At Sterling Inn & Spa, the accommodations are nothing short of flawless. The over-sized rooms offer up a unique layout featuring a fireplace, king size ‘Sterling Dream’ beds, rain-shower, and wet bar. You certainly will be able to leave your stresses at the door when you hop into your plush dream-like bed.
Tucked inside the Sterling Inn & Spa’s doors is the fine dining “AG Inspired Cuisine” restaurant that draws its inspiration from the Niagara region’s pronounced seasons. And lest we forget, the full-service spa that’s on-site is virtually peerless in terms of amenities, facilities, and service.

www.10best.com/destinations/canada/niagara-falls/articles/a-true-boutique-experience-in-niagara/

The Sterling Inn and Spa is a wonderfully calm new space with soaring historic beams and gorgeous chalky shades on the wall. As Niagara Falls’ only boutique Hotel, this unique property features amenities and suites that cater to couples, making the Sterling Inn & Spa is the perfect place for a honeymoon or romantic Getaway. The mighty Niagara Falls, the entertainment of Clifton Hill, and the excitement of Casino Niagara are all within a short walking distance.

As evident in this standout inn, independent inn-keeping is thriving. The devoted owner has given an industrial building a contemporary make-over; and part of our architectural heritage is given new life as a stylish hotel. It is the drive and vision of a private owner that has underpinned the development.

Housed in a former Dairy Factory, the Sterling Inn looks just as a restoration conversion hotel should; inside is a cozy lounge with open fire, red accents draw you to the more sensuous elements of the hotel design. Built in 1928 by Fred Cairns, Cairns Creameries was one the the largest dairies and ice cream producers in the region. In 1930 Cairns Creameries was purchased by Bordens Dairy. Over the next 44 years, Bordens Dairy became a landmark in Niagara Falls with its freshly bottled milk, rich ice cream, and giant concrete milk bottle. It was the last dairy in the area where the traditional milk man could be seen on horse and carriage delivering glass bottles of milk door to door.

In 2005, the first stage of development got underway to create Niagara’s only Boutique hotel. Construction started shortly thereafter in early 2006. Major reconstruction was needed but the owners, architect, and designers of the hotel sought to maintain elements of the original building. This can be seen in the exposed ceiling beams, as well as the signature 3 storey “milk bottle entrance” that still stands at the front of the Sterling Inn & Spa.

All the rooms at the inn are unique and decorated with flair – clean, classy and contemporary.Spacious traditional rooms feature sumptuous King Size Sterling Dreams bed, fireplace, wet bar, refrigerator, and an extra large bathroom. The crowning glory, the extra roomy shower has a rain shower head, and body jets. Each room also has a decadent two-person Jacuzzi, or an in-shower steam unit that turns the glass enclosed shower into a personal steam room! Genius. And perfect for honeymooners who want to get their suds and supple skin on. I appreciated the spa bath large enough for two, and I love the Sterling for embracing ‘sociable bathing’! There are also a few incredible, massive two-room suites available, with the sitting area and bedroom separated into two rooms.

The Sterling Inn and Spa embodies luxurious minimalist functionality. In case of bad weather, or for those addicted to work or Dancing With the Stars, the rooms are equipped with an elaborate TV and hi-fi system and internet connection.

AG Inspired Cuisine was also involved in the award presentation today wining their own CAA/AAA 4 Diamond Award, which will hang with the collection in the restaurant.

Rhonda Hughes, General Manager at the Sterling Inn & Spa and Cory Linkson, Executive Chef, AG Inspired Cuisine were both on hand to accept the award.

A big thank-you to CAA for the recognition and for personally visiting us for the presentation!

The Fallsview area of Niagara Falls might have the giant hotel towers, the five-star view and the newer, swankier casino, but the single classiest and most lavish property in the city is actually just a short walk away from the cheeky tourist area of Clifton Hill. Nestled just behind the blaring lights and sounds of the Falls’ classic museums and arcades, The Sterling Inn & Spa just might be the city’s best kept secret, a hidden gem that thrives on word of mouth from its discerning and devoted clientele. The area’s only boutique hotel isn’t just an oasis from the madness at its doorstep, it’s an escape from the world in general.

Design

Transforming a 1920′s dairy (and 1990′s bar) into a stylish hotel is no easy task, but the architect and designers behind the extensive 2005 renovation project that led to the Sterling were clearly up to the challenge. Preserving elements of the original structure – including the three story milk bottle-shaped entranceway – and infusing them with new design flourishes, they have created a truly stunning building. Wooden pillars, high ceilings and exposed beams meet neutral colours, abstract art and flourishes of sleek white and red furniture in an almost perfect combination of tradition and modern style. Even the bathrooms, with stone tiling and glass sinks that could be works of art in their own right, are inspired.

