couple of fermentation dinners, and the Tuna Dinner was a huge hit. I was a little nervous about carving up a whole animal in the middle of the restaurant, but honestly, everyone seemed to have a great time.

… The last tuna was the biggest one, it was 400lb, I wouldn’t want to go more than that, just because it’s really hard to move around. I actually got a scar from the last one, it was falling of and I was trying to grab the tail and hit my head on this shelf, so now I have a tuna scar [chuckles]. And we used pretty much every single thing except for the skin. All the bones are processed, we made stock with the head, I kept the fins… And then with the last one, we did a huge tuna print on an 8-foot tarp using a Japanese technique called Gyotaku: you paint the fish, and you roll the tarp on the fish to imprint. I want to action it off at the next dinner, thinking all proceeds would go to charity.

There was only supposed to be one tuna dinner, but the interest was really big, so we were able to fill three full nights, and now we’re gonna do another one this year. We’re looking at maybe doing swordfish, other Nova Scotia big fish we can work with. 

Wine pairing and Amuse-bouche at Mystic, Halifax. Image by Kateryna Topol.

KT: Speaking of animals, you bring in quite a few interesting ingredients, do you use snout to tail all of them?

CMC: Oh yeah, 100%. We just got another seven whole lambs from Brian MacKay-Lyons, who runs a local farm in Shobac. Last one we were paying around ageing the whole leg in beeswax – we dip the whole thing in beeswax, dry age it for weeks, and it develops a ton of flavour. I started with lobster tails as a trial. We use the hearts in different ways as well, like grading them on top of things. We made raviolo for the Discovery Menu, we did the lamb neck in the pasta, a lot of different areas to use all of the product up. It is challenging and it helps us break in new ideas and try new things.

KT: Let’s go back to the menu, there are a few options

CMC: Biota and Fauna are the main menus, we also have a vegetarian menu, Flora. When we first opened, we had those 3 menus, but we wanted to introduce the Discovery Menu just for the chef’s galley. There are usually 10-20 covers for that. The Discovery Menu changes daily, it’s handwritten, and you don’t know what it’ll be. You know the main component of the dish, so it may say scallop, lamb, but you don’t know what you’re getting, how it’s cooked, how it looks, it’s all kind of a surprise. It’s great for us because we can use it as an avenue to try new dishes, new techniques. A lot of stuff that goes on the main menu has been rotated through the Discovery Menu. Some things are easily 2-3 different versions until I think everyone likes it. Guest feedback is very important as well. 

We recently added a short-form menu; it’s still a full experience, but you get it a little bit quicker with a couple less dishes, but still the same quality of food service and drinks. And then we, of course, our bar bites menu and the Unwritten bar program based on cocktails. The food is based on cocktails, you sit at the bar, and the bartenders take you through all the drinks and the components, similar to the Discovery Menu.

KT: The daily changes with the Discovery Menu, is that driven by the ingredients? 

CMC: Yes, and stuff we want to try. All the dishes have interchangeable parts, like if it’s not endive, it can be radicchio, if it’s gem lettuce, it can be frisee, and so on. We can spin a dish with different ingredients, and you get a completely different outcome. 

And sometimes it is completely onset new dishes… It usually comes together with a couple of different people. I’ll go to my sous chef and go like “hey man I’ve got this idea I want to try, what do you think” and he’ll be like “what if we do this and this” and then between the two or three of us it becomes a better version of the dish, then if it was just me, four eyes see better then two eyes, you know.

So we have a bit of a melting pot of ideas and techniques that come together. I obviously give that creative license as well. Same things with the sommeliers, I value their opinion, they have an amazing palette, Samuel Melanson has an amazing palette, he’s travelled the world and worked at top restaurants, why wouldn’t I let him try? I value these opinions, the collaborations make us and that dish better and stronger. And it makes everyone feel pride in place as well.

KT: Anything you’d like to add 

CMC: Just hammer in the point that it’s a team effort, the ownership with the vision and direction and the team we all came together, and every single person just put in so much work and made it possible.

The post Chef Malcolm Campbell on refining terroir dining inside Mystic Nova Scotia appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The festival is bustling and energetic, bringing together whisky appreciators from across the country and producers from all around the world. Repeat visitors and newcomers gather to share their love for the liquid gold, reconnect with past friends, make new acquaintances over meals, and restock their collections at the on-premise shop.

New Brunswick Spirits Festival 2026 dates: November 17-21. Ticket prices are from 2025, listed for quick reference.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This trip was hosted by Tourism Fredericton who did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

The Irish Whiskey Lunch by HYDE Irish Distillers, New Brunswick Spirits Festival.

What is New Brunswick Spirits Festival?

The festival was launched in 1998 by a Fredericton local, Frank Scott, who at the time was also the owner/operator of the Lunar Rogue, one of Canada’s best whisky pubs. Scott wanted to bring the world of whisky to his home province while also stimulating local tourism during the slowest travel month of the year. 

Hosted in partnership with the New Brunswick Liquor Board (ANBL), the New Brunswick Spirits Festival (NB Spirits Festival) attracts renowned global brand ambassadors and welcomes promising new producers annually. The festival event lineup includes curated dinners, masterclasses, and the famous Friday showcase, where you can taste and learn your way through a room full of whisky producers.

Scott’s appreciation and knowledge of the spirit are recognised by the whisky community, so much so that in 2016, he was invited to Blair Castle in the Scottish Highlands to be inducted as a “Keeper of the Quaich” (quake), the most prestigious appointment achievable in the Scotch whisky industry. In early 2026, the festival was also chosen as the Best Whisky Festival in Canada by The Whisky Explorers People’s Choice and Community Awards.

Whisky is always the hero spirit, but some gins, tequilas, and rums do also feature.

Where is NB Spirits Festival held?

The events are hosted at the Delta Fredericton by Marriott and completely take over the property throughout the week. Between masterclasses and lunches, festival attendees gather in the hotel lobby for snacks and cheerful chatter with cold pints, craft cocktails, and off course, more whisky. The rooms at the Delta sell out well in advance, so if you plan to attend, it is strongly recommended to book those right away.

The hotel is located a short drive or half-hour walk from Downtown Fredericton. At the hotel, guests have access to a fitness centre, pool, hot tub, and a barrel sauna, for a dash of wellness between the drams.

NB Spirits Festival founder and chairman Frank Scott at the Closed Distilleries Master Class.

NB Spirits Festival events & Tickets

Festivalgoers can attend as many or as few events as they like. All events are individually ticketed and can occupy a full-day itinerary. Happenings are listed on the festival’s events page and sold through Eventbrite.  

Tickets go on sale in autumn (October in 2025), with perennial favourites selling out quickly. You will want to make sure to set some time aside on the ticket release date to build and secure your wishlist. Each ticket also includes taxi fare home if you opt to stay outside of the hotel. 

As and added bonus, a pop-up Alcool NB Liquor Store is built in one of the hotel’s conference rooms. Open daily, the shop is where collectors can find (nearly) every featured whisky at the festival. Naturally, many of the popular (read: allocated) whiskies sell out quickly and can even prompt early morning lineups through the hotel lobby.

Tip: Keep an eye out for updates on the festival Facebook page or Instagram.

Curated meals

The festival kicks off with two special dinners. Last year it was The Rum Dinner, hosted by Chairman’s Reserve Rum, and The Whisky Dinner, hosted by Aberfeldy Whisky. These events have a business casual dress code, include a few presentations, and always have assigned seating – a great opportunity to meet new people. The festival closes with The World Whiskies Dinner, last year hosted by Suntory Global Spirits. All dinners begin with a cocktail reception. 

The NB Spirits Festival team also hosts a series of daily lunches. Like the dinners, these are three-course seated meals with a guided spirits pairing. For 2025, attendees had the option to enjoy a guided lunch with Hyde Irish Whisky, Douglas Laing, Hayman’s Gin, and Gin Lunch, hosted by whisky educator Johanne McInnis.

All meals are thoughtfully planned and prepared by the Delta Hotel’s executive Chef Mindy Trail, and Martine Nouet, one of the world’s leading whisky writers and a specialist on whisky and food pairing. Nouet, a long-standing collaborator of the festival, had taken a step back from working on the festival’s complex culinary program but was ushered out of retirement for 2025 by Frank Scott.

One of the most unique meals, if only for its timing, is the Breakfast & Drams. As the name suggests, this is a whisky breakfast kicking off at 8:30 AM. The 2025 addition was hosted by The Spots Irish Whiskey, perfectly pairing Jameson’s Triple Cask with a yoghurt parfait and Green Spot Irish Whisky with a spiced French toast.

