Pet-Friendly Places to Stay in Kitchener

The Walper Hotel, part of JdV by Hyatt, is the most characterful pet-friendly choice in Kitchener and has the best rating among the hotels on this page. The building dates from 1893 and has been fully restored, with custom wallpaper in the rooms, a spa and wellness area, and an on-site restaurant and lounge. Its downtown position on King Street is the main advantage for dog owners: Victoria Park, with its lake and paths, is within walking distance for morning and evening walks, so the car can stay parked for most of the trip if your plans are centred on downtown Kitchener.

If you want hotel facilities as well as a pet-friendly room, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kitchener is the practical option. It has an indoor pool, a gym and spa and wellness facilities, and its own restaurant, Arbor Kitchen and Bar, so dinner does not mean leaving your dog alone in the room for long while you search for a table. It is also listed as family-friendly, which makes it a sensible base for a family travelling with both children and a pet. I would choose it over the Walper when the pool matters more to the group than a historic setting in the centre of town.

For more space, The Laundry Rooms Station Park Kitchener offers aparthotel units with a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine and a balcony, plus a shared sun terrace with barbecue facilities, a fitness centre and an electric vehicle charging station. Having a kitchen and a washing machine helps a lot with a dog on a longer stay. The one-bedroom Elegant Open-Concept Condo in Downtown K-W is the other apartment-style option: it has a kitchenette, a balcony with city views, access to an indoor pool and a fitness room, and free private parking, though it has far fewer guest reviews than the hotels.

Wherever you stay, plan your walks around Kitchener's green spaces. Victoria Park is the obvious daily loop from downtown, with paths around its lake. For a longer outing, the Walter Bean Grand River Trail runs along the Grand River on the city's eastern side, and Huron Natural Area in the south of the city offers wooded trails and boardwalks. On weekends, the Kitchener Market downtown is a pleasant stop on a walk, and the farmland around St. Jacobs, just north of Waterloo, makes an easy half-day drive with a dog in the back seat.