JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

By ChrissyOctober 3, 2019

yeg edmonton hotel marriott steakhouse food

I love hotels. Opening the door to your hotel room is like opening a bicycle-shaped present at Christmas. You know what you are going to get, but the fun is in the details.

There are many options for travel accommodations nowadays – Airbnb, motels, hostels or the more traditional bed and breakfasts. You can crash with a friend or a relative or even camp. The list goes on. I have used all of these at one point or another, and have nothing against them but I prefer hotels. I love hotels. yeg edmonton hotel marriott food review downtown

I had the opportunity to check out the new JW Marriott in Edmonton’s ICE District. From the moment you step in the lobby, you know that this is not another generic box hotel. It is shiny, new and absolutely beautiful. With two lounges, two restaurants and the possibly the fanciest gym I have ever seen, the hotel is an attraction unto itself.

Here are five things you need to know about the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District:

It is located in the heart of downtown, and connected to Rogers Place Arena. There are close to 350 guest rooms, including a presidential suite and 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting and conference spaces, which have been named after iconic Oilers alumni (they clearly know the way to an Edmontonian’s heart). Because of their unique partnership with Rogers Place, the hotel will offer prime access to its guests, such as behind-the-scenes arena tours and Oilers meet-and greets.
The hotel is home to a comprehensive wellness facility, including Spa by JW and Archetype (the aforementioned fancy gym). One cool feature is that hotel guests, as well as gym members, will have access to Archetype’s four custom curated group studios with experiences ranging from yoga, boxing, spin and HIIT (high intensity interval training) style classes. To learn more about Archetype click here. They also have an indoor heated pool.
There are two lounges – Alchemy and The Lobby Bar. Alchemy is the JW’s speakeasy, located on the fifth floor of the hotel and accessible through a hidden bookcase door. It opens October 3^rd. The Lobby Bar is less subtle with its high ceilings and plush furniture. Along with cocktails, they have a number of small plates (think charcuterie, calamari, and beef and bison empanadas). Similar to the Cactus Clubs and Joeys of the world, The Lobby has a daily happy hour from 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to close. As a heads up, don’t expect to find $4 glasses of wine here, this happy hour menu is a little more expensive. They also recognize my favorite day of the week, Wine Wednesday, by offering half-priced bottles of wine.
Kindred Food + Drink is one of two restaurants in the JW. Located on the main floor, Kindred serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The décor is casual and inviting, perfect for pre/post-game or concert bites. Like The Lobby they have a daily happy hour (this one is slightly less expensive), half-priced bottles of wine every Wednesday and $5 Caesars and mimosas for brunch. I have not had a chance to eat here yet, but you all know how much I love brunch and will be back to try it very soon.
Braven is the second restaurant, and is nothing short of spectacular. The 234-seat dining room has an old school vibe but modern style. The menu includes classic steakhouse starters like the Ice Wedge Salad and shrimp cocktail, Alberta sourced steaks, loins and chops, as well as seafood options. There are three private dining rooms and one semi-private room, ideal for large groups.