Dinner: $110+, lunch tickets: $95, breakfast: $65 CAD.

Breakfast & Drams with The Spots Irish Whiskey.

Masterclasses

NB Spirits Festival Thursday is when all masterclasses take place. Starting at 3:30 PM and ending at 10 PM, attendees roam room to room learning about world whisky from global ambassadors and distillers. Between sessions, the lounge is absolutely buzzing with people sharing plans and favourites over drinks. Nearly forty masterclasses happen this day, spotlighting renowned producers and up-and-coming distilleries from around the world.

A small sample of the 2025 masterclass lineup includes: House of Suntory (presented by Tristan Davis), Bruichladdich, (presented by Johanne McInnis), Dewars Family Vertical (Rhiann Ferguson), Sleeman Family’s Spring Mill Distillery (presented by John and Cooper Sleeman), Rare Finds from Scotland’s Legendary Distilleries (presented by Simon Hooper & Ben Lemieux), Bowmore (presented by James Neil), Glenfiddich and Balvenie (presented by Jamie Johnson), Arbikie (presented by Nicolas Stirling), and many more.

See last year’s events list for a more detailed sample of masterclasses and distilleries taking part in the festival.

Related articles: John Sleeman & Sons: The family that wouldn’t stay erased

Specialty tastings 

Whisky & Art: A Feast for the Senses is an annual favourite and often the first event to sell out. For this one-of-a-kind tasting, patrons are shuttled to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, where Martine Nouet works closely with John Leroux, the Manager of Collections and Exhibitions, on pairing whisky to art. Martine’s whisky stories are followed by John’s incredible insight into each chosen piece of art have the room in a quiet awe, chuckling and gasping from time to time.

This concept might be hard to imagine, but the two of them really make it work: “This painting is by Anonymous, so your first whisky is also anonymous, the bottle isn’t displayed here with the other four. It is lively, fresh, and sort of quiet, if there is such a thing as a quiet whisky, like the serene women in this painting,” Martine explained the pairing, “and the two creepy guys in the back,” John chimed in, causing a wave of laughter across the room. The “anonymous” whisky was later revealed as AnCnoc 12 Year Old. $75 CAD.

Scotland’s singer and songwriter Robin Laing (“The Whisky Bard”) made multiple appearances throughout the festival, including an hour-long tasting titled Songs, Stories and Drams. This afternoon’s tasting included six whiskies accompanied by Laing’s whisky-themed and often comedic folksongs (Old Pulteney 18, Clynelish 18, Bruichladdich Black Art, Talisker Distillers Edition, Glenmorangie The Nectar 16, and Bowmore 18). $40 CAD.

Other speciality tasting event examples include:

• The coveted Springbank Vertical Tasting, showcasing hard-to-find Single Malt Scotches ($125)
• The Chairman’s Dram with Frank Scott, which includes carefully selected bottles from Frank Scott’s private collection, including discontinued and hard-to-find drams ($140)
• Closed Distilleries, which spotlight a mix of bottles from distilleries that no longer operate, this is a once-in-a-lifetime type of session and comes with stories about what makes these expressions still so valuable ($150)
• The Collectors, where a handful of bottles are donated by friendly whisky collectors, offering participants a taste of often hard-to-find expressions only available through private tastings ($75)

Note that these events change year-to-year, depending on the participating spirits partners.

The festival showcase 

This is the “crown jewel” of the New Brunswick Spirits Festival. Producers line up their selection of offerings across long rows of tables, wrapping around the conference room. Each table is fronted by a brand ambassador or a distiller, guiding festival guests through production processes, history, and tasting notes. $125 CAD

The serious collectors choose to enter the showroom early with the NB Spirits Festival VIP Showcase Access ticket ($175 CAD), which gives them an hour head start on the tasting lineup. If time permits, it is recommended to do a full walk around before tasting to get a good sense of the available spirits and planning a route that avoids palate fatigue.

Related article: On the makings of a distillery with Katherine Lanteigne from the New Brunswick Distillery

Getting to & Around Fredrecton

Direct flights to Fredericton are available from across Canada. Fredericton International Airport (YFC) is only a 20 minute drive from the host hotel. Given the nature of the festival, you will not need a car and can easily get around with taxis or rideshare (Kari and Uride). NB Spirits Festival also operates a Safe Ride program, so make sure to grab your taxi chit on the way out. The event host will typically remind attendees where and when one is available.

Explore Fredericton beyond the festival with our Fredericton city guide.

Find accomodations in Fredericton

The post Everything you need to know about attending the New Brunswick Spirits Festival appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Beyond the borders of the most visited cities like Rome, Athens, and Paris lies a large and beautiful world waiting to be explored. An extra train ride, a short flight, or a countryside drive can lead you to far less crowded places. These cities are just as rich in historic architecture, culture, and culinary experiences, but with fewer queues.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

Beaune, France. Decorative roof of Hospices de Beaune. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Beaune, France

Beaune is a beautifully preserved walled town at the heart of the Burgundy wine region in eastern France, encircled by the world-famous Côte d’Or vineyards. Compact and highly walkable, the cobblestone centre is lined with excellent restaurants, centuries-old historic sites, and some of the finest wine cellars in France. For anyone exploring the Burgundy region, Beaune is the ideal base.

Top Things to Do in Beaune

The town’s most iconic landmark is the Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune), a stunning 15th-century former hospital renowned for its elaborately patterned polychrome slate roof, one of the most photographed buildings in France. Also worth visiting is the Collégiale Notre-Dame de Beaune, a Romanesque collegiate church with remarkable 15th-century tapestries inside. Round out your historic exploration with a walk along the Remparts de Beaune, the town’s remarkably intact 900-year-old medieval city walls.

After dark, Beaune takes on a different character entirely. Les Chemins de Lumières (Paths of Light) is a nightly art projection event that illuminates the town’s most notable buildings, including Notre-Dame, with large-scale mixed-media displays, making an evening stroll through the old town a memorable experience.

Wine experiences in Beaune

Beaune is one of the best places in the world to learn about and taste Burgundy wine. Begin at The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, an architecturally striking museum dedicated to the history, science, and terroir of Burgundy’s vineyards, with a particular focus on the UNESCO-listed Climat system that makes Burgundy wine unique.

For tastings and cellar visits within the town, strong options include The Best of Burgundy Wines tasting, the Maison Champy Guided Cellar Tour and Tasting at one of Burgundy’s oldest négociants, and the Burgundy Wine Tasting at Solstice. For a fuller regional picture, a  Burgundy Day Trip (14 tastings) or a Small Group Full-Day Tour through the Côte d’Or vineyards (2 tastings of 5 wines).

What to Eat & Drink in Beaune

Burgundy has one of France’s most distinctive regional food cultures. Local specialities to seek out include Escargots de Bourgogne (Burgundy snails), Burgundy truffles, Dijon mustard, Pain d’épices (Burgundy gingerbread), and the delicate Anis de Flavigny sweets, produced in a nearby village abbey. These are traditionally accompanied by Cassis de Dijon (blackcurrant liqueur) or a glass of Crémant de Bourgogne, the region’s excellent sparkling wine.

For a hands-on food experience, La Moutarderie Fallot is a family-owned working mustard mill founded in 1840, one of the last traditional stone-ground mustard producers in France and well worth a visit even for those with only a passing interest in mustard.

Where to stay in Beaune

For a stay within the historic walls, Hôtel de la Poste and Les Remparts Hôtels et Demeures Historiques are both well-positioned central options with character. If a pool or spa is a priority, Cèdre Beaune (A Beauvallon Hotel & Spa), voco Beaune, and Hotel Les Nomades all offer strong wellness facilities while remaining within easy reach of the town centre.

Best time to visit Beaune

Summer is the warmest and most sociable time to visit, with long evenings ideal for outdoor dining and the Les Chemins de Lumières projections. The shoulder seasons, particularly May and September, offer fewer crowds, more relaxed winery visits, and more competitive hotel rates. November is also worth considering for the famous Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, held on the third weekend of November each year.

Montreux, Switzerland. Chillon Castle on an overcast day. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Montreux, Switzerland

Located on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, Montreux is a stunning lakeside town with easy access to the Swiss Alps. The city is remarkably walkable, though it rises steeply up a hillside, so several built-in elevators help you navigate between the lower promenade and upper streets.

Top things to do in Montreux

Start along the iconic lakeside promenade and take a selfie with the statue of Freddie Mercury. Wander through Montreux’s charming Old Town and step inside the Church of St. Vincent, a peaceful historic chapel overlooking the lake.

