Stay at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland and you’ll likely have a lovely bird’s eye view of St. John’s harbor or the city. The seven-story hotel sits atop the site of the old Fort William in this hilly town that, in my eyes was an Atlantic San Francisco.
The downtown location is a mere 7.5 km from the airport and is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and the harbor.
Recently in town to attend a conference, I thought the 301-room Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland was a great choice for our group. There were various meeting rooms, a lavish ballroom, and a lovely Garden Courtyard filled with plants and trees where we enjoyed cocktails and breakfasts.
Sitting in the lobby one day, I noticed the hotel was also popular with bus groups.
Of course, St. John’s also has lots of choices if you are looking for quirky accommodation more suitable for independent travelers.
The Types of Rooms Available at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
Another conference attendee and I shared a room with two double beds and a view of The Narrows, the passageway from the Atlantic Ocean to St. John’s Harbor. A desk and chair were handy for doing a little remote work, plus a comfy club chair provided comfortable lounging.
Other amenities included a coffee maker, flatscreen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a mini fridge. The bathroom had a standard tub/shower combination and two complimentary bottled waters were supplied.
Other guestroom options included one Queen, one King, or a larger corner King room. Up to four people could stay in the one-bedroom junior suite with a King bed, living room, and a pullout couch. Another larger suite option featured a King bed, pullout couch, and jacuzzi tub for two. All rooms come with robes, which I found handy when heading to the pool.
With These Amenities Stay Fit
The indoor heated pool was on the level below the lobby, with a hot tub and children’s swim area. Glass walls of the pool area fronted onto the Garden Courtyard, allowing in shafts of natural light. Towels were provided.
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I was pleased to find a well-equipped fitness center overlooking the pool. It offered sauna and steam rooms, cardio equipment, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, free weights, treadmills and weight machines.
Where to Eat at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
Our conference was an affair catered by the hotel’s culinary staff, but I did get to try the hotel restaurant. Bivver is a lounge and bar that serves meals and beverages from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The menu starts with breakfast items such as eggs and coffee and moves on to light bites throughout the day including burgers and seafood.
I didn’t need to order it, but the hotel also offered room service.
Made to Order Meeting Spaces for Events
My conference made excellent use of the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland’s meeting spaces. The Fort William ballroom can accommodate up to 700 people for general business meetings. Although our group was half that size, we were able to use it for a dinner event with round tables and a stage to celebrate our annual awards.
The gorgeous Garden Courtyard imbued with sunlight and leafy foliage, can handle up to 300, although a staff member told me for weddings they keep the number to 100. There were also 13 breakout meeting rooms some of which we used for smaller professional development sessions.
Easy Access to St. John’s Highlights
I loved the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland location for its walkability to many city attractions. In my downtime, I visited The Rooms, a cultural facility designed with an exterior designed to look like huge fishermen’s stages or sheds. I spent an afternoon wandering through the fascinating art and museum exhibits, including a giant, pickled squid found washed up on a Newfoundland beach.
Across the street, I took a peek at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Basilica and was awed by its soaring ceiling and ornate stained glass. Closer down to the water, I strolled along Duckworth Street and popped into a few boutiques. That evening I discovered live entertainment on George Street with more than 25 venues packed into a few blocks.
Other city highlights not to miss are Signal Hill and the John GEO Centre. Part of Memorial University, the center celebrates the land and the sea surrounding Newfoundland. Some spaces feature stone walls comprising the 550 million-year-old rocks of Signal Hill.
Another highlight was Quidi Vidi, a fishing community that was about a mile away from the hotel. I enjoyed a refreshing drink and snack at Quidi Vidi Brewery pub, then wandered over to the Quidi Vidi Artisan Studios, a two-story building featuring shops and studios of local artists.
Rates at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
Standard room rates range from $246 to $300 per night. Club lounge access can be added on for around $20 per night. Junior Suites start at around $325 per night. Pets can be accommodated for a fee, and onsite parking is also available for a fee.
Check online for the latest rates for the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
