Places to Stay: Hotel Julie, Stratford, Ontario

HOW TO TAKE A STRATFORD staycation that is all heart? Here, we make a weekend getaway to Ontario’s theatre town inspired by Shakespeare. If you’re looking to make the most of your vacation time, a staycation is just the ticket. Trade long travel days, fighting lines and long wait times for something closer to home. Less stress and more rest is at the heart of any great staycation, and Stratford, Ont.’s new boutique hotel, Hotel Julie, is all that and more.

Situated in picturesque Stratford, the recently opened Hotel Julie is creating quite a stir. Affectionately referred to as their “love letter” to Stratford by Paula McFarlane and Jake Tayler, the husband and wife duo and aspiring hoteliers, this Shakespeare-inspired boutique hotel is nothing short of breathtaking, inside and out.

Photo: Hotel Julie

With the city of Stratford and the river running through it gleaning it’s name after Stratford-on-Avon in England, the charming city is home to North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company, the Stratford Festival. The festival, originally known as The Stratford Shakespearean Festival, among a number of other iterations, runs more than a dozen productions each and every season, drawing theatre lovers from across the continent to the quaint town.

The address is only a stone’s throw away from the Avon Theatre; the couple and their design team took an 1800s inn and lovingly transformed it into a glorious, modern tribute to Shakespeare. The name “Hotel Julie” itself derived from the star- crossed lover, Juliet, of the beloved classic Romeo and Juliet, but with an updated spin. Weaving the beauty of the old in with the new – each suite wows with a moody, rich colour scheme and elevated modern design aesthetic, evoking Elizabethan-era undertones and poetic detailing at every turn.

Photo: Hotel Julie/Mark Perez/Visionary Visuals

The bar for the exceptional is really defined by the details, and the team behind Hotel Julie haven’t missed a beat. The hotelier couple tapped creative director, Autumn Hachey, and interior designer Jillian Smith-Moher – along with their expert team of collaborators – to bring to life the grand vision for the Inn-turned-hotel. The captivating burning heart logo, an homage to the playwright’s tragic love stories and which you will find embossed on even the deliciously scented artisan soaps, speaks volumes. Plush velvet curtains, luxe tapestries, awe-inspiring wallpaper and striking marble tables and countertops, all blend seamlessly together to create an experience – if called anything other than “poetic” would surely, like a rose, not smell as sweet. Aptly named the “Serpent Suite,” the bold green haven created in Flat 4 was truly breathtaking.

From the raised serpentine material on the custom club chairs, to the keyhole shaped doorway with plush theatre drapes separating the living spaces, every element was a work of art. I personally fell in love with the red marbled table, a stunning focal point in the middle of a velvet taupe rounded couch and two deep green armchairs. A splash of red for love, for lust, or for the blood shed in many of Shakespeare’s plays, this distinct pop of colour amongst a sea of delicious green absolutely made my interior-design-heart swoon.

Photo: Hotel Julie/Mark Perez/Visionary Visuals

During high season, mid April through to the end of October, or what in Stratford is known as “theatre season,” the city is abuzz, brimming with locavore-driven dining options, ample watering holes and quaint shoppes. Pazzo’s Pizzeria never disappoints for lunch or dinner, and the Boar’s Head is an excellent stop for a drink in a pub setting. The quiet season, November to the start of April, is equally as lovely, only with less hustle and bustle, which many Stratford lovers prefer.

From theatre lovers and history enthusiasts, to decor worshippers and even those just stopping through, the hotel is quickly becoming a chic and welcoming retreat, weaving itself seamlessly into the rich tapestry of Stratford. Without a thorn in sight, this magnificent rose is a luxe-leisure escape in every sense of the word. The only tragedy will inevitably come – at check-out time.