Every year since it opened in 2004, the Hotel at Fallsview has been awarded the CAA/AAA Four Diamond Award, which recognizes excellent customer service and attention to detail.
So even if gambling is not your thing, the 374-room property provides everything a couple needs for a pampering weekend away: Luxurious rooms with a view, excellent gourmet restaurants and shops.
Start with a fine dining experience at Ponte Vecchio, which is named after and inspired by the medieval bridge that spans the Arno River in Florence, Italy. The atmosphere in the 100-seat restaurant reflects the Old World and the menu is designed to replicate an authentic Italian culinary experience for those who want it.
So along with popular Italian fare such as spaghetti and seafood pasta, the menu offers a heaping helping of traditional dishes such as swordfish served with grilled eggplant capponata and quail eggs. Complementing the food is an award-winning wine list with 600 selections.
After indulging in a delightful meal, we retired to R5, the resort's chic new cocktail and martini lounge, for drinks. With contemporary decor and live piano music, the lounge radiates a cool vibe.
We felt sophisticated simply sitting in a booth, basking in the glow of a fireplace and enjoying the breathtaking view of the Falls below.
"There's an interesting story behind the name," says Kevin Harding, communications manager for Fallsview Casino Resort. "For the longest time the
space was empty and referred to by its code on the resort's original blueprints, R5. When we decided to open a cocktail lounge and needed a name, somehow R5 just seemed perfect."
The drink menu at R5 is colourful, exotic and extensive. The selection ranges from common cocktails and martinis to some truly luxurious items,
such as a 1999 Chateau Petrus -- for $2,760 a bottle!
To complete a weekend of relaxation and pampering, plan on spending a few hours at the newly expanded spa.
Originally containing five treatments rooms, the spa has grown to 12 treatment rooms, including a "twin" room for couples, as well as a fitness room and pool. This serene space is a good place to say goodbye to stress while enjoying a massage or facial.
For those more familiar with Niagara Falls' kitschy thrills -- wax museums and fun houses -- Fallsview offers a refreshing and more sophisticated way to experience the city. In fact, there's so much to see and do that the resort is becoming a destination in its own right.
Take our word for it. We were so blissfully occupied we didn't leave the property for the duration of the weekend.
Thankfully, the spectacle of the Falls was just a glance out the window away so at least we can honestly say we saw them.
More information
Upcoming acts at the Avalon theatre include: Jeff Bridges, performing songs from Crazy Horse and others, Sept. 1-2; Tony Orlando, Sept. 9-10; Spirit of the Dance, Sept. 17-26; and Styx, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. For details on Fallsview Casio Resort, including the hotel, the spa and the entertainment lineup, see fallsviewcasinoresort.com. For reservations at Ponte Vecchio, call 1-888-325-5788.
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