Stay & Play

Stay and Play in Luxury at the Whimsical Merrill House

by Jennifer Merrick

As much as I appreciated the period décor of historical B&Bs I’ve stayed at in the past, I must admit there were times I felt like I was sleeping over at a library, as I tiptoed and whispered my way around creaky rooms. But this was definitely not the case at the Merrill House in Prince Edward County. Owned and managed by Justin Martin de Rosales and his husband Evert Rosales Gomez de Martin, this newly renovated hotel was as playful as it was luxurious. Even the history of the property was presented in a comic book format.

And what is its history? Built in 1878, this Gothic Revival-style mansion was originally the home of Edward Merrill, a magistrate and mayor of Picton with ties to Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald. The boutique hotel here today began its latest reincarnation in 2018, when Martin De Rosales bought the property. Having worked globally in the luxury brand hospitality business and traveled extensively, he wanted to bring his vision back to his hometown. In 2019, he completed a major restoration of the Merrill House that reflected his passions for interior design, art, history and wine.

Can you describe the space? The 14 guest rooms each had their own individually-themed décor from the surreal, which-way-is-up design of the Future Room to the florals and French flair of the Parisian Room. We stayed in the elegant Dreaming Suite, which featured its original floors, a four-poster bed and eclectic mix of antiques and contemporary pieces. The piece-de-resistance was the wood-burning marble fireplace. It did indeed feel like a dream, as we gazed at the dancing flames, while relaxing with a nightcap on the sofa.

Shared spaces included a conservatory, drawing room and study as well as inviting nooks throughout the house. Like our suite, all the spaced had curated collections of antiques artfully combined with contemporary design features. This creative juxtaposition between the two created a whimsical and playful atmosphere.

What about the dining? Sublime! Chef Michael Sullivan offered up elevated French cuisine with a choice of three, four or five courses on a prix fixe menu. Our exquisite dining experience began with the foie gras en torchon, followed by seared arctic char and sea scallops and finished with Lindt warm molten chocolate cake. Each course was perfectly paired with wine from their Wine-Spectator-awarded cellar. Breakfast was complimentary and included freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh pastries and fruit as ‘a breakfast appetizer’ followed by a hot gourmet item.

And the amenities? True to the hotel’s character, they ranged from the playful like the Polaroid welcome photo, a barrel sauna and pillow-scenting service to the luxe, like wine education and yoga classes. We especially loved our wine course and tasting that invited guests to discover the county’s vineyard treasures. As we learned about ‘viscosity’ and ‘terroir’ and tasted the chardonnays and pinot noirs from local wineries, the sommelier threw in an unexpected wine. The sparkling gamay from Long Dog Winery had all the flavours and rich notes of a traditional red wine, but the bubbles added a spark of fun. Just like the hotel.

www.merrill-house.com