When you’re stuck in a rut, sometimes all it takes to get inspired again is a change of scenery. After a stressful few weeks of studying, a quick ‘staycation’ was exactly what I needed to feel human again. Although I am the type of person who is usually more inclined to take off somewhere where I can enjoy nature, a luxurious night in the city was surprisingly refreshing.
I recently had the pleasure of spending a night in a king suite at Bannerman Park Suites in downtown St. John’s. As the title of this article implies, you will be feeling like royalty in these luxurious executive rooms. With their high ceilings, stunning fireplaces, and clawfoot bathtubs, the whole atmosphere is charming and elegant. Located on Rennies Mill Road, in the heritage district of downtown St. John’s, everything the city has to offer is only a hop, skip, and a jump away.
I was impressed with this place the second we walked through the front door. Bannerman Park Suites offers a convenient self-check-in method, which we were so pleased with. Although I didn’t get to meet Tasha, the manager, in person, she was super helpful and friendly. We immediately noticed from the porch alone that the place is pristine- and the rooms were no exception.
Once we got settled into our room and I stopped dancing around like a crazy person, we decided to go out for a walk. The Suites are located right across the street from Bannerman Park (in case you hadn’t already assumed that), which boasts nice big trees, a gazebo, and a park for kids. If you stay in the suites during the winter, don’t forget to bring your ice skates! Bannerman Park is home to the city’s only outdoor skating rink, The Loop, where you can go for a skate and enjoy a Beaver Tail.
We walked through the park and then down King’s Road, where you can see the colorful row houses that St. John’s is known for, and all the way down to Rocket Bakery on Water Street. I would also recommend taking the short walk from the suites over to Coffee Matters on Military Road for a great coffee and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
At Rocket Bakery I grabbed a black bean burrito, a delicious salad, and some macarons (a treat!) which I took to-go so I could enjoy them back in my room. The salad, by the way, was phenomenal- pineapple, cucumber, tomato, and mint! I am definitely going to be recreating it. Thanks, Rocket!
Bannerman Park Suites offers a fully stocked kitchenette, so I had all the dishes and utensils I needed to really enjoy my dinner. Complete with a glass of vino tinto, I was quite a happy girl.
After I ate and did some work, I decided it was time to further my relaxation with a bubble bath in the clawfoot tub. Glass of wine and book in hand, it was absolute bliss. As I mentioned earlier, the Suites are immaculate- I was blown away with the level of cleanliness. In most hotels, I dread the shower, let alone soaking in the tub! But here, I didn’t mind at all; you can tell the staff has a high standard of clean and take pride in what they do.
Waking up at Bannerman Park Suites is a dream (pun intended) and the sleep is pretty fantastic too. The king bed was marvelous, like a cloud! I brewed a coffee and crawled back into bed with my book before I got ready to head out to breakfast at the Hungry Heart Cafe.
Hungry Heart is operated by Stella’s Circle, a local non-profit social services organization, and employs adults with barriers that make them vulnerable to poverty and homelessness. These barriers can range from long periods of unemployment to mental health and addictions issues. I had house-made granola topped with plain greek yogurt and a side of fresh fruit. The food and service were fantastic and I cannot wait to go there again! I recommend it to anyone staying at Bannerman Park Suites as it is located just down the street.
Thank you so much to Bannerman Park Suites for having us. For more information or to book, visit them online here or on their Facebook page.
Have you stayed at Bannerman Park Suites? Do you plan to? Share your thoughts, pictures, or questions with us by commenting below or get in touch on social media (@twowildtides). We love hearing from you!
xoxo,
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