Planning a trip to St. John’s soon? Live in Newfoundland and Labrador and heading to the big city? Have an upcoming birthday or anniversary and looking to celebrate with style and class? The Murray Premises Hotel is a remodelled and transformed historic building but the charming and rustic atmosphere from the 1840s remains. The leaflet that describes the history of the hotel claims that visitors will “experience old world charm with new world comfort” and I think that statement sums it up perfectly. From the heavy wooden beams to the exposed brick walls, every corner of this hotel tells a rich and vivid story of days gone by.
The Murray Premises has stood the test of time. As the oldest collection of fishing industry mercantile buildings in NL, it is the site of many trials, tribulations, and disasters– but like Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the property is strong and resilient, having survived the Great Fires of 1846 and 1892 which devastated most of the city. Although this is a modern and luxurious hotel, I could still feel a strong sense of what may have occurred within the walls before the hotel ever existed– not in a creepy way, but rather in a fascinating and peaceful way. Now there are new buildings popped up all around, such as Jack Astor’s, The Keg, and Mill Street Brewery, as well as the Husky building and a parking garage; but the integrity of the historic property still remains and its proximity to these facilities and others create a convenience for hotel guests.
My stays at the Murray Premises Hotel, just recently and with my family as a kid, have always been fantastic. Lately, the Murray Premises staff welcomed me to collaborate with them on this article. They put me up in a gorgeous Executive Suite with a harbour view. The room was immaculate and included a king-size bed, a jacuzzi soaker tub, a fireplace, and a towel warmer (bless!) plus other standard hotel amenities such as a coffee maker, tv, and mini fridge. What I loved most about the room was its warmth and coziness. You can see from the photos that the rustic vibe doesn’t sacrifice itself for modern luxury. The hotel was designed with a perfect balance between the two. It is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.
Some of St. John’s’ top restaurants, shops, and nightlife (a.k.a. George Street) are located just seconds from the hotel– I’m not exaggerating. Not to mention Mile One stadium, the Rooms, and our many other historic sites which are minutes away. The Murray Premises Hotel is a great option for travelers who want an authentic experience of downtown St. John’s.
Of course, the first thing I had to do upon check-in was fill up the jacuzzi for a soak. It was bliss. I had a glass of wine, the fireplace was going, and my warm towels were waiting for me. It was the perfect way to chill out before ramping up for a night with friends.
Included in our stay was a buffet-style breakfast. I’d describe it as a continental breakfast kicked up a notch. They swap cheap muffins for decadent croissants and apples and bananas for a large variety of seasonal fruit. The light meal along with a mug of green tea was exactly what I needed to drag me out of the groggy state I was in from the coma-like sleep I had (undoubtedly thanks to the comfortable beds but likely facilitated by the wine). Also take some time to enjoy the lounge off the lobby where you can grab a coffee before check-out or in lieu of breakfast if you’re not a morning eater.
St. John’s has many fabulous hotels but the Murray Premises is unique. It offers a history and rustic vibrance that others don’t. I cannot wait to return to the hotel and try another room as they are all slightly different. Thank you so much to the Murray Premises for having us and for extending the highest standard of hospitality.
Have you stayed at the Murray Premises Hotel? What did you think? Let us know in the comments and follow us on social media for more updates, @twowildtides!
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In the evening, we went out for dinner and drinks at 41Sugar and the food was to die for. So were the drinks. Get the mojito, you won’t be disappointed. The building also has a nightclub if you’re feeling like dancing all night!
Later that day we went to a bakery that was recommended to us for their delicious cakes, Butter Boutique. The sweets were divine and the decor was too cute! We walked from there to Vihara Maha Devi Park, a lovely green space in the middle of the city. It was Poya Day (a national celebration of the full moon) so many of the locals were out enjoying activities with their families such as paddleboats and pony rides. It was a perfect day for people-watching.
After a few hours in the park, we took a PickMe (Sri Lankan Uber) to the Old Dutch Hospital area for dinner. Surprisingly, most of the restaurants were closed for the holiday! So we grabbed a coffee and ordered a PickMe back to our homestay. Colombo is a really fun city. It’s not the most memorable itself, but depending on how you spend your time there and who you’re with, Colombo can be the perfect place to have some fun and make lifelong memories.
Have you been to Colombo? What did you do there? Let us know in the comments, we love hearing from our readers!
The quaint, cute and artsy town that is Lunenburg, NS bodes many restaurants, galleries and of course, Ironworks Distillery. Minutes from the water, nestled in an old Black Smith’s shop is home to one of our favorite distilleries. Stumbling into the cute little shop turned into a great stop on our tour of Lunenburg.
As a Nova Scotian, I love supporting local businesses and companies. I am so grateful to businesses that source their products locally. Ironworks is one of those companies. Whether you’re looking for gin, vodka, liqueur, rum or brandy – Ironworks has got you covered. None of the fruit used in the production of their spirits travels more than 150 kilometers to their facility. How awesome is that? Local products support local jobs and create a whole lot of local love.
