Stay & Play
A Royal View: The Eldorado Hotel, Kelowna, BC
by Jennifer Merrick, photos: Eldorado Resort
I magine you were titled royalty, and you had just inherited a fortune. Now it’s time to choose the perfect estate to entertain your well-heeled, well-traveled friends. Would you pick a waterfront destination with mooring for their boats and plenty of water sports? Or would you retreat to the mountains with majestic views of snow-capped peaks?
In 1926, Countess Bubna found a way to do both.
A hundred years ago, the English aristocrat purchased a lakeside property on the shores of Lake Okanagan, framed by the rugged Monashee Mountains. At the time, Kelowna was a quiet orchard town, but she recognized something extraordinary about this corner of British Columbia and built the Eldorado Arms Hotel.
The destination hotel became a social hub, where generations of visitors summered and enjoyed waterskiing, garden parties, dog shows and boating surrounded by spectacular scenery. Today, much has changed. The population of Kelowna is tenfold, almost 200 wineries surround the city, and the resort now encompasses two properties: Eldorado and the Manteo, joined by a lakeshore boardwalk. But the “Spirit of the El”, a tradition of warm hospitality and lakeside gatherings, remains, felt by anyone who visits. We certainly did on a recent family getaway.
We stayed at a two-bedroom villa at Manteo. Spacious and beautifully decorated with contemporary décor and fresh flowers, it was everything we could have wanted in our Okanagan home away from home: a fully equipped kitchen, espresso machine, a living room with a fireplace, generous dining areas, a private balcony, and best of all, floor-to-ceiling windows with postcard-worthy views of shimmering Okanagan Lake and the mountains beyond.
Altogether, the resort offers 155 accommodations, including 53 heritage-inspired guestrooms and suites at the Hotel Eldorado, and 102 units at the Manteo consisting of deluxe guestrooms, one-bedroom suites, and larger villas.
No matter which type of accommodation you choose, you’ll have access to the resort’s amenities. Facilities include a private sandy beach, four swimming pools, hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas, fitness centers, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts and water sports, like kayak and paddleboard.
Dining options are equally varied. The historic Lakeside Dining Room showcases contemporary Canadian cuisine, while Maestro’s serves fresh Mediterranean-inspired dishes. For cocktails, whisky flights or lighter fare, there’s the Eldorado Lounge or enjoy casual outdoor dining and drinks on the seasonal Boardwalk patio.
All delicious ways to soak up the views and fuel up for exploring the beautiful Okanagan region.
We hiked the trails at Knox Mountain Park, where we climbed up for a panoramic view of the city and to admire the indigenous art installation. At Quail’s Gate Winery, a family-owned estate, we sampled chardonnays and pinots whose flavors reflected the passion of the owners.
We tasted more of the Okanagan’s celebrated vintages at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, a pioneer of the region’s wine industry. Established in 1981 by Anthony Van Mandl, the winery crowns the slopes of Mount Boucherie with stunning views of Okanagan Lake. Like Countess Bubna decades before him, von Mandl saw the valley as “a gift waiting to be discovered” and set out to create a destination worthy of its setting.
Its beautifully landscaped gardens and an outdoor amphitheatre are complemented by a remarkable collection of sculptures and artwork, including Henry Moore’s sculpture Mother and Child, which stands at the foot of the bell tower.
The interior was equally impressive. Sitting in an elegantly decorated room with works of art and a fireplace as the centerpiece, we indulged in a private tasting. Each curated wine was paired with elevated small appetizers, showing off the region’s agriculture bounty.
Glass in hand, I could almost imagine I was a countess myself.
