In a time of closed restaurants and storefronts (RIP), Toronto's hotels are shining in all their brand new or newly renovated splendour. The word "social distancing" has become a standard in our day-to-day lives. However, Toronto's hotels have remained active behind the scenes, even though tourism to the city shut down.
This includes all kinds of things. For instance, it starts from a few newly constructed and anticipated hotels. And, it keeps going to long-standing city staples, which have had major revamps. Hotels have always moved at par in Toronto for both residents and tourists.
Destination Toronto’s Executive Vice President states that the recent and forthcoming hotel openings are very important. Certainly, they add new brands and experiences to Toronto's strong accommodations offerings. Also, these are strong investments that have uplifted the confidence in the city as one of the perfect places around. This is exactly the time when the city is ready to welcome new people.
As soon as you land at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, you will see the city-wide revamp of hotels. Certainly, it redefines the concept of staying at the Toronto Airport Hotel. The Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport has undergone major changes in the fall of this year. The $30 million overhauls have seen the once boring (but always practical) 484 rooms of the hotel directly connected to Terminal 3. In this, you will find a completely changed lobby, guest rooms as well as the club lounge. It will provide a chic spot to begin or end a trip to or from the airport. The revamp is a reflection of Sheraton's global branding change.
Out of this, the heart of the brand new experience lies in the stunningly designed lobby. It is now transformed into a "public space" that is now the heart of the property. Designed by Moncur Design Associates, the expansive space has a stylish but comfortable lounge.
Moreover, it has a bar and restaurant. In addition to that, it boasts a soundproof telephone booth. Plus, it includes places to work from home and an espresso bar that offers snacks and meals. The 24/7 Club Lounge has a private space reserved for Sheraton Club guests and Marriott Bonvoy Elite members. This area has now transitioned elegantly from morning to night. Further, it offers updated menus of food and beverages and improved connectivity. Don’t forget to try the poke bowls here.
It's not the only Sheraton hotel in Toronto that has undergone major changes in the last few days. Downtown, the 1372-room Sheraton Centre Toronto has undergone the largest renovation of its Queen Street hotel's 50-year history.
The major changes include a revamped and refined menu with two brand new food and beverage outlets. Also, it includes interior elements that pay homage to the location. As well as, it has completely changed the look of Sheraton Club with exemplary views of the city's skyline. DesignAgency is the creative force behind the hotel's transformation. The upgraded versions will soon be revealed later in the year.
The new menu of food and beverages comprises Dual Citizen in the lobby. You can refer to it as a café and pastry restaurant during the day and a busy cocktail bar in the evening. And, opening March 20, 2022, is 43 Down. It is the mixology bar that will take us back to elevator operators and bellhops.
The doors of the historic park Hyatt hotel opened in September in Yorkville. It was temporarily closed for a major overhaul in the year 2017. With interiors by Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, the design was created in the best version of KPMB Architects. It is now a mixed-use building that includes residential and hotel suites. The revamps spread across the lobby, as well as the dining and winning areas completely transformed.
It's always a must-visit spot for the city's affluent spot. The rooftop bar has now changed its name to Writers Room. Likewise, it has the same intriguing vibe for drinking classic cocktails, just like it had always before. It's a constant popular destination for visitors and locals alike. The all-day dining restaurant Joni draws inspiration from the vibrant Toronto culture and arts scene. Joni blends informal bistro food with modern methods of cooking. Thus, having a plethora of interesting items, you will love its Chestnut Cappelletti, Hawaiian Kampachi Crudo, and Bees Wax Poached Lobster.
The revamp also adds a stunning yet permanent art collection that highlights conversation-provoking pieces from renowned Canadian and Indigenous artists. The guests welcomed in the lobby can see a massive tapestry by Canadian artist Shannon Bool, which sets the stage for an enthralling and artistic stay.
Art, of course, is a big talk of the town always in Toronto's west-end. You will find two landmarks adored by the city's creative crowd. These extend to The Gladstone House Hotel and The Drake Hotel. Since 1889, the Gladstone Hotel had long been an integral part of the Toronto community. Today, the famous intersection of Queen Street West and Gladstone Avenue is back. You will find it as vibrant and multi-layered as ever with an extensive renovation. It will perfectly showcase the hotel's historic past reconstructed with a different name. However, it has the same artistic and culture-rich atmosphere.
You will find the traces of its rich heritage found everywhere, including its original signage as well as the elevator and even photographs and furnishings from the past.
