Toronto’s creative spirit and cosmopolitan energy shine through in its ever-evolving hotel scene. I spent a year living in the city, staying in everything from stylish boutique hideaways in historic buildings to sleek, design-forward stays with skyline views — and I’ve narrowed it down to my personal favorite 15…
1. The Ace Hotel
This design-forward, artsy boutique hotel was a favorite of mine for its industrial-chic style by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and its buzzing lobby that doubled as a creative hub! I loved how the design paid homage to the neighborhood with red Toronto brick, Douglas fir, exposed steel beams, and amber-toned wood, plus retro custom furniture and funky local art. It felt hip, social, and urban with a laid-back creative edge.
My guest room had a comfy king bed, retro Tivoli radio, curated art, and warm wood-and-copper accents, plus a minibar and walk-in shower with UKA eco-friendly toiletries. My highlight was sipping a Maple Cardamom almond latte each morning from the window seat overlooking the city.
I relaxed on the rooftop patio with sweeping views, enjoyed wood-fired dishes at Alder, grabbed a drink at The Lobby bar, and explored the Garment District steps from indie galleries, coffee roasters, and King Street West’s trendy restaurants.
- To book, check prices or availability for Ace Hotel
My personal highlights…
- I especially loved the acoustic guitar and awesome vintage record player complete with vinyl records in my room – I couldn’t stop playing my favorite indie band Stars album “Set Yourself on Fire.”
2. The Drake
This arty boutique was once a derelict apartment block but has been transformed into one of the hippest stays in the city. I adored its rotating art exhibits, buzzing live music venue, rooftop lounges, and playful touches like retro photo booths. Inside, funky mid-century furniture, bold pops of color, and trendy wood accents gave it an eclectic, gallery-like vibe that felt social, creative, and a little mischievous.
My room had bright retro furniture, contemporary art, a custom-crafted bed with crisp linens, a minibar stocked with local snacks, a Tivoli radio, Bose SoundLink Minis, and a curtained bathroom with a glass shower and Malin+Goetz toiletries. I especially loved the chalkboard wall where I left a note for the next guest.
Evenings meant sipping a Sky Yard Spritz on the rooftop at sunset, catching live music, browsing exhibits, and ending with one of the city’s best burgers at the upscale restaurant with skyline views.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Drake
My favorite highlights…
- Watching the Canadian electroclash musician Peaches in their cool industrial-chic onsite basement music venue Drake Underground – I loved that it attracted so many other people from all over the USA not just other hotel guests!
3. The Gladstone Hotel
I loved how Toronto’s oldest hotel — set in a characterful 19th-century Victorian building — was one of the biggest champions of the city’s art scene. It felt seriously creative! As one of the city’s original grand railway hotels, it wowed me with vaulted ceilings, a two-story gallery, manual cage lift, and unusual art pieces, plus rotating exhibitions and live music.
The heritage architecture featured exposed brick, original woodwork, and stained glass, contrasted with bold contemporary art and quirky themed interiors for a creative, inclusive vibe. My artist-designed room had a comfy bed with white linens, hardwood floors, vintage-inspired furnishings, exposed brick, and eco-friendly bath products. Staff even told me some rooms had whimsical themed decor.
I explored the art-lined hallways, sipped a craft cocktail at the raucous Melody Bar while catching live music, and the next morning enjoyed local dishes at the Café cooked by rotating guest chefs. Its West Queen West location was perfect — surrounded by indie galleries, trendy bars, and colorful street art.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Gladstone Hotel
My personal highlights…
- Dining on their incredible Rancheros Tostada brunch which came with smashed avocado, pico de gallo, chili lime crema and refried beans.
4. The Broadview Hotel
I was fascinated by how this historic 1891 landmark in Toronto’s east end — once offices, a community hall, and a local hotel — was beautifully restored into a 55-room boutique property that now feels like a stylish neighborhood gathering spot. It struck me as sophisticated yet playful!
Today it’s a chic boutique with modern luxury, a glass-enclosed rooftop offering sweeping skyline and river views, and Instagrammable interiors that mix restored brick walls, arched windows, vintage details, and chandeliers with bold lighting and clean contemporary lines.
