The Inverary Resort is a lovely spot to stay, whether you're spending time in the village of Baddeck or heading out on a CabotTrail road trip.

Good to Know
Location: Baddeck, Cape Breton
Distance from causeway: 85 kilometers (1 hour drive)
Family friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? Yes (surcharge)
Wi-fi? Yes
Amenities: Beautiful landscaped property with ample outdoor seating, indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, sauna, small playground, paddleboard/kayak rentals, lawngame loans, waterfront dining.
Air Conditioning: Yes
Restaurant / Bar on-site: Yes
Best Time To Go: Open year-round.
Cost: Varies, but our room was $180+ tax including breakfast/night (Cost for 2021)
To Book: Contact Inverary Resort.
Getting to Inverary Resort (formerly Inverary Inn)
The Inverary Resort is located on the waterfront of the Bras d'or Lake, at 368 Shore Road in Baddeck, Cape Breton.
Baddeck is one of the most central parts of Cape Breton Island, making it a great jumping off point for many Cape Breton adventures.
Amenities at Inverary Resort
Personally, I found the resort had quite a lot of amenities when we stayed there. It was summertime, so I'm sure this was especially the case at the time.
There is a heated indoor pool, which would be lovely at any time of year. It was quite warm and pleasant to swim in when we visited. It was a good size, and not very busy when we were there.
Pools are always a hit with our kids and if we take them back to the resort I'm sure we'll spend lots of time in this one!
When we visited we had to book a time to swim (due to Covid), but that is likely not the case anymore. The pool hours were very reasonable (8am - 10pm) (Summer 2021).
There is also an outdoor hot tub, which would be great for a relaxing soak, especially in the evenings. It seems like there used to be an indoor hot tub as well, but it had been removed for repairs when we visited. There is also a sauna.
There are kayak and paddleboard rentals and I found the rates very reasonable. I also thought it was nice that there were complimentary loans of lawn games.
There is a spa at the resort but I didn't visit it. There is also an exercise room but it was closed for repairs.
I found the wi-fi worked well and there were lots of comfy chairs scattered around the property which were perfect for lounging with coffee and a good book.
The Lakeside Restaurant, where our included breakfast was served, is open for live music every afternoon and dinner every evening. It is an absolutely gorgeous place to linger over drinks or enjoy a lovely meal by the lakeside, particularly outdoors in the summer.
There is a small wooden playground that would be suitable for younger kids. While it's not fancy, I've found that my kids really never notice things like that! They are just excited to play outside in a new place.
We only stayed for one night and there was a wedding on the grounds so we didn't venture out when we returned in the evening, but I've read that there are also nightly bonfires on the property in the summer, and we did see firepits near the water the next day!
Room / Breakfast / Resort Grounds Reviews
Room Review
We stayed in a ground floor room in Argyle House, facing the lake. Our room was very clean and had definitely been renovated - there was nice laminate plank flooring instead of carpets, and crisp, white bedding, as well as new tiles in the bathroom.
The bed was very comfortable.
There was also a flat screen TV, mini fridge and coffee maker with complimentary coffee.
Based on everything I've read, most of the rooms have been renovated.
Our room was clean and comfortable, but I would say it would benefit tremendously from white walls (instead of yellow), more colourful, lake/ocean inspired artwork, and an updated countertop around the bathroom sink (for a fresher, brighter feel).
The Inverary Resort's main lodge burned down in July of 2018 and is currently being rebuilt. It was due to be completed during the summer of 2021 but there were delays and it hasn't opened yet.
I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful (the outside definitely is) and will likely feature the nicest rooms on the property. I would love to come back and stay here once it's done!
Tip: Most of the buildings on the resort have both ground floor and upstairs rooms. The upstairs rooms would be difficult for anyone with mobility issues. If you have mobility issues definitely book a ground floor room. Once the main lodge is complete, it will have an elevator and wheelchair accessible rooms as well.
Food
Breakfast was included with our room rate, which I thought was nice. It made the $180 + tax price seem more reasonable. If we ate out for breakfast we would likely spend at least $40 with tax and tip, so having it included in the room was both convenient and reasonable for our budget.
The Lakeside Restaurant where breakfast (as well as dinner and afternoon ceilidhs with live music) is held is, literally, lakeside. There is lots of seating indoors and nice large windows overlooking the lake, but since it was a beautiful, mild summer morning, we opted to sit outside.
There were only a few options for breakfast and since we went quite late (breakfast is served from 7-10 am and we arrived at 9:30) they were out of a couple of things (granola and blueberries).
However, they added an extra item: a breakfast sandwich with hashbrowns.
I opted for the sourdough French toast, which was very good and would have been even better with blueberries (I think they had them earlier in the morning but we showed up right at the end of breakfast).
Laurier had the breakfast sandwich which was also very good.
It was lovely to have breakfast outdoors right on the calm Bras d'or Lake.