The hotel, now renamed Gladstone House, has bright rooms. They feature exposed brick walls paired with modern lighting techniques and artwork. This spreads in all the 55 rooms as well as gathering areas. Further, it all begins when you enter and are greeted by a stunning and carefully painted bright pink and black wall. It beautifully covers the ceiling of the lobby. When you go upstairs to the guest rooms, each has a striking work of art by local artists.
The lower part of the building has an art studio that is already the home to a variety of in-house artists. On the same floor, the hotel’s renovation includes fitness facilities with new fitness studios. The executive chef Richard Singh, the hotel's beverages and food options come from the newly opened Bistro + Bar, which sits just off the lobby.
With its bistro-style tables and a relaxed atmosphere, the place is a great spot for people working on laptops or folks who love to drink coffee during the day. If you wish to have an informal dinner or enjoy a classic cocktail crowd in the evening, you should not miss this place. With a particular accent on local food items, the menu is packed with quick-fix dishes like burgers, barbecued eggplant, carpaccio of beef and burrata.
A couple of blocks further away, The Drake Hotel has recently expanded its space by adding a five-story Modern Wing created by DesignAgency and Diamond Schmitt Architectural Firm. Located on the east side of the existing building, the new wing features its own lobby, astoundingly-furnished 32 guest rooms, and an intimate bar with the best designs. The expansive two-bedroom Rooftop Suite has a huge terrace with a view of Queen Street with excellent views of the cityscape. This is a room that is ideal for every kind of celebration, including bridal party rooms for stylish and fun family vacations.
The Drake Hotel's renovation also encompasses an open courtyard that is accessible from all floors, an artist's room with a green area and semi-private space for meetings and an access point specifically designed for guests staying at the hotel.
In addition to hotel improvements, Toronto has some new and forthcoming hotel additions as well. The one that opened on August 1, Hotel Toronto opened its doors to breathe new life into the old Thompson Toronto in the city's entertainment district. Its real-estate takeover will see the once slick and glitzy location transformed into a lush, eco-friendly restaurant.
So, you will have a place to eat, drink and relax. It will be a place that's packed with greenery and sustainably built furniture made from wood. The steadfast focus on sustainability is evident here. You will find everything, from a whole-house water filtration system, a composter on-site, and an on-site "bee hotel." Moreover, it also has in-room plants and organic cotton linens, yoga mats and signature organic bathing products.
The hotel's new design transforms the iconic and picturesque rooftop into a lush cityscape with a stunning view, thanks to the opening from Harriet's Toronto. The chic Japanese establishment features an open-plan sushi bar, exquisitely prepared cocktails, and customized routines for bottle service at the pool during the bustling summertime. With low-key live music, you can even enjoy DJs at night.
1 Kitchen Toronto has the best casual day-to-night outdoor and indoor dining options. It serves sustainable seafood, dishes made of plant matter and cold-pressed juices. The food items are sourced from the 50-kilometre range. At the lobby bar of Hotel Flora, guests can have good drinks, cocktails and socialize in an enviable garden setting. All these are around a cozy fireplace with tables and lounge areas for social gatherings.
This spring, Toronto will also be witnessing the debut of its very first W Hotel. The highly sought-after 416 location of W Hotel finally opens for business. The hotel's 254 rooms (including thirty suites) are 11 storeys tall, taking over the closed Bloor Yorkville Marriott Hotel (90 Bloor Street East).
It was, for a long time, a neglected Yorkville alternative when compared with the area's more upscale and extravagant hotels. The building's renovation, which cost $40 million, started on July 1, 2019. It features the most luxurious 3,300 square-foot fitness centre (which will be open all hours of the day) as well as 4,800 square feet of elegant event and meeting space. In addition to this, you will also have an impressive glass atrium.
However, the main attraction in the entertainment for most at The W Toronto will surely be the enchanting Rooftop Bar & Restaurant located on Bloor Street. In this restaurant, guests can enjoy Mediterranean or Middle Eastern-inspired food and drinks late at night. Also, you can have Vermouth and Amaro-focused cocktails.
Toronto's recent revival in hotel design is in the wake of other pre-pandemic news about the hotel industry, such as the debut of the upscale Hotel X. With its breathtaking pool overlooking Lake Ontario, it will include a complete renovation of the famous Royal York Hotel that saw its lobby completely renovated in the year 2019.
