550 WELLINGTON STREET W ON M5V TORONTO ON CAToronto, Canada -See the map
Amy AdejokunSection editor
One of our favourite hotels in the city, the Thompson is fully deserving of the hype as well as its title as a top-end hotel with a pretentious edge. Located on a quiet backstreet just off Bluejays, it's one of those hotels that you are unlikely to just stumble across, but is fully worth the detour for the restaurant, even if you're not staying here. With stunning open plan interiors and an ultra-exclusive roof-top bar complete with the city's only outdoor (heated) infinity-edged pool, it's is enough to keep you coming back for more every time you visit the city. A contemporary and stylish pocket for arty trendy types wanting an exclusive hang-out away from the hustle and bustle.
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Location
5.1/10
Accommodation
9.70/10
Overview
9.70/10
Food and drink
9.70/10
To know
The hotel is located on a quiet street just off Bluejays a good 10-minute walk from Queen Street. Although the hotel is in a quiet residential area without much to do in the immediate surroundings, it is a breath of fresh air as the area feels completely different to the rest of the city. Away from madding crowds of downtown Toronto, the hotel nestles between two blocks of flats and looks out onto a grassy area surrounded by low-rise housing.
There are 102 rooms in total, all featuring hardwood floors, sleek bright furniture that add a retro Danish touch to the space, and floor-to-ceiling windows, which make the rooms bright, even with a dull winter sky outside. Our favourites were the corner rooms letting in twice as much light and boasting lovely city views.
All rooms have marble bathrooms that are a little on the small side for a hotel of this size, all stocked with Tocca amenities. Linens are all from Sferra, and you can expect to find all the usual mod-cons like a large flat-screen television and an iPod docking station in every room.
There are five room categories to choose from, starting with the King Superior at 377-435 sq ft up to the more flamboyant 2,100sq ft Thompson Penthouse Suite. For the best value, we recommend a King Superior, but ask for the more generously-sized rooms as there really isn't much difference in the lead-in and the higher categories unless you decide to go for the penthouse, of course.
The enormous glass-fronted Thompson Hotel sits comfortably between a block of flats and low-rise houses. Upon walking into the spacious lobby that runs right through to the bar into the main restaurant, the pull to explore the rest of the hotel is irrestible. Designed by Studio Gaia, the hotel is nothing short of stylish, and with the designers' meticulous attention to detail, the Thompson flies right into our Toronto top five. Well-designed, completely in your face but somehow not too pretentious, the hotel works very well for a varied crowd, from the fashionista to the socialite, for a romantic break or a long weekend with friends or family.
The playful décor helps to break up the open plan design on the ground floor. The bright contemporary furniture lighting fixtures add cheerfulness to an otherwise very grown up hang-out.
Having this much space is great for busy nights, although it can feel a little empty on your regular Monday evening. For something a little cosier, there is the café also on the ground floor just off to the left of the reception area.
Upstairs, you will find the spa area, which considering the size and allure of the hotel, was a bit disappointing as it is tiny. However, there is a huge gym to compensate. There is also a large screening room, which is used during TIFF (Tribeca International Film Festival), a beautiful subdued club in the hotel's underbelly, and if you're after something even more relaxed, then there is the hotel yoga studio - for timings, ask at reception before arrival at the hotel.
For something truly exclusive, then you have to rub shoulders with the right people to become a member of the members-only roof-top bar with the city's only infinity-edged outdoor pool and 360° views of the Toronto skyline - and trust us, it's worth it.
The beautiful modern Scarpetta restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel is one of our favourite spaces in the city due to its sleek design. An upscale large-capacity Italian restaurant headed by chef, Scott Conant, is an absolute must while in Toronto. Scarpetta is actually the first international outpost of the Italian restaurant, which started out in Manhattan.
For a little variation, there is also the Wabora Restaurant, serving sushi and fusion fare, but for something a little more casual, drop into the Thompson Diner, a modern take on the 24-hour American diner. It serves artisan beers and signature cocktails giving the diner an upscale twist. For a relaxed drink you can hang out in the huge lobby lounge, where you'll have plenty of space to spread out, be it during an intimate rendez-vous or as a group.
The Thompson Toronto is part of the Thompson group, which has some stunning hotels mainly in North America, including in Miami (formerly the Hyatt Hotel Victor - see our review), New York (see our review), Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, and a brand new take-over of London's Belgraves, the company's first non-North American hotel.
The Soho Metropolitan Hotel is located between the Entertainment district and the Art district of Toronto and is a popular hotel for a wide-ranging clientele, from Jude Law to the average family on holiday. For us, the hotel was a good all-rounder, but didn't make it in our top 10 due to its lacking atmosphere and need for a bit of a refurbishment to freshen up the rooms.
