Brand new district with restaurants and a hotel coming to Niagara

Niagara-on-the-Lake will soon be getting a whole new neighbourhood development complete with restaurants and a brand new hotel.

Clayfield Commons is a brand new district with restaurants and bars, anchored by a hotel called The Clayfield.

Picture wine, food, retail, cafes and culture all in one walkable area, centred around a public square area lined with trees.

The Clayfield was created by the families behind the award-winning residential and commercial community known as The Village, and Stratus Vineyards, the world’s first fully LEED-certified winery.

The design of the hotel is intended to be an extension of the surrounding landscape with a rounded form, as well as wooden vertical elements and layers of concrete intended to refer to vines growing up through clay, and repeating elements that reference the vineyards of the area.

The interior is influenced by natural elements and the seasons, with calming colours and soothing textures. For example, the lobby is designed to evoke the season of spring, the restaurant area of the hotel is inspired by harvest season, and the spa area is supposed to feel like summer.

The Clayfield was designed by Montreal-based Sid Lee Architecture, and the name and design philosophy draw inspiration from the layered clay soils and ancient sediments that the region is well known for.

The restaurant at The Clayfield will also take its cues from the local landscape. It will be called Terrain, developed and operated by Toronto’s Ascari Group, with chef Joel LaBute leading the kitchen.

Along with the restaurant Terrain, the Clayfield will also be outfitted with a lobby cafe area and a rooftop terrace.

“From the beginning, the vision for Clayfield Commons was to create a place connected to the character of Niagara-on-the-Lake itself,” says John Hawley, co-owner of The Clayfield, in a press release.

“We wanted the hotel, restaurants, public spaces, and surrounding village to feel integrated into the everyday experience of the region.”

“I think people are looking for experiences now that feel a little more personal and a little more connected to where they are,” says David Feldberg, co-owner of The Clayfield and founder of Stratus Vineyards, in a press release.

“Niagara-on-the-Lake already has incredible food, wine, theatre, and hospitality. What interested us with The Clayfield was creating something that still felt relaxed and very much part of the rhythm of the region.”

The Clayfield is currently set to debut in Niagara-on-the-Lake around late summer 2026.