A Fairytale Escape to Kingston’s Historic Rosemount Inn

By Faith Casselman

Nestled on the corner of Sydenham and Earl Street in one of downtown Kingston’s most picturesque neighborhoods, you can find The Rosemount Inn. Echoing the architectural style of downtown Kingston, the building is a stunning combination of preserved historical charm and modern, artistic flair.

I booked my stay at The Rosemount Inn to unwind and escape reality for a night. It could just be my age showing (millennial, here), but Bed and Breakfasts are never my first thought when considering hotels to book. But if The Rosemount is any indication as to what I can expect from Bed and Breakfasts in the future, then it’s safe to say I’ve been converted to a Bed & Breakfast gal. Hear me out: you can get a comfortable bed and relatively good service at any hotel you choose, right? But do you ever feel like a storybook character when you stay at those hotels?

The Rosemount Inn is doused in charm and thoughtful little touches that are far from “cookie cutter”. Hospitality is more than a generic housekeeping checklist at the Rosemount, it's an art form. And this work of art (The Rosemount) had me feeling like Cinderella before the clock struck midnight.

I'll paint a picture for you. After being greeted with a platter of warm homemade chocolate chip cookies upon my arrival, I glided up the grand staircase to my suite, turned my big gold key and opened the door. The golden hour sun shined so beautifully through the floor-to-ceiling windows, as rich yellow suede and soft pink cashmere fabrics decorated the room overlooking the garden. I sat down and began writing this article as I sipped the rose that Lucy and Matt (the owners) left waiting for me in a romantic little ensemble of fresh fruit and chocolates.

Princess Mode was officially activated. And not even a pea could have ruined my night because I slept like royalty.

Now let's pay tribute to the history of this iconic downtown Kingston building for a minute.

The Rosemount House was built in 1850 by the renowned English architect William Coverdale. The main building is in the style of a Tuscan villa, but the hallways and exterior exhibit examples of Coverdale’s well-known trademark arches that you can see in several of his other projects around the city, including the Sydenham Street United Church, Kingston Penitentiary and the Prince George Hotel.

Before The Rosemount House became an Inn in 1987, it was the family home of Edward Hardy, a merchant with his own store on Princess Street that sold magazines and stationery. When Lucy and Matt Liu took over the Inn in 2018 after relocating from Toronto, they put their heart and soul into remodeling and rebranding the Inn, making the space the luxurious, one-of-a-kind experience it is today.

“The best part of owning the Rosemount is being able to create beautiful memories. Being a small business you have both the flexibility as well as the opportunity to bring together a truly intimate experience for your guests. The house is filled with so much joy and celebration every day and we are delighted to be part of it.” says Lucy.

When I woke up, there was a lovely buffet breakfast waiting for me downstairs with my dietary restrictions accounted for. The menu included homemade pastries, fresh fruit salad, breakfast burritos, and more.

I ate my breakfast in the dining room next to a family from Germany visiting Kingston for the first time. One of the things that stood out for me was nearly everyone in the dining room was from somewhere abroad- an occurrence Lucy says is common for the Inn. After passing along some must-see's of Kingston, I snuck out to the terrace that wraps the exterior of the building.

I sipped my coffee and wandered through the garden so beautifully manicured with bright, gigantic blooms, it looked like something from the King’s palace. I couldn’t think of a more romantic way to savor my final hours there, so I took my time and quite literally stopped to smell the roses before checking out.

When you think of Bed and Breakfasts, you may think of a European holiday (at least I do). But a ticket to Europe ain’t cheap- and it just so happens, you can find pieces of that European, fairytail charm you’re looking for right here in Kingston, Ontario at 46 Sydenham Street at The Rosemount Inn. At a time when everything you buy and experience feels rushed, "slapped together” and increasingly generic, it’s a real treat to experience places like The Rosemount Inn where the artistry of hospitality is treated as an artform, and you feel less like a number and more like a story-book character.