Nita Lake Lodge is a cosy mountain retreat nestled beside a glacier-fed lake in the resort town of Whistler, BC
Whistler is known as one of the best ski resorts in the world, and it’s certainly my favourite. With its long runs, great powder, and the sheer number of trails, it deserves its title. The town also has a huge amount of bars, restaurants and shops that cater to all tastes – so you are never bored, whether you are on or off the mountain. If you want a resort where you can hit the slopes and party, then Whistler is it. But if you want a more quite relaxed stay, Nita Lake Lodge is the place to go.
The lodge is located a five minute walk away from the Creekside Gondola, and a five minute shuttle drive away from the centre of Whistler Village. It’s a quiet, secluded area with amazing views of the mountains. Its rooms are large, with a cosy fire and a big deep-soak bathtub. I stayed in a studio suite with a lake view – waking up to that view was certainly a highlight.
The Nita Lake Lodge takes relaxing seriously – there is a yoga studio and an extensive menu of spa treatments to relax sore post-ski muscles. There are also two outdoor hot-tubs with stunning mountain views. If you want to be a little more active, the hotel has complimentary snowshoe hire – there is a trail around the lake to use them on.
The hotel’s award-winning restaurant is worth a visit. Aura is unpretentious fine dining at its best – it has not gone down the posh comfort food road like some ‘unpretentious’ fine dining restaurants have. Instead it has focused on bringing the best of Canadian produce to the table. Almost all of their meat comes from British Colombia and the vegetables come from the local area, or the roof top garden in the summer.
The menu is varied and you can opt for a three-course set dinner or for the À La Carte menu. I opted for the scallops wrapped in Speck ham with lentils and Shimeji Mushrooms. The dish had a delicate flavour. For the main course I chose the 33oz Bison ribeye. If you love a good steak, then you will love bison (aka Buffalo). It’s leaner than beef, more tender and full of flavour. The dish is accompanied by mushrooms, pancetta, creamed spinach, smoked cheddar sauce, fingerling potatoes and red wine sauce. The earthy taste of the mushrooms and the salty pancetta complimented the bison beautifully. Aura also has a vast selection of international and local wines.
The Cure lounge – Nita Lake Lodge’s bar and casual dining restaurant – serves après-ski, great local wines (try Blue Mountain Sauvignon Blanc), and locally-crafted beer. All this needs to be enjoyed either by the roaring indoor fire, or outside on the patio by the wood fire whilst savouring the view of the lake and mountains.
If you are looking to be in the heart of Whistler, and have nightclubs and bars on the doorstep, then this little Boutique lodge is not for you. However, if you are looking for a place with great access to the slopes, a beautiful view, and a relaxing and laid back experience, then this is the place to stay in Whistler.
Reviewed by: Cat Hughes
