Book lover getaways and reading retreats in Ontario

Niagara Region

The Niagara Region adds natural drama to a reading getaway, from the roar of Niagara Falls to quiet gardens, historic towns and vineyard views. Niagara Falls appears in “The Whirlpool Rapids” from Margaret Atwood’s Bluebeard’s Egg collection. The region is also home to romance author Hannah Bonam-Young, giving book lovers even more reason to linger.

Settle in at a historic inn with plenty of character. The Woodbourne Inn in St. Davids is an elegant Victorian-style manor with vintage ambiance, cozy common areas and in-room fireplaces. In Queenston, the country-chic South Landing Inn offers a peaceful place to read, relax and explore.

After visiting Niagara Falls, find a quiet bench at Oakes Garden Theatre or the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Refuel with coffee and a few pages at the bookish Caffery in Niagara Falls, Thistle Bookshop and Café in Port Dalhousie or Café Lumière, a French-inspired cafe and floral boutique with a book corner in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For an especially local pairing, bring your current read to one of Niagara’s celebrated vineyards and enjoy it with a glass of wine.

Locations:

• Woodbourne Inn, 214 Four Mile Creek Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• South Landing Inn, 21 Front Street South, Queenston
• Oakes Garden Theatre, 5825 River Road, Niagara Falls
• Botanical Gardens Niagara, 2565 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls
• Caffery, 4333 Queen Street, Niagara Falls
• Thistle Bookshop and Café, 50 Lakeport Road #103, St. Catharines
• Café Lumière, 183 Victoria Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley

Channel the lake-country nostalgia of Carley Fortune’s bestseller Every Summer After. Set in Barry’s Bay, the novel captures the feeling of summer days, cottage traditions and first love. Across the Ontario Highlands, clear lakes, sandy beaches, forest cabins and charming small towns create the perfect setting for a reading getaway.

Stay on the shores of Golden Lake at Greystone, a boutique cottage-style retreat with peaceful waterfront views. About 20 minutes west, visit Barry’s Bay and find the Every Summer After bench on Island Lane, inscribed with “Percy and Sam were here.”

If you prefer something more remote, book one of Cabinscape’s tiny forest or lakeside cabins, where oversized windows and off-grid settings invite you to curl up with a good book and a warm drink. At Pine Brae, modern rustic cabins, screened-in gazebos and private lakefront lounge areas set the scene for slow, quiet reading.

Add a small-town stop in Perth, known for 19th-century stone architecture, independent boutiques and scenic river views. Settle in with your book at Jazzy’s Brewhaus over coffee, baked goods or a local brew.

Locations:

• Greystone, 144 Mcnee Drive, Golden Lake
• Cabinscape, various locations throughout the region
• Pine Brae, 2112 Elm Grove Road, Perth
• Jazzy’s Brewhaus, 39 Gore Street East, Unit 1, Perth

Greater Toronto Area

Toronto doesn’t just set the scene; in many great books, the city feels like a character of its own. Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion captures 1920s working-class Toronto, while Dionne Brand’s What We All Long For explores the city’s layered identities, neighbourhoods and longing. Toronto is also home to an impressive literary community, including authors such as Ann-Marie MacDonald, André Alexis, Carley Fortune, Lily Chu and Elle Kennedy, the best-selling author of the Off Campus book series, now adapted into a blockbuster TV drama.

Explore Toronto’s main-character energy on a book-inspired getaway or staycation. Union Hotel makes an ideal downtown home base, steps from transit, restaurants, theatres and cultural attractions. In partnership with the Giller Prize, the hotel celebrates Canadian literature with prize-winning and nominated books in each guestroom, along with a curated Giller library in the lobby. For a more neighbourhood-focused stay, check into Ode Toronto in the walkable Dundas West area, where culture, connection and creativity shape the experience.

Spend an afternoon reading in nearby Trinity Bellwoods Park or plan a literary-themed tour of some of Toronto’s most remarkable libraries, including the majestic Great Library at Osgoode Hall, the iconic Toronto Reference Library and the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.

Pair your current read with a drink at Book Bar in Mirvish Village, a bookstore-bar hybrid that taps into the neighbourhood’s literary history or Botànic Coffee & Caphe on Queen Street (follow Botànic on Instagram). Take a page from Sweden’s beloved fika tradition at Fika Café in Kensington Market and linger over an artisanal brew and house-made pastry. Or visit the elegant Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York, where the cocktail menu draws inspiration from Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion.

Locations:

• Union Hotel, 60 York Street, Toronto
• Ode Toronto, 1417 Dundas Street West, Toronto
• Great Library at Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto
• Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto
• Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, 120 St George Street, Toronto
• Book Bar, 600 Markham Street, Toronto
• Botànic Coffee & Caphe, 662 Queen Street West, Toronto
• Fika Café, 28 Kensington Avenue, Toronto
• Library Bar, 100 Front Street West, Toronto

Hamilton, Halton, Brant

Hamilton, Halton and Brant offer an appealing mix of literary energy, historic charm, waterfront views and cozy places to settle in with a book. Hamilton is known for its vibrant creative community, including award-winning writers Lawrence Hill and Miranda Hill, while nearby Oakville is home to bestselling detective novelist Linwood Barclay.