The Templar tops our Toronto hotel hot list hands down and without hesitation. An incredible feat of a hotel packed with design features, you'll have a hard time finding something on par. Its nondescript façade may not be much of a giveaway, but bit by bit as you explore the hotel, you will soon understand why it is that this top-notch design boutique hotel is our number one. Ideal for a trendy clientele who is fond of gadgets and who likes being surprised at every turn. Nowhere else will you see so much effort being put into every single detail, and nowhere else will you be able to sit at the chef's table in the kitchen at 3:00am and order - well, whatever your imagination can rustle up! Want to know more? So did we.
Le Germain on Mercer Street, not to be confused with Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, was without doubt one of our favourite hotels in Toronto as it is an all-round good-value luxury five star hotel. With a subtle business atmosphere and a strong French identity, Le Germain is very distinct from other hotels in the city. Comfortable, very well appointed and thought-out, the hotel is also suitable for leisure guests. Its location, at the heart of the Entertainment district, means that it is within walking distance of most attractions in the area without being right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. A perfect choice for professionals who are used to staying at luxury hotels and for couples looking for a simple yet high standard hotel.
A monumental hotel in size, where guests don't go amiss for anything at all, be it a diverse range of restaurants or wellbeing facilities, everything is right here on site. Located in Downtown Toronto just opposite the Tribeca Film Festival screening venue, the Ritz Carlton is a great choice if you want to be within walking distance of most of the city's attraction and hustle and bustle. The hotel itself has a traditional Ritz-Carlton feel in its large daunting all-marble lobby and high ceilings, but as always, the service is up to scratch, leaving guests with an overall pleasant experience.
There are two Intercontinental hotels in Toronto, one in Yorkville (north of the city centre) and the Centre property near Front Street, which is the hotel we reviewed. Located in the Financial District, the hotel is also attached to the aluminium and glass clad Metro Centre. The hotel itself is in a prime location, where most attractions are within walking distance and it is near tram lines that take you all over the city. Its atmosphere is more corporate than that of a holiday one. However, if you like your no-fuss standard Intercontinental rooms and service, then it is a suitable hotel. The Intercontinental Toronto Centre isn't often visited by families, but it doesn't have a policy against young children - in fact the hotel even has a dedicated kids' zone. Couples and business people tend to make up the main bulk of the clientele outside of cultural events like the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, not to be confused with the second Le Germain hotel in the city, Le Germain on Mercer Street, is the more contemporary of the two, although in terms of design the two are quite close. The focus here is on aesthetics and the atmosphere is a little livelier than at the Mercer Street hotel, although the staff is still as friendly and efficient. The advantage of the Maple Leaf hotel is its location. Right next to Union Station, the main train station, and in the midst of the financial district, business types might prefer to stay here rather than on Mercer Street. It is also a few minutes' walk from the Air Canada Centre. We liked this property's sleek and young ambience and would recommend it to couples looking for a high-standard no fuss place to stay.
One of the top luxury hotels in Toronto, The Fairmont Royal York is second to none. Host to three generations of the British Royal Family, it's not hard to see why this landmark hotel would be the Queen's first choice. A historical hotel that first opened in 1929, it is still very much still the centre of Downtown Toronto, despite its traditional interiors and rooms. The perfect place to stay if you're looking to be treated like royalty right in the centre of Toronto. The only downside for us, was the lack of intimacy in the hotel lobby and its restaurants - the hotel, despite its sophisticated decor and facilities, is buzzing with activity, which makes it feel more like the train station it was made to look like rather than an exclusive haven.
The Drake Hotel, despite its slightly snooty atmosphere, is one of our favourite hotels in Toronto. Small, intimate and completely art mad, you'll have a hard time finding something like it in the rest of the world, let alone in Toronto. There are so many quirky details incorporated in one space that it's hard to know where to begin! It's a hotel that people love to hate because it's got everything just right - but let us reassure you: it's all true. The Drake is one of those hotels that has something for everyone, be in an outdoor space, live music, an incredible flair for art, cosy rooms or friendly staff, the Drake has it all. Located right in the centre of Toronto's art-hub on Queen Street West, this is a great base to explore the rest of the city from, especially for guests who like to do something different every evening without having to go too far afield. The hype that surrounds this hotel is absolutely and completely justified - it is rare that we give hotels a 10/10, but The Drake deserves top marks. Congratulations to the Drake team for getting it spot on!
