Highlights: Kingsbrae Arms

•Kingsbrae Arms offers rustic elegance, exceptional service, and luxury living in a sumptuous setting

•Remote location in St. Andrews By-The-Sea is a tiny piece of heaven on earth

•Attentive staff sets the mood for fond memories

•Relaxed home-like atmosphere perfect for a seaside getaway, packed with luxurious amenities and plenty of natural sightseeing

•Culinary excellence masterfully executed with fresh local produce and rare ingredients

Amenities: Kingsbrae Arms

• 14 rooms, 3 story. Closed from October to May. Pets accepted, some restrictions. Complimentary full breakfast. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. Restaurant. Outdoor pool. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Kingsbrae Arms

If it weren’t for the unsurpassed service that comes with this Mobil Four-Star property, guests at Kingsbrae Arms would think they’ve come to the edge of the earth. The salty sea town of St. Andrews By-The-Sea, located in Canada’s eastern province of New Brunswick, is home to the highest tides in the world and houses historic homes of the British loyalists who arrived in 1783 after the American Revolution. While this quaint historic hamlet meshes history and stunning scenery, it is as a guest at Kingsbrae Arms where you’ll truly find the two meet.

Surrounded by the fragrant Kingsbrae Gardens and situated atop the highest point in St. Andrews along King Street, the three-story late-19th-century shingled manor house, which was built in 1897, overlooks the breathtaking Passamaquoddy Bay, a golf course, art galleries, and the old town. The hotel is near the Maine border and major airports in the area, making this east coast getaway easy to reach.

For getaway travelers and couples, this property feels like an island retreat packed with all the luxe amenities. Located along the coast, the hotel overlooks a chain of islands that are available for guided tours and has plenty of water-themed diversions. Water Street offers shopping and dining, while most of the district is designated as a historic site open for walking tours. Other attractions include Minister’s Island, the erstwhile summer cottage of Franklin Roosevelt, and golf. Families and those traveling with pets will also be delighted to know the property provides special packages and suites, with advanced notice.

Kingsbrae Arms emits an Old World charm amid chic luxury amenities. The reception rooms are styled in period furnishings, Oriental carpets, and objets d’art, while the suites’ interiors are spacious and accented with original artwork and antiques culled from the owners’ private collection. Each suite has a gas fireplace, marble bathroom, and a separate living room. Down and feather comforters and luxurious linens and towels are some of the creature comforts guests will find here, with the newest suites featuring high-speed Internet and satellite television.

I stayed in a deluxe king room, but the hotel also offers standard queen rooms, various one-bedroom suites, and wings that can be reserved for larger groups or families traveling with an au pair. There are premium one-bedroom spa suites that boast ten-foot ceilings and spacious interiors. The higher price difference includes a wet bar and whirlpool or airpool tubs in the personal spa bathrooms. The entire inn can also be reserved for up to 20 adults as a Ten-Room House Party.

As the only Mobil Four-Star lodging east of Quebec in Canada, Kingsbrae Arms espouses the epitome of a luxury destination, ensuring all of the finest details are met from the décor to the cuisine to the service. For business travelers, this means spacious suites with premium amenities and meeting rooms equipped with all the latest technologies.

(+) Exquisite service matches the hotel’s stunning décor

Guest Services: Kingsbrae Arms

For a quaint hamlet tucked away from the big city, the service at Kingsbrae Arms is of the highest est standards, and the owners here want you to feel like this is home. Therefore, staying here is like being a guest among friends in an exquisite house surrounded by the natural beauty of the sea and gardens. From the gracious bellman to the courteous front desk agent, I was shown sincere hospitality.

My room was beautifully serviced during my entire stay. Such special touches as the floral arrangements and turn-down service made this experience feel one-of-a-kind. Friendly smiles were part of the entire visit, and across the board, staff here made me feel welcome. From the chef’s innovative east coast cuisine to the massage therapist who made a special in-room spa treatment, the experience was completely rejuvenating and a tonic from big city stresses.

