The Charles Hotel

Charming bed and breakfast that has enough rooms to provide some privacy and anonymity but small enough that it still feels like a traditional bed and breakfast. Room 105 was lovely, comfortable and very clean. Don’t skip the breakfast- it is exceptionally delicious. The property is located on one end of the main street so it is out of the fray but provides easy access to all the activities and retail. Definitely would stay here again.

In August, I was part of a wedding coordinated by Niagara’s Finest Hotels and had an extremely disappointing experience. If you are considering hosting your wedding or event with this group, I would strongly advise against it. As a bridesmaid, we expected professional services to deliver a smooth, timely event as promised in the contract. Instead, the experience was disorganized and unprofessional from start to finish. On the wedding day, the venue was to begin table setup at 2pm, but the event coordinator, Kyle, was no where to be found until 4pm. As a result, linens were not on the table until his arrival, leaving the wedding party to set up tables and linens ourselves just 30 minutes before the ceremony. Instead of preparing with the bride and groom, we were scrambling to do tasks the venue was contracted to handle. Service during the reception was equally poor, especially given the venue's reputation as an established winery and restaurant. Despite full wine service being in the contract, wine was only offered once during the 3-hour dinner. The open bar, scheduled from 9pm–12am, did not open until after 10:30pm, cutting the bar service time in half. To add to the lack of accommodation - as someone who is pregnant, I was not offered any non-alcoholic options during dinner and had to repeatedly ask for water refills. When the bar finally opened, I was told to wait 20 minutes for water because they had “run out of glasses.” When these issues were raised, management showed no accountability or empathy. The sales manager, Jodi, offered no meaningful apology and eventually stopped responding to emails. A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone and a significant financial investment. Niagara’s Finest Hotels failed to deliver even the basics of professionalism and reliability. I urge anyone considering them to look elsewhere to avoid the same disappointment.

If you are thinking of booking a wedding with Niagara's finest hotels - this is your warning! We had a really disappointing experience and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone planning a wedding. Throughout our wedding, there were several issues that Niagara's finest refused to take responsibility for. During setup, our coordinator Kyle agreed to be onsite by 2pm but was nowhere to be found. I was told that they were short-staffed because two people called in sick and as a result, Kyle had to leave to pick up linens. As a result, tables did not have linens until just 30 min before the wedding and our friends had to rush to get the set up done. During dinner, our contract promised full wine service but my husband and I were only offered wine once the entire night until we had to leave our table at 10:30pm to complain. Most of our guests ended up toasting with water, which was so frustrating and definitely not what we paid for. The worst part was that our open bar did not "open" until 10:30pm. We were told that there was not enough staff to operate the bar until our dessert had been served, despite the mandatory 18% gratuity that we paid. In addition, guests were told that we ran out of whiskey at 11pm, and many guests reported that they had to wait 20 minutes for a drink because all of the glasses were in the dishwasher. To top it all off, the sales manager stopped responding to emails after denying most of our concerns and only offering a tiny refund. For the amount we paid, the lack of professionalism and accountability was unbelievable.

My husband and I were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We love this hotel and it never disappoints. The staff were very helpful and also made it extra special with a complimentary bottle of wine and a card in our room. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable. They were helpful in an early check in, taking photos for us and just generally made it feel like a getaway for us. This is the perfect spot for a special occasion or trip to Niagara on the Lake.

If you're considering hosting your wedding with Niagara’s Finest Hotels, I strongly urge you to reconsider. I recently attended a family member’s wedding here, and the experience was incredibly disappointing — especially given the premium price point. The setup was a disorganized mess. Linens weren’t placed on the tables until just 30 minutes before the ceremony, leaving guests scrambling to help staff finish setting up. Wine service was virtually nonexistent — most of us ended up toasting with water. To make matters worse, the bar didn’t open until 10:30pm, and whiskey ran out by 11pm. The lack of professionalism and accountability was shocking. For such a special and costly occasion, the service fell far below expectations. I absolutely would not recommend trusting your big day to this group.