Discover our article In With The Old: Canada’s landmark hotels and resorts
This includes all kinds of things. For instance, it starts from a few newly constructed and anticipated hotels. And, it keeps going to long-standing city staples, which have had major revamps. Hotels have always moved at par in Toronto for both residents and tourists.
Destination Toronto’s Executive Vice President states that the recent and forthcoming hotel openings are very important. Certainly, they add new brands and experiences to Toronto's strong accommodations offerings. Also, these are strong investments that have uplifted the confidence in the city as one of the perfect places around. This is exactly the time when the city is ready to welcome new people.
The Sheraton Gateway
As soon as you land at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, you will see the city-wide revamp of hotels. Certainly, it redefines the concept of staying at the Toronto Airport Hotel. The Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport has undergone major changes in the fall of this year. The $30 million overhauls have seen the once boring (but always practical) 484 rooms of the hotel directly connected to Terminal 3. In this, you will find a completely changed lobby, guest rooms as well as the club lounge. It will provide a chic spot to begin or end a trip to or from the airport. The revamp is a reflection of Sheraton's global branding change.
Out of this, the heart of the brand new experience lies in the stunningly designed lobby. It is now transformed into a "public space" that is now the heart of the property. Designed by Moncur Design Associates, the expansive space has a stylish but comfortable lounge.
Moreover, it has a bar and restaurant. In addition to that, it boasts a soundproof telephone booth. Plus, it includes places to work from home and an espresso bar that offers snacks and meals. The 24/7 Club Lounge has a private space reserved for Sheraton Club guests and Marriott Bonvoy Elite members. This area has now transitioned elegantly from morning to night. Further, it offers updated menus of food and beverages and improved connectivity. Don’t forget to try the poke bowls here.
Sheraton Centre Toronto
It's not the only Sheraton hotel in Toronto that has undergone major changes in the last few days. Downtown, the 1372-room Sheraton Centre Toronto has undergone the largest renovation of its Queen Street hotel's 50-year history.
The major changes include a revamped and refined menu with two brand new food and beverage outlets. Also, it includes interior elements that pay homage to the location. As well as, it has completely changed the look of Sheraton Club with exemplary views of the city's skyline. DesignAgency is the creative force behind the hotel's transformation. The upgraded versions will soon be revealed later in the year.
The new menu of food and beverages comprises Dual Citizen in the lobby. You can refer to it as a café and pastry restaurant during the day and a busy cocktail bar in the evening. And, opening March 20, 2022, is 43 Down. It is the mixology bar that will take us back to elevator operators and bellhops.
Park Hyatt Toronto
The doors of the historic park Hyatt hotel opened in September in Yorkville. It was temporarily closed for a major overhaul in the year 2017. With interiors by Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, the design was created in the best version of KPMB Architects. It is now a mixed-use building that includes residential and hotel suites. The revamps spread across the lobby, as well as the dining and winning areas completely transformed.
It's always a must-visit spot for the city's affluent spot. The rooftop bar has now changed its name to Writers Room. Likewise, it has the same intriguing vibe for drinking classic cocktails, just like it had always before. It's a constant popular destination for visitors and locals alike. The all-day dining restaurant Joni draws inspiration from the vibrant Toronto culture and arts scene. Joni blends informal bistro food with modern methods of cooking. Thus, having a plethora of interesting items, you will love its Chestnut Cappelletti, Hawaiian Kampachi Crudo, and Bees Wax Poached Lobster.
The revamp also adds a stunning yet permanent art collection that highlights conversation-provoking pieces from renowned Canadian and Indigenous artists. The guests welcomed in the lobby can see a massive tapestry by Canadian artist Shannon Bool, which sets the stage for an enthralling and artistic stay.
The Gladstone House
Art, of course, is a big talk of the town always in Toronto's west-end. You will find two landmarks adored by the city's creative crowd. These extend to The Gladstone House Hotel and The Drake Hotel. Since 1889, the Gladstone Hotel had long been an integral part of the Toronto community. Today, the famous intersection of Queen Street West and Gladstone Avenue is back. You will find it as vibrant and multi-layered as ever with an extensive renovation. It will perfectly showcase the hotel's historic past reconstructed with a different name. However, it has the same artistic and culture-rich atmosphere.
You will find the traces of its rich heritage found everywhere, including its original signage as well as the elevator and even photographs and furnishings from the past.
