Telegraph House & Motel

We spent two full weeks in one of The Telegraph House cabins when visiting Cape Breton for the Celtic Colours International Festival. Our first impression was that the cabin is very small - smaller than most Canadian and US motel rooms. That said, everything required is provided in the room and once we adapted to the limited space we were VERY happy in the cabin. There is a large fridge, high quality coffee maker and plenty of power points for phone charging etc. Wifi is very fast and reliable. There was plenty of parking very close to the cabin.||The bed was large and comfortable and - very unusually - there was plenty of storage space for clothes: a hanging rail and nine deep drawers. This was great for us as we were staying for two weeks and required many changes of clothes to accommodate the different activities which we were to enjoy during our vacation. The fact that the dressing table mirror was largely obscured by a huge TV was annoying as we have better things to while on vacation than watch TV. However, the bathroom was large and fully equipped with a large well-lit mirror to compensate for the hidden mirror in the main part of the cabin.||The cabin was spotlessly clean and housekeeping staff kept it meticulously so throughout our stay. The housekeepers were super-helpful throughout, being totally flexible as to when to clean the cabin. That said, all the staff and the owner of the property were really friendly and helpful and went out of their way to make our stay a happy one from the moment of arrival to departure. When he heard that I had a slight issue with the hotel's wifi, the owner went to huge lengths to ensure that we had a fast, powerful, stable signal.||This is a delightful and historic hotel which we wholeheartedly recommend. It is perfectly situated in the heart of lovely Baddeck within easy walking distance of restaurants and stores and with spectacular views of the Bras d'Or Lake. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and have already made our reservation at The Telegraph House for next year's Celtic Colours vacation.

Absolutely love the charm this place brings. It's unmatched and the dining experience was top notch. Loved the setting they provided with white table cloth and not having a crammed dining room. The space they give feels very comfortable and private. The food was amazing. Seared/smoked scallops amazing. Tomato soup so tasty and comforting. The snow crab cakes offered plenty of delicious flavor. Had the tenderloin and could tell it was a fantastic quality steak. Dessert is what sat me back in my chair. Had the "Winter in Baddeck" and I've never had something so delicious the Maple Ice Cream was done perfectly so light and not overpowering and the toasted merinque offered the perfect balance to bring the ice cream and maple vodka together. The staff were phenomenal so pleasant and open to conversation couldn't have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend.

The Telegraph Inn was very good, the room as a bit on the small side but as we were there for one night it was OK. Well located in the town. Room was clean, staff friendly. The restaurant was very good, excellent choice of locally sourced food. Only complaint is that they do not serve breakfast which was a shame as the evening meal was so good. Well located if using the Cabot Trail and surrounding area.

This was a very nice and historic place to stay in Baddeck. Cathy (not sure of spelling) at the reception desk was extremely helpful in giving recommendations for cafes, activities, and Northern Lights viewing locations. Rooms were very clean and well set up, although our double bed felt quite small and was very squeaky. The bathroom floor was also very squeaky, and it was a bit odd to have the bathroom sink in the main room itself. The onsite restaurant serves delicious food, although it is very expensive, and you should make a booking to secure a table.

We spent 3 nights in the main lodge and it met our needs perfectly. The room furnishings were simple and it was spacious and very clean. The staff was extremely helpful, providing directions, restaurant recommendations and suggesting things to do. The location was perfect - right on the main street, yet it was quiet. We parked in the hotel lot and walked everywhere. We enjoyed sitting out on the porch to relax between activities.

Awkwardly designed rooms with an ancient interior design. We stayed in the main house which left much to be desired in terms of quality, size, and basic amenities. Beginning with the quality of the room, you can expect to be sorely disappointed. A 1900s design with none of the charm. Floorboards creaked, doors could not be shut fully and you can hear all of your neighbours. The layout of the room was incredibly awkward and you can tell the renovations were done without much thought. Onto basic amenities, I don't go to cheap stays expecting much, but this stay had definitely left us shocked. There are no easily accessible plugs near the beds, so be prepared to do a little crawling to unplug the nearby lamp. The Wi-Fi is basically inoperable so be prepared to use up your cellular data. And lastly, the most horrific part of our stay, the shower. The shower water temperature would consistently switch back and forth from extremely hot to extremely cold without a moments notice. The same happens with the faucet. If you're in Baddeck, you've likely had a long day or are preparing for a long day in Cape Breton. Being unable to access the simple joy of a nice warm shower was the straw that broke the camels back during our stay at the Telegraph House & Motel. Stay elsewhere if you can, and if you've already booked, beware.

