By Alison McGill
Want to get out of Toronto for a lakeside retreat but have less than 24 hours to do it? The Pearle Hotel & Spa in Burlington is your paradise found.
Drive just 40-minutes west of Toronto to arrive at the doors of the chic Marriott Autograph Collection property (the first in Ontario) built on the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in October 2021, the mood at The Pearle is lake house luxury. A soothing tonal white palette imbues a calming ambiance from the moment you enter the airy and expansive hotel foyer. The spa is located just to the left of the lobby, and it’s a dreamy and hideaway from the everyday.
The Pearle Spa has become a choice wellness hotspot in the GTA and with good reason. The treatment menu is not only expansive in the number of services offered, featuring all the classics with a twist of the latest beauty and wellness technology incorporated into the mix. Have a few dates in mind for your visit as appointments fill up quickly and the spa is often booking a least a month in advance.
In terms of treatment particulars, every massage experience is totally customizable in terms of length and add-on upgrades—choose a face and eye mask combo to either tighten, depuff or brighten skin. Facials are a particular delight at The Pearl Spa, with eight different types available to treat every skin concern imaginable. I recommend pairing your choice facial with a body experience to create one, otherworldly mega treatment.
This is exactly what I did on my visit, indulging in the spa’s signature Celestial Black Diamond Sculpting Body Treatment and Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Face Lift. Clocking in at over three-hours, this combo is mind/body wellness of the highest order. My therapist began with the body treatment: a full body exfoliation, lymphatic drainage and massage designed not just to firm and sculpt skin, but to release physical and mental tension. After an hour of bliss, it was on to 90-minutes more with a decadent facial where my skin was deeply cleansed, infused with oxygen, expertly massaged, and intensely hydrated. I literally emerged reborn and took the time to enjoy the moment and my post-treatment Zen in the natural light bathed chicness of the spa lounge.
If you want to linger longer, bring your swimsuit, and enjoy The Pearle’s indoor pool which is part of the sizable spa area. You can also arrange to have lunch a spa lunch or grab a snack to go from the just opened Pearle’s Café. If you are spa-ing later in the day plan for a dinner date overlooking the lake Isabelle Restaurant & Lounge, the hotel’s flagship eatery. Not only are the views spectacular, so is the ever-changing, seasonally inspired menu is focused on locally sourced ingredients from The Pearle owners’ family farm.
In the event you have time to book a full staycation, the hotel has 151 guest rooms boasting dreamy lake views and a sleek modern, minimalist décor vibe. The bathrooms are a particular standout especially if you book a suite which comes complete with a ginormous soaker tub. A day, or an overnight stay at The Pearle will most definitely have you feeling all the easy-living summer feels.
