Many of Canada’s prairie cities may get overlooked when travelers decide where to go when visiting Canada. They don’t have the same nightlife of Toronto, the mountains of Alberta or the coastal experiences of the west and east coasts. But what the Canadian prairies do have are a bounty of gently rolling agricultural land, amazing big sky sunsets, small but interesting art galleries and museums, and people who are down-to-earth—the keepers of Canada’s breadbasket—unassuming and cool without even trying.

As the capital of Saskatchewan, Regina is a vibrant city that caters to government big wigs and agricultural movers and shakers, with enough food, drink and hotel options to keep everyone happy.

Street cred: It’s all about location

With views over Victoria Park, The Hotel Saskatchewan—a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel—sits in the center of the city, convenient to the Wascana Centre (worth a visit for the MacKenzie Art Gallery and Royal Saskatchewan Museum); the Saskatchewan Science Museum, with its first-rate restaurant, Skye Café & Bistro; the hops-heavy Warehouse District featuring a plethora of breweries and pubs; and the artsy Cathedral neighborhood. You’re also close to the culinary arts center, Schoolhaus, where you can learn to cook with some of the many tasty prairie pleasures.

Who hangs here: Is this hotel for you?

The Hotel Saskatchewan is a former grand railway hotel and it has maintained much of that elegant historic character. Plenty of brass, panelled wood and artwork and photos from back in the day grace the walls. Mixed with this are modern light-tiled floors and Belle Epoque-style silver and blue velvet furnishings.

Guests hanging out in these lush surroundings were a true mix of young families, girlfriends out for a getaway, cool-looking couples and business travelers wearing the uniform.

The straight goods: What’s in the room?

I stayed in room 602—a large room featuring two floor-to-ceiling windows, pale grey walls and a large closet. The comfy king bed was decked out in crisp white sheets and the tufted white headboard had two reading lamps. There were two large side tables with plenty of spots to plug in your electronics and a dark wood chest of drawers that held the large-screen TV. Finishing the room was a desk, a corner chair in blue shimmery velvet suitable for reading or streaming a show and a minibar that included a fridge, Keurig coffee machine and a bottle each of white and red wine that were surprisingly modest in price.

The bathroom featured creamy marble, a shower with steady, strong water pressure that can clean every bit of the day away, a big lighted mirror and Pharmacopia toiletries.

Good eats: Cocktails and cuisine

Circa 27 is the hotel’s luxurious lounge, right off the lobby. I glanced at it wistfully as I passed every morning and evening on my way in and out of the hotel. It’s the kind of place I love—a proper wood-paneled long bar, a space that’s open, yet cozy and inviting, with furnishings and textiles right out of The Great Gatsby. No one would blame you if you thought you saw Leonardo DiCaprio settled in one of those cushy chairs.

When I finally did have time to ensconce myself in the plush surroundings, I enjoyed one of the house cocktails, the High Violet, made with Empress gin, Black Fox cherry, lemon juice and egg white. A quick hour later, I had to leave before being able to have another go-round at the cocktail menu.

Weekend brunch is also served in Circa 27 and I enjoyed a delicious BLT toastie: a free run fried egg, crispy bacon, Manitoba-made smoked Bothwell Farms parmesan cheese, fall-flavored maple sage aioli, piquant pickled red onion, heirloom tomatoes and spicy shoots on grilled multigrain toast and served with yummy honey butter hashbrowns.

Other restaurants in The Hotel Saskatchewan are The Burrow, a modern steakhouse, and The Hotel Saskatchewan Dining Room, open for breakfast on the weekdays. Finally, there is a grab-and-go breaky and lunch coffee house, Café Royale.

Bragging rights: What else has it got?

The Hotel Saskatchewan has a nicely equipped fitness center onsite, as well as the Damara Day Spa offering premium treatments.

A few of our favorite things: What stood out?

The lobby bar is a true draw. At the end of a busy day, my inclination was to turn right towards the lounge rather than left towards the elevators to the guest floors, but a girl needs her beauty sleep, and I leaned left most times.

I also loved the historical framed photographs found throughout the hotel that show the then and now.

Parting shot: If we could change one thing

The shower ended up making me think I was being punked. The shower faucet was a little…stiff. After pulling on it multiple times, I grew concerned that my colossal strength might break it and I called down to the front desk to make sure it was operational and I wasn’t yanking on it for nothing. They assured me I could pull harder—which I did—and the water flowed. After the shower, though, I was in the same situation and could not, despite a monumental effort, turn the flow off. I finally had to have someone come up my room to turn it off for me, as I stood there dripping wet with my hotel terrycloth robe on, now feeling too shy to attempt a shower the next day. However, societal norms won and shower I did. The plus side to my shower story is that I found it hysterical and chuckled about it during my entire stay.

Rates start at CAD $184.

Photos courtesy of Janice Tober unless otherwise indicated.