We stayed at The Grove Hotel in Kingsville, Ontario in September 2020 for a 2-night stay. I booked directly through their online booking system and the process was very seamless. When I booked we had the choice of about 4 rooms for our desired dates and selected the “Music Room.”
First Impressions
When I found this hotel online, I thought it was too good to be true. It was charming, very unique, and definitely a boutique hotel. Based on that, I figured even if they did have openings, it would probably be too expensive to stay there. Well, I was happy to be proven wrong on both accounts. They had a few rooms open and they were reasonably priced. Success! Upon arriving at The Grove Hotel we were pleased to find that it looked just like it did online.
Check-In
The check-in process was a bit different due to the pandemic. In advance of our arrival we had to fill out a pre-registration form online that confirmed we were healthy, agreed to the terms and conditions, and specify our window of arrival (for social distancing). When we arrived the doors were locked and we had to knock to get into the building at the front. Check-in was very smooth and we were given two key cards to enter both the building and our room.
Room
Our room was upgraded to a larger room on the second floor. Originally we had booked the Music Room, but when we arrived we learned that we were in “On the Lake” (Room 9) instead. This room was much larger than the original and had a pull out couch, king-sized bed, desk area, and an arm chair. There was open shelving with hangers for our our clothes and storage. The bathroom was on the smaller size, but it the shower was a decent size and it had everything we needed (including a hair dryer, some products, and cleaning solution). The décor was all geared toward being “on the lake” and was very cozy. I really loved the colour scheme and design choices in this room.
We were located at the back of the building by the stairs and elevator which was convenient for us (as parking was in the back). Our view was not a standard “outside view” but we did have 2 windows. They looked directly into the brewery attached to the building. Some of the other rooms look into the taproom area, the alley, and the main street. So if you have a preference make sure you read the descriptions. We thought it was pretty cool and it didn’t bother us not having an outside view.
There was also a mini fridge in the room stocked with some beer, wine, water and other beverages. There was a price list on the desk along with glasses, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener. If you wanted complimentary water, there was a bottle of room-temperature water on the desk for you.
Common Areas
There was only one indoor common area here at the front of the hotel. It was a sitting room and kitchenette combination. Here you had access to a coffee maker, microwave, sink, and snacks that were provided in the morning. We really liked the furniture combination in here, the wall of fame showing photos of all the celebrities who’ve stayed at the hotel, and the atmosphere.
Outside there was also a common area on the front porch with rocking chairs set up outside for guests to enjoy. Finally, I’ll call the parking lot a “common area” as it was shared by guests. Behind the hotel there were a handful of spots available. If you weren’t lucky enough to get one you had to park in a lot further back (which never happened to us). It wasn’t a problem for us, but just something to note!
Service
When I did our pre-registration they had an option for a Rock Star Rider. Essentially, if you were a celebrity, what would you request in your room. I requested extra towels and beer, and was happy to find extra towels and 2 Dad’s Root Beers on the bed when we arrived in our room.
Our room and the common areas of the hotel were very clean, and the hotel staff were all very friendly. Due to the pandemic, the rooms weren’t made up each night but we knew that when we booked (and usually prefer that anyway!). Both the check-in and check-out process were easy and pleasant. We had no issues.
Grove Hotel Overall Experience
We had a fantastic stay here at The Grove Hotel and I give it a 5/5 rating. I would definitely go back to this hotel in the future to try out a different room. If you’re looking for a funky hotel with historic and modern charm (yep, that’s a thing!), you definitely have to give The Grove Hotel a try.
Disclaimer: this review is an honest description of my stay. We were paying guests at this hotel, and I was not paid to provide this review.
