The Postmark Hotel is the latest chapter in downtown Newmarket’s 12 to 15-year transformation. The town has turned what was once a rundown area into a lively hub, with Riverwalk Commons, Fairy Lake, concerts, buskers, and a draw for new businesses. It now feels more like Stratford or Main St in Unionville and is worth a visit. I was way too curious to turn down an offer of a one-night stay to check it out.
Continuing the tradition of rescuing and transforming beautiful old buildings, the Archive Hospitality group has added Postmark to its roster. This former post office with its gorgeous clock tower dates back to 1914. With 55 rooms, 2 restaurants, a fitness centre, 4 event spaces and 2 outdoor spaces, it’s a beauty, inside and out. Knowing what they have accomplished with The Broadview and The Gladstone, I knew it would be impressive.
The Rooms
The Postmark offers 55 rooms over 3 floors ranging from small and cozy to large, well-appointed suites. High ceilings, lots of windows, a huge bathroom, a sitting room and a ridiculously comfortable bed greeted us in our Executive King suit. Each room is unique but they all contain gorgeous artwork from local artists. In fact, the entire hotel is full of local art. The piece over our bed was done by Toronto artist, Andrew Wang.
From the furniture to the towels, bedding, and fixtures, you can feel the thought that went into every detail. Our room had lots of windows, giving views of the cute main street. A couple of the rooms have patios as well, which I love.
The Overlea Restaurant
A quick elevator ride to the roof brings you to the Overlea Restaurant, helmed by Chef Jon Turner. The space is sumptuous and light-filled, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls on two sides. It can seat 150 guests indoors and on the wrap-around patios. We got there an hour before our reservation. Two seats at the bar were calling us so we could enjoy some oysters and rosé, both excellent by the way. I love to sit at the bar and watch the staff do their thing. By about 8 pm, the place was filling up and buzzing with energy.
We decided to stay at the bar to enjoy our dinner instead of moving to a table. I had the Ontario Corn Cappelletti and my guy ordered the striploin after sharing a shrimp cocktail and Heirloom Baby Beets. The food was fresh, showcasing local produce with modern presentation. The place gives a relaxed sophisticated vibe that I wouldn’t normally associate with Newmarket. Without actually looking like it, The Postmark reminded me of the Shinola in Detroit, one of my top spots.
The Fire Pit Tables
By the time we finished eating, the sun had set. Our bartender moved us to a fire pit table out on the terrace for dessert. I could have sat out there all night and my lemon meringue was the perfect end to a delightful evening. It would be a perfect place to meet for drinks with friends or have a romantic date night.
The Lobby
The Lobby at the Postmark Hotel is open from morning til evening. It’s a great place to grab a coffee, and maybe get some work done on your laptop. You can also go outside on the patio for lunch or a light dinner after work. The long bar also houses the check-in desk and provides a nice spot for a cocktail and some shareable small plates. Again, just a lovely, welcoming space to hang out in
What To Do in Newmarket
I didn’t know what to expect as I hadn’t been to Newmarket in about 20 years but was pleasantly surprised by the high street. Spanning about 3 blocks, Main St is full of restaurants, a self-serve wine bar, shops and coffee shops. Just off Main St, there was a live concert series happening with a packed house of locals who brought their camp chairs to enjoy the music.
We brought our scooters and went for a fabulous morning scoot starting at Fairy Lake and continuing up the Tom Taylor Trail up to where did we we went up to Holland Landing and back. At times we were scooting through meadows, under blankets of trees and through forested areas. I highly recommend bringing or renting some bikes and doing the same.
So, I accepted the opportunity to stay at this hotel based on curiosity and the fact that I love the Broadview Hotel and the Gladstone so I knew it would be beautifully restored. What I didn’t expect was loving this little pocket of Newmarket! The hotel is set up to accommodate events like weddings, conferences etc but it makes a fabulous getaway for Torontonians. It’s only about 40 km away and it’s also accessible by taking the Go to Newmarket, so a car is not even necessary.
Thank you so much to Rockit-promo and the Postmark Hotel for treating us to this fabulous overnight experience and introducing us to another great place to visit.