The hotel, now renamed Gladstone House, has bright rooms. They feature exposed brick walls paired with modern lighting techniques and artwork. This spreads in all the 55 rooms as well as gathering areas. Further, it all begins when you enter and are greeted by a stunning and carefully painted bright pink and black wall. It beautifully covers the ceiling of the lobby. When you go upstairs to the guest rooms, each has a striking work of art by local artists.
The lower part of the building has an art studio that is already the home to a variety of in-house artists. On the same floor, the hotel’s renovation includes fitness facilities with new fitness studios. The executive chef Richard Singh, the hotel's beverages and food options come from the newly opened Bistro + Bar, which sits just off the lobby.
With its bistro-style tables and a relaxed atmosphere, the place is a great spot for people working on laptops or folks who love to drink coffee during the day. If you wish to have an informal dinner or enjoy a classic cocktail crowd in the evening, you should not miss this place. With a particular accent on local food items, the menu is packed with quick-fix dishes like burgers, barbecued eggplant, carpaccio of beef and burrata.
Drake Hotel
A couple of blocks further away, The Drake Hotel has recently expanded its space by adding a five-story Modern Wing created by DesignAgency and Diamond Schmitt Architectural Firm. Located on the east side of the existing building, the new wing features its own lobby, astoundingly-furnished 32 guest rooms, and an intimate bar with the best designs. The expansive two-bedroom Rooftop Suite has a huge terrace with a view of Queen Street with excellent views of the cityscape. This is a room that is ideal for every kind of celebration, including bridal party rooms for stylish and fun family vacations.
The Drake Hotel's renovation also encompasses an open courtyard that is accessible from all floors, an artist's room with a green area and semi-private space for meetings and an access point specifically designed for guests staying at the hotel.
1 Hotel Toronto
In addition to hotel improvements, Toronto has some new and forthcoming hotel additions as well. The one that opened on August 1, Hotel Toronto opened its doors to breathe new life into the old Thompson Toronto in the city's entertainment district. Its real-estate takeover will see the once slick and glitzy location transformed into a lush, eco-friendly restaurant.
So, you will have a place to eat, drink and relax. It will be a place that's packed with greenery and sustainably built furniture made from wood. The steadfast focus on sustainability is evident here. You will find everything, from a whole-house water filtration system, a composter on-site, and an on-site "bee hotel." Moreover, it also has in-room plants and organic cotton linens, yoga mats and signature organic bathing products.
The hotel's new design transforms the iconic and picturesque rooftop into a lush cityscape with a stunning view, thanks to the opening from Harriet's Toronto. The chic Japanese establishment features an open-plan sushi bar, exquisitely prepared cocktails, and customized routines for bottle service at the pool during the bustling summertime. With low-key live music, you can even enjoy DJs at night.
1 Kitchen Toronto has the best casual day-to-night outdoor and indoor dining options. It serves sustainable seafood, dishes made of plant matter and cold-pressed juices. The food items are sourced from the 50-kilometre range. At the lobby bar of Hotel Flora, guests can have good drinks, cocktails and socialize in an enviable garden setting. All these are around a cozy fireplace with tables and lounge areas for social gatherings.
W Hotel Toronto
This spring, Toronto will also be witnessing the debut of its very first W Hotel. The highly sought-after 416 location of W Hotel finally opens for business. The hotel's 254 rooms (including thirty suites) are 11 storeys tall, taking over the closed Bloor Yorkville Marriott Hotel (90 Bloor Street East).
It was, for a long time, a neglected Yorkville alternative when compared with the area's more upscale and extravagant hotels. The building's renovation, which cost $40 million, started on July 1, 2019. It features the most luxurious 3,300 square-foot fitness centre (which will be open all hours of the day) as well as 4,800 square feet of elegant event and meeting space. In addition to this, you will also have an impressive glass atrium.
However, the main attraction in the entertainment for most at The W Toronto will surely be the enchanting Rooftop Bar & Restaurant located on Bloor Street. In this restaurant, guests can enjoy Mediterranean or Middle Eastern-inspired food and drinks late at night. Also, you can have Vermouth and Amaro-focused cocktails.
Toronto's recent revival in hotel design is in the wake of other pre-pandemic news about the hotel industry, such as the debut of the upscale Hotel X. With its breathtaking pool overlooking Lake Ontario, it will include a complete renovation of the famous Royal York Hotel that saw its lobby completely renovated in the year 2019.
Discover our article In With The Old: Canada’s landmark hotels and resorts