Set aside at least an hour or two for Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon), one of Switzerland’s most visited historic sites. This remarkably preserved medieval water castle served as the residence of the Counts of Savoy for nearly four centuries, and sits dramatically at the water’s edge just outside the town.

Take the cog railway to Rochers-de-Naye

One of the best day trips from Montreux is the scenic cog railway ride to Rochers-de-Naye, a roughly 45-minute ride. Disembarking at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level, you will find yourself at the top of the Swiss Alps with resting stations, hiking and walking trails, and even via ferrata. 

Swiss Alps, Montreux, Switzerland. Images by Kateryna Topol.

What to eat in Montreux

Swiss cuisine in the Vaud region is hearty and deeply satisfying. Try a traditional fondue or raclette, pick up a slice of Birnbrot (Swiss pear bread), or seek out Papet Vaudois, a regional speciality of leek and potato stew served with sausage. For a special occasion, Montreux has several Montreux Michelin Restaurants worth booking in advance. Alternatively, a local food tour is a great way to sample regional delicacies with expert guidance.

Where to stay in Montreux

For a truly grand stay, the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is the town’s landmark luxury hotel, while Grand Hotel du Lac, a Relais & Châteaux property, offers an equally elegant experience. For something slightly more understated but still very comfortable, Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic and  Mona Montreux are both strong options.

Best time to visit Montreux

Spring brings wildflower blooms across the hillsides, summer offers warm weather ideal for the promenade and lake swimming, and December is worth the visit for Montreux’s renowned Christmas market, one of the most atmospheric in Switzerland.

Strasbourg, France. Image by Patrick Robert Doyle.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is a picturesque historic city in the Alsace region of northeastern France, situated near the German border. Compact and highly walkable, the city centre is threaded with beautiful squares, half-timbered houses, and canal-lined streets, and in December, it transforms into one of Europe’s most celebrated Christmas market destinations, drawing visitors from across the continent.

Top things to do in Strasbourg

The undisputed centrepiece of the city is Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg), located in the Grande Île neighbourhood, the entire island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Completed in 1439, the Gothic cathedral was the tallest building in the world for over two centuries, and remains one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe.

From there, make your way to Petite France, the city’s most photogenic quarter, where flower-lined canals meet timber-framed houses and riverside cafés. Next, head to the Neustadt district, Strasbourg’s “new city,” built during the German Imperial era, to visit the Municipal Roman Baths, a working thermal spa open to the public (bring a swimsuit).

Strasbourg Cathedral and rooftops. Images by Olia Bondarenko.

Day trip: The Alsace wine route

Just outside Strasbourg, the Alsace wine region is one of the most scenic and distinctive wine regions in France, known for its Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. It makes an excellent day trip, either self-guided by car or bike, or with a half-day tour or full-day tour if you’d prefer a guide to handle the logistics (half-day tour, full-day tour).

Where to Eat & Drink in Strasbourg

For an authentic taste of Alsatian cuisine, seek out a Winstub, a traditional wine bar and restaurant serving hearty local food and regional Alsace wines in a convivial, wood-panelled setting. Dishes to look out for include Wädele (slow-cooked ham hock), Grumbeerekiechle (crispy potato pancakes), Lewerknepfle (liver dumplings), Presskopf (head cheese), and Bibeleskäs, a fresh soft cheese blended with garlic and herbs, similar to a French fromage blanc.

Where to stay in Strasbourg

For a historic hotel with a spa, Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa is a strong first choice, centrally located on the Grande Île. Hôtel Régent Contades offers elegant four-star accommodation near the Neustadt. For something smaller and more characterful, boutique options like  Hotel Tandem or Hôtel LÉONOR both offer distinctive stays in the heart of the city.

Best time to visit Strasbourg

Spring is lovely for wildflower blooms and mild temperatures, summer brings the warmest weather for exploring on foot, and autumn is ideal for visiting the Alsace vineyards during harvest season. December, however, is when Strasbourg truly comes into its own. The city’s Christmas markets are among the oldest and most atmospheric in Europe, with the main market dating back to 1570.

Split, Croatia, Old City views and Diocletian’s Palace. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Split, Croatia

Croatia may be best known for its beaches and nightlife, but Split stands apart as a beautiful historic city centre and a foody paradise. The Old Town stretches along the Adriatic coastline, where historically dense Roman streets open suddenly onto wide palm-lined promenades. Further out, you’ll find sandy beaches, charming residential neighbourhoods, and even local wineries, making Split one of the most well-rounded cities on the Dalmatian Coast.

Top things to do in Split

The undisputed heart of the city is Diocletian’s Palace, one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 4th century as a retirement residence for the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the palace complex is still a living, breathing part of the city, home to restaurants, bars, apartments, and some of the most atmospheric squares in Europe. In summer, the central Peristyle square becomes an open-air gathering place, with live music and wine spilling into an informal dancefloor under the stars.

Within the palace walls, visit Saint Domnius Cathedral, built directly inside Diocletian’s mausoleum and one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world, and climb the bell tower for sweeping views over the city and Adriatic. Step down into the palace substructures, a vast network of underground vaulted chambers, and pop into the well-preserved Temple of Jupiter. Make time to pass through all four of the palace’s iconic city gates: the Golden Gate, Silver Gate, Iron Gate, and Bronze Gate.

Split also gained international fame as a filming location for Game of Thrones, and most local tour guides will happily point out the key spots used in the show.

Split, Croatia: Waterfront, free performances in the Old City, fine dining. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Where to eat in Split

The Old Town is dense with excellent restaurants, cafés, gelaterias, and the beloved Pazar (Green Market), a lively open-air market selling fresh local produce. Dalmatian coastal cuisine is the main draw: expect fresh Adriatic seafood, Pašticada (a slow-cooked sweet-and-sour beef stew), Crni Rižot (black cuttlefish risotto), and Burek (a flaky savoury pastry filled with cheese or meat).

Whether you opt for one of Split’s Michelin restaurants or a locally favoured neighbourhood spot, reservations are strongly recommended in high season. One standout worth seeking out is PiNKU fish & wine, a much-loved spot with a strong local following. For a guided introduction to the food scene, a food tour is an excellent way to cover a lot of ground quickly.

Where to stay in Split

Split has a strong offering of heritage hotels that make the most of the city’s historic architecture. Heritage Hotel Cardo and Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia are both well-regarded choices within or near the Old Town. For a more intimate stay, boutique room rentals like Procurator 7 Luxury Rooms or Grgur Ninski Rooms offer a characterful alternative to traditional hotels.

Best time to visit Split

July and August are peak season, bringing large crowds and higher prices. The shoulder months — May, June, September, and October — offer a far more relaxed experience with warm weather, quieter streets, and more competitive accommodation rates. May and October in particular are excellent for exploring on foot without the summer heat.

Trier, Germany, Porta Nigra interiors. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Trier, Germany

Trier is a charming small city set along the Moselle River in western Germany. Founded under the Roman Empire, Trier is the oldest city in Germany — and one of the most historically rich destinations in Europe. Roman architecture and ruins are one of the main draws to Trier, followed by its extensive wine culture. 

Top things to do in Trier 

Start your visit at Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate in the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, Trier Cathedral (Trierer Dom) is the oldest church in Germany and another UNESCO-listed landmark well worth exploring. Take a stroll through the Palastgarten (Palace Gardens), a sweeping green space set in front of a striking French Baroque palace. 

History lovers won’t want to miss Thermen Am Viehmarkt and the  Kaiserthermen (Trier Imperial Baths), two impressive Roman bath ruins that hint at the city’s ancient grandeur. 

The beating heart of Trier is Hauptmarkt, the lively central market square. From March to early November, a rotating seasonal wine stall showcases a different local winery each week. Pull up a seat by the fountain, pick up fresh fruit from local farmers, and soak in the atmosphere.

What to eat & drink in Trier 

Trier’s food culture is deeply tied to the land. Try local specialities like Pellkartoffel mit Quark (potatoes with herb curd) or Kartoffelauflauf (potato casserole), ideally paired with a glass of crisp local Riesling — the signature wine of the Moselle Valley.

Wine experiences in Trier

Wine is central to life in Trier and the wider Mosel region. To make the most of it, consider booking a Guided City Walk with Wine Tasting, visiting Germany’s oldest wine cellar for a private tasting, or embarking on a Wine Tour with a Boat Ride along the Mosel (a 4.5-hour experience).

