The Royal Hotel in postcard-perfect Picton is ranked as one of the best luxury hotels in The County.
If you’re looking to explore Ontario Wine Country, book a weekend getaway at The Royal Hotel to experience a whimsical culinary escape fit for a King and Queen!
The historic property first opened in 1881 by Jonathan Mottashed to serve weary railway travelers. The original building featured a 3-storey brick facade, iron balcony, cupola, grand staircase, dining room and lively tavern.
Fast forward to 2013 and the hotel, which had fallen into disrepair, was purchased and underwent an extensive decade -long renovation. The Picton property was reimagined by Giannone Petricone with heritage partner ERA Architects and officially opened its doors to dazzle well-heeled oenophiles in 2022.
The Royal Hotel’s eye-catching design juxtaposes Victorian railway‑hotel tropes (ornate rosettes, ironwork, woodwork) with modern Scandinavian minimalism and local County materiality.
Award‑winning landscape design by Janet Rosenberg & Studio transformed the hotel’s rear yard into layered outdoor experiences: a dining terrace, fireplace lounge, pool & sauna deck and trailer bar.
Before booking your trip to Prince Edward County, here are a list of highlights that make the The Royal Hotel in Picton stand out from the rest:
- The hotel boasts many impressive awards including Condé Nast Top 20 Eastern Canada, Michelin Key Hotel, Grand Prix du Design, and Azure People’s Choice for commercial design.
- The main hotel features 28 well-appointed guest rooms named after heritage Ontario apples and pears, like Cortland, Empire, Russet, and Royal Gala.
- The Annex boasts 5 Scandinavian-inspired studio suites, ideal for those visiting for a longer stay or with families (some of these are pet-friendly too!)
- Many suites boast in-room fireplaces, oversized soaker tubs, marbled bathrooms and Juliette balconies.
- If you’re planning a wellness getaway book a treatment at the onsite spa, which offers couples’ massages, facials and full access to the sauna and pool.
- The well‑equipped gym offers Peloton bikes and treadmills, rowing machine, weights, punching bag, and yoga equipment.
- The hotel’s gem is it’s chic swimming pool, which is open seasonally from April to November. Relax by the pool on a covered day bed in an intimate courtyard setting with full bar service.
- The Royal Hotel is famous for its culinary program, ranked by Food & Wine as one of Canada’s top hotel restaurants. The hotel boasts 4 unique food & drink concepts, which are helmed by Executive Chef Albert Ponzo (formerly Toronto’s Canoe and Le Sélect Bistro).
- The 120-seat main dining room is a fancy fine dining affair, showcasing a modern French-Italian farm-to-table menu. You’ll find freshly made pastas, duck confit, and wood-fired pizza that celebrate ingredients grown on Edwin County Farms and by local producers.
- In the morning hop over to The Counter Bar to enjoy a casual cafe vibe where pretty pastries and frothy cappuccinos are the star of the show. Enjoy people watching from the patio that overlooks the hustle and bustle of Main Street.
- The Garden offers a lush secluded escape where you can sip and nibble under the sway of branches and eye-popping wisteria. Definitely one of Prince Edward County’s prettiest patios.
- The hotel’s comfy lobby lounge pours libations and petite bites, a perfect perch for a fireside chat.
If you’re looking to book a design-tastic luxury hotel in Prince Edward County, The Royal Hotel in Picton with its Scandi-suites, mouth-watering restaurants, relaxing spa, refreshing pool and well-curated culinary concepts offers an unforgettable stay in Ontario Wine Country.