Settle into a stay with storybook appeal. In Ancaster, The Barracks Inn pairs historic elegance with modern luxury, including a handsome library with leather chairs, a fireplace and access to a terrace for indoor-outdoor reading. In Dundas, The High Acre invites you to slow down with a book by the pool or from a spa-like soaker tub in your suite. In Paris, the Arlington Hotel leans fully into the theme, with rooms that nod to writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain and Jane Austen.

Make time for the region’s bookish community spaces. Hamilton’s public library system is a cultural anchor, and the West Harbour Branch adds serene waterfront views alongside a curated collection of Indigenous-focused books.

Hamilton’s café-bistro SYNONYM is a creative hub for books, art and music, fuelled by a specialty coffee and espresso bar. For peaceful outdoor reading, head to Gairloch Gardens in Oakville, where shaded benches overlook Lake Ontario. It’s a lovely place to pause, turn a few pages and take in the waterfront setting. In Paris, Dog-Eared Café combines second-hand books with first-rate coffee and a community-minded spirit. Donate your finished read to keep the story going.

Locations:

• The Barracks Inn, 425 Wilson Street East, Ancaster
• The High Acre, 667 Harvest Road, Dundas
• Arlington Hotel, 106 Grand River Street North, Paris
• West Harbour Branch of Hamilton Public Library, 77 Harbourside Way, Hamilton
• SYNONYM, 328 James Street North, Hamilton
• Gairloch Gardens, 1308 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville
• Dog-Eared Café, 121 Grand River Street North, Paris

York, Durham and Headwaters

Just north and east of Toronto, York, Durham and Headwaters offer a gentle transition from city energy to small-town charm, rural scenery and literary history. This varied region is ideal for a book-inspired getaway, with heritage sites, cozy cafes and quiet overnight stays made for slowing down.

Begin in Uxbridge Township, where Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series, made her first Ontario home after leaving Prince Edward Island. Today, Leaskdale Manse National Historic Site preserves that chapter of her life. In Kleinburg, journalist and broadcaster Pierre Berton is remembered through a school, resource library and heritage centre. The region also has contemporary literary ties through Markham-based writer Uzma Jalaluddin, while Robertson Davies often retreated to his rural estate in the Caledon Hills, a connection honoured on Caledon’s Walk of Fame.

Make it an overnight escape at Piano Inn and Caféin Port Perry, with upscale suites, kitchenettes and cozy reading nooks. In Caledon, The Liberty Inn pairs a serene Nordic spa experience with thoughtful in-suite comforts, including a collection of classic literature.

For a cafe stop, visit Covernotes Coffee House in Richmond Hill, set inside a historic building and made for getting lost in the story. In Oshawa, Kareza Café is a cozy, book-lined hangout known for irresistible espresso, matcha, fresh pastries and a few uninterrupted pages (follow Kareza Café on Instagram).

Locations:

• Leaskdale Manse National Historic Site, 11850 Regional Road 1, Uxbridge
• Piano Inn and Café, 217 Queen Street, Port Perry
• The Liberty Inn, 1498 Cataract Road, Alton
• Covernotes Coffee House, 10268 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill
• Kareza Café, 37 Debwewin Miikan, Oshawa

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

With theatre heritage, historic streets and creative energy, Stratford is a natural fit for a book-inspired getaway. Timothy Findley’s final novel, Spadework, is set in Stratford, and the city’s celebrated arts culture owes much to the Stratford Festival, founded by journalist and writer Tom Patterson.

Stay in the heart of that creative atmosphere at Edison’s Inn, an eclectic boutique inn with comfortable suites and lounge areas made for reading. For a literary nightcap, visit SAL’s Book Bar, a micro bookshop inside Matilda Gallery and Art Bar, where you can sip a cocktail and browse a curated selection of books.

Academic opportunities drew Robert Munsch to Guelph, where his creative, theatrical storytelling style blossomed into a wildly successful career as a children’s author. Find The Paper Bag Princess and other Munsch favourites at The Bookshelf in the heart of Guelph. Part bookshop, cafe, bar and cinema, this charming spot serves as a local cultural hub. Quiet sitting areas, trails and botanical gardens make the University of Guelph Arboretum a magical place to escape into the pages of your current read.

Locations:

• Edison’s Inn, 48 Ontario Street, Stratford
• SAL’s Book Bar, 85 Downie Street, Stratford
• The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec Street, Guelph
• The Arboretum, 200 Arboretum Road, Guelph

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

With Lake Huron sunsets, Georgian Bay shorelines, rolling countryside, hidden waterfalls and tucked-away towns, Bruce, Grey and Simcoe feel made for daydreamers and story lovers. The region also has literary roots in Owen Sound, birthplace of Elizabeth Hay, winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize for Late Nights on Air.

