Check in, slow down and wander the Frontenac Club in Kingston
There are places you stay because they are convenient, and there are places you stay because the moment you step inside, something in you settles. The Frontenac Club sits firmly in that second category.
On the corner of King and William streets in downtown Kingston, three buildings stand fused: an 1826 limestone house, a 1840s former bank and a 1907 social club wing that once held a bowling alley, billiards rooms, smoking rooms and indoor golf. Their walls have absorbed more than 180 years of arrivals and departures, from the era when Alexander Graham Bell and Sir Sandford Fleming walked the halls, through wartime years when officers lived here, to a quieter period when the building served as an eclectic bed and breakfast.
When managing partner Sean Billing became involved, the property had heart. It just needed someone willing to listen to it.
“There are three families involved with this; mine and two other Kingston families,” Billing says. The conversation started probably around 10 years ago about how they could preserve the past and welcome the future.
The team ran the inn in its existing condition while they learned the shape of it, the natural pathways through the rooms, and the way the light shifted across stone and plaster. Guests stayed, fires crackled, conversations echoed through narrow hallways and then, quietly, the doors closed.
“We closed it for two years and completely gutted it and started from scratch for the most part.”
Behind the renovation drawings, the intention was straightforward: how to set it up for the next 180 years.
Inside the walls, they uncovered a forgotten galley kitchen, an intact stove and fridge, and a knife still sitting where someone left it decades before. They found old tickets, receipts and pieces of life that had simply been sealed away.
The restoration revealed its storied past, and many items they uncovered are preserved for guests to experience.
Today, the Frontenac Club has 20 rooms, and no two are the same. Some have original limestone walls, others have angled ceilings and dormered windows that look toward the harbour. Several offer deep-soaking tubs or oversized walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. There are rooms with seating areas and rooms with terraces.
All have luxurious bed linens, spa quality, Canadian-made toiletries, robes, a stocked mini bar and thoughtful lighting. Each room has its own name and original photography chosen to reflect Kingston and the building’s history.
Arrival at the hotel follows the same philosophy. Guests are not handed a key at a counter. There is no counter.
Everything we do here is personal. We greet you. We escort you to the room.
Sean Billing - Managing Partner,
A gourmet breakfast is included, cooked to order. A daily special appears on the menu alongside classics like eggs your way, French toast or smoked salmon with capers and pickled onion.
Parking is also included.
The Bank Gastrobar anchors the main floor. It is open to guests, but also to the public, which means someone can drop in from King Street, slide onto a barstool and stay for a cocktail or a meal. The menu changes with the seasons and leans toward thoughtful simplicity: local cheese boards, oysters when available, braised short rib, house-made pasta, warm olives, fresh salads, a rotating selection of small plates and mains. Cocktails lean classic, and there are craft beers. The wine list is built with intention.
“We try to throw the doors open as much as we possibly can, not just purely for the inbound traveller,” Billing says.
There is a patio tucked in behind limestone walls, lit softly at night, green and shaded in summer. In warm weather, live music fills the courtyard, and the space feels hidden and intriguing. The rooftop terrace is different. It is reserved for overnight guests only, a quiet corner with views across Kingston’s rooftops and spires.
“We wanted our guests to have sort of a private retreat to go to,” Billing says.
The location makes it easy to explore without a plan. Springer Market Square is a short walk away and becomes an outdoor skating rink in winter. Cafes and independent shops line the nearby streets. Princess and Brock streets are full of great places to explore and shop. The waterfront trail is a minute away. The lake in winter feels spare and still, the sort of view that makes a person pause.
Some come to Kingston. Some come for quiet. Some come to work. Some come to feel looked after without fuss. Many guests return, often to say that their children attend Queen’s University or the Royal Military College.
In a city full of places to stay, the Frontenac Club does not try to compete. It simply exists the way a well-loved place should exist, with its history intact, its welcome honest and its purpose clear.
A building once designed for wealth and privacy now belongs to those craving an excellent experience.
And that makes all the difference.
You can book at Frontenac Club online here www.frontenacclub.com
Find them on Facebook and Instagram
Things to do while here
Frontenac Club hosts recommend the following hot spots, all within walking distance.
- Tour the SS Kewatin at the Great Lakes Museum. This beautifully restored passenger ship gives you an up-close look at Great Lakes travel from another era. Step on board, wander the decks and soak in the stories that shaped shipping and tourism in this region. It is a relaxed and fascinating stop for anyone who loves history, water or big old boats with charm.
- Take a Kingston Food Tour. Looking to savour both the history and the flavours of Kingston? This is a guided walking tour through downtown that pairs tastings at top local restaurants with insider stories about the city’s culture and food scene. It’s a perfect pick if you want to explore beyond the surface and make your visit to Kingston a little more delicious.
- Take a history walk with Arthur Milnes. He is a storyteller with deep Kingston roots and a gift for bringing local and national history to life. His guided walk gives you a thoughtful look at the people and events that shaped the city. It is an easy way to learn a lot in a short time while enjoying a stroll through Kingston’s historic core.
- Take in live music at one of the many great venues. Kingston has a strong music scene, and there is always something playing. Indie bands, roots rock, jazz and singer-songwriters fill stages across downtown.
- Improbable Escapes. Rainy day, kids in tow? Head to Improbable Escapes is an escape-room and board-game haven right in Kingston. Their family-friendly games (indoor and outdoor) are perfect for all ages.
Visit Kingston
Fresh made daily! Full of art and culture, history and museums. Kingston's got brews and bites, tours and adventures. From shops to events to the waterfront. Kingston is home to it all.
