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#1 of 6 hotels in Picton
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Surround yourself with fine wine, dining and art and indulge in boundless hedonism in the heart of Prince Edward County. Built in 1878 for Edwards Merrill, Merrill House has been restored to its Victorian glory: a magnificent, stately home imbued with art and intellectual interiors. Every room is individually designed, inviting you to immerse yourself in the most interesting boutique hotel experience in Canada. Enjoy the ultimate in personal service, modern technology and luxurious amenities as you indulge your senses in fine art, French cuisine and a meticulously curated wine collection. Merrill House is furnished with a balance of fine antiques and artefacts, contemporary art and modern appointments. Like every room, every piece has a story and the Merrill team is delighted to share it. Merrill House features a large cellar, conservatory bar, sauna, virtual reality lounge, drawing room, study, cocktail parlour, sculpture and photography gallery, balconies and fireplaces.
343 Main Street East, Picton, Ontario K0K 2T0 Canada
Merrill House
605 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
I had planned a July trip to Quebec, and I wanted to break up the drive home with an overnight stay somewhere *nice* around the halfway point. On the drive up we stopped in Gananoque, which wasn’t great (see my review for Gananoque Inn and Spa), and after five days at a Relais & Châteaux property in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, Manoir Hovey, any old Best Western wasn’t going to cut it! Someone I follow on Instagram whose tastes I trust (shout out, @christywright1), had posted some intriguing stuff about Merrill House, so it seemed like the perfect time to give it a try.
I emailed a few questions in advance of our stay, and they were answered promptly and professionally. Thank you especially to Jocelyne, for offering to take a quick video of the available rooms when I was having a hard time deciding which would be best for us based on the photos alone.
The inn makes a great first impression, with its commanding architecture and manicured gardens. Check-in was super quick and friendly. Right away the WiFi password encased in a fortune cookie lets you know this is a special place.
We stayed in the “Loyalist Suite” on the first floor, and it looked as nice in person as it does in the photos. Although we were there just one night, it would have been a comfortable home for a long weekend getaway. The only drawback is a lack of privacy. Due to its main floor location, we had to leave curtains closed as people were frequently walking by. The bed was super comfortable, and no noise carried over from adjacent rooms, so we had a great night’s sleep. The complimentary Perrier and chocolates was a thoughtful touch. I always appreciate it when bathrobes are available, but I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of the polar fleece ones provided. (There were also cute satin kimono style robes as well for ladies and smaller statured guests.]
We had a late dinner at the hotel in the wine cellar room (guests dining on site were scattered about the inn due to COVID restrictions), and it was exceptional. Every course was delicious and the accompanying cocktails and wines were perfect. Aside from the service (the wait staff seemed to be having some issues with each other), it was almost Langdon Hall quality. Breakfast the next morning was also fantastic—delicious and served quickly, with a smile.
Picton is a charming town that makes for interesting exploring, but I’d be quite happy to ensconce myself inside Merrill Inn any weekend and enjoy its quirky luxury, gourmet cuisine, and warm hospitality.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Main floor rooms offer easy accessibility but less privacy.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sean Bruno, Guest Services / Front Office at Merrill House
Responded Jul 29, 2021
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay and I really appreciate your detailed and thoughtful review.
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We just spent 2 wonderful evenings at Merrill. The attention to detail was evident in every facet of our stay. Our room on the third floor would not suit someone with mobility issues but we loved it. The jetted tub has its own little niche separate from the bathroom. The mattress was the perfect firmness for us. The room was clean and had all the necessities and was a good size. The breakfasts were wonderful both days and the dinner we had there one evening was first rate and beautifully presented. The ginger baked Alaska dessert was almost worth the trip itself - so good!!
The location is ideal for exploring Picton on foot and a short drive to the wineries in the county. There is also a barrel sauna on site which we took advantage both days.
But what stood out the most for us on this trip was the attentiveness and hospitality of head butler Sean Bruno. My partner worked in high end resorts herself and we both found him to be exceptional in ensuring that he did everything possible to ensure guests have a terrific stay.
Our stay could not have been better!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sean Bruno, Guest Services / Front Office at Merrill House
Responded Jul 8, 2021
Thank you so much! That's really nice of you to say. I truly enjoyed meeting you and your partner and I wish you all the Best. PS. I really like the Baked Alaska too.
