Niagara-on-the-Lake bed breakfast. (Niagara-on-the-Lake) Ontario bed breakfasts reviewed by Janette Higgins

One of the best bed and breakfasts in Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario,
as recommended by Janette Higgins.

Toronto Area and Niagara Region

Abel Thomas House Bed and Breakfast

Mary and Robin Scott 269 Regent Street PO Box 1884 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Canada, L0S 1J0
Phone: 905-468-9625
A beautifully gift-wrapped package. And what's inside is sure to please as well.


Click Mapquest for Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario map

Review by Janette Higgins

author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide

Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B reviews and holiday reports online.

Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. Here’s one of my picks.
Janette Higgins

This Niagara-on-the-Lake bed and breakfast is a delightful gift-wrapped package that delivers at every level. Abel Thomas House sits prettily on Regent Street behind a white picket fence with well-groomed gardens. It’s a tranquil refuge from which you can easily walk everywhere. A couple of minutes takes you to the downtown shops, restaurants, and smaller theatres, while it takes fewer than ten to reach the Festival Threatre.

Abel Thomas House Bed and Breakfast has everything I look for and is one of my mid-price picks for Niagara-on-the-Lake. Fun-loving hosts Mary and Robin Scott clearly enjoy their bed and breakfast guests. Mary’s a talented decorator, very good cook and the one responsible for the beautiful gardens. The gregarious Robin serves breakfast with aplomb perhaps topping things off with a soupcon of compatriot Robert Burns' poetry.

This bed and breakfast also has just the right amount of privacy. Upon entering the guest-only door, the dining room is the first thing you’ll see. It’s ‘all of a piece’ with ample room around the big oak table over which hangs a wrought-iron chandelier. Nothing fussy, just good taste. The back patio and gardens are there for you to enjoy as well. Upstairs there's second-floor guest sitting room and bedrooms beyond. The electric fireplace and fresh, clean lines of the sitting room’s décor makes for an inviting spot. There’s also a TV for those who like to get caught up on the news.

Then there are the bedrooms. All are beautifully decorated and offer garden views including two with magnolia trees. The Blue Room has Wedgwood blue walls and striking blue-and-gold toile linens. The Red Room is themed to the oversize red, gold and green floral print on its linens. Other furnishings, such as an armoire and a couple of wicker pieces, are in a vanilla cream. The walls are rich coral and a red wing back chair with a cherry-motif needlepoint cushion invites you to relax. Both rooms have electric fireplaces. The twin-bedded Green Room has sage green walls offering a tranquil backdrop to the bronze and red quilts. All duvets are silk-filled so are allergy-free.

The next morning coffee and The Globe and Mail are available from 7:30 AM in the dining room. Enjoy it on the patio if the weather's nice. As for breakfast, that's when you’ll realize why this bed and breakfast ups the ante for Niagara-on-the-Lake B&Bs. The morning I was there the fruit course was mixed fresh fruit with homemade orange-yogurt sauce. The main course was zucchini fritters (zucchini combined with goat cheese rounds) served with a homemade tomato sauce. Then, straight from the oven, tempting scones served with a fresh-picked-taste raspberry jam from Denmark.

Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting Mary and Robin know you read my review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins

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Abel Thomas House Bed and Breakfast, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

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Website:

http://www.abelthomashouse.com

Languages:

Season:

S or D from $150 plus 5% GST
2 night minimum on weekends during theatre season
enquire about off-season specials

Currency converter

Cards:

cash or personal cheque only

Restrictions:

enquire about teen children; smoking outside only; no guest's pets

Facilities:

3 guest bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms with shower stalls; 2 with queen beds and electric fireplaces; 1 with twin beds; sitting room for guests; refreshment area with guest fridge; central air

Parking:

For 3 cars at back of house

Breakfast:

full

In Residence:

Toby the golden retrievor kept in host quarters; 1 very discreet smoker (no evidence in bed and breakfast area!)

Location:

One block to downtown shops, restaurants and two smaller theatres. Walk to Festival Theatre in less than 10 minutes

Directions:

From Queen Street (main downtown street) turn south onto Regent.

Weather Information

Check out Janette Higgins' other site www.gardendesigncoach.com