Dalvay by the Sea Hotel

The food was so good I could write a whole separate post about it. Almost every bite was perfect, and the local ingredients gave it a real farm-to-table feel. I’m from the west coast and love a London Fog. They weren’t sure at first if they could make one, but the barista/bartender made me one of the best I’ve had. I didn’t catch her name, but she was a magician, and I had one every morning. We spent a week at the Dalvay in October for our 20th anniversary and made memories every day. The people made the place special, from MacKenzie, who helped get our reservation right on the first call, to Handri, always around with a smile, kind words, and thoughtful local recommendations. We felt cared for the whole time. The inn and grounds have a magical, out-of-time feeling. If you love a truly historic inn, this place is a good fit. It’s listed and owned by Parks Canada, so it isn’t completely updated, but that preserves its original charm. The dining room is stunning, too. It’s inside the national park and away from the busier tourist areas. We found it a great base for driving around the island to see lighthouses and other sights. Thanks for making our trip wonderful, Dalvay! Just keep in mind there’s no elevator if stairs are a challenge.

Everything we ate was very flavorful, but for such a classy place and such a high bill, we expected much better service. We were seated right away, then left waiting for 30 minutes while other guests were being served. It seemed like every waiter thought we belonged to someone else’s section. We had to ask for water, and when we requested anything else, we often had to ask again 15-20 minutes later because it had been forgotten. The tip options started at 20%, too. It was really sad because this was my wife's most looked after spot on our Trip to P.E.I., and she deserved a better experience.

We only booked one night in early September 2025 and immediately wished we’d stayed for two. There was plenty more to do and experience in the area. The place is elegant and rich in history, the rooms were cozy and quiet, and the service was exceptional. We had both dinner and breakfast there, and each was well done. We’ll be back.

We had lunch in the comfortable lounge beneath the Renoir painting (print the assume!). The setting is quaint and historic, with lovely views. The lentil soup and Montreal smoked meat sandwiches were great, and the date pudding was sinfully sweet, but worth giving in to.