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Overall we enjoyed our stay. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating, the building and decor had that old vintage feel with modern fixtures and it felt new and clean. The room was very nice but it was on the main floor so it was noisy, if you have the option request a room upstairs as they’re probably quieter. During covid there’s no fridge in room and the internet was spotty so TV didn’t work and the breakfast was meh.
Overall I would still recommend this place and I would stay there again.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Overall we enjoyed our one night stay at Merrill House and gave it 4/5 rating. On the positive side easy check and checkout, ample free parking. Location is convenient literally on Main Street of Picton close to bars shops and stickers Ice cream parlour Bed was comfortable and towels were soft and fair size and used heated towel rack Used text concierge service and was promptly replied Breakfast was wonderful recommend the ricotta pancakes and full French press of coffee. We used travel zoo promotions so breakfast was included so better value Breakfast wait staff was friendly and efficient Tv with some streaming services and free wifi. Offered for fee late checkout but did not take advantage In room nepresso coffee
On improvements side to earn 5/5 rating Brochure mentioned turndown service. We asked for no room spray but still expected turn down with chocolate At breakfast ordered side order of breakfast sausage but never received Internet is slow and neither prime or Netflix worked and basic cable has only a few channel and you need to find out which one are available (should include Channel guide) in room info Tv could be bigger and mounted on wall vs on desk so desk can be used Overall we would recommend as summer getaway or any time visiting the wine region of Prince Edward County
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sean Bruno, Guest Services / Front Office at Merrill House
Responded Jul 26, 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide your feedback regarding your experience. We really value all feedback as we are constantly making improvements based on customer feedback and you have some fantastic suggestions we will discuss as a company. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer and thank you for choosing Merrill House as your vacation getaway.
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Not what I expected for the price ($700 for one night, drinks and cheeseboard, taxes in). I usually stay at great venues and was expecting a great experience at the Merrill House, but I was quite disappointed. I had made a reservation well in advance, and contacted the hotel to book dinner. I called the hotel but nobody picks up. Then I emailed them and I didn’t get any response. Finally I left a voicemail message and one of the owners called me back the same day we were scheduled to check in. When I inquired about dinner reservations, they told me they were all sold out and only had one time slot available which did not work for our schedule (if they had been more responsive we wouldn’t have been challenged to schedule dinner). I feel they are very unresponsive, and don’t value their customers. Beautiful property, rooms were okay but lacked amenities like lotion and normal toiletries; necessities like towels, toilet paper, soap and shampoo were present. Breakfast was a big miss! All they offer is coffee or tea, banana or apple, yogurt parfait, and orange juice all in take out containers. Not worth the money, hope they understand the importance of catering to their customers. COVID has definitely impacted a lot of businesses but this experience was well below any standard I would associate to a great experience. Don’t expect much here, hope they improve.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jordan Martin, Owner at Merrill House
Responded Jul 20, 2020
Thank you for your response. We are very sorry to hear that we were not adequately responsive. We have been closed for four months due to COVID-19 and have been slowly reopening to protect our staff and guests. We will be fully reopen on the 22 of July and will be delivering the customer service that we are known for. We are also sorry if you felt as though there were not enough amenities. We have moved away from disposable toiletries to more environmentally-conscious refillable containers, but we do have all sort of products available at reception should one request. We have also moved to an express room service breakfast with disposable packaging to protect all our guests and staff. When you stayed at Merrill House we were in Phase 2 of COVID-19 in Ontario and these new procedures comply with the Health Unit's requirements. I hope sincerely that you will come again in future and allow us to show you a wonderful experience as our team tries very hard to deliver.
