Don’t go away, go downtown
Skip that pricey late-winter vacay to southern resorts. Take a staycation in style at one of three new Toronto hotels
If you crave … pure luxury
Book a room at … The St. Regis Toronto, 325 Bay St. While the Trump Tower was known for a style of boisterous grandeur often associated with its namesake, the newly minted St. Regis, which took over the 65-storey Financial District hotel and residence in November, offers all of the luxury, and none of the crystal-encrusted walls. There’s a full service spa, a sky-high pool, butler service and even daily champagne sabering in the renovated lobby’s Astor Lounge.
In the room: The sleek fireplace and sumptuous bed (oh, and drapes that close at the touch of a button) are seriously enticing, but the deluxe bathroom will make its rightful claim on your downtime. Heated floors — the ultimate extravagance, non? — a TV-inmirror, the deep tub of your dreams complete with a wooden wine-andbook caddy make it a wonder guests ever leave their rooms.
At the restaurant: Way up on the 31st floor, Louis Louix is designed to look like the inside of a whiskey glass, with a swirling amber ceiling by local muralist Madison van Rijn and chandeliers to match. The bar itself — a gilded two-storey centrepiece — stocks more than 500 varieties of the dark spirit. Sip the New York Sour (the classic bourbon cocktail spiked with red wine) while perusing the Frenchmeets-American menu. As your plates roll up, get ready to indulge: smoked B.C. scallops come drizzled in caviar sauce, the whole chicken is cooked Sous-vide in truffle butter and the 13layer chocolate cake is bigger than your head — and dusted in gold flakes, naturally.
Around the corner: You’re surrounded by some of the city’s top show venues, with Massey Hall, Ed Mirvish Theatre, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and, of course, the Scotiabank Arena all less than a fiveminute drive away in the hotel’s house car. Prefer to keep your feet moving? The Design Exchange museum is home to a permanent collection that spans five decades of Canada’s industrial design history, and ongoing rotating exhibits. — Caitlin Kenny If you crave … total ease
Book a room at … The Annex, 296 Brunswick Ave.
The Annex’s 24 rooms promise all the trappings of a chic hotel — sleek modern decor, a bed so comfy it’s confusing, a lobby bar with a perfect wine list — without the fuss. There’s no room service, TVs, phones, parking lot or front desk. Instead, there are help-yourself closets of lush linens, large iPads for googling, an attentive staffer on call via text 24/7 and partnerships with tons of local businesses, like a gym around the corner that guests can use for free.
In the room: Indulge in the quiet luxury of the modern bathroom’s Malin + Goetz products, appreciate the cool art by local makers hanging on the walls, play one of the vinyl records from each room’s curated selection on the functioning record player or chat with your partner — you won’t even miss a flat screen TV hanging on the wall, promise.
At the restaurants: Pop by the hotel’s the Annex Lobby Bar — café by day, natural wine bar by night — and sip on a glass of white in the forest green marble and cognac leather decor, then hit the Commons food hall and share a pizza by local vendor Big Trouble Pizza or snack on tacos from Seven Lives Tacos. Wash that down with a beer from their vast IPA selection. The next morning, it’s back to the lobby for a latte made with Reunion Island Coffee beans, fresh pastries from Mabel’s bakery and breakfast dishes like a Mediterranean plate stacked with fried halloumi, fresh tzatziki and warm pita bread by Parkdale’s café the Tempered Room.
Around the corner: Get centred at Ahimsa Yoga — they offer guests of the hotel 25 per cent off classes. Take your pup for a walk (the Annex is pet-friendly). Dig for treasures at iconic Annex shops like BMV Books or the new-intown Siberia Vintage. Have a pint at a local watering hole or walk the eight minutes to Harbord Street’s Piano Piano for Italian fare followed up with a movie at Hot Docs cinema. — Jennifer Berry If you crave … cosy comfort
Book a room at … The Kimpton Saint George, 280 Bloor St. W.
As the city’s first outpost of San-Francisco-based boutique hotel chain Kimpton, the Saint George offers luxury with a sense of ease. The cosy lobby, dubbed the “living room,” greets guests with plush chaises, a marble fireplace and a complimentary-wine hour every evening. Pets can stay free of charge, and the restaurant is a lively gastropub complete with flat-screen TVs. In other words, it’s swanky sans raised pinky.
In the room: Taking inspiration from the Canadian landscape, a soothing palette of muted teals and olives meets warm woods and velvet upholstery. In keeping with the homegrown vibe, every room features a one-of-a-kind marble moon by Ottawa artist Laura Langford and a white squirrel sculpture that pays homage to the notable residents of Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park. A welcome import: The linens and robes from famed Italian brand Frette all but guarantee a divine slumber. At the restaurant: The Fortunate Fox serves up elevated bar classics including four gourmet burgers, pickled onion rings drizzled with malt vinegar mayo and a mac and cheese bubbling with gruyere, Parmesan, pimento and goat cheese. Sip on one of the cheekily named cocktails (think: Fox News, a refreshing swirl of gin, lime, cucumber and mint) before challenging your table mate to a friendly game of darts. The next morning, laze in bed (the eatery also provides room service) as you nibble on buttermilk pancakes or poached eggs on short rib hash smothered in sour cream hollandaise.
Around the corner: Take one of the Saint George’s cruiser bikes out for a spin and explore its prime surroundings. Head east for some shopping or museum hopping in glitzy Yorkville (the Royal Ontario Museum, Bata Shoe Museum and Liss Gallery are all minutes away), or go west to soak in the Annex’s bohemian vibe and indie cultural scene. You’ll find the central location perfectly bridges glamour and grit. — Katherine Lalancette