At less than 5 years old, the Ritz-Carlton is a new comer in Toronto’s hotel scene and it is quickly establishing itself as a trendy hotspot.
The hotel entrance is discreet. It does not shout out its existence but quietly presents a refined gateway to the world of luxury within for those in the know. Indeed, this secretive allure might be very useful for the celebrity movie stars that frequent this hotel.
As we enter the lobby, the first thing I notice is the woodsy scent of pine trees, evoking a fresh winter morning in a Canadian forest. The Canadian theme is further emphasized with bronzed maple leafs set in the floor of the lobby and original works of art from Canadian artists throughout the hotel.
During check-in, we were served glasses of champagne sweetened with ripe strawberries. It was the perfect way to be welcomed to the Ritz-Carlton in style. On weekends, the lobby has a decidedly festive feeling with candies, ice cream and popcorn set out for guests. One of the concierges shared that their goal is to make everyone feel like a 5 year old again.
The Room
Our King Bed with Lake View room was furnished with a large writing desk and chair plus a lounge chair and ottoman in the corner. The bathroom has a double vanity, bathtub, shower and a separately enclosed toilet. Amenities are by Asprey and gold-toned marble tiles line the walls and floor. Do beware that the marble floor gets quite slippery when wet.
The view of the CN Tower and Rogers Center from our high floor room was fabulous. The CN Tower changes colour at night and if you chance to wake up in the middle of the night, it feels rather surreal to look out your window and see such an iconic structure up close.
I tend to wake up at least once when I am in a new environment, but the bed was so amazingly comfortable that I drifted back to sleep in no time and it was a real pleasure to be able to enjoy the feeling of falling asleep once again in that dreamy bed. The Ritz-Carlton bed has a thick feather mattress topper, a down duvet, 3 feather pillows of different shapes and sizes for each person and satiny smooth cotton bed sheets and pillowcases of the highest thread count.
Location
The location of the hotel could not be better. It is in the middle of all the action – walking distance to the financial center, the bars and clubs of the entertainment district, convention centers and the stadiums for hockey, baseball, basketball and music concerts.
From Monday to Friday, the hotel is occupied with business travellers and on weekends it’s the leisure travellers who buzz around merrily. The Ritz-Carlton is also a popular choice among locals for a staycation.
Service
In true Canadian spirit, the service at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto is friendly and relaxed, making the guest feel at ease. Doormen enthusiastically give tips on the best place to watch a sports game and concierges conspiratorially help guests fill up their bags with the candy and popcorn set out in the lobby. Attendants in the Club Lounge remembered our names after one meeting and were always alert and ready to assist.
Spa and Facilities
The Spa My Blend by Clarins here is the only one of its kind in North America and the only other one in the world is in Paris. Spa My Blend features high tech skin analysis and a facial treatment customized specifically for your skin with products created just for you. They offer a menu of luxury face, body and massage treatments all tailored to suit your needs in 16 treatment rooms. Accessible to all hotel guests are the swimming pool, wet and dry saunas, whirlpool, experience showers and the 24 hour fitness center.
There are separate ladies and gentlemen’s lounges as well as a co-ed relaxation lounge where an extensive range of Clarins face and body products are laid out for guests to use. This made me feel like a kid in a candy store more than the actual candy in the lobby did! This was a great idea from the Clarins spa since guests were able to freely try on any product they wished throughout their stay at the Ritz-Carlton and really get an idea of how the product will perform on their skin.
F&B
The main restaurant, Toca, serves rustic Italian cuisine inspired by the freshest Canadian ingredients. Toca is also the setting for one of the best Sunday brunches in the city. The afternoon tea at DEQ is also a fine affair, serving a list of curated teas from local tea company Sloane. The Ritz Bar on the ground floor had a steady stream of well-heeled patrons coming and going throughout the night.
We had a room with Club Level access and we made frequent visits to the 20th floor Club Lounge to investigate the food offerings. Serving breakfast, lunch, mid-day snack, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, there is always something for guests to eat. We especially enjoyed the breakfast that showcased luscious thick-cut Canadian smoked salmon and the expertly made desserts in the evening.
Verdict
With its unbeatable location, luxurious spa offerings, trendy bars and restaurants and one of the finest, most comfortable beds in the industry, the Ritz-Carlton Toronto is an exciting destination hotel with much to offering the discerning guest.
Address : The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
181 Wellington St W, Toronto,
ON M5V 3G7, Canada
