Tree houses, art hotels and Nordic-style retreats join Canada’s hotel scene | Canada Voices

Canada’s hotel scene seems to be entering a new phase that’s less about volume and more about experience. While large full-service brands are expanding, smaller boutique properties – tree houses, art hotels, Nordic-style retreats – are leaning into design, wellness and a stronger sense of place. The result is a hotel menu that has become more varied than ever before, owing to the new and soon-to-open lodgings explored here.

Alberta

Rimrock Resort, Banff

Currently in the midst of a $115-million renovation, this venerable 320-room property is shifting toward a more wellness-driven identity anchored by a mountainside infinity pool, ice immersion bathing, panoramic saunas, meditation rooms, movement studios and an expedition centre for arranging excursions into the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The dining lineup will pair local ingredients with global flavours across a fine-dining restaurant, lobby bar, casual market and listening lounge. Rimrock Resort is scheduled to open in July. More info: https://www.rimrockresort.com

British Columbia

The Arden, Vancouver

Slated to open on Burrard Street in late spring or early summer, the 62-room Arden brings boutique polish to a 1972 Brutalist former medical-office building. Accommodations range from king and queen rooms to terrace suites, while amenities include complimentary Townie bikes, a pillow menu, concierge service and a 70-seat bistro bar. More info: https://www.thearden.com

Quebec

Residence Inn Bromont

This new property opened in January and it’s steps from Bromont’s ski slopes and cycling trails. The first ski-in, ski-out hotel in the Eastern Townships offers 134 suites ranging from studios to two-bedroom layouts for up to eight guests, all with full kitchens and workspaces. Amenities include an outdoor pool, whirlpool, fitness centre and EV charging. A major draw is CABINN, the hotel’s in-house restaurant led by acclaimed Quebec chef Laurent Godbout, where local ingredients, mountain views and a heated terrace lend an elevated feel to the stay.

Maison Grinder, Montreal

Set in a heritage building in Montreal’s buzzy Griffintown neighbourhood, this 15-room boutique hotel exudes a moody, clubby atmosphere that feels more like an urban hideaway than a standard city stay. More info: https://maisongrinder.com

SonoLux, Montreal

The latest project from Montreal’s Épik Collection pumped $18-million into a 1915 neoclassical bank building steps from the Notre-Dame Basilica. The result, Sonolux, feels less like a conventional hotel than a compact design destination. While its eight floors serve as edgy video art galleries – various works are projected on hallway walls – the 36 guest rooms are more understated and comfortable. More info: https://sonolux.ca

Metcalfe Hotel, Montreal

Downtown Montreal’s Metcalfe Hotel pairs historic architecture with contemporary redesign. The 119-room property leans into quiet sophistication rather than drama, with interiors that nod to the building’s past without feeling weighed down by it. Amenities include a heated outdoor pool on the third floor, a range of event spaces and the Benjamin steakhouse. More info: https://metcalfehotel.com/montreal

Ontario

Fort Treehouse Hartwood, Minden, Haliburton county

Set in the forested hills of Minden, Ont., Hartwood reimagines the tree house stay as high design. Created by Fort Treehouse Co. founders Lauren and Cam Green, the off-grid retreat comprises just three architect-designed tree houses and a central gathering hub, the Hydda, on a 15-acre site bordering protected forest and the Burnt River. Designed by Toronto-based studio ksa, the structures feature minimalist interiors, full kitchens, fireplaces, rooftop decks and views into the forest canopy. More info: https://www.forttreehouseco.com

Claramount Club, Picton, Prince Edward County

Overlooking Picton Harbour, this 1906 Georgian estate has been reimagined as one of Prince Edward County’s more ambitious new stays. The property blends heritage suites in the original mansion with lakeside rooms, the multibedroom Taylor House for groups and accessible accommodations in the Carriage House. Amenities are resort-like: a 64-foot heated indoor pool, tennis court, gym, fire pits, boardwalk access, concierge service and meeting space. Dining is a major draw, too, from the casual Foundry restaurant to pastries and coffee from PECish Xpress. Signature restaurant Delphine, meanwhile, is set to follow in spring 2026. More info: https://www.claramountclub.ca

Leeward House, Thornbury, Grey County

Set across two buildings spanning roughly 4,000 square feet, Leeward House pairs a wraparound porch and landscaped grounds with a year-round pool, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and Nordic-style wellness circuit. The Main House includes a lobby bar, lounge and two upper-level suites with king beds, built-in bunks, vaulted ceilings and private balconies. Next door, the guest house offers seven king suites with private entrances and decks, including connecting rooms. The property is slated to open this summer, steps from the shopping and dining of downtown Thornbury. More info: https://leewardhouse.co

Le Méridien Pinnacle, Toronto

Slated to open in July on Toronto’s waterfront, Le Méridien Toronto Pinnacle occupies the lower levels of the new Pinnacle SkyTower mixed-use development. Positioned as an urban escape with a polished mid-century-modern sensibility, the hotel will be home to 223 rooms and suites. Wellness is central to the pitch, with a spa, sauna, steam room, fitness centre, outdoor pool and whirlpool. On-site dining is expected to include a lobby-led restaurant and bar scene. More info: https://le-meridien.marriott.com/

Yukon

Hyatt Place Whitehorse

The Yukon’s first Hyatt hotel incorporates Indigenous art throughout and is one of Whitehorse’s first newly built hotels in decades. It has 115 rooms and features a restaurant, lounge, patio, fitness facilities and meeting space. More info: https://www.hyatt.com