(+) Intuitive, attentive service

Guest Rooms: Kingsbrae Arms

Kingsbrae Arms has eight luxury suites and two guest rooms, all equipped with feather-top beds with down and feather comforters, Frette towels and linens, and luxurious Bulgari bath products. All rooms are air-conditioned and have ample sitting areas and fireplaces, TVs, CD clock radios, private phones with data ports, hair dryers, and irons. All suites have balconies overlooking the bay and feature separate living rooms and marble bathrooms with separate walk-in showers and soaker tubs, airpools, or whirlpools. Premium suites have fully stocked wet bars. Rooms in the premium one-bedroom spa suites are situated in their own private enclave and have high ceilings, a spa bathroom with massage showers and airpool tubs, a travertine wet bar, and a desk area wired for high-speed Internet.

The décor of my room accentuated country elegance with classic porcelain blue and crème fraiche tones that tied together seamlessly in a sumptuous king-sized canopied feather bed. The marble bathroom had a separate shower and bath, while the spacious living room featured a gas log fireplace as the centerpiece. A balcony overlooked the bay. The piece de resistance was a well-stocked pantry of homemade nibbles and a selection of fruit juices that was just steps away. Tucked under three gables of the house on the third floor, it was an inviting, secluded hide-away.

(+) Luxurious rooms with stunning views and all the top amenities

Facilities & Activities: Kingsbrae Arms

While the hotel is situated in a coastal paradise with plenty of marine activities and beachcombing nearby, it is inside the property where you’ll find the simplest pleasures for relaxation. The suites themselves have a serene setting that reflects a calm tranquility. The rooms were quiet, so sitting by the fireplace curled up with a good book or indulging in an in-room massage treatment are favorite past-times. For others, the outdoor heated pool will be enough to help unwind, while strolling through the 27-acred Kingsbrae Garden will sharpen the senses.

With a golf course nearby, visitors can take in a round of golf or sign up for a tour of the Minister’s Island next door to view the former digs of railroad baron Cornelius Van Horne. Nearby Campobello Island was also a popular summer hangout for FDR and his wife Eleanor, who had a grand summer estate here. The hotel will be happy to make a delicious brown bag lunch for day jaunts to these places.

Since the hotel is located in St. Andrews, there are several historic landmarks and walking tours available through the National Historic District. Many of the more than 250 homes that are from 100 to more than 200 years old have been marked with descriptive plaques by the St. Andrews Civic Trust. In addition, the Ross Museum, Sheriff Andrews House, Blockhouse and Court House, and the many historic churches offer visitors a glimpse into the town’s past. St. Andrews by-the-Sea flourished as Canada’s first seaside resort town and attracted many of the East’s more prominent families.

Shopping and dining in the town is another favorite past-time here as many artisans have opened up boutiques. Other popular activities include sea kayaking, whale watching, and swimming in the tidal pool at Katys Cove.

(+) Plenty of ways to relax and play, from cozy fireplaces to historic walking tours

Dining & Lounge: Kingsbrae Arms

Kingsbrae Arms has one dining area situated on the first floor that imbues the rustic elegance of the establishment. The cuisine is based on the region’s seasonal bounty from land and sea, and every evening a dinner party gathers to celebrate the seasonal delicacies that are paired with selections from the award-winning cellar. There is no menu as everyone dines like they are a guest in someone’s home.

The cuisine from Chef Marc Latulippe’s kitchen is renowned in these parts, and he promises not to disappoint. The four-course dinner is enhanced by fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden. Ingredients can include Bay of Fundy salmon, lobster and shrimp, Digby scallops, and Cobscook Bay rock crab or lamb from Quebec. The results are always unique. The ambience is elegant with candlelight, crystal, and fresh flowers topping the white linen table.

At lunchtime, guests can dine in the garden café, while mid-day they are invited for an afternoon tea. In the evening, guests of the inn gather for cocktails and canapés in the library and on the garden terraces overlooking the sea.

My breakfast was a hearty country fare with fresh coffee, scones, and baked goods. My room service experience was a real treat. The order was taken and delivered quickly, and the excellent food was also beautifully presented. The cuisine was outstanding and was served by a very attentive staff that took care of every detail.

(+) Gastronomic experience packed with fresh local ingredients in a gorgeous setting; room service was exceptional

Business Services: Kingsbrae Arms

While the hotel doesn’t have a traditional business center as in other hotels, business services are available, and the concierge handles these requests. I asked for some faxing and photocopying to be handled, and staff was most attentive and provided excellent service.

The premium suites are spacious, with a work station and high-speed Internet access. All the other guest rooms have dial-up data ports with an area that can be used for work.

(+) Business travelers receive excellent care
(-) Property lacks physical business center