My room was a cozy retreat with wood floors, floral panels, vinyl records, a vintage-style minibar stocked with local treats, original art, and a Nespresso machine. The highlight was the deep soaking tub set right in the middle of the room!
I sipped a Riverside Negroni at the rooftop lounge at sunset, dined at The Civic or Bistro+Bar, and explored the trendy Riverside neighborhood filled with indie boutiques and coffee shops.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Broadview Hotel
My personal highlights…
- I loved that my room minibars was stocked with locally produced treats which included Pilot Coffee, Ontario wines, SOMA chocolates, Bellwoods Brewery craft beers and Maple Syrup Popcorn!
5. 1 Hotel
This luxury, eco-conscious retreat in downtown Toronto won me over with its nature-meets-design philosophy — reclaimed materials, lush greenery, living plant walls, and filtered water stations on every floor.
I really liked how warm earth tones, reclaimed wood, stone accents, and native plants paired with floor-to-ceiling windows to create a serene, stylish space that felt like a nature sanctuary in the heart of the city. My room featured sustainably sourced linens, wood-accented furnishings, a Nespresso machine with stoneware cups, a farm-to-minibar, filtered water taps, and a rain shower with Bamford toiletries — all with city views.
I sipped a Green Goddess cocktail by the rooftop pool overlooking the CN Tower, enjoyed farm-to-table dishes at 1 Kitchen, joined yoga at The Field House, and grabbed fresh fruit from the Lobby Farmstand — all just steps from King West Village and only 1.5 hours from Niagara Falls.
- To book, check prices or availability for 1 Hotel
My highlights…
- I loved its eco-friendly policies and I especially liked my guest room Honeywell Inncom Thermostats that adjusted the airflow automatically!
6. Shangri-La
I thought this luxurious, Asian-inspired five-star hotel was one of the coolest stays for its East-meets-West elegance, soaring glass architecture, grand lobby with a 13th-century Chinese temple door, and impressive art collection.
Inside, marble floors, rich wood paneling, silk textiles, and dramatic floral displays created a refined, tranquil atmosphere — I even spotted a gigantic ballroom! It felt opulent, cosmopolitan, and like a serene escape with world-class service.
My spacious room had floor-to-ceiling windows, a king bed with Frette linens, heated marble bathroom floors, a loaner iPad, Nespresso machine, and Acqua di Parma toiletries. My favorite feature was the oversized freestanding soaking tub with jets — perfect for unwinding.
I enjoyed afternoon tea with live harp music, relaxed in the spa, sipped cocktails on the garden terrace, and made use of the screening room, cabanas, infrared sauna, and yoga studio before dining at The Boss, which served uniquely Canadian dishes and 68 teas.
- To book, check prices or availability for Shangri-La Hotel
My highlights…
- Indulging in the incredible Radiance botanical skincare facial which was infused with Sweet Orange, Ylang Ylang, and Damask Rose for a bright, hydrated glow.
7. Le Germain Hotel
I discovered this cozy, retro-modern boutique was a unique gem! It was built in an old hat factory and had a personalized, high-touch service with unique perks. Inside I found that the decor was mix of retro modern and Scandi-chic with wood, soft textiles, modern furnishings, pops of color, and curated local art. It felt intimate, romantic, and quietly upscale.
My guest room featured sumptuous beds with luxury duvets, Molton Brown toiletries, a rainfall shower, a Nespresso machine, and oversized windows, with wood-and-concrete ceilings and Victorian bathroom sinks adding refined sophistication! I particularly loved the baby Bose stereos!
I started the day with fresh pastries outside my room, dined at the high-class Victor Restaurant, indulged in tea cakes at the French-style Café Victor, and enjoyed the seasonal rooftop putting green and quirky library cappuccino bar!
- To book, check prices or availability for Le Germain Hotel
My personal highlights…
- Starting the day with smashed avocado toast, grilled sourdough and Cold-Pressed Aloe Vera Juice in their rooftop terrace restaurant surrounded by hanging baskets filled with petunias and awesome city views!
8. Bisha Hotel
This boldly original five-story hotel wowed me with its ever-changing contemporary art collection — and even a floor curated by Lenny Kravitz’s design firm!
