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ELORA’S BEST-KEPT SECRET: KAT FLORENCE HOTELS

The perfect getaway for hard-working lawyers

By Janet Carr & Julius Melnitzer | April 28, 2026

Kat Florence may not yet be a household name, but if you’re “in the know”—you know!

She and her gem hunter husband, Don Kogen, have been sourcing stones and designing works of jewelry-art for over a decade. Recently, the celebrity designer turned her attention to the hospitality industry: the outcome has Kat’s signature of excellence all over it.

A native of Elora, Ontario, her vision was to save the 178-year-old Commercial Hotel from demolition and restore its glory days as the heart of community life. A marriage of rustic charm and modern convenience, the construction, now Kat Florence Hotels, is largely limestone masonry with stone and wide-plank hardwood floors in the common areas.

The four on-site suites, aptly named Paraiba, Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby, are all unique with unconventional layouts, generous proportions (800-850 square feet), and sumptuous decor. They comprise a living room with fireplace, dining area, service bar, bedroom/dressing room, bathroom, laundry closet, and a fully-equipped kitchen that would put a smile on the most discerning foodie’s face. All the suites have a balcony.

The Diamond House, located just around the corner, features three bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, and outdoor space that includes a lush garden, hot tub, and fire pit.

The bespoke Kat Florence experience begins before arrival. Online reservations are effortless, followed by a real, live text-messaging concierge who responds to as many requests as you might have, and with unparalleled promptness. The communications ensure that details like how you want the fridge stocked, when you want breakfast, and what music plays in your room on arrival are addressed. The staff’s attention embraces the tiniest minutiae, going so far as the kind of milk you want with your coffee or tea.

Checking in is as smooth a process as reserving—largely because there’s no check-in. The hotel asks guests to call them one hour before arrival. The upshot is that staff are waiting at the door to grab your bags, park your car, offer refreshments, and orient you. No check-in counter, no requests for ID, or debit or credit cards: you just go straight to your room, accompanied by the concierge who seems to have all the time in the world for you. (This having been said, make sure you get the ins and outs of how everything works, because the suite is full of high-tech controls and switches whose use may not be intuitive.)

A welcome bottle of V***e Clicquot, Kat’s personal favourite, awaits you, followed quickly by a splendid charcuterie board with the best grapes we’ve ever tasted.

By this time, we were so impressed that we immediately extended our planned two-night stay by another night.

Breakfast, served in-suite at your chosen time, consists of juices, gourmet teas and coffees, and a basket of baked-fresh-that-morning breads and pastries, compliments of Chef Marc, who also makes a mean chia pudding. Additionally, his exquisite confections are available all day at the coffee bar, located adjacent to the Living Room, a recent extension of the main lobby.

Critically-acclaimed Chef Anthony Bish hosts dinner personally, aided by a perfectly attentive staff. The multi-course tasting affair is included in the price. It takes place a few steps from the hotel, at Anthony’s Elora, a casual location that’s also home to Tony’s Sourdough Pizza, Bish’s daytime endeavour. Dinner is exclusive to hotel guests, and the best seats in the house are kitchen-side. The food was delicious and memorable: the beef short ribs were a standout, as was Anthony’s unique sourdough pizza.

Wellness amenities include a complimentary daily massage administered by a knowledgeable and experienced RMT. Developed by Kat in conjunction with her lead therapist, the ritual lasts for 60 minutes, is La Mer oil-infused, and utilizes either Swedish or Deep Tissue techniques.

The hidden Nordic Spa Garden, with its state-of-the-art cedar sauna, hot and cold therapy pools, and cozy fire pit seating area, provides a welcome retreat from a sightseeing tour in the hotel’s Rolls-Royce or Bentley (available at your pleasure throughout your stay), a hike in the Elora Gorge Conservation Area, or a busy day of boutique shopping.

It’s a real sanctuary: the amenities are meant for two, and we were the only ones in the Garden during our time there. As always, the personal touch rules: you’re asked to call the concierge before you go, and she promptly heads out to clean and heat the hot tub for your visit. Mimosas on demand.

Checkout is like check-in: it isn’t. When you’re ready, staff es**rt you to your car, and off you go. And there are no surprises: the “extras” on the statement we received after leaving were less than $100 for a three-day stay that included six massages, three breakfasts, rich coffee and scrumptious sweets from morning till night, one superb dinner, a beautiful room and spa, and terrific service. So when you peruse the Hotel’s price list, remember what it includes: it gives real meaning to value.

Combine that with the peerless Kat Florence Team, seemingly cherry-picked to anticipate and exceed guests’ wildest expectations, and you’ll be coming back time and time again.

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