The Pearle Hotel & Spa is Burlington's newest lakeside retreat

Written By

Robin Winship

1 year ago

Not all waterfront stays need to be perched on white sand beaches overlooking turquoise water to be remarkable. Unbeknownst to us who grew up in the GTA would we ever consider Lake Ontario to be the focal point of a getaway. Well, our misconceptions about Ontario's somewhat lackluster landscape have been shattered thanks to Burlington, Ontario's newest addition -- The Pearle Hotel & Spa.

Located roughly an hour west of the city, the lakeside town of Burlington may not currently reside on your Ontario staycation list but with the freshly minted Pearle, a shining beacon drawing tourists and locals alike, the time to take the 45 minute GO train ride has come.

A part of the Autograph Collection, a group of independent upscale to luxury hotels within the Marriott portfolio and the first in Ontario, The Pearle houses 151 rooms, a day spa, restaurant, cafe, conference rooms, fitness centre and an indoor pool. The Pearle, part of Pearle Hospitality which also owns several other noteworthy Ontario properties such as, Spencer's at the Waterfront, Ancaster Mill, Cambridge Mill, Elora Mill, Bread Bar and more, the hospitality group named their latest project after the grandmother of one of the founders, Pearle Ciancone.

Traces of Pearle can be found throughout the hotel, from basing the hotel's signage off of Pearle's handwriting to a note from Grandma Pearle in every guest room. Pearle used to own a lakeside cottage in Burlington with her husband, which sparked the inspiration behind the design of the Pearle.

Opening its doors in the Fall of 2021, The Pearle was designed by Designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge. Meant to evoke the variable nature of Ontario's four seasons, the hotel interiors are designed to bring guests along on a transcendent journey. Guest rooms are designed to reflect the elements of the lake, with light blue accents, soft boucle fabrics, white sheers and an overall serene atmosphere that immediately overcomes you as soon as you step foot in one of the rooms. In contrast, the lobby is bold, with a curved white staircase immediately grabbing your attention with its dramatic appearance. The entire concept is meant to reflect a contemporary Canadian cottage and mirror its surrounding environment.

Located within the hotel is the Pearle Spa, equipped with an indoor pool, lounge and Hammam steam room. Services offered include a selection of facials, massages, body treatments, hand and foot therapy and wellness experiences. Whether you opt for a traditional massage using classic techniques or choose an intuitive Reiki healing session (a Japanese healing technique meant to eradicate energy blockers) you're guaranteed to walk out of Pearle more at peace than you did walking in.

There are plenty of dinner options in Burlington but there's no need to leave the hotel when you have Isabelle Restaurant & Lounge at your fingertips. The airy space offers panoramic views of Lake Ontario throughout the restaurant with a calming beach vibe inside. Isabelle's menu is rooted in farm-to-table seasonality, as the restaurant optimizes produce from their own farm near by. The menu is inspired by International coastal climates from the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Californian. The menu is broken up in seven sections: Snacks, Small Plates, Pasta, Land, Sea, Sides and Desserts.

Snacks include Whipped Feta with salsa macha, crispy chickpeas and harissa honey; Hummus with tahini, toum and Meyer lemon and Olives with za'atar, chilies and citrus peel.

For Small Plates, there is the Beef Tartare that is heavily rooted in Middle Eastern flavours and is a unique rendition of the classic French dish. Spiced with smoked paprika, crispy shallots, toum, jalapeño zhug and buckwheat.

A must order and favourite on the menu, the Torched Salmon Crudo delivers a unique smoky flavour and is complemented with spicy aioli, furikake, cucumber, citrus and puffed rice.

The Mushroom Malfatti with black garlic, wild mushrooms, truffle and mushroom dashi, is a standout and a solid vegetarian option. Malfatti are traditional Italian spinach and ricotta dumplings but the Pearle omits the spinach to let the vegetal and earthy mushroom flavours really shine.