Rooms

No two of the hotel’s 41 rooms are exactly alike, each boasting their own touches from the original building, and their own floor plan. The impressive and enticing list of amenities remains the same, though.

Each room boasts at least one flat screen TV, CD/ MP3 stereo system, king-sized bed, fridge, wet bar, dark hardwood floors and a gas fireplace. Some come with two-person jacuzzis, while the others have their own private steam showers. Traditional, Deluxe, Two-Room and Double Queen suites are available. Even the smallest of them, measuring in at about 550 sq feet, is large enough to rival your average condo.

Amenities

Meeting facilities and a small but serviceable gym are available onsite. Rooms are stocked with Organiq’s line of eco-friendly bath products, including sea salts for the jacuzzis. Complimentary parking and wi-fi are provided for all guests of the hotel, as is breakfast in bed. Each morning, at a time of their choosing, guests are treated to a rather satisfying spread of fresh fruit, eggs, croissants, cheese, ham, yogourt, granola, juice and coffee or tea. It’s a small but ingenious touch that really completes the luxurious Sterling Inn experience. For even more pampering, the inn’s titular spa offers a full line of massage, body, nail and skin therapy treatments and baths, and specializes in services for couples.

Food & Drink

As far as food writers and gourmands are concerned, the rest of The Sterling Inn’s exquisite offerings are merely window dressing for its award-winning and critically acclaimed restaurant, AG Inspired Cuisine. Influenced by local produce and culture, AG and its team deliver a rotating menu of creative and delightful food and drink offerings with local and seasonal ingredients. As a testament to the restaurant’s dedication to the local food scene, its well-cultivated wine list is 100% VQA. Even its signature cocktails get in on the action with drinks like The Ultimate Icewine Martini, a sweet and potent concoction of Niagara icewine, vanilla vodka, and Niagara Vidal Juice. A small and playful tapas menu filled with bite-sized oysters, quesadillas and gourmet grilled cheese is available on Friday and Saturday nights as part of the AG Lounge, which also features performances by local musicians.

Ambiance

Thanks to its cool sophistication, tireless but unobtrusive service and luxurious amenities, the hotel has become a destination in and of itself for many tourists, as well as a fair number of locals. Guests often check in for a night or two and never even leave the premises, preferring to hole up in their spacious and gorgeous hotel rooms for some much-needed rest and relaxation, only venturing out to enjoy a spa treatment or a meal at AG (room service is also available for guests seeking even more privacy). With this impressive mix of opulence and intimacy, The Sterling Inn is the perfect destination for couples, business travelers, and anyone looking to tune out the world for a while.

http://travel.aol.ca/2011/12/26/sleeping-around-sterling-inn-and-spa-niagara-falls/

After you have a couple of kids (which I do) your life changes drastically. Everything, well almost everything, you do is for them. I can only speak for myself as a working mom and I can breakdown my life for you in this basic pie chart: You see that little piece of pie between “me” & “kids”? That’s the amount of time I have for my husband & our relationship. Don’t be fooled by my slice, it’s made up of my cycle fit and gravity classes at the YMCA and maybe the odd shower that I get to take by myself.

Nick and I decided that we needed to get away from the babies and work, so on a great recommendation we decided to try out a boutique style hotel & spa right in Niagara Falls, Ontario called Sterling Inn & Spa (www.sterlingniagara.com). The key to a ‘quicky’ (pun intended) romantic getaway: stay close to home. Don’t go too far from home for two reasons: 1) peace of mind in case you need to go back home for a sick baby and 2) you can have a nice drive alone without kids (aka: foreplay). For us, Niagara Falls is the perfect getaway, because it is about an hour and a half drive from home. We’ve been to Niagara Falls a million times (slight exaggeration) and never heard of this place so we thought we’d give it a try.

We had a couple’s massage booked for us, and because we were running late (surprise!) we didn’t have a chance to go into our room when we arrived. The great staff at the front desk quickly took our bags and led us down into the spa. The Spa at the Sterling Inn & Spa is a fantastically serene spa with only one goal in mind – complete and utter relaxation! The mood in there was so calming and the second we went into our treatment room we both looked at each other and let out a big sigh. This was exactly what we needed. They brought us a cranberry spritzer, and as our massage began our worries immediately melted away. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