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Rooms are very pricey and nothing special compared to other establishments in this category. Don't book a room on the 3rd floor unless you are akin to a mountain goat. Stairs are narrow, difficult to traverse and no help was offered with the bags. The breakfast, delivered in a paper bag, consisted of 2 pieces of fruit, 2 small croissants and "mushy" yoghurt parfaits strangely similar to fast food restaurant offerings. At $400+ , I expected better. One bright note was the prix fixe dinner - again expensive with or without the wines - but sitting at a table on a concrete floor at the base of a steep staircase did not provide the anticipated ambience. I wish I had read the reviews prior to booking this visit.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Inquire about accessibility before booking.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When visiting Prince Edward County, I’d recommend staying at Merrill House in Picton. It’s a quieter area and it allows you to explore neighboring towns and lesser known wineries & breweries. We were recommended to stay at Merrill House and I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a historical home converted to a small hotel. We stayed in the Concept room which was a good size for a couple. The room itself was very clean and well kept. A Nespresso machine and Perrier are offered in the room. The room rate came with daily complementary breakfast (croissants, coffee/tea/orange juice, fruit and a hot dish - gravlax and poached egg on sour dough was delicious, the lemon ricotta pancakes were good and a very generous portion). Guests have access to a sauna which is lovely especially as the weather gets cooler. A special mention to Sean who made our experience memorable - friendly, attentive, helpful and wonderful overall.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Parking available on the property, gym, great wine cellar with local and international wines
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sean Bruno, Guest Services / Front Office at Merrill House
Responded Sep 24, 2021
Thanks so much for the special shout out. Thank you so much for the great review. Have a fantastic fall!
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We had such an amazing stay at Merrill House. The location is great, easy walk to the main strip of shops and restaurants. The building is beautiful and stunningly decorated. The staff were kind and helpful and our room was clean and had everything we would need and more (nespresso, silk kimono, dyson hair dryer) We also enjoyed some wine in the conservatory which was a very cool place to grab a drink. The breakfast the next morning was unbelievable, delicious and perfectly balanced. Felt like a magical getaway!!
We will definitely stay here again!
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 2 nights during labor day weekend and were very disappointed on many levels; in-room breakfast delivered by a knock on the door without greetings and served in paper bags with the smallest croissants which were supposed to be freshly baked ( but were a day or two old ). Secondly, we had reserved on our first nitght arrival at the hotel restaurant to dine and chose the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Unfortunatly, the promised sommelier did not even attempt to come and see us and delegated his work to the waitress which wasn’t to knowledgeable on how to present the wines and described them ( eventhough some were locals ). So, for a 400.$ diner and 400.$ a night room charge, needless to say that we were highly disappointed and would not recommend this hotel which is way overpriced for the experience we got.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I recently enjoyed a two-day getaway at Merrill House to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised with a room upgrade and we thoroughly enjoyed the spacious Owner's Suite. It was spotlessly clean, very quiet, and jam-packed with interesting art and accents. The robes were very comfortable and we had everything we needed. A friend of ours had been in contact with the Restaurant Manager who then arranged for chilled sparkling wine and a bouquet of flowers waiting in the room. Such a thoughtful touch. We had two excellent breakfasts and a spectacular dinner at Merrill House. Of note, a five course meal with wine pairings and a healthy tip will set you back about $700 for two people. For most, this would be a place to stay and eat when celebrating something truly special. Throughout our stay the service and attention to detail were excellent. In reading a previous reviewer who was "disappointed", I do agree with a couple of their points, particularly about staff smoking right outside the main entry and the fact that we made our dietary requirements known on booking but our server had no knowledge of them. Still, the wine service was excellent and we had no problems with any of the staff or amenities. They all appeared to have more than adequate training. We would definitely recommend the Merrill House to anyone who is looking for a unique and luxurious way to celebrate a special occasion.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Our third floor suite was spacious and wonderfully quiet.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sean Bruno, Guest Services / Front Office at Merrill House
Responded Sep 24, 2021
Thank you so much for your review. We are really so glad you had a great time!
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Sorry to be responding so late to your question, but have been busy with family. I really can't answer that question because we have always traveled as a mature couple, but I don't think that it would be the best fit for your family. On the one hand, the staff are wonderful and very helpful, but the place is not exactly set up for young families. I would suggest that the Merrill Inn would be a wonderful escape for you and your spouse (and they do have romantic couples packages), but there are other places in the area that may be more practical for your family,
There are more places to choose from in the Picton area.
PRICE RANGE
C$247 - C$380 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
merrill hotel picton
LOCATION
CanadaOntarioPrince Edward CountyPicton
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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