It would also be a gorgeous spot for an evening drink or stroll!
Resort Grounds
The grounds of the resort are absolutely lovely. They often hold weddings there and it is a stunning venue. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and a pleasure to walk around and enjoy.
At one edge of the property there is a gorgeous view of the lake, complete with Adirondack style chairs and firepits.
Inverary Resort - FAQs
Check in is at 3 pm and check out is at 11 am.
The Visitor Information Centre (VIC) at the start of the town centre is Β½ a kilometer away from the Inverary Resort - less than a 10 minute walk.
The resort grounds are quite lovely and it's relaxing to stroll around, or enjoy a coffee and book near the waterfront.
You can visit the Lakeside Restaurant for a meal or drinks near the water as well.
There is also an indoor pool, an outdoor hot tub, a sauna, a spa (we did not visit the spa personally) small playground area, kayak and paddleboard rentals, complimentary lawn games and a fitness centre (closed for renovations when we visited).
Things to do near the Inverary Resort in Baddeck
Where to Eat
The Lakeside Restaurant at the resort serves dinner, but we didn't have a chance to try it on this trip. We hope to try it on our next visit and let you know how it was!
Baddeck has lots of restaurants, ranging from super simple (we've heard lots of great things about Tom's Pizza, which is within walking distance).
The Freight Shed is located on the waterfront in Baddeck, has indoor and outdoor dining and an awesome looking menu. I really want to go eat there the next time we visit!
Just outside town, between Baddeck and Whycocomagh, the Herring Choker Deli is an excellent spot for a quick lunch. Their bread is all homemade and their sandwiches are delicious!
GrΓ‘ - Located about 40 minutes outside Baddeck, in the tiny village of Ross Village, you'll find the seriously excellent restaurant Gra. We loved our visit last summer and hope to go again soon (the menu changes monthly based on what ingredients are available and in-season locally).
Baddeck Lobster Suppers is located very close to the Inverary Resort and has an excellent menu (including all-you-can-eat menu) that is very popular with tourists who want to try Cape Breton lobster and crab. They also offer a few non-seafood options for those who don't eat seafood.
Big Spruce Brewing, located just outside the town, is an awesome way to spend an afternoon or evening. They have indoor and outdoor seating, a fantastic range of organic beer that they make on-site, and a cute little food truck that serves up delicious eats. They sometimes also have live music. We loved it when we were there and we have a full post coming up soon.
The Bite House was the excellent restaurant of Chef Brian Picard, located just outside Baddeck. It's now closed, but we were lucky enough to visit it a few years ago and it was just as great as all the reviews say. They do offer pop-up takeout menus from time to time now, and sometimes host special events.
Outdoors
Baddeck Downtown and Waterfront Boardwalk - Baddeck has a lovely little downtown area with easy access to the waterfront boardwalk. The boardwalk is an easy walk along the Bras d'or Lake waterfront, with views of Kidston Island in the lake and a sweet statue honouring Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel.
Uisge Ban Falls - Uisge BΓ n Falls (Pronounced ISH-KA-ban Falls), this is a 2 kilometre (one-way) wooded trail, which is a pretty easy hike to a spectacular 50 foot tall waterfall.
The Nicholson Trail is a beautiful, easy, hour long hike along the sparkling Baddeck River. Read our full post with all the details you'll need to hike the Nicholson Trail.
Bell Bay Golf Club - a stunning and highly rated golf course located in Baddeck.
A number of sailing tours explore the Bras d'Or Lake, departing from Baddeck. I'm really hoping to check one out this summer!
Sightseeing
Cabot Trail - The reason many people visit Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail is a spectacular 300 kilometre loop drive around many (but not all!) of the scenic highlights of the island. Check out our detailed post about driving the Cabot Trail!
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site - located in Baddeck, this museum is a wonderful introduction to the life and work of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone and a number of other innovations.
Music & Culture
The Inverary Resort often has live music, especially during the summer. The resort's Facebook page posts weekly schedules of upcoming shows.
Many of the restaurants in Baddeck also feature live music regularly.
Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs - If you're looking for traditional music you'll definitely want to check out Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs. Offering nightly ceilidhs from mid June to mid October, their website highlights a schedule showing who is playing when. Their website also has information about how to get tickets, which often sell out quickly.
You can also check out the events listing at the nearby Gaelic College, which is a great place to hear local Celtic music or learn about other cultural traditions.
The Baddeck Farmer's Market runs from June - October and you can see their full schedule here.
Yvonne Boudreau
Baddeck is so Lovely! Iβve eaten at the freight shed and the food is delicious with a great atmosphere. You can sit outside right on a portion of the wharf and the sights are endless. Always a busy spot so reservations are definitely recommended.
Laurier Samson
Thanks for the tip! I've been wanting to eat at the Freight Shed and will probably try it next time I'm in Baddeck! Sitting outside sounds so lovely! π