
5 Charming Boutique Hotels Around Halifax, Nova Scotia
Aerial view of the city of Halifax and Citadel Historic Site, Nova Scotia, Canada. Photo taken with drone.
Halifax is known for its warmth and hospitality—and one of the best places to experience the friendly Atlantic Canadian trope can be in a cozy boutique hotel. The city might be smaller than its capital cities in Quebec or Ontario but it still has its fair share of great properties to check out.
The following boutique hotels in and around Halifax offer something for all kinds of travelers, from a downtown hotel with an award-winning restaurant onsite to a nature-focused getaway complete with a full-service spa. Here are five charming boutique hotels to check into when visiting Nova Scotia:
The Halliburton Hotel is a trio of townhouses on Morris Street boasting just 29 rooms and suites. It's an incredibly cozy retreat right in the center of the city. The guestrooms range from expansive studio suites to more modest queen rooms, each of which is well-appointed with in-room snacks, coffee bars, and more.
Tucked in between Oland's Brewery and Bilby Park in the North End, Brewery Park is a great option for travelers looking to experience a more local-leaning side of Halifax. The boutique hotel boasts gorgeous architectural details like clapboard wood siding but also includes creature comforts like kitchenettes complete with wet bars. This property is also the first in the city to provide 24-hour self check-in.
The Halifax Rooftop is a stunning newly renovated bed & breakfast that feels like stepping into a cool friend's vacation home. The North End property boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, beautiful balconies, and a lush courtyard with an outdoor spa. It's worth noting this property only has three rooms which gives it a very private feel.
Nalu Retreat & Nordic Spa is just outside of the city and offers a unique experience for travelers to really immerse themselves in nature without sacrificing the luxuries of a high-end boutique hotel. The property features four-season geodesic domes that include a fireplace, private decks with hot tubs, full kitchens, and an outdoor shower.
It doesn't get more Nova Scotian than this oceanfront property —but keep in mind that it's a bit outside of the downtown core, in Eastern Passage, and is definitely best for those traveling with a car. The Inn at Fisherman's Cove boasts incredible views of the 200-year-old working fishing village just steps outside the property.

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Vogue
4 days ago
- Vogue
Eriro
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue's global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you're planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it's worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide. Why go here? 'I want to live here' is the sentence I find myself saying over and over as I walk through the boutique hotel Eriro, nestled at an elevation of 1,500 meters among the peaks of the Zugspitze, Germany's largest mountain. Space, pace, and a fluid relationship to nature: These are the main motifs for this cozy nine-suite retreat surrounded by majestic mountains, lakes, and the dense pine forest of Seebenwald. It is not a coincidence that in ancient German the word eriro means 'forest entrance.' The chalet feels like a portal to a green aquatic world. All around, the presence of water is tangible. Down the hill from the hotel flows the Loisach river, which crosses an ancient mossland and separates Ehrwald and Lermoos. Up in the mountains above Eriro are the wonderful lakes Seebensee (Seeben Lake) and Drachensee (Dragon Lake). There is snow in the winter with skiing and in summer mountain bikes and hiking trails among the wildflowers. At the hotel the experience is visual, tactile, and sensorial: Wood, stone, wool, and glass are the dominant materials. Guests are encouraged to touch, smell, and engage with everything. This place feels like an actual dream home, a magical dwelling that is both familiar and wild. And the spa center certainly reflects this philosophy. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro What's the vibe? To reach Eriro, you park your car in the Austrian village of Ehrwald and ride five kilometers up the mountain on a gondola. Every bedroom comes equipped with a small wooden box, the place where phones go to die. Wi-Fi is present but not visible. The challenge is clear: Relaxation begins once we access our inner self, and this requires a true forfeiting of manic screen life. (Another great touch is each room's vinyl record player and collection.) The spa exemplifies Eriro's ethos of reconnecting to nature and disconnecting from the digital realm. It is situated on the bottom floor with all the larger suites, its architecture encouraging a grounding experience. (One of the guest rooms has a gorgeous, built-in sauna, and all the suites have bathtubs made from carved pine.) The floors are rough, the wood is only partly treated, and the water comes from a mountain spring collected from Eriro's own well. A feeling of freedom and fluidity runs through this very special place. The spa has no opening or closing hours. You're just as likely to see after-dinner guests in the spa with a mug of tea as a flute of Champagne. