The Lord Nelson Hotel- Halifax, NS

Located across from Halifax’s serene Public Gardens, The Lord Nelson Hotel has been welcoming visitors since 1928. Almost a century later, the Grande Dame retains a regal, albeit dated, air- which I find preferable to an overly renovated property.

Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and named for notable British naval Vice-admiral Horatio Nelson (who never actually visited Halifax), it was the city’s first modern hotel.

Designed in the Georgian style, and constructed of mostly local materials, it featured wood paneled walls, a hand painted gold leaf lobby ceiling, and crystal chandeliers. In its early days, it even housed a radio station.

The lobby, with its quaint British pub and traditional details, is still an exceptional space. The rooms, while retaining their original charm, could use a few cosmetic updates. Although functional, the air conditioning unit in our suite almost seemed as old as the building. I kid- its patina suggests it was probably added in the early 80s.

Nevertheless, it was a cozy space, with tons of character, and convenient to everything in town. An absolute classic, I look forward to another stay in the future.