I attended my brother's wedding at this venue, and I was really disappointed by how poorly things were handled. The bar service was one of the biggest issues. Me and my family were frustrated when bartenders refused to serve drinks, saying they didn’t have enough servers until dessert had been served. The bar didn’t open until late in the day, and even then there weren’t enough cups to serve everyone at once. I didn’t get my first drink until 11am. Later in the evening, the bar closed at 12am, and because there wasn’t enough alcohol provided, many guests ended up leaving early to get drinks elsewhere. This was incredibly disappointing for my sister-in-law as the bride—no one wants people leaving their wedding early, especially over something as avoidable as a poorly managed bar. What made it worse was that the venue never apologized for any of these issues. A wedding is supposed to be one of the most special nights in someone’s life, and instead my sister-in-law was left feeling let down by how unprofessional the management was. I would not recommend this company to anyone planning such an important event.

We stayed there last summer and returned again this year. It was disappointing that the shortcomings of last year's stay remained the same. Notably, the back balcony is completely neglected. The door to access that balcony is quirky, difficult and dangerous. The floor (of the balcony) is dirty and not swept. The seat "cushions" are well past their prime and there aren't enough for all the chairs! A few flowers and an occasional sweeping would do wonders. The windowsill of our window that opens onto the balcony was covered with what looked like mold. As with last year, this was in contrast to the room which was very lovely and well-maintained. The whole place could use a facelift -- carpets on the stairs and hallways are very dated and dreary. Paint is chipped in the bar area. Another complaint is that breakfast isn't served until 8:00. When we are on vacation, we want to get up and go. 8:00 is quite late. We had a 7:30 tee time at the nearby golf course. When I mentioned this to the waitress, she sniffed and said we should be relaxing when on vacation. I didn't appreciate that. The location of this hotel is great which is probably the main reason that we returned. There really is no "concierge service." The texting concierge thing is annoying and useless. The one time I asked for help, I didn't receive a reply. This hotel has a lot of potential and a great location, but I think we'll choose another for our next visit.

I recently attended a wedding at Queenston Mile Vineyard. The service provided did not live up to the beautiful facilities. The prep work prior to dinner was rushed and done at the last minute. We were expecting an open bar for our guests. It opened well after dinner and closed well before the end of the night without any warning. No staff were available to answer questions throughout the night. What was supposed to be a beautiful day turned into a day of sub par service. I think you should consider alternatives if you are considering their services in the future.

Beautiful old Hotel and Inn with excellent communication and service. The food was amazing at both dinner and breakfast. Quiet and walking distance to everything in town. Loved the bike rentals on the property as well that we used for a ride around town. There is a beautiful park minutes away that you also need to visit. It's called "Ryerson Park". Hope to go back again soon. I would suggest a suite for the additional money, we stayed two nights because we loved the first night so much, but the suites were all sold out and the standard room was a little disappointing after the suite. Still well worth the visit.

If it weren't for the breakfast I would have given it 1 star. Our deluxe queen room was nowhere like the website pictures. It was cramped. The bed was uncomfortable. You cannot adjust the temperature in your room via the thermostat. The old rattan chair had visible dust bunnies in the seams. There were no proper reading lamps and the huge picture on the headboard wall was so low that you couldn't prop yourself up to read or watch TV. And who really wants a virtual concierge? What a disappointment.

When I had an issue with shower accommodations Lindsey at the front desk was very helpful and changed our room to a walk-in shower. It was very much appreciate. The rooms were very clean and many little touches made them very comfortable. The Charles Hotel is charming and well situated to shops and restaurant.

We had room 112, the tiny room upstairs. The heating/cooling system was inoperable and kept up a constant droning noise. The uncomfortable bed and headboard did not meet therefor allowing the pillows to slide down to the floor between the two. The bedside table lamp did not work. During the last night of our stay there was music emanating from somewhere in the building interrupting our sleep. The windows were inoperable so that when we had a shower the windows were drenched in moisture (even with the bathroom fan on). The shower after when you had managed to set it at a bearable temperature oscillated between scalding and freezing cold. I have never written a hotel review before but felt in this case I had to. We are so disappointed with this hotel. Hopefully their affiliated hotels are not as awful as this one and provide a more pleasurable experience.

