The Scotsman Hotel Lavishes Niagara-On-The-Lake With Luxury

Pink marble walls, golden clawfoot tubs and fireplaces galore are just some of many design features that put The Scotsman in a class of its own. “To me, it was the ultimate project,” says Brenda McArthur, who purchased the property with her husband Blair McArthur in 2019. “The Scotsman started off as a dream of having a little boutique hotel in our town and we made it a reality. Niagara-on-the-Lake is such a beautiful place, we felt it really needed something special.”

Originally a 19th-century home that became the town’s first post office, the building was a bed-and-breakfast when the Brenda and Blair took ownership. Their vision for it was inspired by the many lovely European hotels they’d stayed in, particularly those in Scotland where the opulent Prestonfield House made an impression on Brenda. “It was luxurious but also cozy and comfortable,” she says. “I wanted that balance for The Scotsman – a place that was warm, inviting and glamorous all at the same time.” 

To recharge the space, Brenda turned to designer Lori Morris who is renowned for crafting sumptuous settings. “The biggest challenge with The Scotsman was the strict historic limitations of the building’s architecture which had to stay intact,” says Lori. “But that’s always a good thing from an aesthetic perspective, as it gives the space authenticity. After that, we organized the style, colour palette, how we wanted it to feel and just went to town.”

Indeed, the lobby beguiles with cossetting comfort. This is where guests are invited to take a custom-made velvet seat and sip a glass of perfectly chilled local sparkling wine before they’ve even checked in. The room captivates with a leopard-print rug underfoot, a lit fireplace and walls wrapped in glossy green croco-print and ornate black panelling. Two large paned windows frame the view to the street—think white picket fences and historic homes – and make the softly lit room even cozier, a cocoon-like spot to linger in.

Six individually decorated suites fulfill the went-to-town brief. Each has a defining colour scheme, from the pretty-in-pink Prestonfield Suite with Juliette balcony and four-poster king-size bed to the Owners’ Suite, a decadent black confection with a full bathroom, powder room and separate sitting room with fireplace. Every room has fresh flowers, Egyptian cotton bedding, robes and slippers, Dyson hair dryers and a minibar stocked with complimentary glass bottles of Evian and sparkling water. There’s a coffee machine, milk chocolate bars bearing the handsome Scotsman logo and staff is happy to stock the bar with your preferred pours before arrival.

After checking in, guests can check out the other visual delights. There’s a wonderfully moody sitting room with tartan wall coverings and more custom black velvet furniture—the armchairs adorned with golden griffins make for a nice spot to enjoy the room’s fireplace. At the back of the hotel sits the piano lounge. It’s a sparkling, wow kind of room, glowing with gold and rich in layered details from an original exposed brick wall to a gallery-like art collection. Outside, a private courtyard punctuated by a water fountain and fireplaces awaits – it’s open year-round and especially cozy in the winter months. 

Breakfast is included at The Scotsman and while it can be enjoyed in any area, the breakfast room is not to be missed. A pink marble island offers yogurt and berries in handblown glass bowls on a 24-karat-gold stand, while pink-marble shelves corral pink Tiffany & Co. coffee cups. There is a menu of cooked dishes as well, and if you find it remarkably easy to get used to eating your eggs and toast by candlelight, you wouldn’t be alone. “The exciting part about The Scotsman is that it’s getting very busy,” says Brenda. “It was a slow start since we opened in 2024, but now we are full every weekend!” Stay here just once, and you’ll know why. —Christy Wright