After a long weekend at work, there is nothing like a weekend road trip outside of the city to help you unwind and recharge. Just 30 minutes outside of Ottawa The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa is conventionally located close to Canada’s capital. The four-star boutique hotel is surrounding by Gatineau Park and the charming Wakefield village making it the perfect spot relaxing getaway. No matter your tastes The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa has a hotel room to suit your needs, offering both traditional and modern rooms.
My Room
Image courtesy of The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa
Opting for the more modern accommodations, I selected the Eco River Lodge, which is right next to the outdoor pool and one of the two hot tubs.
My room, the Eco River Lodge park room, had two large queen beds, along with a spacious walk-in shower, and a small private courtyard.
The beds in the room were extremely comfortable with plenty of large down pillows, allowing me to slept soundly.
My room was also equipped with a Nespresso machine, so I was able to enjoy a cup of espresso on my private patio.
What To Do
There are plenty of options to keep you entertained when you visit The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa. The village of Wakefield is only a few minutes drive away (or an 8-minute walk) where you can go shopping. Within Wakefield, you can also rent kayaks, paddleboards, bikes, and winter sports equipment. The hotel also is next to Gatineau Park making it convenient to go for a hike, or in the winter go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Even if you do not feel like leaving the hotel, The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa offers plenty of natural splendour to see. There is a beautiful river and the spectacular MacLaren Falls right next to the hotel so you can take a seat in one of the many Adirondack Chairs and rest.
After spending some time exploring some of the many nearby attractions, The Heron Wine Bar is the perfect spot to warm up as there are two fireplaces. At the Heron Wine Bar, you can order a drink, play a game of pool a board game next to the fire.
The hotel also offers an outdoor pool and two hot tubs where you can relax and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Finally, your visit wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Spa Eau Vive full-service spa. Located with window views of the MacLaren Falls you can relax with a picture-perfect view. Here you can enjoy a manicure, pedicure, massage, facials and a variety of other spa treatments.
After spending the day hiking around Gatineau Park my feet were ready to be pampered, so I booked myself for the Eau Vive Deluxe Pedicure. Upon arriving, I was welcomed by the friendly staff who offered me a glass of champagne and guided me to the area where pedicures and manicures are done. The pedicure took place in a room with a panoramic view of the waterfalls and included a foot soak, exfoliation with my choice of scent, foot massage, nail shaping and filing, paraffin application, and polish application. The hour-long pedicure was outstanding and very relaxing experience, leaving me so relaxed I was ready to fall asleep!
Dining
One of my absolute favourite things about The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel would have to be the beautiful restaurants, both the Heron Wine Bar and The Muse restaurants are located overlooking the MacLaren Falls. While the Heron Wine Bar offers a more casual dining experience The Muse situated in a glass solarium is the splendid place to enjoy fine French and Québécois cuisine.
I opted for The Muse restaurant for dinner and breakfast and each time I took a table right next to the window to look at the falls while I dined. For dinner at The Muse, there is a table d’hote menu for $60 which includes your appetizer, entree, and dessert.
To start the meal, the chef presented my table with a delicious amuse bouche of smoked trout which was perfection.
For my appetizer, I had the tartare which was a traditional beef tartare which was seasoned with mustard and served with mushrooms and papadum crisp. The entire dish was lovely, and was by far the best tartare I’ve had all year – so I highly recommend selecting this appetizer when you visit.
For my main plate, I had rabbit saddle which was rolled up and served with fig confit, on top of beluga lentils, sun-choke puree, and chorizo chips along with a star anise sauce. The plating was beautiful with lots of textures and small violets across the plate, and the rabbit was cooked to perfection. I appreciated the blue cheese in the dish was mild allowing the fig and rabbit to shine.
For the last course, I selected the chocolate terrine which was light and creamy but had a descendant rich chocolate flavor.
Unable to resist, I also had a few bites of my dinner partner’s dessert which was a creme brulee that was topped with a pineapple confit and a biscotti. The pineapple confit helped to balance the sweet creme brulee to offer a contrast of sweet and tart that very worked well.
For breakfast at The Muse, the restaurant offers a brunch buffet with hot and cold items to provide you with an overwhelming assortment of choices that all look delicious. The buffet offering is one of the nicest I’ve seen at a hotel, and I decided to head to the chef’s station where you can get made to order omelets and crepes. Everything I had for breakfast, including the omelet, smoked salmon and fruit were all delicious.
Final Thoughts
Image courtesy of The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa
If you are looking to spend a weekend away from Ottawa, The Moulin Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa is a perfect choice. Offering everything you would be looking for a luxurious weekend away, you can enjoy outstanding fine dining provided The Muse restaurant, the beautiful natural surrounds, and a relaxing spa treatment at the Spa Eau Vive. No matter if you are a couple looking for a romantic weekend away, or planning a weekend away with friends this hotel is sure to charm you and have you wanting to visit again.