I always like to start my reviews with the positives. 1. The staff was great. Friendly and helpful. When we checked in the front desk clerk walked us to our room. We had some repair issues. Maintenance came immediately. They were unable to make repairs on one item, so he left us a nice bottle of wine and a note. 2. The location was walkable to everything. 3. The room was set up beautifully with the air conditioning and the tv on the weather channel. Now the negatives. 1. The room needed painting. 2. There was very little flat surfaces to place items in the bathroom. 3. The drawer space was almost negligible. 4. The bathtub was pretty but dangerous because it was slippery and on two levels. It was also difficult to get into because it was large. 5. It was difficult to adjust the temperature in the tub. 6. When using the hair blower there was no flat surface to place it. 7. When needing ice, extra soap (there were two very small bars in the room), or coffee, you had to ask the front desk or at the bar. We stayed in the library room. When we walked it I marveled at all the great books on the shelves. Then I took one off the shelf. More than one came with it since they were chopped up and stapled together. This gave my husband and me a good laugh.

The wife and I came up here for a birthday getaway because we'd heard so much about this area. Our actual destination was Niagara Falls, but since we heard so much about NOTL we decided to visit up here a bit. That was a great decision. This whole area is overflowing with vineyards, young, but producing some really good wine. Give them a few years and I think Canada will be competing with "the big boys" in wine competitions. The town is beautifully enhanced with floral arrangements all over the town. Just gorgeous. Lots of nice shops and restaurants to choose from. (along with many many vineyards.) Worth the trip up here by itself. Regardless of the reason why you visit this area, The Charles Hotel is an excellent place to stay. Conveniently located close to town, this historical landmark has a staff that are friendly and efficient in taking care of your every need. The rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. Oh, and the Hobnob restaurant downstairs...? It's about as good as it gets, anywhere, in Canada or the US. If you're a golfer, this hotel sits on the corner of the oldest golf course in North America. Only 9 holes, it still is a terrific course, not too long that takes you along the shore of Lake Ontario. We're thinking of making this place a yearly stop... if not more.

Excellent food and service at Charles Inn. My boyfriend and I stayed at a near by Bed & Breakfast and the package we got came with a three-course meal at this restaurant. We got to each choose any appetizer, main course, and dessert. It was divine. We had an artichoke puree amuse-bouche, the scallops and bacon appetizer, foie gras appetizer, beef tenderloin main, pork tenderloin main, and we both had the creme brulee with an ice wine pairing. Absolutely delicious! I would definitely come back here and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Mind you, this is a four-diamond restaurant and the prices can be quite hefty. Our meal came with our B&B package, but normally it would cost ~$100 each person for appetizer, main, dessert, drinks, taxes, and gratuities.

My husband and I made a lunch reservation for a Saturday. We didn't realize that the Ice Wine Fest was going on right down the street that day. The neighborhood is historic and beautiful, so arriving at the Charles Inn was a pleasant journey. (We're from Buffalo, NY so it was about an hour away from home.) Once inside, it's quite clear how historic the building is. They did a great job making it appeal to the modern guest while still retaining all of its historical value. The receptionist was delightful and showed us across the hall into the eating area. It was 100% empty! We chose a table for two right in front of the fireplace. The room is just beautiful, with lots of antiques, nostalgic pieces, and comfortable seating. Our waiter was very pleasant and attentive. Our lunches were out in no time. We ordered the hand cut french fries with aioli, my husband had the roasted grain-fed chicken, and I had the shepherds pie with a glass of local wine. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals, not a crumb was left behind on our plates! The serving size, which may seem small at first glance, was actually quite filling! I've read a few negative reviews regarding the size of the meals, but what we ordered was just right. All-in-all, this restaurant is worth every penny spent. The people are very nice, the ambiance is comfortable, and the experience was enough to bring us right back next time we want to take a little drive across the border.