Where to stay in Trier

For a historic stay, the Romantik Hotel zur Glocke is a characterful choice with a cellar restaurant. The Mercure Hotel Trier Porta Nigra offers rooms with views of the famous city gate. Travellers seeking a hotel with a spa should consider Park Plaza Trier. 

Best time to visit Trier

Summer offers the best weather, but visiting in spring or autumn means fewer crowds and more affordable accommodation. December is worth considering for Trier’s atmospheric Christmas market.

Turin, Italy. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Turin, Italy

Locally known as  Torino, Turin is a large and elegant metropolitan city in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, set alongside the River Po and framed by the western Alps. The city is often overlooked in favour of Rome or Milan, but it rewards visitors with an exceptional range of Roman ruins, grand royal palaces, 300 kilometres of tree-lined boulevards, and one of Italy’s finest regional food cultures.

Top things to do in Turin

Begin your visit at Piazza Castello, the grand central square that anchors the historic centre and serves as the natural starting point for exploring the city. From here, visit the Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale), a former residence of the House of Savoy and part of the UNESCO-listed Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, which includes museums, state apartments, and manicured gardens.

Nearby religious landmarks include the ornate Chiesa di San Lorenzo, the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista (Turin Cathedral), home to the world-famous Turin Shroud (Sindone). Don’t miss the Sindone Chapel and the Basilica of Superga, a Baroque hilltop church with panoramic views over the city and the Alps that makes for an excellent half-day trip.

History enthusiasts will want to spend time at Porta Palatina (the Palatine Gate), one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world, and the adjacent Roman Theatre, which remains in active use for public performances today. More Roman history and artefacts can be found at the Palazzo Madama and the Museo di Antichità, both essential stops for anyone interested in Turin’s deep history.

What to eat in Turin

Turin sits at the heart of the Piedmont region, one of Italy’s most celebrated culinary destinations. Regional specialities worth seeking out include Vitello Tonnato (thinly sliced veal with a creamy tuna sauce), Piemonte Fassone tartare (made from a prized local breed of cattle), Tajarin (a thin egg pasta typical of Piedmont), and Agnolotti del Plin (small hand-pinched stuffed pasta). For a convivial shared experience, Bagna Càuda, a warm anchovy and garlic dipping sauce served with seasonal vegetables, is the quintessential Piedmontese communal dish, best enjoyed alongside a glass of Barolo or Barbera.

Turin is also famous throughout Italy for its focaccia bakeries, which are scattered across the city and not to be missed. The city is additionally considered the birthplace of Italian chocolate and vermouth, so leave room for a gelato and an Aperitivo.

Where to stay in Turin

For a sleek, modern stay, Opera 35 Boutique Hotel offers minimalist design with generous space in a central location. For classic Turinese grandeur, Grand Hotel Sitea is a long-established luxury choice in the heart of the city. Travellers prioritising a spa should consider Palazzo Bellezia Luxury Suites & Spa, Principi di Piemonte, and Hotel Victoria & Iside Spa, all of which offer strong wellness facilities alongside central locations.

Best time to visit Turin

Summer brings the warmest weather and is ideal for exploring the city on foot and taking day trips into the Alps. Spring is a particularly rewarding time to visit if you can align with the Torino Jazz Festival, one of the city’s most beloved annual events. Autumn brings vivid foliage across the surrounding hills and marks the beginning of truffle season in the Piedmont region — one of the best reasons to visit in October or November.

A few more European recommendations

For additional inspiration, see complete guides for Thessaloniki, Luxembourg, Bath, Waterford, Lyon, as well as Naples and Monopoly within the Italy road trips itinerary.

The post Europe off the beaten path: Six wonderful lesser-known cities to visit appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Tucked away on Mercer Street, Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer feels private and secluded, despite being only a small city block South of King West. This family-owned property is one of many across Canada, all centrally located, beautifully designed boutique hotels around the country. The hotel looks quite unassuming from the outside, but as soon as you enter, a sense of comfortable luxury will reveal itself with tall ceilings and fine finishes.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This hotel stay was hosted by Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercern, which did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

PUNCH Restaurant, Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer. Image courtesy of the hotel.

The vibe & Shared spaces 

Due to the location and the architectural structure of the building, the hotel does not get a lot of light, but the dimly lit, moody character of the space is embraced through design. Dark wood, carefully chosen design touches, art and live greenery set an ambience of a secret urban lounge, accompanied by matching atmospheric music. 

The open lobby has a comfortable sitting area that feels like a petite library coupled with a small boutique shop. To the right is the Mercer Lounge, hidden behind the check-in desk. To the left, through a heavy door, is the brand new PUNCH Restaurant.

Your room key gives you access to the hotel amenities like the seasonal terrace and a small but fairly well-equipped gym on the upper floor. On the mezzanine level, which looks over the lounge, are meeting rooms and a special events bar. Quiet now, this area surely comes to life in full colour when in use.

Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer lounge, images by Kateryna Topol.

Inside the Suite

There is a total of 118 rooms at the hotel, all tastefully decorated, embracing contemporary design with thoughtful lighting and modern conveniences. All of the La Germain Hotel properties are created with purpose and sustinabailty in-mind, each room has plenty of livable storage, mirrors, usable counter space in the bathroom, and places to open, store, and hide your things.

The walls behind headboards are covered with felt-inspired material made of 95% recycled matter (Svelte) with an art installation above each bed. Commissioned for the hotel, the art pieces are featherweight sculptures made by Canadian artists Ann Bartok and Olena Kassian from BARKAS.

The room lighting is defused for arrival, jazz music softly playing in the background, and chocolate dessert cups accompanied by a personal note are ready to greet the guest. The spa-like oversized bathrooms have glass walls, further opening up the space. Blinds are available for privacy. Small, thoughtful conveniences, like earplugs, water carafes (filled in with turndown service), proper wine glasses, and an interior privacy button, add to the quality of the stay. 

Rooms range from a Classic Queen to various-sized Suites, including the Apartment Suite, with separate dining and living areas, and the Executive Suite with a living room and a fireplace. The regular noon checkout time is perfect for sleeping in after a big night out and enjoying breakfast in the room.

Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer, images by Kateryna Topol.

Restaurant & Lounge

The most recent addition to the hotel is the two new dining properties: the Mercer Lounge and PUNCH Restaurant.

Mercer Lounge is a classic hotel bar, with casual, comfortable furniture, dim, moody lighting and a signature library wall with a wooden ladder. The lounge opens at 5 PM daily, welcoming locals and hotel guests for a casual catch-up and live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On the bar menu are cocktails, freezer martinis, interesting wines, and a selection of decadent snacks like Gunpowder Pate (pork) and Fried Mozzarella and Caviar (eat it as soon as it hits the table). 

PUNCH Restaurant, on the other hand, has the grandeur of an English ballroom. The white tablecloth, tables and long padded benches are framed by high wood-panelled walls with stained glass windows. At the back is a statement bar with only a handful of barstools where locals gather for nightcaps.

PUNCH is a conceptual restaurant. The name is inspired by the Hindi word pañch, which means “five,” pronounced as “punch”. Punch is known as the world’s first cocktail, made in the 17th century (spirit, sugar, lemon, water, and spiced tea), so here at the hotel, the restaurant welcomes the heritage and the cultural collision of flavours. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Mandar Kulkarni (Le Select Bistro, Don Alfonso 1890, BISHA), who takes inspiration from family recipes. Guests can enjoy a modern take on classic dishes like Mumbai Chat-Slaw and Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani, or delve into world classics like Beef Wellington and Whole Grilled Seabream. Breakfast and brunch are served at the restaurant as well.

Mercer Lounge, Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer. Images courtesy of the hotel.

PUNCH Restaurant, Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer. Images courtesy of the hotel.

What to do nearby 

Le Germain Mercer is conveniently located a short walk away from the CN Tower, Aquarium, and a few other popular tourist attractions; consider purchasing a CityPASS if you plan to visit more than two. On a nice summer day, you can also walk to the city waterfront for a prolonged, relaxing afternoon.

Within short walking distance are the TIFF Lightbox Cinema and gift shop, Princess of Wales Theatre, Royal Alexandra Theatre, and the Roy Thomson Hall. In addition to the shows in the permanent city theatres, Candlelight Concerts are hosted in various venues across Toronto. Current offer on Fever is up to 30% select experiences.

Book direct on germainhotels.com to take advantage of special offers (like breakfast package or the PUNCH experience menu package), flexible checkout time, and guaranteed best price. Compare rate to: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Gym at the Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer, images by Kateryna Topol.

