Old Stone Inn Boutique Hotel

The Old Stone Inn feels like several different hotels depending on the vantage point. The hotel's centerpiece is it's 1904 converted Flour Mill, a charming stone building that holds the hotel's rustic lobby, boho-chic Flour Milll Restaurant, and ornate bar, all of which feature the
original stone walls and wooden pillars. There are plenty of comfortable, overstuffed vintage-style couches throughout to relax with a coffee or drink underneath exposed wood beams and ornate light fixtures, and the common areas feel like a real step up from the cheap motels and chains throughout town. The courtyard building was constructed in the 1970s, though a modern paint job makes it look more contemporary. All of the hotel's buildings enclose a green lawn and courtyard set with a few tables and chairs, and the indoor pool is a stylish area for guests to hang out as well, including the couples, families, and business travelers who pass through. 

On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, this hotel is close to the touristy downtown area without being smack in the middle of the
chaos. A four-minute walk from the Skylon Tower, which has astounding views of the Niagara region, the hotel is less than 10 minutes from the main falls viewing points along the Niagara River and in the gorgeously landscaped Queen Victoria Park. Clifton Hill, a wild street packed with all manner of family-friendly (and less so) tourist destinations is a 15-minute walk from the hotel while Bird Kingdom, a favorite with families, is five minutes further. The We-Go tourist bus also stops just out front of the hotel. Buffalo,
NY is about a 35-minute drive from the hotel and Buffalo Niagara International
Airport is a 45-minute drive away.

First things first: The room quality varies widely here and renovations are ongoing, but spotty and not exactly thorough. There are a variety of room sizes to accommodate most budgets, from Deluxe Rooms to Suites, and though many are outdated and show some wear and tear, they are spacious. Deluxe and Superior Courtyard Rooms have been given the most attention, with contemporary decor such as slate-colored accent walls, dark patterned carpets, simple modern chestnut furniture, two-tone orange-and-tan curtains, and comfortable beds with duvets and stylish headboards. The rest of the rooms we saw were far more outdated, though it's hard to tell what's intentionally antique and what's not. Heavy, marble-stopped antique furniture in Double Queen Rooms in the Main Mill Building is impressive, and though light carpets aren't the most chic, the palm-motif padded armchairs were a quirky vintage touch against fringe drapes. These rooms have a throwback charm, though it's not clear what genre it belongs to and cheap Thomas Kinkade-style wall art is just tacky. Courtyard Suites are the top
premium rooms, and come with plenty of plush furniture, antique accents, Molton Brown toiletries in bathrooms, and separate sleeping and living areas  -- though some have views onto the indoor pool. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, telephones, and individually controlled air-conditioning, though higher category rooms have features like iPod docks, minibars, and bathrobes. Bathrooms across the board, though, have unattractive black-and-pink granite vanities, but are clean and feature either bathtub/shower combos or stand-up showers. Guests should check ahead on the renovation status of their room and also be warned that some old air conditioners work less well than new ones. 

The Old Stone Inn has a stylish indoor swimming
pool surrounded by contemporary lounge chairs and outdoor-style seating and palms for a relaxing break year-round. An excellent breakfast is served in the Flour Mill Restaurant, though it isn't included with bookings, and the restaurant also offers higher-end lunches and dinners with an emphasis on seasonal fare. The hotel has seven meeting and events rooms, which vary in attractiveness and amounts natural light, and the hotel also specializes in wedding planning. Pets are allowed, subject to rules and fees, and though Wi-Fi is free throughout, it's more reliable in some areas than
others. The hotel has free coffee throughout the day in the lobby as well as free newspapers, and laundry and dry cleaning services can also be arranged. Parking is subject to a
daily fee, and guests should beware that several people who've stayed here have reported hidden charges upon checkout.