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro The history? The hotel is a collaboration between hoteliers Amelie and Dominik Posch, Christina and Martin Spielmann, and South Tyrolean architect Martin Gruber, who decided to renovate a 1936 Alpine hut and transform it into a refuge for the soul and mind. (A nice touch: Most of the wood here is recycled from old barns or the inn's first 1930s incarnation.) The inn's original owner loved this place so much that he wanted to ensure it would be sold to people who would maintain its original spirit. This means there is no grand entrance, no driveway, no arrival procedure. The official entrance is actually through the back door. The minute you cross the threshold, you are immediately in the main room, which is a kind of spacious yet cozy living room with stunning views of the valley below. It's all an homage to old-school Alpine tourism, as it was in the '30s. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro What should you try? The main idea for the spa is to access as many outside elements as possible, so you would be remiss to skip the water therapy. There are three hot-water relaxation pools, and the water from the pools and showers is all filtered in-house, without chemicals or chlorine. In the summer, the grasslands are visible from the large pool windows, giving the impression that you're floating over a wild field of flowers. Along with the pools and sauna is a so-called straw room, inspired by the stables used to store straw and hay for animals in winter. Here you will find the only television of Eriro, screening exclusively produced footage of the surrounding mountain peaks and lakes. Deerskin swings and infrared vibrations help the relaxation process. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro Every treatment at Eriro begins with a ceremonial foot bath followed by an intuitive holistic massage, a combination of energy work as well as physical work focusing on acupressure and energetic flow. My masseuse showed me a collection of mountain arnica, St. John's wort, and stinging nettle she picked herself. 'Everyone is so afraid of nettle,' she says. 'But it's one of the herbs with the greatest variety of benefits. It boosts immunity, controls inflammation, cures arthritis, and helps with diabetes.' The hotel purposefully chooses not to work with cosmetic brands, using local, natural products instead. An array of herbal teas—Alpine mix, chamomile, and mint—is served at all times; the herbs are collected in the summer and dried for the winter season. After the massage, I took a contemplative walk around a lake, followed by a breathing meditation on the water with a Tibetan bowl. The wind was the only sound I heard for hours, and I could feel my body begin to change. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro What else should we know? Before reaching Eriro I made a pit stop at a sister property, an Alpine hideaway called La Posch in the gorgeous chalet village Biberwier—and you might want to extend your trip at Eriro to include this spot as well. The idea running through both La Posch and Eriro is that the spa should be a seamless experience. Who can go? Eriro is for adults only. Children under 16 are not permitted as guests. Because of its intimate, almost domestic feeling, the spa is also open exclusively for hotel guests. Reaching the chalet is a romantic adventure in itself, so guests must keep that in mind when venturing up. Photo: Alexander Moling / Courtesy of Eriro Booking details for Eriro Address: Ehrwalder Alm 4, 6632 Ehrwald, Austria Read more from Vogue's Global Spa Guide. Read more about Eriro on the Conde Nast Traveler Hot List.


Vogue
4 days ago
- Vogue
Layan Life by Anantara
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue's global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you're planning to travel—from a subway ride to a transatlantic flight—we want to make sure it's worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide. Why go here? Let's be honest, we could all use a reset from time to time, and Layan Life might just be one of the best places to do it. Tucked away within Anantara Layan Phuket Resort's lush paradise, not only do you get the chance to explore Thailand's largest island, but this medi-spa takes hotel wellness offerings to new heights. With a menu of more than 50 offerings (I counted) that covers everything from ancient Thai practices to modern-day medical treatments, it's where you'd come for multiday curated retreats, or even if you don't exactly know what it is that you need—that's the beauty of having access to a diverse staff of specialized practitioners. Photo: Courtesy of Layan Life by Anantara What's the vibe? As your chauffeured golf cart makes its way down palm-fringed paths and a steep, winding road, a glass-walled building suspended above a lily pond emerges. The beige interiors are unremarkable, but perhaps that's the point, creating a space that calms the mind and cedes attention to the surrounding greenery, on full display thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. The ground level is largely dedicated to movement, with a sizable 24-hour fitness center stocked with what seems like every piece of Technogym equipment in existence along with two studios, one of which is dedicated to reformer Pilates. At the end of the hall you'll find the heated vitality pool, a cold plunge, and an experience shower, along with the changing rooms, each with a Himalayan salt sauna and steam room. Above is the heart of Layan Life, where the majority of the treatments take place. At some hours, it'll seem like you're the only one in the facility, but at least one of the 19 rooms is likely occupied at any given moment. Many of the spaces are designed for specific purposes, like for cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, colonic hydrotherapy, and IV vitamin drips. Even the massage beds have been appropriately selected, with wider tables in the traditional Thai medicine (TTM) rooms. It's organized. Clinical, even. But it adds to the overall sense of professionalism and