The post Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer offers a rounded stay in the heart of the city appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The snow-capped mountain peaks seen from every angle of the lake are fronted by lush trees canopied by thick layers of snow. Even as the weather begins to temper into shoulder season, offering warmer temperatures, tourism in the region does not peak until summer. Outside of the summer holiday months (May – September), the trails are less crowded, the lines are much shorter, if there are any at all, and hotel rates are more approachable. 

Making Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise your home-away-from-home sets the stage for a magical vacation filled with luxurious comfort, scenic nature walks, elevated dining options, and easy access to multiple tourism attractions across the region.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

Getting to Lake Louise

If you intend to do quite a bit of driving, you can rent a vehicle for the weekend at the Calgary International Airport (YYC). Alternatively, you can take a comfortable shuttle directly from the airport to Lake Louise. 

Brewster Express, operated by Pursuit Collection, runs four times a day from YYC to the doorstep of the Chateau 4 times per day off-season and 6 times per day May to October. Upon arrival at YYC, you can check in at the Brewster Express desk, where they will also tag your bag for departure. The spacious shuttle is outfitted with comfortable leather seats, equipped with outlets and USB adapters, and has a bathroom at the back of the bus. While the TV at the front of the bus live-streams the route ahead, the bus driver will occasionally take a moment to share insightful stories about the region, its people, and geography. There is a brief scheduled stop in Banff, during which you can grab a coffee from a nearby shop, and then the shuttle pulls through a narrow snowy road directly to the hotel front door. 

Shuttle fare starts from CA$66.75 per person
Book on banffjaspercollection.com
Other routes are available from downtown Calgary to across the region. 

Current offer: Save 25% on round-trip shuttles between Calgary and the Rockies with Brewster Express. Discount is automatically applied at checkout. Offer valid until May 18, 2026.

Brewster Express from Calgary airport to Lake Louise.

Day One:
Welcome to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Once checked in and unpacked, explore the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise map and the weekly concierge guide. The hotel hosts a wide range of weekly activities from yoga and outdoor adventures to family hours in the game room and evening campfires. A few times a week, the bar team hosts a guided mixology class. These spots fill up quickly, so sign up on arrival if a guided cocktail experience is on your wishlist.

Spend the afternoon exploring the hotel grounds, both inside and out, and if the weather permits, watch the sunset from the terrace. Hours can be lost wandering this vast property, so take time to find its special corners on day one.

For dinner, enjoy a casual meal at the Lakeview lounge (reservations recommended) or head down to the Fairview Bar & Restaurant for a typical pub vibe with TVs and cold pints. If you feel like leaving the property for dinner, take advantage of the frequent shuttle to the nearby Post Hotel & Spa (ask the concierge for the arrival and departure times). The Post Hotel Dining Room offers a menu built on seasonal ingredients, heavy on speciality meats and fish. At the foot of the parking lot, you will also find the Fondue Stübli, a cabin-style restaurant-bar that serves casual favourites and fondues in front of a fireplace.

See the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel review for additional context.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: Picture window at the Lakeview lounge, King Lakeview room, dining room at the Fairview Bar & Restaurant.

Day Two:
A relaxing wellness day at Lake Louise

Skip breakfast and start your day in a bathrobe at the BASIN Glacial Water spa. Brand new to the property, the spa is only available to hotel guests for three hours at a time. The spa journey includes wet and dry saunas, a range of sensory relaxation rooms, a jacuzzi and a terrace that will take your breath away. Make sure to join in for a guided Afguss ritual in the hot sauna and cool off on the terrace before heading inside for an afternoon snack. Enhance your spa visit with a glass of Ruinart Champagne, a perfect sip for a perfect view to end your spa session before lunch. 

Spa access pass: $275 per person. Reservations are strongly recommended; book the spa when you reserve your room to ensure access. The spa is a technology-free space.

Renewed and rejuvenated, head over to the Fairview Restaurant for the Afternoon Tea (reservations required). A classic English tradition available at most Fairmont properties, this lunch is a decadent selection of homemade scones, savoury sandwiches, and sweets from the in-house pastry chef. Afternoon tea is $155 per person, $155 with a glass of Veuve Clicquot. 

Sunrise from the BASIN Glacial Water spa at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

In the afternoon, bundle up and head out for a slow walk outside, hike through the forest, ice skate, or snowshoe on the lake. In the winter, you can also hop on a sleigh ride and enjoy the views from a horse-drawn carriage wrapped in a cosy blanket. Sleigh Rides are $55–$64 per person. On the way back to your room, stop by the hotel’s icebar for a cup of hot chocolate or Mulled Wine. It takes 5 days to build the ice bar using 240 blocks of ice, each weighing 300 pounds. The result is a beautiful open roof space with animal statues, ice benches and tables, and a firepit to huddle around with your hot beverage.

To complete this day of indulgence at the hotel, enjoy a contemporary farm-to-table meal at the Fairview Bar and Restaurant or sit down for a three-course Chateau Experience at the Walliser Stube, starting with the signature cheese fondue. While the Fairview Bar is bright and open, the Walliser Stube is a more intimate experience that feels like a private club.

Horses at Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Ice Bar.

Cocktails and fondue at the Walliser Stube at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Day Three:
Venture out to Banff

Enjoy the luxurious breakfast at Louiza. Build your own breakfast plate with the rich selection of items from the buffet, or make it a multi-course meal by adding an à la carte dish like Eggs Benedict or Belgian Waffles (included in the breakfast flat fee). Take a couple of pastries and some fresh-squeezed juice for the road and head out to Banff.

Getting to Banff from Lake Louise

If you have a car, the drive to Banff is just under an hour. Fairmont Banff Springs operates a shuttle to Lake Louise, though it will require a bit of a walk into Banff centre, about 25 min. Alternatively, you can take the Roam Lake Louise–Banff Express bus from the Lake Louise Lakeshore stop to Banff High School Transit Hub or take a taxi. From May to October, you can also take the Parks Canada shuttle.

Afternoon in Banff 

Walk around the Banff town, grab a coffee from one of its many cafes or a tea from Jolene’s Tea House, a local producer whose teas you will surely see in other cafes. Walk over to the Banff Pedestrian Bridge for a nice view of the Bow River to work up an appetite for lunch.

For lunch or brunch, settle in at the Brazen Restaurant. Located in the historic Mount Royal Hotel, Brazen is a local staple for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant has a modern yet welcoming atmosphere with big windows and a petite bar. The brunch menu is hearty and unique, with dishes like Grilled Cheese Benedict and Smoked Meat Pie, making it hard to decide on a single dish.

Brunch at the Brazen Restaurant, Banff, Alberta.

For the afternoon activity, head over to the Banff Gondola, a 10-minute drive or bus ride from Banff centre. The scenic gondola ride will take you up to Sulphur Mountain, overlooking Banff Village from high elevation. At the top (2,281 meters above sea level) is an interpretive centre and theatre, Sky Bistro (casual), Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen (elevated), and a few observation areas. 

A wooden walkway goes up another 102 meters to the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station, where scientists studied how the sun affects the Earth’s environment from 1960 to 1978. From up here, the mountains surround you full 360-degrees, a spectacular moment in time. It is possible to skip the gondola and hike up to the mountain, but that trail is not winter-friendly and takes around 5.5 hours as a return trip.

Banff Gondola
100 Mountain Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1J3 | Map link
Tickets: $69 to $74 adult, $44.85 to $48.10 child, cheaper in advance, family packages available  

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station and the Banff Gondola, Alberta.

Stay around in Banff for dinner. For a casual meal, head over to Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant. This is an always-busy spot that offers Shaft on draft – a Banff local concoction of vodka and cold brew coffee. Switch things up a bit with sushi at Hello Sunshine Sushi & Karaoke, which also has a wonderful cocktail program, or stick with the steak and fondue classics at the Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse. Most places in Banff offer a daily happy hour between 4 and 5 PM, 3 to 5 PM at the Brazen. Happy hours might change, so check online ahead of time. 

Find more things to do in Banff.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0

Room starting at $700 CAD for Mountain View King and $1,000 for Lakeview King. See hotel packages for special offers and collect your All Accor points for the stay.

Book direct on fairmont.com for the best price guaranteed. If you find a lower rate for your stay, the hotel will match it and take an additional 10% off. Compare rate to: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Hello Sunshine Sushi & Karaoke, Banff, Alberta.

Mountain views from Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta.

