Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort

We had a spa day at Tigh-Na-Mara and will definitely be back. The mineral pools and outdoor garden menu were great, and the staff were professional and kind. I loved the renovated spa areas, including the garden walking path, quiet lounge chairs, and cedar saunas. There are lots of places to enjoy in the gorgeous, peaceful forest. The outdoor space was relaxing, and I liked the flavoured water machine and the tea and snack room upstairs. Such a perfect spa location.

The Citrus Avocado & Goat Cheese Salad with Grilled Chicken at Tigh-Na-Mara looked as good as it tasted. The greens were crisp, the avocado creamy, and the orange segments, candied pecans, whipped goat cheese, and lemon basil dressing made it fresh and balanced. I added the grilled chicken on the side, and it was tender and well seasoned, making this a satisfying main. The edited photo turned out nicely too, with the colours popping and the black bowl framing it well. A great lunch or light dinner, and a lovely fit for the seaside resort. Tigh-Na-Mara / Cedars, nice work. Highly recommended. #PaulWilliamsPhotography #TighNaMara #CedarsRestaurant #ParksvilleEats #VancouverIsland

The tapas experience upstairs was the standout for us. The pacing was just right and every dish was excellent, especially the mushroom toast. We wanted our daughter, who loves cooking and hopes to be a private chef one day, to experience different kinds of dining. The team gave her a peek into the kitchen, and one of the chefs came out to meet her. A real class act and an unforgettable moment for her. We also had a couples RMT massage the next day, which went flawlessly. Our daughter joined us at the Grotto afterward. It was busier than we'd hoped for a quiet spa at first, but after about an hour it thinned out and became much more relaxing. Drinks on the patio by the fire table were lovely, with attentive service and blankets offered. Hot drinks would have been a nice addition. Our room was quiet, comfortable, and well appointed, with a beautiful ocean view and thoughtful amenities. Some furniture had visible stains, which took away a little from the high-end feel, and the bedroom TV didn't work during our stay. There was no turndown service despite our three nights. The Christmas brunch and dinner were both excellent. At dinner, our sorbet course was missed, and there were a few timing hiccups with our daughter's meal, likely because of differences with the kids' menu. These were small issues, and our server handled them right away, on his own initiative comping a couple of drinks. His care and professionalism went a long way. There are always things any business can improve, but we will absolutely return. The service and overall experience outweighed the few issues, and we'd recommend Tigh-Na-Mara for a special getaway.

Our meal at Cedars was probably the best part of the stay. The rest felt dated and worn down, and I didn’t think the resort lived up to the hype. One cabin near the Grotto sits beside the wood chopping and material storage area, which looks like a construction site. The cabin itself was average, though we both liked the gas fireplace. The room’s jacuzzi tub was disgusting: black sludge and hair came out of the jets when we turned it on. The Grotto Spa wasn’t relaxing for us. If you’ve been somewhere like Scandinav in Whistler, the mineral pool here feels like a rec centre pool with minerals added, and it wasn’t even lukewarm. There’s just one small hot tub, so it was hard to get in. A large group of women staying together were drunk and shouting over each other, with no staff stepping in. It felt stressful, not tranquil, and we left after 20 minutes. We complained at the front desk and got 50% off the visit, but even at $130 I still felt ripped off. There was also an automatic 15% gratuity. For what, the woman explaining how to use the lockers? I expected more of a luxury experience than we got.