This was the nicest hotel I’ve stayed at during my many trips to Toronto, which makes sense considering it was also the most expensive. I tried to think of some negatives first to get them out of the way, but honestly there weren’t many. The only minor complaint was my rather uninspiring view of an outdoor patio, but considering I was only on the fifth floor, I wasn’t expecting much of a skyline view anyway. Check-in was quick and seamless. I’d already prepaid for my stay, so everything went smoothly. The front desk offered me a discounted breakfast package, but I passed because the hotel is just steps from the Eaton Centre and surrounded by countless restaurants, cafés, and quick dining options. The location is one of the hotel’s biggest strengths. You’re right in the heart of downtown with easy access to both Queen and TMU subway stations, plus several streetcar routes. The hotel sits across from St. Michael’s Hospital, so I did notice some homelessness and a few individuals experiencing mental health issues in the area. As with most major downtowns, staying aware of your surroundings is all that’s really required. More generally, I also found Yonge Street noticeably grittier than it was during my last visit three years ago, but that’s obviously not a reflection of the hotel itself. The room was spacious, roughly 400 square feet, and thoughtfully laid out. The entrance featured a convenient luggage rack, along with a cabinet housing a mini fridge and coffee maker. There were two large wardrobes, an office desk, and an in-room safe. The safe is definitely showing its age and is fairly small, but with a little manoeuvring I was still able to fit my 11-inch iPad inside. The king bed was very comfortable. It squeaked slightly whenever I rolled over, but it wasn’t bothersome. The pillows were comfortable as well, and I had no issues whatsoever with cleanliness. The bathroom was modern and nicely finished with marble accents, a walk-in shower, and a single vanity, which was more than adequate for my stay. One pleasant surprise was the quality of the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Hotel toiletries are often pretty mediocre, but these were genuinely quite good. I also appreciated the lighting throughout the room, and the blackout drapes were excellent, making the room completely dark at night for a great sleep. The air conditioning worked perfectly, kept the room cool, and was impressively quiet. Another pleasant surprise was the elevators. With three elevators serving the hotel and none out of service during my stay, I never waited more than a minute or two. The staff I encountered were friendly and professional, although I didn’t need much assistance beyond check-in. Every interaction was pleasant and courteous. The hotel also has a fitness room, although I didn’t have an opportunity to use it, so I can’t comment on its quality. I paid roughly #### per night, which is fairly typical for a quality downtown Toronto hotel during the summer. In my case, that price also included a flexible cancellation policy, which gave me some peace of mind and made the extra cost worthwhile. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. The room was spacious and comfortable, the location was excellent, everything worked as it should, and the service was consistently pleasant. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again on my next trip to Toronto. Stayed in: King Stay length: 4 night(s)

This was the nicest hotel I’ve stayed at during my many trips to Toronto, which makes sense considering it was also the most expensive. I tried to think of some negatives first to get them out of the way, but honestly there weren’t many. The only minor complaint was my rather uninspiring view of an outdoor patio, but considering I was only on the fifth floor, I wasn’t expecting much of a skyline view anyway. Check-in was quick and seamless. I’d already prepaid for my stay, so everything went smoothly. The front desk offered me a discounted breakfast package, but I passed because the hotel is just steps from the Eaton Centre and surrounded by countless restaurants, cafés, and quick dining options. The location is one of the hotel’s biggest strengths. You’re right in the heart of downtown with easy access to both Queen and TMU subway stations, plus several streetcar routes. The hotel sits across from St. Michael’s Hospital, so I did notice some homelessness and a few individuals experiencing mental health issues in the area. As with most major downtowns, staying aware of your surroundings is all that’s really required. More generally, I also found Yonge Street noticeably grittier than it was during my last visit three years ago, but that’s obviously not a reflection of the hotel itself. The room was spacious, roughly 400 square feet, and thoughtfully laid out. The entrance featured a convenient luggage rack, along with a cabinet housing a mini fridge and coffee maker. There were two large wardrobes, an office desk, and an in-room safe. The safe is definitely showing its age and is fairly small, but with a little manoeuvring I was still able to fit my 11-inch iPad inside. The king bed was very comfortable. It squeaked slightly whenever I rolled over, but it wasn’t bothersome. The pillows were comfortable as well, and I had no issues whatsoever with cleanliness. The bathroom was modern and nicely finished with marble accents, a walk-in shower, and a single vanity, which was more than adequate for my stay. One pleasant surprise was the quality of the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Hotel toiletries are often pretty mediocre, but these were genuinely quite good. I also appreciated the lighting throughout the room, and the blackout drapes were excellent, making the room completely dark at night for a great sleep. The air conditioning worked perfectly, kept the room cool, and was impressively quiet. Another pleasant surprise was the elevators. With three elevators serving the hotel and none out of service during my stay, I never waited more than a minute or two. The staff I encountered were friendly and professional, although I didn’t need much assistance beyond check-in. Every interaction was pleasant and courteous. The hotel also has a fitness room, although I didn’t have an opportunity to use it, so I can’t comment on its quality. I paid roughly $300 per night, which is fairly typical for a quality downtown Toronto hotel during the summer. In my case, that price also included a flexible cancellation policy, which gave me some peace of mind and made the extra cost worthwhile. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. The room was spacious and comfortable, the location was excellent, everything worked as it should, and the service was consistently pleasant. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again on my next trip to Toronto.