Very reasonable price for the excellent service and good food! Various choices of wine Shepherd's pie was very tasty, they used beef tenderloin instead of ground meat. Great music they play Quite, nice décor

We stayed at the Charles in September. We stayed on the top (3rd floor). Very private and quite nice. Room height was a bit of an issue and we did speak with the manager noting that there was nothing said about this loft room in the literature to suggest that it was of limited height. He agreed and indicated changes would be made to their promotional literature. He also sent us a very nice gift card after the fact. We would definitely stay again! The restaurant called the Hob Nob, by the way, is wonderful!

Wonderful place. The rooms are spotless and full of charm. The apple room small but cozy. Highly recommended for a nice little get away.

The lounge menu is the best deal in town. We were staying at a B&B nearby but didn't feel like paying an arm and a leg for dinner. Luckily, another visitor at a winery pointed us to Charles Inn. As we waited for our food to be served, we played cards and read magazines. I had the Parmesan Mac & Cheese with Truffle Oil and Wild Mushrooms and it was rich and fantastic. The bf ordered the Sheppard's Pie and the beef was so tender and delicious. Both dishes were excellent interpretations of classics and each dish was only $15.

As part of our wine tour with Niagara Vintage Wine Tours [http://niagaravintagewinetours.com/ourwinetours.php#evening] we were taken to Charles Inn for a really memorable dinner. The atmosphere was very romantic, the service swift and responsive and the food well executed. They were able to accommodate Gluten-Free/Dairy Free with notice (and some reminders-- a mistake was made but rectified quickly). I had the Ontario Beef which was cooked perfectly to medium rare and was enjoyed thoroughly. The wine pairings we were given were generous pours for each course and nicely matched the food.

I came here for dinner last Saturday night. I felt like I was the youngest in the room, but the dinner space was full. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals. It was mainly older couples dining here. I started off with the gnocchi which melted in my mouth. It was excellent. For my main, I had the Pickerel which I enjoyed very much. My only complaint was that the crust on the fish was a bit too salty for my liking. However it was a delicious meal. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken breast with the bacon-scented polenta. The polenta was a bit too rich for our taste, but the chicken was nice and tender. We didn't have any room for dessert, but definitely enjoyed our dinning experience very much at the Charles Inn. Service was spot on through the entire night, our entrees took some time to come out, but that was alright. One thing I did enjoy was that we would receive new cutlery for each course. That's a sign of a good restaurant.

We recently stayed at the Charles Hotel for a long weekend. The hotel itself is very quaint - it's a small boutique hotel so you really feel like you are staying in a large house. I had mentioned when I confirmed the reservation that my fiancé and I had just got engaged so when we checked into our room, we had a complimentary bottle of wine and some cookies which was a nice touch! Unfortunately, the experience went down hill from there. Our room thermostat didn't work so we were stuck with 73 degrees the entire time. We ordered room service for breakfast and it was extremely overpriced for small quantities and poor quality. When they delivered the room service, the lady said she would leave the bill for us for whenever we were ready. I assumed she wanted us to just leave it in the room so housekeeping could pick it up. Fifteen minutes later, the front desk calls up and says "this is awkward but you didn't sign for your room service" and made us feel like we had done something wrong even though we just listened to the employee. We had a winery tour scheduled for 11:30am on Sunday, so we asked the front desk lady at 9:45am when we should call a taxi. She said there aren't a lot so she would call it for us now so they would arrive by 11:15 to get us to the winery in time for the tour. 11:15 came and went, and by 11:40 (we missed our scheduled tour time) we checked the Uber app and decided to Uber instead so we could get there. When we checked out on Monday, the front desk lady berated me about leaving without telling them because the cab came at 11:30 (it did not) and waited until noon for us. I explained that we had missed our tour already and we were in a rush and she was incredibly rude and downright mean, insisting that she warned us the taxis were late (she did not - she warned us they were sparse, not that they were often late) and said it was rude that we didn't wait for him. She didn't even ask if we enjoyed our stay! It was a terrible way to end our trip. Overall, the hotel was cute and it was a great location for walking to town, but the service made the experience a negative one. I would not recommend.