The post Three-day itinerary to a magical weekend in Lake Louise appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise faces Lake Louise, with Fairview Mountain and Mount Temple peaks shaping the skyline. The hotel first opened in 1890 as a small log chalet by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Two separate fires led to a major reconstruction that eventually turned into the stately property it is now. Over the years, the likes of Douglas Fairbanks and Alfred Hitchcock have stayed at the hotel. The hotel currently holds a Michelin Key for a very special stay. 

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

The rooms at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

There are 539 rooms at the hotel, ranging from King and Two Queens rooms to Deluxe, Junior, or Two-Bedroom Suites, and a selection of accessible rooms. The more unique and spacious options include the Marquis de Lorne Suite with a corner couch and a fireplace, and a few Suites with private terraces facing the lake. Lakeside rooms offer postcard scenery of Lake Louise, while hillside suites look at the Rocky Mountain ranges. 

Decorated in a lavish alpine-colonial style, the rooms are modern and kept up-to-date with various luxuries like automated bathroom lighting, blackout curtains, plenty of lighting options, and all of the expected entertainment technology. Each room has a coffee corner and a sizable fridge. A seating corner with a comfortable couch or chairs, and a small table are commonly found across all rooms.

If your privacy sign is off, the room service team will dim the lights, set up your branded sleepers and a water carafe by the bed with nightly turndown service. If the morning light is not too offensive, leave one of the curtains slightly open to enjoy the sun rise over the mountains from the comfort of your bed.

Plan your trip: Three-day itinerary to a magical weekend in Lake Louise

Amenities & Experiences 

With the exception of the hotel lobby, the Chateau is exclusive to hotel guests only. Once checked in, all guests are handed the resort map and a weekly concierge guide. Ornate chandeliers, elaborate carpets, heavy curtains, sturdy and elegant armchairs and sofas set the scene of a hunter’s lodge, but elevated a notch, or seven. The vast property includes retail shops and a retail arcade, mezzanine level games room, a ski rental shop, lounges, ballrooms, and scenic outdoor terraces. 

The Concierge Guide includes weekly activities organised by the hotel. On this schedule, you will find ski lessons, hotel tours, mixology classes, campfire hours, snowshoeing experiences and guided forest walks, music bingo, yoga and meditation classes, and much more. The wellness amenities include a small but fairly well-equipped gym, yoga/stretching room, an indoor pool with a jacuzzi and a spectacular view, a full-service spa, and a recently opened BASIN Glacial Waters thermal spa. A yoga mat is placed in each room along with the plush bathrobes inside the closet, in case a morning stretch is a daily habit.

BASIN Glacial Waters

The spa is an all-sensory thermal bathing experience tucked to the side of the hotel with breathtaking views of the Rockies from nearly every corner. Guests receive an individual spa journey card, based on a quick arrival survey, to guide them through the spa. This wellness path takes you through the wet and dry saunas, jacuzzi, thermal pool walks, and sensory relaxation moments. The exterior terrace is a grouping of individual hot pools, steam rising through the cold air, hiding the mountains in its wake. Every moment in the spa is special, but if you choose the sunrise or sunset hours, watching the sky change colours moment after moment is an experience unique to this geography. 

The hottest and most unique sauna in BASIN is accessed through the terrace and is where the Aufguss ritual takes place throughout the day. This Northern European ritual, which dates back over 2,000 years, is led by a sauna master who uses essential oils, music, and rhythmic towel movement to circulate the hot air. It is a multi-segmentary experience meant to promote deep relaxation and detoxification. BASIN’s sauna master, Kyan Van Haasteren, has a very calming demeanour, expertly leading the ritual and keeping an eye on attendees. The experience is transformative, and very, very hot. On a cold winter day, people tend to sit outside, literally steaming from their pores after the Aufguss ritual. 

The spa has a tea station and a small, healthy food menu. In addition to hot tea and juices, the BASIN beverage menu includes a lovely wine selection and has an exclusive partnership with Ruinart Champagne.

Spa access pass: $275 per person. Reservations are strongly recommended; book the spa when you reserve your room to ensure access. The spa is a technology-free space.

BASIN Glacial Waters spa at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Restaurants & Bars at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The hotel is isolated in the mountains with nothing really nearby, so multiple dining options are available across the property to accommodate a range of needs. The Guide’s Pantry, for example, is open during the day for quick snacks, to-go lunches, and coffee, while in-room dining is available all day by request. Much like other Fairmont properties, the Chateau also offers a signature Afternoon Tea. 

Breakfast is served at Louiza, a bright and spacious Mediterranean restaurant on the lower level of the hotel, also open for dinner. Guests can choose between a quick coffee and a pastry-style breakfast or sit down for a buffet breakfast accompanied by an à la carte dish. This fresh and robust menu selection includes not only typical breakfast options, like yoghurt and eggs, but a mix of world breakfast specialities from kimchi to green sauces and Spanish coldcuts. 

Located to the left of the lobby, Lakeview Lounge stretches along the lake-facing corridor with large bay windows setting the scene. Here, the menu is focused on seasonal flavours and craft cocktails. Alpine Social, on the other hand, has a casual pub vibe, celebrating the birthplace of mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. This casual menu offers hearty meals with a focus on Alpine-inspired, locally-sourced flavours. 

Fairview Bar & Restaurant is an intricately decorated, beautiful lounge and a sprawling ballroom dining room overlooking Lake Louise. The kitchen menu, created by Executive Chef Nicholas Issel, is a celebration of seasonal flavours packaged into farm-to-table dishes. Walliser Stube is a smaller restaurant set deeper into the property. This heritage room has intricate wood panel walls and a cabinet wall with a sliding ladder. This menu pays homage to the rich history of Swiss mountaineering through dishes they enjoyed on their journeys. 

Fairview Bar & Restaurant at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Lakeview Lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Dinner and drinks at the Walliser Stube Restaurant at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Getting to Lake Louise

Rent a vehicle for the weekend at the Calgary International Airport (YYC), or take a comfortable shuttle directly from the airport to Lake Louise. Brewster Express, operated by Pursuit Collection, runs four times a day from YYC to the doorstep of the Chateau off-season and 6 times per day during the summer. 

Book on banffjaspercollection.com
Shuttle fare starts from CA$66.75 per person
Other routes are available from downtown Calgary to across the region. 

Current offer: Save 25% on round-trip shuttles between Calgary and the Rockies with Brewster Express. Discount is automatically applied at checkout. Offer valid until May 18, 2026.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0

Room starting at $700 CAD for Mountain View King and $1,000 for Lakeview King. See hotel packages for special offers and collect your All Accor points for the stay. Rates vary seasonally, with the highest in July and August. 

Book direct on fairmont.com for the best price guaranteed. If you find a lower rate for your stay, the hotel will match it and take an additional 10% off. Compare rate to: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post A luxury stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Exiting the Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad, you are immediately enveloped by heat, a humid average of 27°C that will stay with you until departure. The island is small. In under an hour, you can drive the country end-to-end. But despite its petite breadth, Aruba has layers of history and culture, formed by those who entered its shores on ships. Centuries of economic development carved the shoreline and shaped the island into the binary destination that it is now – a tropical paradise framed by deserted industrial structures.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This trip was partially hosted by Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort who did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

Home in Aruba: Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is set against the backdrop of one of Aruba’s most beautiful beaches, Eagle Beach. Neatly lined rows of yellow buildings with protruding windows shape a communal courtyard. A white picket fence frames the property rectangle into a dream dollhouse, plants and flowers accenting the yellow walls. Palmtrees, directional signs, and a bike route make it all feel like a small town with part-time locals strolling across the road, beachbags in hand. “This will do,” I jokingly think to myself, taking in the calm paradise views.

The resort is family-owned by the Dutch Van Schaijk family, who for 35+ years have been welcoming travellers and locals to their property with open arms. Over the years, the hotel grew by 23 rooms, always looking for opportunities to improve the guest experience. The rooms range from studios to one-bedroom suites and penthouses, and nearly all of them have at least a kitchenette. Here, hotel guests often become regulars, moving in for weeks at a time, stocking up their fridges, and making Aruba their seasonal family home. The resort team treats guests like family with wide smiles, ready to help with acitivites and dinners plans.

Current offer: Save 37% on a last-minute stay at Amsterdam Manor on Eagle Beach, and toast your arrival with complimentary welcome champagne. Book my March 25, 2026. Travel March 21-27, 2026. Reserve today | All available offers. 

One-bedroom suite at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Aruba.

Outdoor pool at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Aruba.

