8 Spa Getaways in Ontario for a Soul-Soothing Break from Traditional to Exotic

The Sterling Inn and Spa, originally built in 1925 as a dairy creamery, is just three blocks from the rising mists of Niagara Falls. All 44 of its spacious, boutique-style guest rooms showcase the building’s original features, including its gleaming hardwood floors. Amenities like Jacuzzis, in-shower steam units and cozy fireplaces bring a sense of luxury to your stay.

Show your partner how much you care by booking a room with a heart-shaped hot tub — an homage to Niagara Falls’ reputation as a honeymoon destination. Later on, treat him or her to a fancy dinner in the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant. Lounge@AG has a menu filled with imaginative dishes like grilled Nipissing quail with preserved blueberry barley risotto, made with ingredients sourced from local growers.

After dessert, head to the spa; all services are available to couples, so you can be pampered side by side. Try the age-fighting Wine and Honey Wrap or the indulgent chocolate-covered strawberry version. Those who opt for the Ginger Coconut Argan Scrub will find their skin exfoliated with a ginger and lime-infused sugar scrub, then nourished with a warm blend of coconut, argan, avocado, apricot and rosehip oils, and vitamin E. More traditional treatments, such as circulation-boosting hot-stone massages and fatigue-busting moor mud wraps, are also available in this ambient, candlelit space.

The White Oaks Resort & Spa exudes decadence, from the lobby’s elegant high ceilings to the soft monochrome palette of its guest rooms. A stylish oasis designed to rejuvenate mind and body, the award-winning spa continues this comfortable theme. Choose from a range of relaxing therapies, such as the signature Perfect Circle experience, administered in any of 19 treatment rooms. This package includes a neck, scalp and foot massage, and a mini facial using natural products from Bogavia Skin Care. Follow this with a Body Glow treatment like the nourishing Coconut Beach or Caramelized Pear, which begins with a brandy pear sea salt scrub and is rounded off with crème brûlée-scented body milk.

Dining is available from morning to night at this hotel, so there’s no need to venture far from the spa. Order a lunchtime Starbucks coffee and superfood grain bowl in the hotel’s relaxed Grow Kitchen & Café, then opt for dishes like sriracha fish tacos in the urban-chic Play Bar + Grille when the evening comes around.

Just as important as the spa is a hotel room where you can continue the relaxation. Fortunately, each room at White Oaks features luxe amenities such as crisp white Frette linens and Keurig coffee machines. Book a suite if you’re vacationing with your partner — features include four-poster beds, fireplaces and soaker tubs to set the scene for a romantic couples’ weekend.

The Adelaide Hotel in downtown Toronto is a grand hotel with an impressive selection of rooms. Decorated in muted champagne and caviar tones, these spaces couple mid-century modern furnishings with ornate fixtures like glittering chandeliers for an opulent aesthetic. The rooms feature deep bathtubs and comfortable beds made up with fine Italian Bellino linens —ideal to sinking in to after a day of pampering.

The Art of Escape spa is just as luxurious. This urban oasis has a selection of signature treatments designed to leave you feeling re-energized. Try the Vitality of the Glaciers facial, which aims to leave skin glowing and radiant, or the Coastal Seaweed Balancing Ritual. The latter consists of a green-tea seaweed salt exfoliation followed by a glacial clay detoxifying mud wrap.

For a special occasion, the Midnight at the Spa package gives you exclusive access to the whole spa. Indulge in a couples’ hot stone massage and dry brush exfoliation, then take a dip among fragrant rose petals scattered in the saltwater infinity lap pool. Situated on the 31st floor, the spa promises views of the cityscape lit up at night.

The next morning, continue the decadence at the hotel’s refined restaurant, which serves dishes like Belgian waffles with Ontario apple compote and candied pistachio. In the evening, this space serves gourmet fare such as braised short ribs and roast cod. Savour every bite among the space’s leafy ferns and black-and-white photo art.

With an elegant spa featuring an indoor saltwater pool and a prime location a stone’s throw away from Toronto’s bustling theatreland, The Ritz-Carlton is the byword in luxury. But they also feature some surprisingly quirky facilities, including Canada’s only hotel cheese cave.

For an experience that’s a touch more traditional, make your way to the Spa My Blend by Clarins, the only one outside of Paris. Bring sparkle to your spa stay with a champagne manicure, which includes a moisturizing paraffin hand treatment, or refresh after sightseeing at the iconic CN Tower with a chamomile, basil, and sage leg wrap. With a saltwater lap pool, eucalyptus steam room and green tea-infused vitality pool, not to mention the usual hot tub and sauna, the spa is the ideal place to relax and unwind.

