The PostMark Hotel: The Heritage Building Turned Boutique Accommodation on Newmarket's Main Street
The PostMark Hotel is Newmarket, Ontario’s crown jewel for accommodation, almost instantly. Operated by Archive Hospitality Group, who brought you the likes of the Gladstone House and the Broadview Hotel, what was once a historic post office now aims to become a community meeting point once again.
The exterior of Newmarket’s Postmark Hotel. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
New accommodation can be a game-changer for a destination, especially when it comes to the boutique. Many communities in Ontario have your prototypical range of cookie-cutter hotel options (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but it’s when you start to get unique, one-of-a-kind properties which reflect the history of your community that things start to get interesting.
That’s especially the case with the Postmark, which aims to become a social and cultural hub for the community and to, in a very real sense, transform the main street — and increase the allure of an overnight in Newmarket. Rightfully so, considering the wealth of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops nearby.
Bri and I are fortunate to visit York Durham Headwaters regularly, and so we’ve seen the growth of the region, especially from a tourism lens, first hand. This, to us, is another feather in their respective cap, and one which should pay dividends for years to come. When we visited, the Postmark had been open to visitors for just a handful of weeks, but you could see that they were really starting to hit their stride at this stunning property.
It’s a place that we’re confident if we want back this coming weekend, we’d be even more impressed, and that’s because this is a property where the attention to detail is at the forefront, so there’s always more to notice and appreciate.
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About the Postmark Hotel
The Postmark Hotel is located in Newmarket, the regional seat of the Regional Municipality of York, with a population of currently around 90,000. It’s a relatively easy drive from Toronto (often a little less than an hour), but certainly feels world’s away from the hustle and bustle of Canada’s largest city.
The town was formed as a farming community, but eventually became something of an industrial centre when it was placed on the main rail line in 1853. By the late 19th century, it became a thriving market town, and the name “Newmarket” attests to that, as York (now Toronto) was considered the “old market,” and this was considered the “new market.”
The advent of highways eventually formed Newmarket into a desirable place for people to call home who perhaps didn’t want to live in the heart of the big city, but still wanted access to it, and it’s been growing ever since.
The Postmark Hotel, I’d argue, is an acknowledgment of the rich history of Newmarket, but also recognizes Newmarket’s growth and need for premier accommodation, as well as a new community and social hub. The Postmark Hotel is located in a heritage building that was built in 1914 and was once, you guessed it — a historical post office.
As they note:
“ Once a historical post office and community hub on Newmarket’s charming Main Street and now the highly anticipated Postmark Hotel, we operate with an emphasis on community, art and gathering. Our thoughtfully designed space has room for you to meet, dine and drink, as well as space to host your most important get-togethers, from group dinners to business meetings and retreats.”
It’s owned and operated by Archive Hospitality Group, who operate under the mantra of “history restored, hospitality reimagined.” They run popular properties across Ontario, including The Broadview Hotel which is located a short walk from Bri and I in Toronto, The Gladstone House in Toronto’s west-end, are working on a big project outside of Toronto, the Collingwood Terminals, and of course, they run the Postmark Hotel. All of their properties, as you might already know, are all allowing guests to experience history through their stay, but not at the expense of a certain standard of luxury.
Before I talk more about the property, it needs to be noted that The Postmark Hotel is located on the traditional territories of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe peoples and on the treaty land of the Williams Treaties First Nations. The Postmark Hotel notes that “our community and region continue to be home to First Nations, Indigenous and Métis people, including our closest neighbours, the Chippewas of Georgina Island. We are grateful to work, create and welcome guests on this land and acknowledge our role as partners and stewards in caring for the land.”
Food and Drink Options
In a way, the Postmark is sort of all-inclusive in that you’ve got a number of different options and could easily have breakfast here, lunch, cocktails & shareables, and dinner. Though, I would recommend setting some side aside to walk up and down Newmarket’s Main Street.
The Lobby Bar is where the action is on the ground floor. It’s a light filled, energetic space. We had breakfast here one morning, complete with sour cherry pancakes, a breakfast sandwich, as well as a filled berry smoothie. Simply put, it’s just a nice area to spend some time.
People relax (or work) here during the day, sipping on local beer, handcrafted cocktails or snacks, and there’s a full dinner menu as well that has some classics (hey there smashburger), but also showcases their dedication to elevated cuisine with dishes like the Fogo Island shrimp toast, yellowfin tuna crudo, or the charred maitake.
Breakfast here is the real deal. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
The Overlea, headed up by Chef Jon Turner, is the happening spot on the property to get a delicious meal and enjoy the wraparound terrace with views of Newmarket that you aren’t going to anywhere else. Bri and I still remember our server from that night we ate here, Naz, who was one of the most warm and hospitable servers we’ve ever had. It’s open, by the way, on most nights from 5pm - 10:30pm, but they also do a weekend brunch up here.
