Culinary S.
Yelp
When it comes to The James Hotel, we may very well be their biggest fans! We love them so much that we stay here even though we live just across the river within easy walking distance from the hotel. We like to think of our stays there as taking the concept of a luxurious, spoil-yourself stay-cation to the next level.
The first thing people say to us when we talk about The James is: "It's expensive, isn't it?" Our response is that people should check it out and be prepared for a pleasant surprise. We routinely book a premium, one bedroom suite with a balcony and sublime river view for under CDN $300/night (all in). A boutique hotel of this quality could easily cost two to three times as much in Canadian cities like Toronto or Vancouver, and at least four times as much in more "exotic" locales like New York or London. To have a property that offers this level of well-appointed elegance topped off with first-class service in our small (but mighty) prairie city is a blessing.
THE ROOMS
We always book a one bedroom suite, so there's a lovely spacious living room and a balcony with a beautiful river view. It's well worth enjoying a bottle of chilled champagne on a warm night. The bathtubs are big enough to allow a long luxurious soak, and the bed is so comfortable we sleep like babies. There's loads of closet space in both the living room area and the bedroom with lots of full-length mirrors.
Now, to the confessional: we are irredeemable, unapologetic hedonists, so it should surprise no one that the twin lodestones of our love of their rooms are the bedsheets and bathrobes. Yes, we know - you've slept on lots of lovely, Egyptian cotton, or even silk, sheets - so have we. And yes, there are lots of lovely hotel bathrobes out there - but not like the ones at the James. Just trust us on this one; once you experience the soft, buttery textures and accompanying skin nirvana, you'll understand and will, like us, dream about these sheets and bathrobes long after you leave.
Also, they have a delicious approach to their turndown service. You might have guessed by our username that we are just a wee bit obsessed with food. We found two very tasty, freshly baked, bite-sized brownies with toasted almonds waiting on our bedside table. Such a civilized way to usher in an evening! And what makes this the best turndown service EVER is that those amazing sheets are there for the touching as you savour the brownie. Did we mention the sheets? J
THE HOTEL & SERVICE
The pleasure of a stay at The James extends beyond the rooms. Prior to your stay you are sent an email asking about specific preferences and special requests - and they always pay attention and deliver on all counts. Upon arrival you are greeted at the door and with offers to help with luggage and the like, It's clear from that point, through to check-in and beyond, that employees are encouraged to maintain an air of casual refinement and sincere warmth. There is an elegant lounge and bar downstairs serving a nice selection of snacks. This is a perfect place to visit before or after (or both) a performance at the symphony or theatre, or to just have an adult conversation with friends (read: the atmosphere is refined, and quiet, allowing for conversation without having to yell across the table).
THE BAR AND FOOD
They serve great cocktails, conveniently organized by taste profile. The bar menu includes some tasty sharable small plates, for example:
Blackened Tuna Cones - while the term "blackened" is applied very loosely, this dish is still delicious. Yellowfin tuna is wrapped up with avocado, quinoa, crispy tempura flakes, tarragon cream, and pea shoots to provide a delightful, light snack.
Hummus Three Ways: Red pepper, Pesto and Baba Ganoush served with pita and veggies. The red pepper was a well-executed classic, and the pesto was the most interesting of the three. The Baba Ganoush came across as a bit bland, but the tasty pita bread made up for it.
Warm Cheese Marinated Olives and Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno - while the olives were tasty, they weren't at all warm. The cream cheese jalapeno was tasty, providing just a little bit of a spicy kick.
Stuffed Dates: Filled with maple mascarpone these fresh dates were accented with pistachios and prosciutto; they were absolutely marvelous!
If you want a proper meal, you can always ask for one of the in-room dining menus. We shared an order of Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich and fries. It was a very generous serving of chicken served on a potato bun, and the fries were on point. One serving was all we needed to round out our afternoon of snacking before taking in a show.
BREAKFASTS
Breakfasts are included with the room. Two out of three stays the breakfasts were wonderful, and once they seemed to be struggling a little. We'd guess there were some bumps related to new staff.
The breakfast area is a comfortable room that features a combination of table service and small, but very fresh, buff