Where to Stay in Toronto
Here are Tokyo Journal’s recommendations on places to stay in Toronto’s buzzing entertainment district. They are all within close proximity to the CN Tower, Rogers Centre (SkyDome), Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as Toronto’s impressive theater scene, The Second City improv theater, Roy Thomson Hall, the Distillery District and fantastic restaurants for all cuisines and budgets.
Luxury Boutique
SoHo Metropolitan Hotel, Toronto
Here are Tokyo Journal’s recommendations on places to stay in Toronto’s buzzing entertainment district. They are all within close proximity to the CN Tower, Rogers Centre (SkyDome), Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as Toronto’s impressive theater scene, The Second City improv theater, Roy Thomson Hall, the Distillery District and fantastic restaurants for all cuisines and budgets. tj
If you want to stay in an intimate, upscale boutique hotel befitting a Hollywood A-lister, try the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel. This is a favorite for celebrities visiting for film projects or for the Toronto International Film Festival. The posh and contemporary hotel features the stylish Chinese Luckee Restaurant and Bar as well as Wahlburgers — a highly recommended gourmet burger restaurant owned by the celebrity brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg. Blow off some steam in the hotel’s steam rooms and fitness center, and enjoy amenities such as complimentary high-speed internet connections, laptop-friendly safes and a free morning shuttle service in luxury sedans to downtown locales.
What we love:
The intimate feeling within the downtown theater and entertainment core
Beautiful marble bathrooms with heated floors (a welcome comfort in the winter)
Downtown view through floor-to-ceiling windows
Award-Winning Asian Luxury
Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto
The award-winning, five-star Shangri-La Hotel delights with its extravagant, Asian-accented décor and views of downtown through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The rooms combine plush comfort with convenience. There are in-room iPads for ordering room service or reserving yoga or spinning classes. Double doors open to a spacious and beautiful bathroom with a separate bath and shower, plus an expansive mirror with a built-in TV screen. Enjoy the hotel’s sauna and indoor pool, or relax in a private 42-seat screening room, complete with comfortable oversized seats. tj
What we love
Afternoon tea and dim sum in the lobby lounge
Live lobby lounge entertainment in the afternoon and evening
The superb Bosk reataurant with its Asian-influenced dishes
Casual Chic
The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
Ideal for the business traveler, this casual-chic hotel is not only within walking distance of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, but it also has its own convention center for 3,000 people that is attached by a glass-enclosed walkway. It’s also family friendly with a great kids program and reasonably priced eateries nearby. This Westin is no exception to the chain’s tradition of excellent customer service. It offers a hearty breakfast buffet, a luxurious Italian restaurant, a gym, an indoor pool and spa, tennis courts and a terrace with a view of Lake Ontario. tj
What we love
The waterfront view of Lake Ontario
It's a short walk to Union Station
Westin's signature Heavenly Beds
Sophisticated, Luxurious Retreat
Grand Hotel and Suites, Toronto
The Grand Hotel and Suites is another celebrity favorite. It’s a hidden gem for its grandeur and its convenient yet off-the-beaten-path loca- tion. Ideal for business travelers on longer stays, the hotel offers a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, shuttles within the downtown area, a beautiful indoor atrium pool and a full service spa and fitness center. The real charm, though, lies in its rooftop patio garden with hot tubs and a panoramic view of the Toronto skyline. Historical trivia: the building was once headquarters for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. tj
What we love
Hot tubs with a view
Elegant and airy two-story suites with kitchen and dinette
Private outdoor terrace
The complete article can be found in Issue #277 of the Tokyo Journal. Click here to order from Amazon.