Stayed at Telegraph House September 29 - October 1, 2025 in room 8, which was spacious, including 1 double bed and 1 twin bed. Perfect for two gals on vacation. Rooms in the main lodge are on the 2nd floor and there is no elevator. Parking is convenient. Clean, cozy, comfortable in a heritage building. Large wrap-around porch with a partial view of the harbor and of the pretty Main Street. Walking distance to Baddeck's Water Street. Cafes and restaurants also within walking distance. A perfect abode in pretty, sparkling Baddeck.

This is a cute motel. Very clean. It felt like we time travelled to the 1980's when the world was a safe and kind place. Grandma loved the rooms. It was cozy. It was Canada Day and the restaurant was closed but they recommended the Bell Buoy restaurant. We loved the lobsters on the menu!! Best place to go if you LOVE lobster!! Can't wait to go back. We only stayed 1 night, I would stay at least 2 nights next time. Highly recommend. There's coffee shops near by, walking distance. Perfect place to leave the world and forget all your troubles.

I was in town for a week and ate here twice! They make a delicious steak. It was juicy and tender. I also had the barley leek soup. And the biscuits with peppermint tea. It was lovely. Highly recommend!

Great place to start the Cabot trail. The service was great. It's very walkable for food & drinks. The front porch is great for a glass of wine & the shower was great pressure

My family loved staying here and eating at the restaurant! It's super quaint, full of light, and the rooms and whole property are beautiful. I loved sitting on the porch in the morning! The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating. We had dinner at the restaurant and all ordered the one vegan entree, the Vegan Salisbury Steak (refried bean patty with portabella mushroom gravy, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables), which was DELICIOUS. The house-made sorbet was also fantastic. Our server was so friendly and nice and we really enjoyed our whole dinner experience, especially since we ate outside (on the porch). Telegraph is right in the center of Baddeck, near multiple cafes, restaurants, gift shops, a supermarket, and on the same block as nightly ceilidh locales. Thanks to everyone at Telegraph for such a wonderful experience!

We didn't stay here but we ate dinner here. Fabulously prepared food. I had the haddock pan seared in buttered bread crumbs with a fresh vegetable and tasty scalloped potatoes. My husband had a creamy risotto with chicken that was superb. The menu is varied for seafood and non seafood lovers. We also enjoyed a reasonably price 1 liter carafe of Jost Chardonnay. Our waitress was personable. It was a lovely dinner on Saturday evening on the porch. Afterwards we went down for a local concert.

The rooms were okay staying here for three nights. Kind of small, needs some upgrading, but it's very cozy and rustic. The food, however, is amazing. We ate here 2/3 nights (in hindsight, we should've eaten here the third night, too) and we almost had all of the menu. All of the food we ordered was fantastic, and the service was incredible. The atmosphere in the dining room was also great. I would give the rooms a 3/5 and the restaurant a 5/5. Overall, I had a good 3 nights in Baddeck.

Stayed in Room 43. Adorable shabby chic cottage with great shower and fresh fittings. Air conditioned. Fridge in room. Homey feel. Great find.

We stayed in the main lodge. Rooms are rustic and cozy. Clean though. Needs updating. Motel and cabins are perhaps a better choice. Dining room is amazing. Food , service and atmosphere all outstanding. Our family of 4 ate here two nights and had at least 2/3 of the menu. All great. Tenderloin steak, roast chicken, pork tenderloin, lobster, risotto, scalloped potatoes and vegetables. Desserts. Try the "Winter in Baddeck". OMG. Rooms 3/5. Dining 5/5. The fact that it's not Lynwood's down the street? Priceless. Should have eaten here the third night too. I have to give it 4 based on the rooms. If you're just in for a meal, do not hesitate to stop in, cause that's an easy 5 stars.

This is for the restaurant. A little expensive but some very creative dishes and nice ambience on the wraparound porch. Good seafood if limited wine list. Some fantastic desserts. Knocked over with best sorbet I ever had - saffron, honey and basil.

What cute place! Baddeck was a stop along our way up the Cabot Trail. We stayed in Cabin 43 behind the main house and it was just lovely. It was an easy check-in and the Telegraph House itself was very nice too. Very reasonably priced for the room. The bathroom was beautiful and the shower/tub very large. I'd give this place more than 5 stars if I could!

A pretty good deal, right in town and in a real nice old building. Try to get into Baddeck by 9pm if you're wanting to grub. Could see the Bras D'Or lakes out the windows in the morning.