Spending some time at Ironworks was such a wonderful way to cap off an afternoon by the water. The lovely women who were working provided us with all kinds of information, answered our questions, and gave us some samples! They even let us take a sneak peek at the barrels.
Fun fact: Their vodka is made with NS apples! It’s a unique product in Canada — a must try!
Not only is Ironworks Distillery filled with a lot of love but the products are delicious and high quality. These spirits should be added to your summer tasting list! Have you tried their products? Which one is your favorite? (We’re in love with the rhubarb liqueur!)
The Alt Hotel is an architectural novelty in our beautiful city as well. When it was built last summer, it was constructed using ‘Lego-like’ preconstructed rooms, hoisted onto a frame by cranes. I would drive by the construction site every day to get to work and I was always so intrigued; I knew I was going to have to check it out. Not only was the construction innovative, so is the tech that operates the rooms. Each room has a digital touchpad that controls the lights, blinds, ‘do not disturb’ sign, air conditioning, and more. My room was equipped with a Bluetooth speaker, mood lighting in the shower, and a high-def Samsung TV.
And there’s more! Can we talk about the view? When I walked into my room and saw a huge ship adjusting itself in the Harbour with Signal Hill and the Battery in the background– I was absolutely speechless. I lid down on the bed for about half-hour just staring out at the water and the commotion on the decks of the ships through a window that is the entire outer wall of the room. At this location, even if you had a city-view, you’d be lucky as it is so picturesque.
The rooms at this hotel are perfect for travellers and business people alike. I was able to sit up at the desk, make a coffee, and get some work done in comfort. The bed was super comfy; I slept like a rock. Waking up and opening the blinds to that amazing view was so unbelievably relaxing– I wish I could wake up like that every day. I also have to mention the standard of cleanliness here. Not a thing felt dirty or out of place– I was very impressed.
From the hotel, we walked about five minutes to George Street for a bite to eat and a drink. When we returned with some friends, we had a game of pool in the lobby and sat around on the comfortable chairs just chatting and catching up. The receptionists did not mind at all; the lobby is sort of like a social hub where people are encouraged to hang out and enjoy themselves. You can even borrow board games from the front desk! This was so refreshing and unlike any hotel I’d stayed at before.
Alt Hotel St. John’s also has a fully equipped gym (which I sadly didn’t get time to use), has yoga mats and on-demand yoga videos, is pet-friendly, and provides a free continental breakfast with delicious pastries from local Rocket Bakery. Doesn’t it sound like paradise?!
One amenity I liked most in this hotel is the fact that there is no checkout time. You check-in at 3:00 pm (or sometime after) and on your day of departure you can sleep in, grab a shower, some breakfast and a coffee, and not worry about having to be out by a certain time. To me, this represents the standard of hospitality set by this hotel. I felt welcome and on my own schedule the entire time I was there. I even had time to meet a great friend for brunch at 
From the luxury accommodations in multiple cities, to the beautiful and incredibly thoughtful gifts, to the high standard of service and hospitality they provide; they are a fantastic group of people and I would recommend this hotel chain to everyone. Stay tuned for Linds’ article on her experience at Alt Hotel Halifax and let us know if you stay at any of the Alt hotels by commenting or reaching out to us on social media (@twowildtides)!! Book your stay now at 
I had a Deluxe King Suite which truly exceeded my expectations. It has two adjoining rooms, one is a standard hotel room with a king bed, large bathroom, closet, flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, desk, coffee table, and comfy sofa. The other room is a large living area with a dining table, huge leather couch, and a second bathroom, desk, TV, fridge, and closet. I admit that I felt a little like a celebrity staying here! I had a city view and since I stayed on a weekend, it was free to park my car in the lot across the street from the hotel, which I could see from my room. The hotel does offer a very affordable valet service which I would certainly have taken advantage of if I had stayed on a weeknight.
It is evident that the staff at the Jag take pride in what they do. The room was immaculate and felt very clean. The reception staff who greeted us upon arrival were so kind and made us feel welcome from the beginning to the end of our stay. They even had a fresh fruit tray and a cute card waiting for us in our room. Shortly after we checked in, a staff member knocked on the door to deliver a birthday gift from my parents– a bottle of wine and delectable charcuterie board from the hotel restaurant, Exile.
An advantage of staying at the JAG is it’s proximity to the downtown core, especially George Street. A two-minute walk had my friends and I on the biggest little street in the world, ready to hit up the best bars in the city. If you’re not up to walking, a taxi would only cost a couple of dollars. There’s also no need to head out for meals, the hotel has a restaurant right in the lobby, and it’s one of the most well-regarded in the city. Exile is a trendy place to eat, serving delicious local and fusion food and drinks, and is known for their delicious burger. We didn’t get a chance to eat there during our stay, but I’ve dined there in the past and it is definitely a place worth checking out.
