Lost in Toronto: A Staycation at The Old Mill Hotel

Happy New Year friends! I can’t believe how quickly this last year flew by. Here we are in 2022 and while things are a little bit different, it kind of feels like déjà vu! I am SO ready to put this entire pandemic behind me and continue to live life as it once was. Here’s to hoping we are facing the last wave and can get back to a bit of normalcy soon.

I recently stayed at the Old Mill Hotel in Toronto for a weekend celebration. Both my older sister and I are Capricorns (her birthday is January 2nd and mine is January 12th) so we celebrated her birthday with a mini staycation.

I’ve always been curious about The Old Mill Hotel and had never been until this past weekend. Parts of this historic boutique hotel have been around since 1914 when it was originally a tearoom. It has a Tudor-style architecture and the original owner (Robert Home Smith) intended it to perfectly capture his motto “Angliae Pars Anglia Procul” which translates to ‘a bit of England far from England’. Yes, it definitely gives off old English vibes, which was perfect for my child-like imagination that had me feeling like I was whisked away to an old English countryside even if only for a moment. What can I say, my imagination keeps me sane in times like this!

My stay at the Old Mill Hotel was a perfect little staycation and here is a short weekend recap:

Location: 9 Old Mill Rd, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1G5

The Old Mill Hotel is conveniently located along the Toronto subway line at Old Mill Station and only 20 minutes from downtown Toronto. From here it’s a 3 minute walk from the subway station making it the perfect hotel for a staycation. The hotel is situated along the Humber River, surrounded by nature and trails.

Old Mill Subway Station is only 20 minutes from downtown Toronto

Hotel Room: We booked the premium queen suite which is a 700 sq. ft. room that includes a separate living area with a cozy fireplace as well as a 2-person Jacuzzi tub. The room was spacious, clean and very elegant. I was actually pretty impressed.

Food & Drink: Check in was at 4pm so I brought a homemade charcuterie tray to nibble on as we settled in. Unfortunately due to the day of the week, the dining room was closed but they do have a dining room that serves lunch and dinner as well as brunch on weekends. They also offer afternoon tea which is popular.

Afterwards, we decided to go for drinks at the Home Smith Bar which is located where the original tearoom was built. The Bar is intimate and cozy with stone walls, dark wood, sleek lounge furniture and a warm fire crackling in the background. It was hard to believe that I was in Toronto and not in a small English countryside pub.

Every second Saturday of the month, the Bar is transformed into a blues bar that featured Canada’s top blues artists and I can totally see myself enjoying that in this atmosphere.

After a few drinks, we made our way back to our suite to pop a bottle of Moët & Chandon to celebrate my sister’s birthday.

What to do:

Take a stroll: While my visit took place in the winter, there are trails to enjoy nearby and I particularly enjoyed the bridge across the Humber River that quickly transports you into nature. It was a nice quaint walk and it was hard to believe that I was only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Enjoy a spa service: The Old Mill has a great full service spa on site. I decided to book a pedicure as I’ve only had one before in my entire life. It was very enjoyable and my aesthetician was super friendly and welcoming. They are also very clean and follow covid protocols which was nice to see. I can’t tell you how good my feet felt after this service. I will definitely be back for a massage or facial sometime!

Conclusion: I find that most people that book staycations in the city often focus on the downtown core, but it was nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Old Mill Hotel mixes old with modern and almost transports you into a different era. It’s a beautiful property filled with history and I highly recommend booking a staycation here.