The context: Historic layers that make Aruba what it is 

The island was first occupied by Archaic people who arrived in canoes from the coast of South America thousands of years ago. By A.D. 900/1000, another group of Indigenous people, the Caquetios, settled on the island, building villages and cultivating crops. The Spanish came in the 15th century in search of precious metals and pearls. Having found none of those, they declared Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (the ABC islands) as Islas Inútiles – the useless islands. So when they left, they took the people. 

The Dutch arrived later, in 1636, making Aruba a Caribbean naval base during their eighty-year war with Spain. Recognising the local communities, they recruited Caquetios as farmers, selling meat and produce to other islands. After a brief British invasion (1806–1816), the island was returned to the Dutch in accordance with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty, officially making it a part of the Netherlands Antilles much later, in 1945.

Those early years gave rise to the Aruba Industrial period with the opening of The Lago Oil and Transport and the Arend Petroleum Companies. These were major refineries processing crude oil, bringing prosperity to the island for decades. Until they closed in 1985.

All these chapters in Aruba’s history, in one way or another, are still present in its culture and architecture. As we move through the island, sit on its beaches, and drink its perfectly clean tap water, the history is all around us, most notably seen in the Dutch colonial architecture. 

Bushiribana Ruins, Aruba, remnants of the gold-mining era on the island.

Bites, meals & Libations: From casual happy hours to custom dining experiences  

Situated far enough from high-rise hotels (though within walking range), Amsterdam Manor enjoys uninterrupted sunset performances from every angle of the property, every night. Observing my third flawless sunset I began to wonder what Aruba’s red flags might be. Are there hurricanes? When does it get cold? It does not. The island sits outside the Caribbean hurricane belt, so its only real fault is the constant wind. So we dress up to dine on the beach, where the worst-case scenario is seawater washing over your feet.

Set along this pristine shoreline is Passions on the Beach, perhaps the most romantic restaurant on the island. Breakfast and lunch are served on the terrace, but dinner tables are placed directly on the sand. Dressed in our favourite summer attire and beach-friendly sandals, we take seats around the table, struck silent by the views. Elaborate cocktails and cold wine commence the meal, followed by luxurious seafood and steak dishes with a live saxophone setting the mood. This isn’t your typical Sunday dinner, proposals are made here at least once a month.

Blueberry lemonade and a quesadilla at Horizons Lounge, Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Aruba.

Back at the resort, guests gather for more casual meals at Horizons Lounge, overlooking the hotel pool and the sea from a short distance. In addition to daily service, the lounge also hosts manager cocktail parties with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, hosts all-you-can-eat fajita nights, and offers sushi service. Every stay can be tailored to your group with custom dining experiences like traditional Aruban dinners hosted on the penthouse terrace, cocktail and sushi-making classes, and custom beachside events. 

Seated in the gazebo or along the bar, we’d share secrets and laugh at each other’s travel experiences over colourful tropical drinks like the signature Fofoti and hibiscus margarita. And on another night, we gathered around the bar, tasting sake and local spirits at the sushi-making class, cheering on each other’s rolls, perfectly illuminated by the setting sun. 

Chef Eva demonstrating the art of a perfect sushi roll, and restaurant manager Maurice, sprinkling final finishes for the cheering bar crowd. 

Private dining experience set up on Eagle Beach, Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Aruba.

Eagle Beach: The easy life by the Caribbean Sea

Across the island, there are over 20 public beaches, with sand so soft to the touch it feels like sugar powder. All beaches in Aruba are public with mixed amenities from adjacent hotels, family-owned restaurants, and public palapas available to beachgoers. Eagle Beach serves as an extension to the Amsterdam Manor resort with a restaurant, sunbeds, and a heart-shaped swing adorned with flowers – yet another picture-perfect spot to “put a ring on it”. For us, however, this trip turned into a perfect ladies’ getaway – one I’d welcome again any day.

From sunrise to moonlight, people are at the beach, reading in the palapa shade, sauntering the shoreline, aimlessly floating out in the sea, or cruising the turquoise waters on a jet ski. Between culinary and island adventures, I took an afternoon off to relax on the beach, intermittently reading, napping, and taking dips in the warm water. One could argue, it is the best way to waste a day.  

Along the shore, mixed greenery sets a picturesque backdrop. Curvy Fofoti trees with twisted trunks formed by the persistent winds are perhaps the most noticeable. Indigenous to the island, the Fofoti are treated with respect, and the ones on Eagle Beach are looked after by the Amsterdam Manor staff. 

Beach shop and a Fofoti tree on Eagle Beach, coconut ice cream in the shell as a daytime treat.

Sightseeing in Aruba: Lighthouses, ruins, beaches and cultural breaks 

The most common way to explore the island is with a Jeep tour, so backpacks and totes in hand, we climbed up into our De Palm Tours ride. Navigating curvy roads along cactus fields and beaches, we found our way to the California Lighthouse, known as the Hudishibana. Perched on high seaside elevation, the lighthouse, built in 1910, offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the island.

The next stop takes us to Alto Vista Chapel, surrounded by a flat courtyard with a low stone fence, cacti growing scattered along the perimeter. Built by the Spanish missionaries in 1750, this Catholic parish is still functional today. The Chapel borders the Alto Vista trail, a scenic 3-kilometre loop overlooking the shoreline. 

As we drive around, I notice a pattern of elaborately decorated car snack shacks near each popular attraction. Some have a few shaded tables, while others simply offer grab-and-go snacks, fresh juices, and cold beers. I suddenly regret my hearty in-room breakfast, wanting to taste the local offerings at each stop.

De Palm Tours Jeep tour guide Richie at the California Lighthouse, Aruba.

Moving further into the island, we disembark at Bushiribana Ruins, built in 1872 by the Aruba Island Gold-mining Company Ltd.. During the gold boom, Aruba produced an equivalent of 3 million pounds of gold, but once all production came to a halt in 1916, the structures were vacated and left to weather with nature. The ruins sit atop a cliff, overlooking the rocky shoreline, showcasing Aruba’s complex volcanic foundation formed over 145 million years ago. 

Seeing that I was in Aruba, a friend mentioned a ghost town, stressing that it is something I should visit. My brief inquiries into the matter yielded no results; this ghost town seemed to be a myth. But as we traversed through this spectacular dry rock, listening to Richie’s stories, I came to realise that the aforementioned ghost town is San Nicolas, today known as the art capital of the Caribbean.

San Nicolas began as a lively entertainment neigbourhood for Dutch miners. With their departure, the city became a ghost town, but was recently brought back to life by a local art foundation, ArtisA. This colourful neigbourhood is home to art galleries, cafes, guided street art tours, and the biggest art fair in the Caribbean, Aruba Art Fair. The streets of San Nicolas are an international art gallery you can explore on your own or with Tito Bolivar from Aruba Mural Tours, the man who steered the metamorphosis of this neigbourhood.

The final stop on our day tour is Baby Beach, on the Southern end of the island. A short drive from San Nicolas, the beach is a half-moon sandy bay with shallow waters as far as the eye can see, flat like a sheet of paper. My travel companions ventured out far into the sea, I could see them swaying in the clear blue water in the distance, dipping from time to time. I stood two feet in the water on shore, determined to capture the beauty of this beach on camera, task quickly proven impossible from the ground. So instead I sat on a hot rock contemplating the contradiction of the scenery – some of the bluest water in the world set against a clear, unbothered sky, remnants of an abandoned oil refinery in the background.

The big night out: Cocktails, dance moves … shots

Every lady’s night of shenanigans begins with a classy dinner. Having bid adieu to the sushi master, we moved to the garden terrace of a 100-year-old mansion, Quinta del Carmen. The house, built in 1916, was once a family home, a physician’s practice, and a refinery clubhouse. Today, it is a fine dining establishment in the heart of Oranjestad serving world-inspired cuisine, heavy on fresh seafood.

With the moon now illuminating the way, we hopped aboard a colourful bus for an Aruba pub Krawl with Kukoo Kunuku. Joined by a rowdy group of strangers, we were each given a branded sippy cup for bottomless on-board cocktails – a fruity rum mix called the Kukoo Kiss. For the following three-and-a-half hours, we drove around, stopping at some of the island’s favourite local bars and nightlife spots. Finding a unique vibe in each bar, we danced, laughed, clapped along, and sipped our way across Oranjestad.

Dinner at Quinta del Carmen, Aruba.

Out at sea: Aruba luxury lagoon cruise to Spanish Lagoon

If I have learned anything over many years of travel is that one must not follow a big night out with a boat tour, but the mind forgets the moments it wants to forget. Picked up by Pelican Adventures in the morning, we drove out to the Pelican Pier for a Luxury Lagoon Cruise.

