The legendary Sooke Harbour House reopens with a fresh take on its quirky, nostalgic charms.
Manfred Agath loves to hear your stories about Sooke Harbour House. The ones about your first date, your wedding, your honeymoon, that special anniversary you spent here. Your memories of that room you stayed in, the one with the tree or the library or all the Indigenous artwork. That time you saw the orcas from your balcony or that day the fog rolled gently in to swaddle everything in soft cotton wool.
He loves the stories, but as the general manager of a beloved seaside property that has just reopened after a three-year, $14-million renovation, he’s ready for a whole new chapter. “We’re starting out fresh,” he says. “My motto is, we build on the past, but we don’t live in it.”
Sooke Harbour House was originally built in the 1920s, a three-bedroom farmhouse overlooking the Whiffin Spit that protects Sooke Harbour from the Juan de Fuca Strait. In the 1970s, it was bought by Frederique and Sinclair Philip, whose early passion for local, farm-to-table dining earned the inn the nickname “Chez Panisse North.” Over the next 40-plus years it hosted everyone from hungry gourmet travellers to Hollywood celebrities. In 2020 the current owners came on board and began the refurbishment of this iconic property.
Now the 28 guest rooms (each with its own fireplace and balcony; all but one with a stunning ocean view) have been refreshed with sumptuous linens, smart features including electronic blinds and lights, and all the high-end amenities you’d expect in a luxury property — but still preserve that quirky individuality. As Agath says, the character has been “grandfathered in.”
“You have this West Coast vibe,” he says. “It doesn’t have a corporate feeling. It just wouldn’t fit here.”
Although the storied fine-dining room has not yet reopened, a casual bistro called the Copper Room serves up locally inspired from-scratch cooking. Agath, who brings with him meticulous Swiss hospitality training, has elevated the service at every level. But perhaps the most exciting feature is the sweeping, 125-seat, year-round patio — easily the best on the South Island — with a second patio on the lower level for weddings, events and the next generation of stories to be told.
“It’s quite a special place,” Agath says. “I sure think so.”
If Sooke Harbour House has you dreaming of a coastal escape, our Weekend Getaway to Sooke guide is the perfect companion. Explore nearby beaches, hikes, and breathtaking ocean views, all just a short drive from this iconic retreat.