Bisha Hotel Toronto

A Rock Star Floor and a Pool in the Clouds

Blue Jays Way runs north from the Rogers Centre into the heart of the Entertainment District, and BISHA sits at number 80, in a glass tower that looks like any other until you walk in. Inside, the mood is dark, lacquered and cinematic. Alessandro Munge's Studio Munge designed the interiors, and one entire floor was created by Kravitz Design, the studio of Lenny Kravitz, which tells you everything about the hotel's attitude. It is Canada's first property in Marriott's Luxury Collection and holds a MICHELIN One Key, yet it remains, at heart, a boutique hotel with fewer than a hundred rooms and a strong sense of occasion.

Why It Works

We selected BISHA because it gives Toronto a luxury stay with a nightlife pulse. The rooms and suites are oversized for a boutique address, the design is unmistakable, and the dining is serious, anchored by a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Akira Back. Then there is the roof. KŌST, 44 floors above the street, pairs Baja-inspired cooking with an infinity pool and views across the city and Lake Ontario. A sunset swim at that height is the kind of memory a city break is built on.

Why This Location

This is the city's entertainment quarter. The Rogers Centre is at the bottom of the street, the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium a few minutes' walk beyond, and the theatres, cinemas and restaurants of King Street West a block north, including TIFF Lightbox, home of the Toronto International Film Festival. Union Station is roughly a ten-minute walk east for trains and the UP Express to Pearson. The waterfront and the Harbourfront Centre are a short stroll south under the Gardiner, and Queen West's boutiques are within easy reach. Valet parking is available if you are arriving by car.

Fast Facts

• Price: Luxury (€€€€)

• Vibe: Glamorous, moody, design-led, after-dark

• Rooms: Fewer than a hundred oversized rooms and suites, including a floor designed by Kravitz Design

• Best For: Couples, design lovers, festival and concert weekends

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The infinity pool at KŌST, 44 floors above the Entertainment District, with the lake on the horizon

• Dining: Akira Back for Japanese-Korean cooking, KŌST for Baja-inspired dishes on the rooftop, Mister C Bar Room for cocktails, French Made café for pastries and light meals

• Amenities: Rooftop infinity pool with pool bar, fitness centre, valet parking, pet-friendly rooms, babysitting on request

• Attractions: Rogers Centre, CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, TIFF Lightbox, King Street West

Inside the Kravitz Floor

The rooms across the hotel carry Studio Munge's signature: rich materials, deep colours, and a sense of the nocturnal that suits a hotel in this neighbourhood. The floor designed by Kravitz Design pushes further, with a rock-and-roll sensibility that turns a night's sleep into a small piece of theatre. Wherever you land, the rooms are generously sized for a boutique hotel, and the upper floors frame the city and the lake. Ask for a high floor and a lake view when you reserve.

Four Kitchens, One Tower

BISHA works as a dining destination in its own right. Akira Back is the headline, led by the Michelin-starred chef known for layering Korean flavour onto Japanese technique. Mister C Bar Room is the lobby bar, the place for a first cocktail before a show. French Made keeps things simple at breakfast and lunch with pastries, salads and sandwiches. And KŌST, at the top of the tower, is where the evening ends for most guests, with Baja-inspired plates, poolside drinks and the lights of the city spread out below.

Good to Know Before You Book

The rooftop pool is seasonal, so a summer stay makes the most of it, while the restaurants carry the hotel through the colder months. The neighbourhood is lively late into the night, especially on game and concert evenings, which is part of the appeal. Pets are welcome, and babysitting can be arranged for families. Reserve KŌST in advance on warm weekends, when the rooftop fills with locals as well as guests.