Superb food, service and decor. I've eaten many a meal in NOTL and the Charles Inn is simply the best. A more limited menu than many American diners might be used to but understand the inn's interest in using Ontario, and ideally Niagara Region, produce. Insiders note: The large, chandelier-lit dining room also has a small, rear alcove in a more intimate, contemporary decor that might be appealing to some diners but disappointing to others seeking out the historic decor and grand dining room sense of occasion the inn is so good at. Purely personal taste.

As a threshold matter, we were seated in a dark corner in the middle of the restaurant, literally right next to the service stand where they set aside used dishware and decanted wine. Ten minutes in, we noticed some dark specks on the wall next to us. Turns out it was about half a dozen fly-type insects (see picture). Gross. About a dozen insects acted as our dinner companions throughout dinner. And we saw far more of those bugs than our server. I expect this type of thing to happen at a local diner or dive, not a "fine" dining establishment where you're paying about $100 per person. Makes me worry about what goes on behind closed doors. Word to the wise - do not order a bottle of wine at this restaurant and let them decant it for you. We noticed the staff tried to place a napkin over the decanter for a bottle ordered by another table that sat right next to us. It attracted a number of curious creatures as well, particularly when the napkin fell off. This leads to me to believe they're fully aware of the problem, and just don't care. You're better off trying to find a wine which has a screw top or skipping it altogether. As for the food, it was decent, but certainly not good enough to make up for the "ambience." It's supposed to be 'modern French with a regional flare' but it didn't strike me as remotely French, having just been to France early this summer. Most disappointing was the "72-hour" short rib portion of the $38 beef entrée I ordered. My wife's looked ok, but mine turned out to be just a charred lump of fat (see picture). I tried to eat the meat parts of it, but it was pretty disgusting overall. I'll be a darned if they cooked that for 72 hours properly so that the fat rendered, much less used a proper cut of meat. What a shame. And another thing - the iced tea. Most places will give you a refill without asking. Here, our waiter just took our glasses away and never even asked if we wanted another. Overall, I'd try any of the other great-looking dining options along Queen Street before I ever came back to this place. They're probably cheaper, and much less buggy. Like I said, the food wasn't bad on the whole, but the combination of everything pretty much ruined the experience.

Came here as a part of a tour group. The hotel is quaint and lovely. Beautiful interior. We had a limited menu and I ordered the cheeseburger, which I wouldn't recommend. It was very dry and over cooked. I wasn't able to eat the whole thing. Others on my group got the chicken and the truffle Mac and cheese and they loved it. I wouldn't eat here again but the hotel may be worth staying in

While the food and atmosphere was great the wait time was absolutely ridiculous! First and foremost the waiter was very rude to us from the start.I ordered a salad in which I waited almost two hours for. When the food finally did come out the salad was wrong! I would not have mind if the waiter was kind about but instead he seemed mad at us. I normally never write harsh reviews, but I left the Charles extremely frustrated. I expected at least a little more for a $25 salad.

One of the best meals I've ever had. Enjoyed a tenderloin special with shaved white truffles and foie gras. Creme brulee for dessert was perfect. Definitely will come back during wine tasting weekends!

A year after my first review, I would still say the best food in NOTL but service was inattentive and restaurant isn't as clean as it could be. A five course meal with wine pairings was beyond the waitstaff 's expertise to manage, despite the best of efforts. Chair seat cushions were stained and our menus were spotted, assumedly with dried food. At this price point, service and cleanliness are not acceptable

For our anniversary, my husband and I had an excellent dinner from the tasting menu with wine pairings. This is a beautiful setting with excellent menu offerings and outstanding service -- great for special occasions. The food's presentation was impeccable, our server was very knowledgable on the entire menu and wine selections and transitions times between courses were very smooth. The dining experience at Charles Inn was simply stellar on all counts. You won't be disappointed!

We went here recently as a part of the Niagara Vintage Wine Tours dinner package. The service was exceptional and the food was really good. Only down side for me was that it was a set menu so our options were a little more basic, and very limited. Wines were paired well with each course. Location is great if you are staying at NIagara-on-the-Lake. I would definitely go back here to eat from the full menu if I were in the area.

The Charles can be a bit pricey but if you sit in the lounge it is perfectly reasonably priced and super food. A small but ok draught beer selection but nice cocktail selection. Try the shepard's pie. It is to die for! The Charles is situated about a 5-10 minute walk from the theaters which is simple but also makes if slightly less crowded than some of the downtown spots.

