Somerset Bed & Breakfast — Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Update: Stayed at the Best Western on Mary Street as recommended by the host of the Somerset. Had a much Better experience.

During our trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake my girlfriend and I spent one night at the Somerset Bed Breakfast. Overall, we had a great time but for the price point there were a number of things that could be improved.

The location is perfect for exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake and any of the nearby wineries. It's close enough to walk to the main historic area but far enough that you're able to enjoy the privacy staying outside of the city center.

During our trip we spent the night in the Master Suite. The room is more than 1,000 square feet and more space than you would ever need for two people. There was a full seating area, dining area, two queen beds, and a beautiful modern bathroom. The best part about the bathroom was the jacuzzi, which my girlfriend enjoyed.

The bed was comfortable and the quiet property meant I had an amazing sleep. Really loved the pillows and bathrobe to use in the morning.

Although I didn't get much of a chance to speak to her, Julie, the host of the B&B, was friendly and welcoming. She made a few recommendations on places to eat nearby and prepared breakfast for us the next morning.

All of the other small details you look for when you're spending the night away from home were met. The wifi worked well, there are towels, bathroom amenities, the parking is easy, and the location is perfect for exploring.

Despite all of this, there are some things I want to mention.

Before arriving I looked up the B&B and found out that it’s located on a historic property. There are also some historic sites just down the street that visitors to Niagara-on-the-Lake might want to check out. Julie never mentioned any of this and didn't share much information about the property. The tourist map that was provided wasn't of much use and it would have been difficult to know what to do in town if we hadn't come prepared or weren’t as familiar technology.

At one point we arrived to find a repairman in the driveway. I'm not sure about the circumstances surrounding his arrival but having to deal with the repairman while on vacation at a $400+ per night B&B is not something I ever expected.

Later on my girlfriend went to take a bath and the battery-powered candles left beside the tub didn’t work. We tried the remote and the switch on the candle but couldn’t figure it out. Something like this needs to be checked regularly!

Another thing I noticed in the room was that were random tools and items in the drawers. There was a glue stick, tape, and some furniture pieces or large mats in the closet. This was unusual to me and not something that should be left behind in the rooms.

Having heard so many great things about the breakfast I was really looking forward to it in the morning. It started off with a poached? Pear with yogurt and granola. Very well done despite the pear sliding around the oversized plate.

The main course was what I would call a “deconstructed breakfast sandwich”. It came with fried ham, poached eggs, a tomato slice, and a toasted English muffin. There wasn’t any sauce so the bread was dry - so dry that at one point my girlfriend burst into laughter watching me try to saw through it with the knife. The presentation was off and I found the flavor to be subpar.

Throughout breakfast the door into the kitchen was left open so my girlfriend and I were able to enjoy listening to the conversation of Julie and the other staff member. Shutting the door would have resulted in a more casual dining experience for the both of us!

Overall, I'm not sure I would personally recommend staying at the Somerset B&B. For the price you could enjoy a premium level of service from a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Alternatively, there are a number of B&B’s nearby offering better value for a more competitive price. Do your research before booking and I'm sure...

Room temp was an issue two of the days, and we mentioned it the next morning when Darren returned. There was no thermostat in our room - no bueno! Scalding hot water in the shower required about 15 minutes to find an acceptable temp each time (about midnight) after late arrival, late dinner at Irish Harp Pub, and getting settled in to the room. Finally found a setting that was a little too hot but not scalding. Could not find an instruction booklet to operate the shower faucet. We recently bought a new Rheem water heater for our home and set the tank temp to 135 degrees so that scalding is not even possible! This is not new technology!

Housekeeping left the door to our room unlocked once and left one door to the balcony unlocked twice. Unacceptable! We are absolutely certain of this because we triple checked at a minimum every time we left the room for any reason - a habit we started 30 years ago. Our outings became much shorter as a result. On a positive note, the queen bed was comfortable, and housekeeping kept the room clean and well supplied with most things.

The stairway to the three rooms upstairs is poorly designed. There is a gap in the railing where the steps narrow to about four inches wide. No bueno! The steps also have unnecessary lips (noses) which increase the chance of tripping. No bueno! We were very fortunate that we did not have to visit the ER after falling and tripping.

Darren is the best thing about this place. We hope he enjoys the bottle of De Simone wine. The regular full time live-in person is gone, so Darren came over daily to cook breakfast and fill in from about 7-4 doing the job of two people the best he could, but some things were forgotten.

The most memorable times of our 40th anniversary trip to NOTL were our delightful morning breakfasts while the lake was still serene, experiencing the Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory with the adjoining gift shop, and visiting several wonderful organic, biodynamic, and/or sustainable vineyards and wineries. The area wineries far exceeded our expectations.

Local dining is above average, but there is not much good, fresh seafood. The flowers, shopping, and dining on Queen Street are above average - but then it’s not Napa or Disney Springs.

After a grueling arrival at YYZ through customs and then baggage claim, we were pleasantly surprised by our departure experience at YYZ through the ticket counter and bag drop, then on to TSA security, and finally through customs. We were very happy to find an excellent Starbucks at gates A14-16. On our connecting flight home the flight crew surprised us with a congratulatory 40th anniversary note and a very big package of Biscoff. They remembered!

We will return to NOTL but not to Somerset. We are always happy to share our opinions and experiences with...

My partner's birthday getaway could not have been better located than at Somerset! I'm a casual photographer, and this place is a gem for picturesque shots, so I had LOTS of fun doing what I do too. ||Here's our breakdown||The room: Our suite was in the West Wing (yes, I watched the series too), with 4 spaces including: the massive bedroom, living area with bar and foyer, the balcony and very spacious bathroom. Everything was sparkling clean, luxurious, comfortable and extremely well appointed. There was original artwork, an additional Juliette balcony, his/her closets and the list goes on and on! Very comfortable linens, high-end amenities and stunning views of gardens and the lake to boot.||Our host: Darren is a thoughtful and genuine human being. He went the extra mile to arrange for special treats of chocolate truffles, fruit, wine and beer in our room upon arrival. The tour that we were offered of the property was full of history, ideas while we are here, amenities that were not obvious and the warmth and friendliness that we might feel when we are welcomed at home. Darren was also helpful with our luggage, freshening our room, retrieving items that I had left outside lol and just sharing his life and experiences with the gorgeous area that is NOTL. He is a welcome fixture for us at Somerset.||The common area: I'm not sure how they made such massive spaces so cozy and homy, but here we are. The entryway is massive and has a curved stairway leading to the suites. The living area is located with views and passage onto the lake. There are cards, an open bar and seating you may never want to get up from. The dining area was equipped with fruit to snack upon and a massive table with again, views and passage onto the lake.||The property: This is the only b&b that backs onto the lake. The back deck is brimming with flowers and has 2 patio table set ups, one in which we had breakfast upon, but it's the view that is the star. There is a massive grassy hill leading to Adirondack chairs to watch the ships go by, or the setting sun light up the fort across the way. The beach has rocks to skip back into the lake and borders a public park. If able, you can skirt over the rocks and...