The Best Bed & Breakfasts in Canada

With a clapboard frontage, shuttered windows and a cute little cast-iron fence, this B&B in Ontario’s historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is pretty enough to grace a postcard. Overlooking the oldest golf course in North America and within strolling distance of the downtown area packed with cute shops and restaurants, the three homey suites come with fireplaces and private patios around a koi pond. Your hosts will dish out vouchers for complimentary tastings at top local wineries, too.

Lined with Arts and Crafts mansions, the photogenic Rockland neighborhood – first built by gold-rush merchants and bankers in British Columbia’s capital, Victoria – is a must-visit for architecture buffs. Here, Abbeymoore Manor lives up to their expectations, with its handsome stone columns and double-decker patio, as well as its fine bedrooms, built for comfort with regal wood four-poster beds and, in some cases, fireplaces. A two-course breakfast menu, served on the patio on warm days, features such treats as oozy eggs benedict and juicy fresh-fruit salad.

This 1912-built B&B packs real character, just steps from Victoria’s Spiral Beach and sprawling Beacon Hill Park, where native Garry oak and Douglas fir trees flourish. Its rooms expertly and effortlessly marry historic and modern elements – think chandeliers and vintage furniture with hip metro tiling and statement throw pillows. If you’ve got the time to devote to Vancouver Island, from surfing to hiking, perhaps consider the basement suite – ideal for longer stays with its kitchen and laundry facility.

Few Canadian cities are as atmospherically old world as Quebec, and this historic structure, near the city’s citadel and Plains of Abraham battlefield, is the perfect place to base yourself. The wood paneling, attractive plaster moldings and stained-glass details are original, dating from 1888 when the property was constructed by the founder of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The hosts add a warm touch by offering a glass of wine at aperitif hour or encouraging you to play the grand piano. Shy guests might need the one before trying the other, but it’s all relaxed fun.

Saguenay, in the province of Quebec, is a city famous for its snaking fjord, leading to the broad St Lawrence River. Whether you’re kicking back before or after a cruise, taking a road trip through the region or cycling your way along the riverbanks, this treehouse-inspired B&B is an ideal crash pad for a night or two. Big open windows take in the landscapes, and cabin-style wood paneling enhances the accommodation’s cozy ambience. The plunge pool comes into its own in summer; in winter, when snow blankets the city, the communal lounge fire is the place to be.

It doesn’t get much more Canadian than holing up in these glamorous and spacious cabins (sleeping up to four) – decked out with warm wood paneling – hiding under snuggly throws and grasping Thermos-style mugs of piping-hot coffee so that you’ll keep toasty during your crisp morning hikes. Like everyone, you’ve come to Northern British Columbia for its wildlife, especially the bears that give the nearby Great Bear Rainforest its name. After a long day’s hiking in dense forest and low temperatures, hunkering down in these cozy cabins is heaven.

Canada is, famously, a paradise for skiers. And if you’re here with non-skiers, Quebec is a natural choice, as your party can combine big-city fun with snow and slopes. An hour outside vibrant Montreal, at the base of Mont Brome, this luxe B&B has the facilities you might expect in a hotel, including a heated pool, muscle-melting massages in a dedicated spa space and a trained chef (owner Sophie) preparing your breakfasts. Comfortingly, suites eschew any tacky alpine-decor clichés – so no Goldilocks chairs, just trim, trendy, urban furnishings in nifty shades of gray.

Canada’s historic former capital, Kingston, is full of heritage buildings, and the Secret Garden Inn, a short walk from the downtown strip, stands proudly among them. From its brick-fronted exterior – complete with a turret – to claw-footed baths and wooden four-poster beds, it’s a charming blast from the past. Breakfasts are gourmet; don’t miss the crêpes stuffed with crème anglaise and home-made brandy butterscotch sauce, an indulgent start to the day.

Deliciously moreish pastries and scones, served on a three-tier stand, give the regal breakfasts at this Victoria B&B an air of a proper English afternoon tea. They are the famous draw at this historic manor, resplendent with chandeliers, flame-licking fires and lacily dressed tables, so expect company and make a booking. Once you’ve stuffed yourself sideways, the neighborhood, James Bay, was tailor-made for relaxing strolls – immodestly blessed with captivatingly lovely, brightly painted Victorian houses.