We started things off with a shrimp cocktail with a homemade green goddess sauce that was divine, as well as a plate of heirloom baby beets with dill, yogurt, pistachio dukkha, and blueberry. We then had the seared halibut with a side of brocolini, and a seasonal special that night, which featured a corn filled ravioli that was just mind blowing.
What we both loved about the dining options here was the emphasis on the local. You can see how the success of the place of the Postmark (and more specifically the Overlea and the Lobby Bar) could have positive ripples on the surrounding community and economy. They try to work directly with local famers and, well, that makes a big difference — in a myriad of ways, quite frankly.
It’s worth noting here that you don’t have to be staying here to come and dine or enjoy a beverage, though on the weekends you may want to make a reservation for the Overlea, as it was rather busy when we ate there!
What Rooms Are on Offer at This Newmarket Boutique Hotel?
There are 55 newly designed guest rooms at the Postmark. There’s actually quite a bit of variety here as to what’s on offer — everything from cute and cozy to big windows and high ceilings.
One thing that we loved about the rooms - half of the rooms feature original art, while the other half have blown up vintage stamps. How better to honour the past while recognizing the local artists around you in the present?
Lee Petrie, the in-house curator, who was gracious enough to show us around, noted that “The room mix here is fantastic. The right fit for this community.”
The Standard Queen: This 215 sq. ft. room offers a Eurotop queen bed adorned with luxurious French linens. It features curated Canadian artwork, a smart TV, and high-speed Wi-Fi, perfect for solo travelers or couples seeking a cozy yet upscale sort of environment. In short, it’s cozy and comfortable. If you’re looking for some outdoor space, then consider The Terrace Queen, which starts at 329 square feet.
The Deluxe Double Queen: A bigger room, coming in at 384 square feet, and this would be the more cost effective choice if you’re travelling with the family. I’m told that there’s an option to adjoin this with the Premium King Suite here as well if you happen to be travelling with a large amount of family and want to all be connected.
The Deluxe King: The Deluxe King room, spanning 284 sq. ft., includes a Eurotop king bed with premium linens and some thoughtful design elements that showcase the building's unique architectural charm. You’ve got blackout curtains, eco-friendly bath products, along with your standard set of modern amenities (TV, Wifi etc.)
The Terrace King: At 298 sq. ft., the Terrace King blends that coveted indoor comfort with that desired outdoor charm, as it features a Eurotop king bed and access to a private terrace.
The Premium King: This 347 sq. ft. room provides an elevated stay with additional space and a king bed fitted with, you guessed it, high-end linens. The big difference here? There’s a seating area, which is both great for relaxation, and if you need to do some work during your stay.
The Executive King: It’s one of the most spacious options among the standard rooms at 441 sq. ft., so the Executive King offers a really sizeable layout with a Eurotop king bed and an expanded living space. This would be the choice if you’re going for a roomier accommodation option.
The Signature King: This is the largest suite available, coming in at a very spacious 527 square feet. This is probably the room that I would look to if you’re celebrating a milestone event like a honeymoon or an anniversary. You’ve got soaring windows, a separate bedroom complete with a king size bed, a kitchenette, and more.
The Universal King: Designed with accessibility in mind, the 360 sq. ft. Universal King offers a barrier-free layout that includes a roll-in shower and additional features for comfort and convenience. It’s all about maintaining elegance, while proritizing inclusivity.
The Premium Universal King: Again, this is designed with accessibility in mind, and it’s 500 square feet in size, and fully accessible. This room actually includes a convenient little kitchenette that includes a fridge, sink, and microwave.
You can take a look at what’s available as well as pricing as well as availability, all of that information is right at your fingertips.
I also want to mention here that there’s a nifty little area downstairs to relax, watch TV, play games with friends and more.
What Else is Worth Noting?
To get a full picture of the property, here are some final things to consider:
If you’d like to stay informed as to what they’re up to, they run a monthly newsletter that you can sign up for here.
There are regular packages and offers available that are often seasonal in nature, and you can find them here.
Finally, the Postmark is meant to be a gathering place, much like the post office before it was. As such, they’ve got a variety of spaces to host events if that’s your sort of thing. They do everything from group events to private events to weddings.
The Postmark Hotel Awaits
When we were walking around with Lee Petrie, who we were fortunate to get a tour from, she noted that “the community can connect with the space. It’s not closed off to the people from town.” That’s another big factor. It’s not as if it’s just guests here, it’s the community as well, and frankly, that matters.
We walked around the property, trying to get a feel for what this place once was, and what it will be again, and as if on cue, sensing our reflective state, Lee summed things up perfectly, when noting that as a former post office “home delivery didn’t start with the mail until 1957, so this was a gathering place. We want it to be a gathering place again.”
So it was, and so it shall be.
We want to thank York Durham Headwaters for hosting us as media. All thoughts and opinions are completely our own.