The Hazelton, a Leading Hotel of the World, isn't one of those big flashy and brash hotels that are so often associated with luxury hotel status, but it sits discreetly and self-satisfyingly in Yorkville, Toronto's up-scale neighbourhood. The Hazelton is one of the biggest star hangouts in the city, especially for those who want some peace and quiet. As the sophisticated yet understated hushed interiors have been designed to satisfy the most demanding of celebrities, you shouldn't find much to complain about here! An ideal relaxing haven from which to explore the rest of the city, especially if what you're after is a romantic and intimate setting. Although the hotel doesn't turn children away, it isn't the most adapted hotel as there isn't much in the way of activities for young kids. A real home away from home, you don't have to be a star here to be treated like a VIP.
The Templar tops our Toronto hotel hot list hands down and without hesitation. An incredible feat of a hotel packed with design features, you'll have a hard time finding something on par. Its nondescript façade may not be much of a giveaway, but bit by bit as you explore the hotel, you will soon understand why it is that this top-notch design boutique hotel is our number one. Ideal for a trendy clientele who is fond of gadgets and who likes being surprised at every turn. Nowhere else will you see so much effort being put into every single detail, and nowhere else will you be able to sit at the chef's table in the kitchen at 3:00am and order - well, whatever your imagination can rustle up! Want to know more? So did we.
The Drake Hotel, despite its slightly snooty atmosphere, is one of our favourite hotels in Toronto. Small, intimate and completely art mad, you'll have a hard time finding something like it in the rest of the world, let alone in Toronto. There are so many quirky details incorporated in one space that it's hard to know where to begin! It's a hotel that people love to hate because it's got everything just right - but let us reassure you: it's all true. The Drake is one of those hotels that has something for everyone, be in an outdoor space, live music, an incredible flair for art, cosy rooms or friendly staff, the Drake has it all. Located right in the centre of Toronto's art-hub on Queen Street West, this is a great base to explore the rest of the city from, especially for guests who like to do something different every evening without having to go too far afield. The hype that surrounds this hotel is absolutely and completely justified - it is rare that we give hotels a 10/10, but The Drake deserves top marks. Congratulations to the Drake team for getting it spot on!
A monumental hotel in size, where guests don't go amiss for anything at all, be it a diverse range of restaurants or wellbeing facilities, everything is right here on site. Located in Downtown Toronto just opposite the Tribeca Film Festival screening venue, the Ritz Carlton is a great choice if you want to be within walking distance of most of the city's attraction and hustle and bustle. The hotel itself has a traditional Ritz-Carlton feel in its large daunting all-marble lobby and high ceilings, but as always, the service is up to scratch, leaving guests with an overall pleasant experience.
Le Germain on Mercer Street, not to be confused with Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, was without doubt one of our favourite hotels in Toronto as it is an all-round good-value luxury five star hotel. With a subtle business atmosphere and a strong French identity, Le Germain is very distinct from other hotels in the city. Comfortable, very well appointed and thought-out, the hotel is also suitable for leisure guests. Its location, at the heart of the Entertainment district, means that it is within walking distance of most attractions in the area without being right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. A perfect choice for professionals who are used to staying at luxury hotels and for couples looking for a simple yet high standard hotel.
The stately and classic Trump Toronto is one more in the line of Mr. Trump's splendidly luxurious hotels. Recently opened, the opulent hotel's champagne and caviar colour scheme is cosy and slick. Everyone here is treated like a VIP, which is what Trump hotels pride themselves on to distinguish themselves from other five star hotels. Located in the heart of Downtown Toronto, in the Financial District, the hotel is likely to attract more of a business clientele, but for the rest of the family, the rooms are a pleasure to stay at for a long weekend.
Le Germain Maple Leaf Square, not to be confused with the second Le Germain hotel in the city, Le Germain on Mercer Street, is the more contemporary of the two, although in terms of design the two are quite close. The focus here is on aesthetics and the atmosphere is a little livelier than at the Mercer Street hotel, although the staff is still as friendly and efficient. The advantage of the Maple Leaf hotel is its location. Right next to Union Station, the main train station, and in the midst of the financial district, business types might prefer to stay here rather than on Mercer Street. It is also a few minutes' walk from the Air Canada Centre. We liked this property's sleek and young ambience and would recommend it to couples looking for a high-standard no fuss place to stay.
One of the top luxury hotels in Toronto, The Fairmont Royal York is second to none. Host to three generations of the British Royal Family, it's not hard to see why this landmark hotel would be the Queen's first choice. A historical hotel that first opened in 1929, it is still very much still the centre of Downtown Toronto, despite its traditional interiors and rooms. The perfect place to stay if you're looking to be treated like royalty right in the centre of Toronto. The only downside for us, was the lack of intimacy in the hotel lobby and its restaurants - the hotel, despite its sophisticated decor and facilities, is buzzing with activity, which makes it feel more like the train station it was made to look like rather than an exclusive haven.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