When it’s time for a siesta — perhaps following a classic afternoon tea beside the under-lit birch terrace in the DEQ outdoor dining space — your sumptuous room will be waiting to welcome you. Spaces are decorated in handcrafted Italian linens and rich African anigre wood millwork, all topped off with Portuguese Estremoz marble in the bathrooms. Pick from spectacular views of the city’s towering skyscrapers or the blue expanse of Lake Ontario. For a slice of Canadian culture, you’ll find a curated collection of over 400 works by homegrown artists throughout this hotel.

If you’re planning a visit to Niagara’s natural wonder, Marriott on the Falls is the closest hotel to this UNESCO World Heritage Site — and it houses the Serenity Spa. For a romantic stay, book a treatment for two and be pampered with a 60-minute massage after a dip in the on-site pool. You can leave skin feeling supple with a restoring scrub; or try a moisturizing facial — popular items include the Waterfalls Bliss Signature treatment. Finish up with a choice of OPI nail polishes as part of the ultimate manicure and pedicure.

You can begin the next day at the mezzanine-style Fallsview Café’s breakfast buffet — which includes an omelette station and endless refills of aromatic coffee — then opt for the casual-chic Morton’s Grille for succulent steaks at lunch. For dinner, reserve a table at Milestones on the Falls for a view of Niagara at night, coupled with dishes like Louisiana-influenced Cajun shrimp and Thai basil noodles.

After dinner, head to your spacious room or suite. All options have a view of the Falls or the river and feature in-room coffee makers and individual climate control. High-impact artwork depicting rushing water is a nod to the hotel’s panoramas of the Canadian Horseshoe and American waterfalls.

Located in downtown Toronto, the 1920s landmark Fairmont Royal York is a staple part of the city skyline. It’s close to plenty of local attractions too—a stay here means you’ll be within easy reach of the eye-catching glass facade of the Toronto Eaton Centre shopping mall.

After browsing the stores, indulge in some well-earned R&R in the hotel’s redesigned health suite. Slow your pace with a few leisurely lengths in the swimming pool, set in an airy space with a scenic mural on the walls, then unwind in the whirlpool, steam room and sauna. This hotel complements its aquatic facilities with muscle-soothing Swedish and aromatherapy massages using essential oils to relax your body and mind.

For dinner, Benihana Japanese Steakhouse serves dishes like teppanyaki and sushi, cooked to order in front of you on a hot grill. The more casual Piper’s Pub plays host to big screens for major sports events, complete with craft beers and salty popcorn. Retire to your room afterward and discover stylish marble bathrooms, chic muted colours and fine bed linens. All rooms feature bedside device-charging hubs and a Keurig coffee machine, so you can wake up to the aroma of a fresh brew.

The Brookstreet Hotel, home to the scenic Marshes Golf Course Ottawa, is just 4.5 kilometres from the city centre. Set against the backdrop of Ottawa’s skyscrapers, it’s surrounded by immaculate greens, peaceful lakes, and gently babbling streams. Rooms styled in ultra-modern décor and superior bed linens have views over the Gatineau Valley and Ottawa-West. Each room features an alarm clock radio with an iPod dock so mornings can begin to the hum of your own music before you head to your appointment at the spa.

The Au Naturel spa offers a host of services, from facials and nail services to full-body treatments. Choose from therapeutic, aromatic and relaxation techniques, as well as reflexology and reiki practices. Rejuvenate with a warming Grotta Giusti thermal mud body wrap, which aims to soothe muscles and joints while restoring energy and purifying the skin. If you’re travelling with the girls, take a look at the B Spoiled package, which complements three treatments with a glass of wine. All spa packages include the use of the saltwater pools, hot tubs, and dry sauna.

Enjoy award-winning contemporary cuisine at Perspectives restaurant, with views of the Gatineau Hills and Marshes golf course. Dishes incorporating locally sourced ingredients range from elk ranch tender leg loin to pistachio herb-crusted lamb to lobster linguine and sushi. After dinner, head to Options — one of the city’s most popular jazz lounges—to see Ottawa’s finest musicians.

Dating back to 1903, The Omni King Edward Hotel once hosted high society soirees. The sweeping city views from its grand ballroom were the talk of the town in the Roaring Twenties, and the hotel has retained the Art Deco era in its interior. Rooms have a glamorous feel thanks to their ornate, gilded mirrors, grand quilted headboards and black-and-white photographic artworks.

Featuring high-backed velvet chairs and oversized patterned rugs, the Nouvelle Maria Spa is similarly opulent. Styled as a European-inspired facility, it offers cutting-edge skincare treatments based on traditional therapies. Favourites include facials using ampoules filled with herbal extracts. If you’re travelling with your partner, book in for a couples massage and enjoy complimentary mimosas while you relax. Replenish delicate skin with an anti-ageing eye treatment, then book a salon service — such as a French manicure — to get you feeling chic in time for dinner.

A modern take on pub grub can be found in the hotel’s Consort Bar. Try out dishes like Cornish hen, steak au poivre or Atlantic grilled salmon. With portraits on the wall, leather chairs and a double-height ceiling, it’s an elegant spot for a special dining experience.