Inside the 5 best new hotels in Canada

Rivalry on the ice. Rhetoric from Washington. You’d think our relationship with our neighbors up north would be wearing thin. But that’s just not the case — and it’s no secret why.

In the final quarter of 2025 alone, Americans crossed the border 4.7 million times and spent $3.4 billion. That’s a lot of maple syrup, moose tchotchkes and ice wine.

Many of those crossings were day trips — but more and more Americans are saying, “Oh, Canada!” and rediscovering how easy, beautiful and affordable a holiday up north can be.

In response, a bevy of new hotels are opening across Canada to cater to the US dollar — with nearly 40 anticipated to open in 2026 alone. From a love letter to modern art in Montreal to the rebirth of a family-owned Banff inn, here are five of the best, new Canadian hotels worth discovering right now.

Hyatt Place Vancouver/Metrotown | Burnaby, British Columbia

Vancouver postcards don’t feature Burnaby. But on the plus side, this vibrant suburb isn’t burdened by cruise ship crowds despite being just 20 minutes from the harbor via the Expo Line.

Plus, thanks to the Hyatt Place Vancouver/Metrotown that opened in May, you can enjoy all the perks of a four-star property without paying a waterfront premium. With rates starting around $220 USD per night, it’s cheaper than a room with a shared bathroom in a downtown hostel. The 159-key hotel even has a $10 USD breakfast buffet, served daily in SoBu Social, the on-site Pan-Asian restaurant.

Choose from 15 styles of rooms spread across the first 10 floors of a new 48-story tower. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with city views. And if the airline loses your luggage, simply walk across the street to British Columbia’s largest mall, Metropolis at Metrotown.

Pets pay just $36 USD per stay (dog beds and bowls are complimentary), the fitness center is open 24/7, and with all the money you’re saving by not staying downtown, you can splurge on an Uber Black to the airport.

That said, the hotel is also just steps from a SkyTrain station.

SonoLux | Montreal

Don’t judge SonoLux by its 1914 Neo-Classical facade emblazoned with the words “National Trust Company.” A financial institution in its past life, this landmark building is now home to Montreal’s first — and only — contemporary art hotel (from $250 USD per night).

Despite only being open for a matter of months, the Épik Collection property has already been deemed one of the world’s best new hotels by Esquire, and you should definitely get a reservation if you want to grab a drink in Subterra.

A former vault, it’s now the hotel’s underground audio lounge where DJs spin dance tunes and live jazz bands amplify the speakeasy vibes.

Upstairs, there are seven floors with 36 rooms and 10 exhibition spaces featuring audiovisual art installations and “transformative sonic experiences.” The hotel rotates them out every six months. If you have sensory sensitivities, you’ll appreciate that the rooms are blank canvases with blackout curtains. You can also admire the art and learn about the artists and their inspiration from the comfort of your bed via the SonoLux TV app. The lobby restaurant, Lumi, is also an immersive escape. Choose from five-course, nine-course, and even 14-course tasting menus. Outside, you can walk to Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica in less than 10 minutes.

JAG Hotel | St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

It’s not clear whether the JAG in JAG Hotel is an acronym or a nod to Mick Jagger. But this classic rock-inspired property is hands-down Newfoundland and Labrador’s hippest lifestyle hotel. The five-story Rhythm tower turned heads when it opened in 2014. Similarly, the Blues tower that debuted in 2025 is stopping passersby mid-scroll.

The new 85-key addition brings the total guest-room count to 169. Blues also boasts Soundhouse, a two-story performing arts venue that seats 1,500. Then there’s Mojo, an eighth-floor lounge with panoramic views of St. John’s where you can pregame with cheeky cocktails including Mr. Brightside, Purple Rain and Femme Fatale. George Street’s famous clubs and pubs are just a six-minute stroll away.

With its lap pool, sauna, fitness area and treatments, Revival Wellness Centre is another new value-add. Its spa menu features the usual suspects as well as body contouring, eyelash extensions and LED therapy. Oversized guest rooms start around $150 USD a night and range from 380-square-foot queen “gallery view” interior rooms to the 530-square-foot “Bow Chicka Wow Wow Suite” and the 855-square-foot Platinum Suite, complete with its own wet bar.

Step outside your room and expect to get a ’70s banger stuck in your head. Forget just elevator music. No public space is safe from the hotel’s hit-filled playlists.

The Kenrick Hotel | Banff, Alberta

Development is tightly regulated in Banff, the small mountain town inside Canada’s first national park. Still, that didn’t stop the Irwin family, longtime Banff residents and hoteliers, from spending two-and-a-half years transforming their dated High Country Inn on Banff Avenue into The Kenrick, a design-forward hotel that added at least one star.

Yes, the new 67-key property is borderline bougie. Think pillow menus, 65-inch smart TVs (most hotel rooms have 55-inch TVs or smaller) and a 1,060-square-foot family suite complete with its own home theater. Many suites also come with record players to enjoy the hotel’s curated collection of vinyl records.

The indoor pool is now saltwater, and they’ve added poolside food-and-beverage service as well as cabana rentals. There’s even a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy spa for guests who believe in the benefits of thermal cycles and cold plunges. From 10 p.m. to midnight, the pool is adults-only.

The cheapest accommodations, 225-square-foot queen rooms, start around $300 USD a night during low season. From May through September, they fetch more than $600. Of course, you’ll pay a premium for mountain views and balconies. While the Kenrick is far more luxurious than its predecessor, it still doesn’t have room service.

Fortunately, the new on-site restaurant, the Fat Ox, specializes in “alpine Italian” cuisine you can order for takeaway. Or grab a light bite at Analog Coffee, located off the lobby. In the winter, you can catch a shuttle to the ski resort right outside the hotel.

The Clayfield | Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Established in 1779, Niagara-on-the-Lake has more historic B&Bs per capita than most large towns. But when the Clayfield, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, opens in mid-August, travelers who prioritize new and chic over nostalgia and charm will have a place to stay in Canada’s wine country.

The four-story, 102-key hotel will front Clayfield Commons, a mixed-use development site that’s more than 20 years in the making and just a five-minute walk from Jackson-Triggs Winery.

In some form or another, wine will flow throughout the property, which is collaborating with Stratus Vineyards, the world’s first LEED-certified winery. The hotel’s spa is planning clay-based “body rituals” that pay homage to the region’s mineral-rich soil and vinotherapy treatments leveraging grape byproducts. Guest rooms (from $300 USD per night), meanwhile, will feature wine-tasting stations, so travelers can sample in privacy.

Of course, they’re also invited to imbibe local vintages and take in aerial vineyard views from The Terrace, the hotel’s rooftop bar. Terrain, the on-site restaurant, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. That said, the spacious two-bedroom Winemaker’s Suite and Harvest Family Suite have kitchenettes and tables with plenty of seating for in-room dining. Regardless of size, all guest rooms come with robes, slippers and Nespresso machines because coffee is crucial, too, especially if you’re getting up early to catch the sunrise at nearby Niagara Falls.