OMG. Can I just say that I’ve never been to a hotel with such beautiful suites. This was hands-down the swankiest room I’ve ever been in. I don’t know if it was the sheer joy of not having my kids there with me, or the fact that I just had a spectacularly relaxing massage. As soon as we got to our room all I could say was, “Oh My God”. This suite was fabulous. It was a large, two-room suite, with wooden floors and exposed ceiling beams. The first room was very spacious with a lot of floor space, a flat screen TV, a full-length mirror, and a couch. The bedroom had a huge Jacuzzi tub, a flat screen TV, a king size bed, a gorgeous bathroom (with no rubber duckies, bath crayons, or toothbrushes that sing or light up). It also had a shower built for 2 – or 6! With a rain shower head and body jets. Can I just say – YES! It was perfect. We never wanted to leave. They even had Bath & Body Works products in the bathroom! YES! This place was built for me. I do have to say that at one point or two, I did imagine my kiddies in this fantastic suite, it was big enough for all of us. But I quickly pushed those thoughts to the bowels of my mind and told myself that this is one night without babies, so enjoy yourself, let loose and relax.

This hotel, located right near Clifton Hill, is less than a five minute walk from Niagara’s touristy attractions, and The Falls are just a 10-15 minute walk away. You would never guess that a wonderful boutique hotel would be among all of this.

Dining at AG, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, was the cherry on top of my hotel-room-cake. Chef Cory Linkson only uses fresh and local ingredients. Nick ordered the Chef’s Tasting Menu – which didn’t disappoint – and each time they brought him his next dish all he kept saying was, “That was very tantalizing for my taste buds”. The food critic in him was flourishing. From the ‘Amuse Bouche’ to the seared scallops to the rich lemon dessert, each dish was better than the last. Our server was so sincere, welcoming and knowledgeable. She told us exactly what we were eating with such flair and she recommended the best wine. This was truly a wonderful dining experience. We topped this amazing meal off with a cappuccino, and a lovely leisurely walk to the falls and the casino.

We didn’t win big at the casino. But we did win big at having a great evening together, a night of uninterrupted sleep in breathtaking surroundings, complimentary breakfast in bed, drinks by the fireplace and time to reconnect as a couple. We talked, we laughed, we held hands – with each other as opposed to a sticky toddler or preschooler – and we had a wonderful night to remember. This is a place that I will recommend to anyone looking for a quiet minibreak, great food, and extremely accommodating and sincere staff. I will return. I’m just counting down the days. It gets my two thumbs up, and if I had to rate it out of 10 – I’d go so far as to give it an 11. Everything was perfect, and my relationship couldn’t have asked for anything else.

It was only one night but on our drive home I was so relaxed after such a lovely stay that it felt like I had been gone for a week. That feeling lasted about 10 minutes after I walked in the door and my youngest – my Velcro Child – attached herself to me and my eldest wouldn’t let go of my leg. I enjoyed that for the first two minutes, the remaining 30 were plagued by my longing to return to the Sterling Inn & Spa. What are you waiting for? Book your minibreak. Your kids and your relationship will thank you!

To read the article in full, please visit: www.ohbabymagazine.com/oh-mommy/a-romantic-getaway/

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.—For a city whose main attraction perpetually plunges 53 metres, Niagara Falls has conspicuously lacked depth for decades. On your next visit, get away from the kitsch and vapid casino culture and you might be surprised to see elegant, soulful shoots emerging in this city that attracted about 14 million tourists last year.

Sterling Inn and Spa, marketed as the only boutique hotel in the Falls, opened three summers ago and is the city’s top-rated lodging on TripAdvisor.com, based on 254 customer reviews on the social media website as of June 24. The hotel’s location and exterior are deceiving. It’s a few blocks from the Horseshoe Falls and is on the same stretch as economy options. From the outside, it may even be mistaken as one of those budget places.

The hotel provides no view of the natural wonder. It’s in a squat, rectangular building surrounded by parking spots. The slate grey façade includes a giant milk bottle that stretches above the lobby. It remains as a homage to the building’s first incarnation as a dairy barn and ice cream producer. In another city, it might seem charming but in Niagara Falls, the first impression it leaves is of another faux creation that misses the mark.

One step inside, though, and doubts disappear. The hotel is impressive, featuring décor that’s sophisticated and tasteful, as well as high ceilings and wood beams that evoke its early 20th-century origins. Rooms are massive, with several larger than 700 square feet, greater than the size of many one-bedroom apartments in downtown Toronto.

Sterling Inn’s rooms include Jacuzzis, steam showers, hardwood floor, fireplaces, flat-screen TVs and Internet hookup. Each of the 41 rooms is unique; mine had an open-concept floor plan that included standup shower and bathtub in clear view. Sexy, sure, but if you happen to be travelling with a photographer the room’s layout also makes blackmail material easy to produce.

“People were thrown off by the outside, but it’s starting to wear off now. The word’s getting out that you have to wait until you see what’s inside before you judge it,” says Rhonda Hughes, the hotel’s general manager. “We are focused on the interior of your stay. Everything about your stay, we want it to be unique to this area.”