My wife and I went for dinner and I think it might have been one of the best meals I have ever had. Chef de Cuisine, William Brunyansky used local produce (which in my case was fresh peaches) to produce some amazing dishes. This place is not cheap but well worth it.

Five guys went here for lunch during November's Fabulicious event. I had the Butternut squash risotto to start, which was well prepared and presented, if a little light in amount. (however it was a $25 three course lunch!) My main was the crisp-skin salmon with fingerling potatoes and parsnip puree. Very nicely done, as agreed by others having the same. Dessert was creme brûlée, nice and light to end the meal. With a pint of beer and coffee and tax the bill was $39. All in the group thought it was good value.

Really love here. I just spent my lunch at the patio. And I really regret that I didn't take the dinner menu. The lunch menu is a great value, too. Most are around $10. What I mean is that after tasting the lunch menu, I think I really should try the dinner cuz it is sooooo good. The soup du jour is a little rich, but the duck sandwich is amazing, they do have the duck on the dinner menu from which you could have more duck meat. And the dessert creme brûlée is certainly one of the best I had ever. Moreover, this is really a beautiful place to dine.

My husband and I booked out The Charles for our wedding weekend back in August and the experience was fantastic. Us, our friends and family all stayed in the hotel from a Friday night to Sunday morning, we had our wedding reception on Saturday afternoon in the dining room, plus dinners and breakfasts over the weekend. The food was amazing and the kitchen and staff were very accommodating to food allergies and food preferences. Catalina, Alicia and the rest of the staff were incredibly helpful, kind and knowledgeable. We would definitely love to go back to spend a weekend and reminisce :) A huge thank you to everyone at The Charles for our wonderful wedding weekend!!!

Excellent service and very good quality food that was reasonably priced Will go again for sure Try the piri chicken dinner you will not be disappointed

This place was terrific. Menu pairing are preset and amazing. Each dish comes with perfectly matched accompaniments to make the dining experience exquisite. I had the Duck Breast which was served with a pear stuffed ravioli and my wife had the beef tenderloin. Portion sizes were perfect and left room for delectable desserts.

Great food and really great service. I started with the tuna tartare; packed some heat, super yummy. Then moved on to the lamb tenderloin. Very tender. Hubby started with a very inventive salad and his entree was the filet. We were both impressed with our choices. Expensive, but well worth it. Nice decor, like being in an old house.

Love it here. Very friendly, cozy and great food at breakfast. We spend our Niagara wine tasting weekends at The Charles and will always come back.

excellent food and service. local wines and they make each dish separately so it will be a long dinner hour but it is a lovely building so near the lake and views. we loved our meal.

Food was very good but quality inconsistent. We went twice, for dinner the appetizers were great and the foie gras divine, but my salmon arrived undercooked and slightly raw inside. Lunch on the patio was good, nice salad and good cocktails but my burger was way overcooked and dry. They use very good quality ingredients, nice presentation and service but somewhere in the kitchen things go awry.

Food was worth 10 stars, staff are excellent, our waiter Dylan was excellent. Wife and I stayed for a one night get-away.even though it was extremely cold, being January, we loved it and plan to return in late summer. My reason for four stars instead of five, room was warm, but bathroom was an ice cube.

The best dining experience we have had in a very long time! The fois gras was truly exceptional if you're looking to splurge. We had the tenderloin and the chicken which were also both absolutely amazing! We also had a look at the lounge menu which they serve in the lounge/bar area for both lunch and dinner and it looked so delicious we may have to go back! The service was excellent and the server also told us about a pub-style night they have on Tuesdays where the chef puts a fine-dining twist on traditional pub fare. We will be back!

I was so sad that breakfast is only for people staying there because I remember it being one of the best I ever had. We ate lunch there this time on the patio and it was quite possibly some of the best food ever. Tanya was our waitress. She was attentive, sweet and helpful in choosing our meals. It was so quiet there and peaceful and the food was phenomenal. Do yourself a favour and go there.