Staycation with Atlantica Hotel Halifax

As an ex-competitive figure skater, one of my favourite things about winter in Halifax is the Emera Oval. It’s a speed-skating track that is open to the public daily. It is the definition of Winter fun in Halifax. We recently had the opportunity to stay at the Atlantica Hotel which overlooks the oval. It was the perfect Winter city getaway.

The Atlantica Hotel is located on the corner of Robie and Quinpool. A hot-spot in the city. Close to the Oval, hospitals, downtown core and the north end – this destination is a great place to start your Halifax adventure.

We stayed in a lovely Platinum room on the 15th floor. We had stellar views overlooking the Commons and of course the Emera Oval (Talk about a wicked sunset). The room was clean and felt like home. We had a huge, comfortable king bed, great bathroom amenities and we even had robes laid out on the bed for us. There were a lot of perks that came along with the room that included free breakfast, one free appetizer at Seasons every day and VIP turn-down service daily to name a few. The hotel also features an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness centre and 24-hour business centre.

The staff were superb and you can tell that customer service is their top priority. It was a lovely surprise to receive a card with some goodies at my door as well. It definitely didn’t feel like “work” and those are my favourite writing gigs.

Now the restaurant, Seasons, was absolutely incredible. We weren’t in the mood for a huge meal so instead, we sampled a couple appetizers. For someone with allergies, eating out is always a risk but they put my fears aside and were so accommodating. Plus the food was delicious — I don’t have words to describe how amazing it tasted. We had the Hummus Meze and the Bacon and Scallops. They were without a doubt the best scallops I’ve ever had. The plates were done up so attractively which made the entire experience incredible. The next morning, breakfast was great as well. We had access to the hot breakfast buffet but I was really worried about cross-contamination. The chef went out of their way to make me up a whole plate directly from the kitchen. I was able to enjoy my meal without any fear. Thank you.

Quinpool Road is just a few steps outside of the main hotel doors. There are so many great little spots to explore and grab a bite along that street, so be sure to take a little walk. We enjoyed some tea and cheesecake (gf/df) at Sweet Hearafter for dessert.

We also had a blast using the Emera Oval. The oval was originally built for the 2011 Canada Games’ speed skating event. It is free for the public to skate all winter. Don’t worry if you don’t have skates because you can rent them for FREE. It’s lovely to see the oval jam-packed with families, couples and individuals embracing a healthy, active lifestyle. It’s the perfect place to get outside and active this Winter.