The breakfasts aren’t much: continental choices like what you get in just about every other lodging in the city. But Hughes points out that the breakfast is delivered to the rooms without an extra charge, as you’re likely to pay at one of the large hotels in town.

If breakfast is simple, dinner at Sterling’s restaurant, AG, is decadent. Its locally sourced cuisine is elegantly presented, and ambitious dishes (seared sea scallops with a bee pollen glaze) indicate chef Cory Linkson’s confidence and aspirations. Not surprisingly, Linkson apprenticed at fine restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Sterling Inn clearly wants to attract the clients who frequent our province’s most popular wine destination.

“Niagara Falls has been such a family destination area that somebody needed to broaden those horizons,” says Hughes.

To read the article in its entirety please visit: www.thestar.com/travel/ontariooutings/article/830181–niagara-rises#article

A Hidden Gem in Niagara Falls

This fully functioning hotel and luxury spa has dining, wine, and attraction packages for a romantic getaway or girls weekend. On the corner of Magdalen Street and Ellen Avenue, the Sterling Inn & Spa is an excellent place for couples looking for a retreat outside of the main hustle and bustle of downtown Niagara Falls hotels. Still in a prime location right beside the Greg Frewin Theatre, and a block from Centre Street which turns into Clifton Hill within a few minutes’ walk, this modern but edgy and unique building boasts immaculate fixtures, hardwood floors in every suite, and room to relax with the comfort of things to do nearby – if visitors ever want to leave their beds.

History of the Sterling Inn

In 1928, Fred Cairns built a creamery that became one of the largest producers and distributors of dairy products and ice cream in the Niagara region. The company was notable for its excellent product but also for being the very first to have electric freezers to sell to retailers in order to ensure cold and frozen goods every time. Over the years, the creamery changed hands and names, featured as a nightclub and restaurant in the 1980s before construction on the Sterling Inn began in 2005. Although the hotel’s features today are sleek and sophisticated, owners and architects worked tirelessly to maintain the authenticity of its roots. The classic, gigantic milk bottle at the front entrance is a staple of the former creamery’s influence and importance to Niagara region’s history.

Room at the Inn

Traditional – Even the traditional rooms offer a King size bed and fireplace, including amenities such as a wet bar, large glass bathroom with rain shower head and body jets, as well as a two person jacuzzi. The shower also doubles as a steamer with a special unit that fills the entire bathroom and makes for a fabulous personal spa.
Deluxe – Outfitted with leather couches and beautiful, vibrant paintings like the traditional rooms, the deluxe rooms are a little more spacious but maintain similar amenities. Also included in this room is a sitting area with a pull out couch with Queen sized mattress.
Two-Room Suite – Here the bedroom and sitting areas are separate but offer the same exact services as the traditional and deluxe rooms.

Dining at the AG Restaurant

The Sterling’s on-site AG restaurant is committed to sourcing the freshest ingredients and the highest in quality foods prepared by executive chef, Cory Linkson. From seared sea scallops to crisp Atlantic salmon, rack of lamb, and autumn red deer, the menu is full of interesting and unique pairings. Tasting menus offer the best ingredients of the season mixed with samples and wine complements. Dining packages can be specially tailored for each stay.

The Sterling Spa and Wellness Centre

With a complimentary spa beverage, bridal parties, groups, and couples alike are treated to exceptional service during any treatment. Total mind and body wellness is taken into consideration as guests are able to choose from a long list of treatments and time spent in the Aromatherapy room, as well as treatments based on occasions such as Valentine’s Day where chocolate based spa therapies are a specialty. Call 1-877-783-7772 to book spa packages.

Special Quality Amenities Offered

From in room packages to area day trips, the Spa offers a wide variety of amenities with every interest in mind. Wine baskets with three different wines for $55 or sparkling wine and chocolate dipped strawberries for $62 are just two of the in room packages while wine tour packages start at $250 for a five hour tour of local wineries. Get pick-up service directly from home and enjoy a day at the spa, including massages and pedicures, as well as a five course meal. Discount tickets to the Greg Frewin show and area attractions are available.

Location of the Sterling Inn and Spa

Situated at 5195 Magdalen Street, a several minute walk from some of Niagara Falls’ most popular attractions, the Sterling Inn and Spa is close to such restaurants as Suisha Gardens and the Spicy Olive Bar and Grill and all of the attractions on Clifton Hill. Management can be reached by phone at 1-877-783-7772 or locally at 289-292-0000.

erin-mclaughlin.suite101.com/sterling-inn-and-spa-in-niagara-falls