The boat is a classic red schooner with white sails, with water hammocks to each side of the bow. At the centre is a spacious flatbed on which I spent most of my afternoon roasting, cheeks up to the sun. And at the back, out of the sun’s merciless heat, are benches and harvest tables where our gourmet lunch was served. 

Cruising along Aruba’s southern coast, we saw the skyline transform from low-rise historic buildings to high-rise hotel towers, beaches, and parks. Further into the sea, we passed small islands, an amusement park, abandoned docking areas, and villages. Surrounded by impeccable blue water cruiser dove into the sea one-by-one to snorkel across to the Spanish Lagoon, returning invigorated and welcomed by an open bar with lively music.

Aruba Luxury Lagoon Cruise with Pelican Adventures.

* * *

Aruba’s slogan is “One Happy Island!” and after spending a week there, I can see why that might be the case. Considered as one of the safest islands in the Caribbean (“So safe, it’s almost boring”), it is not a place for extreme adventure. People come here to relax and unwind, to enjoy a life of leisure in the sun.

Having entered the country with an open mind and minimal expectations, I felt welcomed, entertained, well-fed, and most definitely relaxed. Granted, my Kodak moments were formed through personal experiences and relationships I built on the One Happy Island. But yours can be too.   

Brown pelicans and seagulls on Eagle Beach, Aruba.

Practical travel advice

Visa requirements: A valid passport accompanied by a completed approved Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED Card). The ED card is a $20 Sustainability Fee, which you can apply for online. More information about travel regulations can be found on visitaruba.com.

Getting to Aruba: From Canada, direct flights to Aruba are available from Toronto (YYZ) with Air Canada and WestJet (5-6 hours). From the USA, direct flights (3-5 hours) are available with JetBlue, American, Delta, and United from major cities like Miami, New York (JFK/EWR), Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston, Houston, and Philadelphia. UK travellers will have to connect in Amsterdam (KLM), though TUI Airways sometimes operates direct charter flights from London Gatwick. 

Drinking water: Tap water in Aruba is perfectly clean and safe to drink and meets the highest quality standard set by the WHO.

Money: The local currency is the Aruban Florin (AWG), although US dollars are also widely accepted. Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. Some restaurants will add a service charge for larger groups service charge is not a tip for your waiter. 

Language: Aruba is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Local languages are Papiamento (Afro-Portuguese Creole language) and Dutch, although most people speak English, especially across the diverse hospitality world. 

Phone and internet access: You can purchase a physical SIM on arrival at the AUA airport or be prepared by installing an eSIM ahead of time. Read more about eSIMs. 

Packing advice: make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, a beach cover and a sun hat (ideally one that sits tightly on or has a tie), a folding or motorised mini fan, a few swimwear sets, evening attire, and a comfortable beach bag.

Book directly to take advantage of flexible special offers and exclusive perks at amsterdammanor.com. Compare rate to: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba.

The post Finding a life of leisure in Aruba with Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort appeared first on Paths to Travel.

For decades, the family’s distilling narrative was a dormant heritage, a story whose middle chapters were missing. While their brewing history was public record, the physical legacy of their spirit-making remained elusive. The discovery at 43 Arthur St. South—formerly Allan’s Mill—added a layer of intrigue to the tale. In 2015, during a walkthrough of the site for potential renovation, the family found hidden tanks and a secret piping system concealed within a false basement. While these likely belonged to a separate, unnamed operation, the site’s proximity to the railway lines made it a perfect hub for the type of “midnight runs” that favoured the likes of Al Capone. This revelation, proving the site was a clandestine nexus for illicit spirits, prompted the family to scrap plans for a modern build on the highway, choosing instead to restore this limestone relic and finally give the Spring Mill name a permanent home in Guelph.

John Sleeman speaking on a tour of Spring Mill Distillery. Image by Kateryna Topol.

The forbidden legacy:
“The ink of an old recipe book”

The Sleeman lineage is defined by a rebellious streak stretching back to the late 1700s. The family’s predecessors were privateers in Cornwall, England—maritime adventurers who operated with the edge of a pirate but the legal veneer of a government commission. When privateering was no longer viable, they transitioned into the pub trade. One descendant, John H. Sleeman, brought this defiant spirit to Canada, establishing a brewery in 1834 and the original Spring Mill Distillery in 1836.

While the 1836 distillery was a separate enterprise, the family has now brought that name to the restored Allan’s Mill building. By the 1850s, industrial pollution had forced the original distilling operations to cease. The family’s penchant for the forbidden resurfaced during Prohibition, leading to a notorious smuggling operation that made Sleeman beer a staple in Chicago’s underground. The consequences were severe; in 1933, the family was officially stripped of their brewing license for 50 years.

A central artefact in this comeback is a weathered family recipe book, held by an aunt during the 1933 crackdown and preserved for a future generation. “We tell lots of stories there,” Cooper Sleeman says of the family’s history, noting that the book served as the map for his father, John Sleeman, to reclaim the family business in 1988, notably for their famous cream ale. While the book focuses on beer, it serves as the philosophical map for John Sleeman & Sons’ current commitment to quality.

The alchemy of copper:
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get”

To honour this legacy, the family turned to Richard Forsyth of Scotland, the world’s premier still maker. The family spent eighteen months convincing him that Spring Mill was a worthy home for his craft. Copper is a sacrificial metal, essential for scrubbing harsh sulfurs from the liquid during the boil. In the Spring Mill stillroom, these Scottish stills work in tandem with local Ontario grain to produce a spirit of sophisticated smoothness. Cooper believes in the power of persistence, citing the family motto passed down from his father: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. It is this mindset that secured the world-class equipment now sitting in the Ward.

A sibling’s labour:
Forging the Ontario oak narrative

If the stills are the heart, the cooperage is the hand. Quinn Sleeman, younger brother to Cooper, has taken on the apprenticeship of a dying art, focusing on the rare use of Canadian white oak barrels, seasoned in the rain and snow for eighteen months for select premium releases. Quinn’s barrels are reserved for the Cooper’s Rye—a name that serves as a playful double-entendre for both the craft and the family name. The labour is intensive, a manual process of assembly that demands total precision. Cooper views this side of the business as a lesson in patience, and Quinn’s first batch was a testament to that endurance. Having mastered the trade, Quinn’s work now represents the literal bottling of the Ontario landscape.

The modern steward:
Adapting to the surge

Today, Cooper Sleeman acts as the bridge between the privateer mythology of the 1700s and the modern market. He is attentive to the changing habits of the consumer, particularly the meteoric rise of Ready-To-Drink (RTD) options and the growing demand for zero-alcohol beverages. Spring Mill’s most popular RTD—a Ginger Lime Mule—was born from a simple request by his mother for a high-quality “mule in a can”. Beyond traditional spirits, the distillery is identifying the “all the rage” trend of non-alcoholic alternatives, ensuring they remain agile by leveraging the wider Sleeman network. “We have lots and lots and lots of whiskey that we put down,” Cooper says, but the modern portfolio must meet the demand for versatility alongside that traditional heritage.

Writer Nupur Singh on a tour of Spring Mill Distillery. Image by Kateryna Topol.

The lingering spirit:
A future in the making

As John Sleeman & Sons moves through 2026, the momentum is tangible. Their wine-cask-aged single malt recently took top honours at the National Whisky Awards, winning best single cask in Canada—a win that validates their patient approach. As Cooper notes, “whiskey ages with the seasons,” and this evolution informs their upcoming high-profile launches, including an Irish-inspired whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day. This agility is backed by a formidable engine; since 1988, the company has grown into Canada’s third-largest brewer. By managing a high-contrast portfolio—from the artisanal depths of Unibroue to the global reach of Sapporo—the family remains hyper-tuned to the market, using their diverse fleet to stay ahead of the next big thing.

Today, the history of Spring Mill Distillery is a tactile experience rather than a static archive. The distillery invites people to step inside the original walls for guided tours, where visitors can witness the labour of the stills and the precision of the cooperage firsthand. Beyond the technical craft, it has become a cornerstone of the Ward’s social fabric. Guests can linger at the onsite pub to sample the “Cooper’s Rye” or enjoy a “Fresh Ginger Lime Mule”. By opening their doors, the family isn’t just reclaiming a name, they have created a space where the community can sit down and raise a glass with a legacy that refused to stay erased.

The Ward Bar at Spring Mill Distillery, open Tuesday through Sunday. Image by Kateryna Topol.

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