commitment to wellness at Layan Life. Photo: Courtesy of Layan Life by Anantara The history? While Anantara Layan Phuket Resort opened in 2014, Layan Life didn't launch until this past October. Staying true to Anantara's Thai roots, TTM plays a significant role at the facility and is complemented by cutting-edge technology. Drawing from traditional beliefs that food is a form of medicine, the resort also offers a dedicated menu with dishes free of gluten, dairy, and processed sugars. Photo: Courtesy of Layan Life by Anantara What should you try? The simple and honest answer is that it all comes down to your personal goals. Remember, this isn't your ordinary spa (although the resort has one of those too). But if I have to pinpoint something from Layan Life's encyclopedic menu, I'm heading straight to the TTM section. Upon arrival, the team ushered me straight into one of Layan Life's many rooms for nuad rajasamnak, a massage that was once reserved for Thai royalty. The practice involves targeted acupressure to what are known as Sen in TTM—energy lines from which life force flows, with 10 major paths believed to govern well-being—paired with warm herbal compresses to ease muscle tension and inflammation. A total dream after more than 30 hours of travel. A close second was the Sweet Herbal Dreams treatment, where an herbal poultice was gently applied to my body, delivering on the promise of a deep and restorative sleep, as confirmed by my Fitbit's built-in sleep tracker the next day. For those who experience frequent aches, I'd also recommend a 3D body scan so that a physiotherapist can better understand your problem areas and follow it up with a targeted treatment to help relieve pain or optimize mobility. Photo: Courtesy of Layan Life by Anantara How environmentally friendly is it? The elimination of single-use plastic is a growing norm, thankfully, but it's still worth noting when a hotel commits to it. What else do we need to know? The resort offers a daily schedule of six complimentary activities that range from fitness classes to cultural introductions. For those who enjoy exercising by way of sports, hit the tennis court with a private lesson or opt for some time in the ring with a Muay Thai coach. Who can go? Anyone on Phuket is welcome—just make sure to book in advance. Booking details for Layan Life by Anantara Address: Anantara Layan Phuket, 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket Read more from Vogue's Global Spa Guide.
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Travel + Leisure
30-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Iconic Bahamas Resort Is Hosting Wellness Weekends Throughout the Summer—Here's How You Can Join
There's arguably no better destination for rest and relaxation than the sandy shores and turquoise waters of the Bahamas, and The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, is ready to add a little extra wellness to your R&R routine. Nora Tobin—integrated health coach and founder of Nora's Naturals, a sustainable nutrition line—has created three weekend-long retreats throughout the summer in partnership with the luxury resort. The retreats are built around Tobin's four signature pillars: Restore, Perform, Nourish, and Glow, which she's designed to integrate personal wellbeing into each trip without sacrificing indulgence. Taking into consideration that guests are, of course, on vacation, the extent of their participation is entirely up to them. They can throw themselves into an immersive three-day retreat (which still includes plenty of beach and dining time), or they can cherry-pick activities in an a la carte format. The weekends will be filled with small group classes, individual sessions, and seminars. 'My goal with our upcoming retreat series is to provide approachable tools to gently transform wellbeing and accelerate performance in a playful environment," Tobin said. "The retreats are not only an opportunity to revitalize, but also create exceptional social connections. One of the most thrilling aspects for me is the ability to bring amazing people together who may become dear friends, or at the very least, enjoy passion fruit martinis by the sea." (I highly recommend said martini.) One of the most thrilling aspects for me is the ability to bring amazing people together who may become dear friends, or at the very least, enjoy passionfruit martinis by the sea. — Nora Tobin I had the chance to get an early taste of some of the amazing things Tobin and Four Seasons have to offer, and what I loved most was that I was able to enjoy all my favorite parts of a vacation while working on my wellbeing. We would practice beachside yoga, listening to the sounds of the crashing waves, and then follow that up with a crisp glass of Champagne—which, in my opinion, is the perfect way to end a yoga class. Experiencing a sample from each of the upcoming weekends, I learned new wellness techniques that are easy to integrate into not only my everyday personal life, but my professional life as well. When classes are not in session, guests can explore and enjoy the 35 acres of lush tropical resort, including three pools (keep an eye out for the Versailles pool, featured in the James Bond film "Casino Royale"), a fitness center, tennis and golf courts, and a Balinese-style spa. Visit The Ocean Club website to sign up for the following weekends: Restore and Renew, June 6-8: Focus on restoring and renewing reparative sleep, stress reset, and biological age optimization. Fitness and Performance, July 18-20: Target metabolic transformation, performance nutrition, and athletic recovery. Nourish and Glow, Aug. 3-5: Learn about natural fat burning, anti-aging nutrition, and detoxing your system.