Match your stay to your reading mood. At the Highland Manor in Owen Sound, the Victorian-era setting feels tailor-made for a period drama, with grand staircases, chandeliers, marble fireplaces, high-backed reading chairs and a well-stocked library.

For something warmer and woodsy, snuggle up in the parlour at Beaver Valley June Motel, just outside Kimberley, and read beside the stone fireplace. Or lean into a lighter, beachier chapter at June Motel Sauble Beach, where surf-inspired style, sun, sand and poolside sips set the tone for a relaxed, breezy read.

Locations:

• The Highland Manor, 867 Fourth Avenue West, Owen Sound
• June Motel Beaver Valley, 235474 Grey County Road 13, Grey Highlands
• June Motel Sauble Beach, 11 Sauble Falls Parkway, Sauble Beach

Ottawa Region

Canada’s capital pairs landmark attractions with a rich literary legacy, from Parliament Hill and national museums to neighbourhood cafes and riverside reading spots.

Ottawa has ties to celebrated writers including Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel, and the city appears in stories ranging from Carol Shields’ The Stone Diaries and Anita Kushwaha’s Secret Lives of Mothers and Daughters to Andi Zeigler’s The Bodyguard Affair. It also turns up in genre fiction, including Ian Fleming’s James Bond story For Your Eyes Only and Rachel Reid’s hockey romance Heated Rivalry, home to fictional Ottawa star Shane Hollander.

Make the historic Fairmont Château Laurier your base. One of Ottawa’s most recognized landmarks, the hotel offers an elegant setting for a literary escape, including a Reading Lounge.

For a fresh-air chapter, bring a picnic blanket to Commissioners Park, find a quiet bench in the Dominion Arboretum, Canada’s oldest arboretum or head to riverside Westboro Beach. For an indoor literary stop, trade in your finished books and enjoy a fresh coffee or tea at Black Squirrel Books and Espresso Bar.

Locations:

• Fairmont Château Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa
• Commissioners Park, Preston Street and Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa
• Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa
• Westboro Beach, 745 Kichi Zībī Mīkan, Ottawa
• Black Squirrel Books and Espresso Bar, 1073 Bank Street, Ottawa

Southeastern Ontario

Brimming with history and stories, Kingston’s walkable downtown makes an ideal base for a literary getaway in Southeastern Ontario. The city has a rich literary heritage shaped by Queen’s University and its connection to historic Kingston Penitentiary.

Books set in and around Kingston include Jane Urquhart’s A Map of Glass, Merilyn Simonds’ The Convict Lover and Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace, while acclaimed novelist Iain Reid, author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things, is one of many authors who call the region home.

Stay somewhere with old-world character and plenty of atmosphere. In the Sydenham District, The Rosemount Inn offers a luxurious book-lover’s retreat with fireplaces, balconies, manicured gardens and elegant interiors. Nearby, Hochelaga Inn blends historic character with contemporary comfort. Book the Library Suite to complete the theme. At The Secret Garden Inn, antique-filled common spaces, a turret lounge, a library and a quiet garden with a koi pond create a storybook setting.

On the Queen’s University campus, visit the Douglas Library reading room, a favourite among book lovers and Harry Potter fans for its soaring cathedral ceiling, stained glass and scholarly atmosphere.

For coffee with a view, stop at Juniper Café inside the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, then take your drink and breakfast sandwich outside to read by the lake. In nearby Bath, The Lodge Coffee House brings its popular cafe experience to Books on Main, making it an easy stop for browsing, sipping and settling into a few pages.

Locations:

• The Rosemount Inn, 46 Sydenham Street, Kingston
• Hochelaga Inn, 24 Sydenham Street, Kingston
• The Secret Garden Inn, 73 Sydenham Street, Kingston
• Douglas Library, 93 University Avenue, Kingston
• Juniper Café, 370 King Street West, Kingston
• The Lodge Coffee House, 368 Main Street, Bath

Reading and book retreats

If you prefer a ready-made read-away, these Ontario reading retreats combine books, downtime, conversation and cozy settings.

Pages & Pause Retreats

Join Pages & Pause for carefully curated book retreats for women, blending relaxation, laughter and reading. Based in Toronto, retreats take place throughout Ontario.

Books & Brews Reading Retreats

Based in Hamilton, Books & Brews creates relaxed weekend escapes centred on books, connection and downtime at various destinations across Ontario.

NorthWind Reads

Weekend reading retreats hosted by NorthWind Reads include storytelling, book discussions, dedicated reading time, meals, snacks and more in and around the Ottawa Region.

Hira Wellness Centre Book Retreat

At Hira Wellness Centre, retreat days and weekend read-aways combine literary conversation with wellness-focused extras. Located about 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa, events include spa access, quiet reading nooks, daily brunch and in-depth book discussions.

Location: 1109 Concession Road, Russell

From self-guided literary escapes to fully planned retreats, Ontario offers plenty of ways to slow down, settle in and enjoy your next great read.