I loved the moody, high-glam interiors by Studio Munge with black marble, crushed velvet, gold accents, dramatic lighting, Warhol prints, and striking statement art. My room was just as over-the-top, with antique armoires, patent-leather sofas, a bar cart, and walls covered in eclectic artwork.
I sipped a mezcal Smokeshow in the velvet-draped lobby bar, had breakfast at Kōst 44 floors up, feasted on Akira Back’s Asian-fusion dishes, swam in the rooftop infinity pool with incredible city views, and ended the night with a Yamazaki 12 in the atmospheric whiskey lounge — all steps from theaters, nightlife, and the CN Tower in the buzzing Entertainment District.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Bisha Hotel
My personal highlights…
- The Lenny Kravitz–designed floor – I saw bold geometric carpets, black-and-white rock star portraits, funky red velvet sofas, and vintage music posters (especially the Rolling Stones 1975 Tour of the Americas poster)!
9. Hotel Ocho
I really enjoyed my weekend stay at this hip, design-forward boutique hotel set in a beautifully restored 1902 textile factory. The decor celebrated its industrial past with exposed brick, soaring ceilings, wooden beams, polished concrete, reclaimed wood, and steel accents, giving it a creative, urban, effortlessly cool vibe.
My guest room had minimalist industrial-chic decor, marble and granite accents, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and an open-concept bathroom with a freestanding tub — my favorite feature!
I grabbed an espresso in the airy café, enjoyed modern European dishes in the restaurant, and ended the night with cocktails in the buzzing bar and hipster-friendly lounge with wines, whiskeys, and art exhibits — all in Queen West, surrounded by galleries, indie boutiques, and some of Toronto’s best dining.
To book, check prices or availability for The Ocho Hotel
My highlights…
- I loved that I was located near the bohemian area Kensington Market – I spent a lot of time in the super-cute Moonbean cafe drinking their divine Salted Caramel Rooibos Matchas!
10. W Hotel
I discovered that this luxury lifestyle hotel was seriously wow-inducing — with a rooftop bar offering sweeping skyline views, an Insta-worthy design inspired by Toronto’s diversity, and immersive programming from DJ nights to mixology classes.
Designed by creative agency SidLee, the interiors popped with jewel tones, 70s-style velvet furniture, statement lighting, modern art, and plenty of marble and brass, creating an energetic, fashion-forward, and social vibe I loved. My guest room had a signature W bed with padded headboard, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the greenery-filled courtyard, Bluetooth speakers, an Illy coffee machine, and a spa-like bathroom with rainfall shower and Davines toiletries.
I sipped cocktails at Skylight rooftop bar, soaked in the WET Deck pool, and ended nights with DJ sets in the Living Room lounge over Toronto-inspired tapas. Morning coffee at quirky Public School café and 24/7 gym access were great perks. The Yorkville location was ideal — steps from designer boutiques, galleries, and top dining.
- To book, check prices or availability for W Hotel
My personal highlights…
- Tying their incredible gin-based Violet Sky cocktail which came smoking which created an exciting visual effect!
11. Kimpton Saint George Hotel
I loved the modern boutique style with warm woods, mid-century touches, geometric patterns, and locally inspired art that made it feel creative, cozy, and subtly upscale.
My guest room felt like a chic apartment with Frette linens, a Tivoli Bluetooth radio, original Canadian art, a work desk, minibar with local snacks, and a spa-style bathroom with Atelier Bloem toiletries. The Toronto wall mural and playful art quotes were my favorite details.
Each evening I enjoyed a glass of Inniskillin Riesling at the lobby wine hour before dining at The Fortunate Fox or exploring the many nearby restaurants. Its Bloor Street location was perfect — steps from the Annex’s indie shops and cafés and a short walk to Yorkville’s boutiques and museums.
- To book, check prices or availability for Kimpton Saint George Hotel
My personal highlights…
- Being steps from upscale Yorkville and savoring the superb “Don’t Waste My Thyme” cocktail at the chic Parc Avenue Bar, made with thyme-infused gin and lavender-rosemary honey syrup.
12. The Anndore House
I had a real soft spot for this chic boutique hotel in downtown Toronto — I loved how it mixed vintage charm with a modern edge. It felt cool and unique with its loft-style rooms, retro record players, locally curated artwork, and even an in-house barbershop.
