The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Front Row on Toronto's Entertainment District

Toronto's Entertainment District is where the city goes out: concerts at Roy Thomson Hall, premieres during the film festival, plays at the Princess of Wales Theatre, games at the stadium down the road. The Ritz-Carlton stands in the middle of it, on Wellington Street West, occupying the lower floors of a 53-storey glass tower with residences above. Inside, the design speaks of Canada without cliché, in maple and Canadian stone, soft neutral tones and warm wood millwork. It is a large hotel, with 263 rooms and suites, but it runs with the composure and the attentive service the name promises.

Why It Works

We chose The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto because it combines the city's best entertainment address with the full range of a grand hotel. The rooms are large by downtown standards, starting at about 41 square metres, with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble bathrooms. The spa is one of the most complete in the city, with a hammam, an indoor pool and couples' suites. And TOCA gives the hotel its own culinary identity, built around handmade Italian cooking and an in-house cheese cave. Few addresses in Toronto let you walk to a concert and come back to that level of comfort.

Why This Location

The hotel stands at the meeting point of three districts. Roy Thomson Hall is next door, the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Princess of Wales Theatre are a short walk west along King Street, and the Financial District begins directly to the east. Heading south, the CN Tower and the Lake Ontario waterfront are about eight minutes on foot. The PATH, Toronto's underground walkway network of shops and passages, connects to the hotel, so in winter guests can reach Union Station, offices and several attractions without stepping outside. Union Station also links to the airport by the UP Express.

Fast Facts

• Price: Luxury (€€€€)

• Vibe: polished, contemporary Canadian, lively surroundings, calm inside

• Rooms: 263 rooms and suites, from deluxe and lake view rooms to executive suites and the flagship Ritz-Carlton Suite, with a Club Level on floors 17 to 20

• Best For: concert and theatre-goers, business travellers, couples on a winter city break

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: TOCA's cheese cave, an in-house ageing room with dozens of selections

• Dining: TOCA for handcrafted Italian cooking, with a chef's table overlooking the kitchen; a lounge bar with a seasonal terrace; Club Lounge on floors 17 to 20

• Amenities: Spa My Blend by Clarins with hammam and indoor pool; fitness centre; direct PATH access; pets welcome

• Attractions: Roy Thomson Hall next door, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Princess of Wales Theatre, CN Tower and the waterfront about eight minutes on foot, Union Station

Rooms With a View of the Lake

Every room faces the city through floor-to-ceiling glass, with views toward Lake Ontario, the CN Tower or the downtown skyline depending on the side. The palette is neutral, the millwork in African anigre wood, and the floors along the windows are heated, a detail appreciated in a Toronto January. Bathrooms are lined in Portuguese Estremoz marble, with separate rain showers and tubs. Guests who want more than a room can book the Club Level, on floors 17 to 20, where a private lounge serves food and drinks through the day.

TOCA and Its Cheese Cave

TOCA is the restaurant that keeps locals coming to the hotel. The kitchen is open to the dining room, the pastas and breads are made by hand, and the cooking takes an Italian line with Canadian produce. Its signature is the cheese cave, a dedicated room where the team ages and keeps more than thirty selections, served at the end of a meal or as the heart of one. For a special occasion, the chef's table places a small group directly overlooking the kitchen.

A Spa for the Cold Months

Spa My Blend by Clarins is one of the largest hotel spas in downtown Toronto, and it is designed for real use rather than show. Alongside the treatment rooms, including suites for couples, guests find a hammam, an indoor pool and a vitality pool, with yoga and meditation sessions on the programme. On a grey winter afternoon, it turns the hotel into a destination of its own.