Weekend Getaway: Langdon Hall, Cambridge

Langdon Hall, in Cambridge, Ontario feels like its own, exclusive world and I love it. I’ve made it my mission to visit different inns and hotels in Ontario, and I can say that Langdon Hall is at the top of my list. Why?

1. The property

Langdon Hall began life as a summer home for a wealthy English man. Today it’s a country inn and spa in Cambridge, about an hour outside of Toronto. The inn has grand staircases, a dining room, spa and beautiful grounds that include a croquet lawn. There are 52 rooms and guests can choose to stay in the main inn building, the original master bedrooms or the stables, which are a bit like cottages. It’s been voted the best hotel in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler!

2. The room

We stayed in the Snow Berry cloister room with a Queen sized feather bed. I really loved the apartment style layout of the room. We had our own entryway to leave our shoes and jackets, and then another door leads you to the main room.

There was a separate room for the toilet and a room for the shower, which was handy for getting ready.There were tons of extra pillows and towels, which is always nice.

We were pleasantly surprised by the turn down service that left a chocolate on our pillow, ice in our ice bucket and bottled water on the night stand.

3. The food: Wilks’ Bar

Chef Jason Bangerter is responsible for the delicious cuisine at Langdon Hall. His menus are seasonal, and celebrate local farmers, and have put Langdon Hall on the map for amazing food. The restaurant offers 5 Diamond Dining and an exclusive tasting menu.

I didn’t dine at the restaurant during my stay (but will when I visit again), I ate at Wilks’ Bar instead.

Wilks’ Bar is a cozy bar with comfortable chairs and a big wood burning fireplace. The drink menu offered unique cocktails and some nice non-alcoholic options, like handmade sodas and warm apple cider. I’m a sucker for cider, so I couldn’t resist!

We tried the Ontario Cheese Selection ($25), with Comfort Cream, Eweda Cru, Goat Cheddar Wild Flower Honey, Wild Huckleberry Compote, Date and Fennel Bread.

All of their breads and preserves are made in house. They even make their own butter! The bread and the butter (I am a bread snob) was a highlight of my stay.

For my meal, I had the Grass Fed Beef Burger ($25).

The tender beef was perfectly cooked and topped with Pumpkin Ale Cheddar, Preserved Tomato Marmalade and a side of
Hand Cut Fries. The bun that the burger was served on was fresh and dotted with toasted pumpkin seeds.

My dining partner had the Roasted Elora Chicken ($26) with Jerusalem Artichoke Fourchette, Wilted Kale and Natural Jus. He loved it.

3. The staff & décor

The staff were amazing. Every last staff member that I met was genuinely happy to greet me or to assist me in anyway. Our server at the bar noticed (maybe heard me saying how much I liked the bread?) that I loved the bread, and actually packed some up for me to take back to my room without me even asking or mentioning it. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Because we visited in December, the inn was decked out in its holiday finest. I loved the festive Christmas tree!

We enjoyed the pianist playing holiday tunes.

There are lots of these comfy seating areas around the property.

Outdoor firepit was a bit hit with me!

4. The fireplace in my room

Yes, this gets its own mention! I really hate it when hotels say they have fireplaces, and then it turns out to be an electric fireplace. This is the real deal! If you don’t trust your fire making skills, you can get one of the helpful staff members to start a fire for you. It took some time, but we (I’m using we generously there. I did nothing. I have no fire skills.) managed to do ours alone.

5. The food: breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and also my favourite one. Here, you can have a buffet breakfast (fresh fruit, granola, fresh baked croissants, sticky buns and more) for $23, or you can order off the menu.

I went with the Croque Madame ($23) with Smoked Speck, Cave Aged Gruyère, Fried Heritage Hen Egg, and Sauce. I added Lyonnaise potatoes. I loved the crispy smoked speck and the seasoned potatoes. I also had a pot of tea, and was happy to note that all teas are loose leaf.

My dining partner went with the Farmhouse Eggs ($23) with Lyonnaise Potato, Watercress Salad and Peameal Bacon.

Overall, I had a wonderful stay. I highly recommend this place for a special celebration, a splurge, or just to dine. I imagine it’s even more beautiful in the summer or fall, so you can’t go wrong!