The decor nailed industrial-vintage style with exposed brick, leather accents, mid-century furniture, and quirky art, giving it a hip, creative, effortlessly stylish vibe.
My room blended comfort and retro flair with a plush Egyptian cotton bed, leather seating, city views, a rotary Bakelite phone, Illy espresso machine, Skoah bath products, and a rainfall shower — but my favorite touch was the Crosley vinyl player with its curated record selection.
I spun vinyl before heading downstairs for wood-fired pizza at Constantine, grabbed breakfast at Crow’s Nest café, and made use of the fitness center. The location was perfect too — near Yonge and Bloor, steps from Yorkville boutiques and indie cafés.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Anndore House, part of JDV by Hyatt
My highlights…
- The arty details including the super-cute owl pillow adorning my four-poster bed and the black and white signed photo of Toronto-based rock star Neil Young!
13. The Ivy at Verity
This intimate luxury boutique hotel, tucked inside a restored 1850s chocolate factory, felt like a hidden gem when I stayed — just four rooms offering a private, club-like stay with access to a women’s-only members’ club and an award-winning spa.
The interiors had a Parisian-inspired elegance with high ceilings, French antiques, rich fabrics, and hand-painted finishes, creating a romantic, refined, and quietly indulgent atmosphere. My guest room featured a king bed with Italian linens, bespoke antique pieces, in-room spa services, and a bathroom with a deep clawfoot tub and heated floors. I especially loved the French doors opening onto a private balcony overlooking a peaceful courtyard.
I enjoyed a gourmet continental breakfast in the club lounge, unwound at the Sweetgrass Spa with its ozonated pool, sauna, and steam room, and ended the day with a fine-dining experience at George. Its downtown location was perfect — walking distance to boutiques, theaters, and St. Lawrence Market.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Ivy at Verity
My favourite highlights…
- Going for a unique “Buccal Massage” which pleasantly sculptured my face at their chic onsite Sweetgrass Spa!
14. SoHo Metropolitan Hotel
I really admired this sleek luxury hotel in Toronto’s Entertainment District — a celebrity-approved stay with a rooftop pet terrace and standout dining at Luckee by Susur Lee and Wahlburgers. Its contemporary design mixed polished wood, neutral tones, marble accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed the spaces in light. It felt upscale and cosmopolitan without being intimidating.
My suite had a king bed with Italian linens, motorized blinds, and a marble bathroom with deep soaker tub, heated floors, and rainfall shower with Molton Brown toiletries. My favorite touch was the private terraces with skyline views and a telescope for stargazing.
I ate truffle mushroom dumplings at Luckee, sipped Lychee Martinis in the lobby bar, used the pool, steam room, and gym, and even took the complimentary luxury sedan downtown. Its Entertainment District location put me steps from theaters, nightlife, and the Rogers Centre.
- To book, check prices or availability for SoHo Metropolitan Hotel
My favorite highlights…
- I loved that they had an onsite store where I could buy everything from the Frette hooded bathroom in my room to the Orange + Bergamot Reed room fragrance!
15. The Hazelton Hotel
I discovered this five-star luxury hotel in Yorkville and loved its celebrity-favored status, private screening room, and refined blend of art, design, and personalized service. Inside, the elegant contemporary design mixed rich wood paneling, marble finishes, plush textiles, and curated Canadian art, creating a discreet and sophisticated atmosphere.
My spacious room had custom furnishings, a king bed with Sferra linens, a granite bathroom with heated floors, deep soaking tub, and rainfall shower with L’Occitane en Provence toiletries. My favorite detail was the furnished Juliet balcony overlooking Yorkville’s tree-lined streets.
I savored an à la carte breakfast at ONE Restaurant, watched an art-house film in the private screening room, relaxed at the spa’s saltwater pool and eucalyptus steam room, admired the art collection, and ended the day with dinner at the on-site One Canada, helmed by one of Canada’s top chefs.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Hazelton Hotel
My favorite highlights…
- Starting the day with a super-healthy Isobolic Protein Shake and then dining on plant-based mushroom bolognese and eggplant schnitzels in the evenings in their chic onsite One Restaurant!
Love, love these hotels!
These hotels look amazing.
THank you for this amazing list.