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From a farmhouse on a working vineyard to a vacation home run by a local celebrity chef, these food-focused accommodations are must-visits.
With harvest season in full swing, fewer crowds, and menus brimming with autumn flavours, fall is a superb time of year to take your taste buds on a road trip. Foodies travel far and wide in search of unique culinary experiences, from vacation homes set on vineyards to chef-run B&Bs, and these off-the-beaten path accommodations bring some of the region’s best flavours right to your room. Forget thread counts; breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the highlights at these diner-approved stays.
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The Farmhouse at 13th Street Winery, St. Catharines
You’d be hard-pressed to imagine a better base for wine tastings than one set directly on a working vineyard. At 13th Street Winery’s Farmhouse accommodation, guests can sip exceptional wines while admiring vine views from a private outdoor patio.
With space for up to eight guests, the spiffy Farmhouse includes four bedrooms, three-and-half bathrooms, and a full kitchen. It’s a short walk to the winery restaurant, Farmhouse Bistro, to nosh on locally-driven fare or to the Farmhouse Bakery to pick up housemade butter tarts and seasonal preserves. While there’s plenty for food lovers to appreciate right onsite, the Farmhouse also gives guests easy access to the Niagara region’s many other wonderful wineries.
Cressy House, Prince Edward County
Who better to host travellers on a memorable foodie getaway than a famed local chef? Located in Prince Edward County, Cressy House is owned and operated by Grant van Gameren, the chef behind well-loved Toronto restaurants like Bar Raval and Bar Isabel. Set on 500 feet of pretty waterfront, van Gameren’s rustic-chic vacation home promises a serene escape from the city fit for foodies.
An onsite market allows guests to pick up vegetables grown on the property, such as beets and tomatoes, to cook up meals in the accommodation’s beautiful kitchen. For a fee, van Gameren can be hired to personally prepare a family-style meal for guests. From Fifth Town Artisan Cheese to County Cider Co., a wealth of dining and drinking spots can also be found nearby.
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The Grove Hotel, Kingsville
The Grove Hotel’s ‘A Room with a Brew’ brings the brewery vibes to your home-away-from-home. Although the Grove Brew House, which the hotel once overlooked, has relocated a short walk away, the room still evokes your favourite neighbourhood taproom with its wood and leather accents, decorative shelf of growlers, and beer-themed artwork.
This room is one of 18 themed rooms at the Grove, a boutique hotel housed in a handsome 19th-century building. After checking in to ‘A Room with a Brew’ and getting into the sudsy spirit, you can visit some of the top-notch breweries found steps outside the hotel, including Kingsville Brewing Co. and Banded Goose Brewery.
Long Point Eco-Adventures, St. Williams
Foodies looking to reconnect with nature will find the best of both at Long Point Eco-Adventures, which offers zip-lining, axe-throwing, cycling, kayaking, canoeing and glamping accommodations close to some of Norfolk County’s best wineries. Located on a 37-acre former tobacco farm, the resort spans scenic marshlands and Carolinian forest.
Although guests are surrounded by distinctive flora and fauna, the accommodations are anything but roughing it with tented suites and cabin-style pods featuring comfy beds, electricity, and running water. Long Point has its own restaurant and brewery; or it’s a hop, skip, and a jump across the street to Burning Kiln Winery, which is known for its appassimento-style wines.
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The Vineyard Estate House at Cave Spring, Beamsville
Immerse yourself in the romance of wine country at the Vineyard Estate House at Cave Spring. This Victorian-style red brick farmhouse, which sleeps up to 10 people, offers gorgeous views of Cave Spring’s vineyards and beyond to Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline. A picturesque 10-minute stroll through the vineyards brings you to the tasting room, where you can sample flights of Cave Spring’s sustainably-certified wines.
Pick up some fresh produce at the nearby roadside stands to make meals in the Estate House’s spacious kitchen. Alternatively, it’s a quick drive down the road to dozens of other excellent wineries, many of which have noteworthy restaurants, such as the acclaimed Restaurant at Pearl Morissette or its sister cafe, RPM Bakehouse.
The Waring House, Prince Edward County
If you enjoy preparing great meals as much as eating them, head to the Waring House to combine your staycation with an opportunity to learn new culinary skills. The inn’s popular cooking classes, which have been running for over two decades, focus on a different subject each week, ranging from regional cuisines to featured ingredients. Participants often have the chance to cook with herbs and veggies sourced from the Waring House’s own garden.
Of course, you can also leave the cooking to the experts. The menus at Waring House’s restaurant, Amelia’s Garden, showcase the best of Prince Edward County’s local, seasonal bounty. Set in a charming 19th-century building, the inn’s rich heritage makes it an especially fitting backdrop for the restaurant’s traditional cream tea complete with homemade scones.
