A luxurious stay at the James Hotel

If you didn’t know The James Hotel is an independent and family-owned hotel in Saskatoon and they have been making quite the name for themselves as they have not only made Air Canada’s enRoute list as one of Canada’s top 5 hotels but The James Hotel Lobby Bar has also been ranked number 37 on Canada’s 100 Best list! After having the chance to stay there myself, I can now see why. Keep reading to hear more about my experience! 

The first thing that caught my eye when walking into my room was the stunning view outside our window facing out to the river and Meewasin Valley. Each room at the James has its very own balcony and as soon as I saw that view, I immediately had to take a step out onto the patio and fully take it in. I wish I could have stayed out longer but it was a bit chilly outside, but you can bet I am already imagining a stay here in the summer to truly take advantage of this captivating view. 

After we checked into our room, we decided to make our way over to Crossmount Cider Company! This cidery is one of my favorite places to visit in all seasons but especially during the colder months. What I love about it during the cooler months is how sunny the tasting room gets. It seems that no matter what time of day, you will always have the sun shining in on you. 

After that, we headed back and made our way to the James Lobby Bar. As mentioned earlier, The James Hotel Lobby Bar was named #37 on the 2023 List of Best Bars in Canada and I can see why! With the beautiful view of the river and the ambience of the room, you can't go wrong with making a visit whether you are staying at the hotel or not. I highly recommend the Earl Grey martini, and if you are feeling famished, they also have a great food menu to indulge in. 

Once we finished our drinks, we realized we were pretty hungry but also really wanted to enjoy the beautiful room we booked so we decided to order some pizza to go from one of our favorite spots Primal! If you haven’t had their pizza before it’s a must! Don’t forget to add a side sauce to dip your pizza in, my go-to is ranch!  

Now, I need to leave some space in this blog solely to state how insanely soft their sheets are. I think the best way to explain this is that when I travel, the one thing that makes me excited about going back home is coming back to my own bed. The James on the other hand…I never wanted to get out of that bed. I don’t know what they are putting in those sheets, but I know I need to get some of my own, and luckily, you can! Just ask the front desk staff!

Once I finally managed to get myself out of bed, we ended our stay and had a lovely meal at their amazing chef-attended breakfast. One thing I liked about the James breakfast was that it was a more luxurious buffet as they made the eggs for us separately. That way we had the fun of selecting our food while also avoiding the normal buffet eggs where you never know how long they have been sitting there. The staff was also so great and accommodating, making sure we had everything we needed all the way to whether the room was warm enough for us! 

If you are looking for a luxurious stay with what might be the softest and comfiest sheets you have ever slept in, well, the James in Saskatoon is the place for you! Next time you visit Saskatoon or have a little staycation like myself, I highly recommend it. It is truly such a luxurious experience and again, have I mentioned their sheets!?