After our flight from Toronto in Air Canada’s Signature Class, Cathy and I arrived in Halifax and headed straight for the Lord Nelson hotel, where we planned to spend four nights.

Located at 1515 South Park Street, along the bustling and shop-lined Spring Garden Road, the Lord Nelson offers 260 guest rooms and suites that range from simple and accommodating to spacious and eye-catching. 

First opened in October of 1928, the hotel has played host to a number of celebrities and high-rollers, including the Rolling Stones, Anne Murray, Keith Urban, the White Stripes, Jerry Seinfeld, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Willem Dafoe and even Fidel Castro (although this rumour has never been officially confirmed). Since its heyday as a celebrity hotspot, the Lord Nelson has added just about every amenity you could want, including wireless high-speed internet access, a fitness centre and a 24-hour business centre.

The hotel’s historic elegance and charm has recently been enhanced with a multi-million-dollar renovation, resulting in a unique blend of historic nobility and modern design. Those updates to the hotel’s function have thankfully done nothing to ruin the hotel’s form. From the minute you walk into the lobby there’s no missing the grandfather clock, the antique furniture, the wood-panelled walls, or most spectacularly, the beautiful ceiling which recreates architecture within Canada’s Parliament Buildings.

Likewise, once you step into your guest rooms, you’ll find everything you might need in a comfortable setting. The beds are large and cosy, the TV has far more cable stations than I’ve seen at other hotels, and many of the rooms also feature a kitchenette with a microwave, sink and fridge. In addition, it’s nice to see a hotel room that doesn’t look “standard”. From the traditional rooms, all the way up to the suites, the Lord Nelson isn’t like a lot of other hotels–it feels like it was built for each traveller and their specific needs.

We booked a junior suite, which the hotel refers to as a deluxe one bedroom suite. The room was large and well appointed, featuring a king size pillow-top bed and a separate, intimate living area.

The bathroom was somewhat small and dated, but it was clean and functional.

As far as service, it’s impossible to ignore just how great the staff were. In the few days I stayed at the hotel, I was completely impressed with everyone from the doormen to the cleaning staff who wanted to make sure everything was to my liking.

Overlooking the 16-acre downtown oasis famously known as the Halifax Public Gardens, the Lord Nelson hotel is perfectly situated within the city. I would highly recommend a stay here if you find yourself in Halifax.