I’m late to The Walper game. Whenever I bring up the Kitchener, Ont. space, thinking I’m sharing a real scoop, I usually hear, “Oh I love The Walper – been going there for years.” This response is especially common if the speaker is extremely stylish and works in a creative field. And no wonder, this place is super cool.
This is the slick lobby and while picture-perfect, it is also very comfortable and inviting. A nice spot to read the complimentary newspapers on offer.
It’s got that edgy dynamic – an 1893 heritage building with a completely contemporary interior – and a bit of history: Eleanor Roosevelt breakfasted here back in the day; Lennox Lewis boxed in the ballroom. But it’s the staff that is special.
This is Fahad. He excels at welcoming guests and pretty much never stops smiling. He’s also a very sharp dresser.
The award-winning design gets the balance right – elegant shaded sconces and Ionic columns share the space with vintage leather chairs and distressed rugs.
This is one of the seating areas in Lokal, the second-floor bar.
No two guest rooms are decorated alike which adds to the fun of opening the door – you don’t know what to expect. For my second visit, this top floor room was the happy surprise. I love that in-plain-sight beam.
A comfy king-size bed is always a pleasure. Love that chair too.
Beam me up, Walper!
This just begs to be snapped and posted.
The attentive welcome that Fahad gave us in the lobby is continued in the room where I found a handwritten note and some sweet nibbles. And talk about attention to detail: I don’t love dairy and the staff remembered that from my last visit, without any prompting from me. Thus, I was spoiled with delish date truffles, vegan brownies and fruit. There’s also chilled spring water (with no plastic packaging) in the fridge.
The bathroom has the best lighting and I love the penny-rounds.
The Walper is eco-friendly wherever possible and they’ve replaced throwaway individual plastic toiletries with Skoah dispensers and vegan soap made by Buck Naked in nearby Cambridge. It smelled wonderful, slightly spicy and very clean.
The Lokal is a pretty spot for a drink and light bites. And it lives up to its name. Our bartender Jack recommended we try Pepprell, a craft gin which is distilled in small batches in Southern Ontario (they’re slated to open a distillery in nearby Mapleton, Ontario, this summer). It was noticeably smooth and lemony with just a hint of spice - delicious.
Taste testing.
If you don’t want to leave the hotel, you really don’t have to. There’s a restaurant in the basement, TWH Social Bar & Bistro, that serves casual fare with a great wine list. I had the Tofu Banh Mi with Asian pear on a pretzel bun with fries and a nice pour of Reif Estate Reserve Cab Sav.
Other on-site food options include the Barrister’s Lounge on the second floor just past Lokal. It is the prettiest sun-filled room and every Friday morning it’s the place for The Walper’s famous homemade doughnuts. Oh my goodness – you really don’t know. They are proper, old-fashioned doughnuts – light, airy and decadent at the same time. The flavours are pretty inspired too: think Maple Bacon, Reverse Boston Cream.
This is the sweet and shy man who has been making the doughnuts for over two years now. He is very proud of his work and marvelled at how popular the doughnuts have become (locals raid them too so get here early!).
The Reverse Boston Cream is on the left ( it was beyond) and the Apple Cinnamon is on the right.
The Walper is a great hotel – see more of the stunning lobby and architecture below – and Kitchener has a lot going on. There’s a blues fest every August (we saw Booker T and The Sadies there!), John Cleese was just at the city’s Centre in the Square hosting an evening of comedy and Margaret Atwood will be there at the end of this month in conversation with Dave Bidini. There’s also the best second-hand book store, “A Second Look,” around the corner from the hotel. I never leave without a pile of books. So now I’m just glad that there is also a perfect place to stay – even if I’m a little late discovering it.
