The Ritz Carlton, Toronto in a Nutshell:
The air isn't more rarefied at The Ritz Carlton, Toronto; it simply smells that way, thanks to the subtle scent that perfumes the lobby and hallways. This bespoke aromatherapy changes seasonally; when we visited in May, it was an intoxicating blend of laurel and conifer.
Opened in February 2011 a few short blocks from the CN Tower, the hotel lobby impresses arrivals with its original Canadian modern art, soaring ceiling, bronze maple leafs embedded in the floor, and bevy of cordial, well-trained staff to offer help and good cheer. No wonder The Ritz Carlton, Toronto earned the city its first CAA/AAA Five-Diamond lodgings award in the first year of operation.
Guest Rooms at The Ritz Carlton, Toronto:
The 53-story Ritz-Carlton, Toronto contains 267 luxurious guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city or Lake Ontario. The room count includes 56 corner suites, 2 deluxe suites and one 2,400-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite. Quality materials, such as warm African anigre wood and Portuguese marble, complement neutral, tastefully contemporary décor.
The bed and pillows are so comfortable that Ritz-Carlton sells its sleep experience online.
Spacious marble bathrooms feature a separate toilet and shower, 22” HDTV screen embedded in the mirror over twin sinks, and a bathtub for one. You'll also find a 42” inch LCD flatscreen HDTV, Bose sound equipment, and free wi-fi, the latter a rarity in fine hotels but a smart choice in new buildings.
Dining in Toronto:
Toronto is a great restaurant town, and our favorite breakfast and lunch spot,
Cora's (where a beautifully carved and bountiful side dish of assorted fresh fruit can complement any item) is a minute's walk from the hotel. For dinner, we go to
Astoria in Greektown (a subway ride from the hotel). It's one of about 20 restaurants clustered on Danforth Avenue. We savored grilled octopus that we'll now try to replicate at home. Toronto also has a huge Asian population, so Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants are also plentiful and affordable.
Destination Weddings at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto:
The Ritz-Carlton creates weddings of splendor and has a dedicated
wedding site offering tools and inspiration, slideshows of destination weddings, and ideas for gifts, stationery, photography, and more. The five-story glass podium at the base of the Toronto hotel's guestroom tower contains the grand foyer lobby with a dramatic glass bridge, restaurant, bar, lounge and the city’s largest luxury event space, The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom at 7,400 square feet. To gather info on weddings, fill out a
request for information.
Spa and Pool at The Ritz Carlton, Toronto:
The hotel's fifth-floor Urban Sanctuary includes a saltwater lap pool surrounded by windows overlooking parkland. There's also a fitness facility, yoga studio, relaxation area and wrap-around terrace with a co-ed relaxation lounge. The Canadian themed Ritz-Carlton Spa has two dedicated couples suites. Signature treatments inspired by the outdoors include an aromatic Cloud 9 Massage, using locally grown flowers and herbs such as Niagara lavender and Quebec sage.
Nearby The Ritz Carlton, Toronto:
Toronto is the kind of big city where you can customize a romantic getaway to your taste. You can get your exercise walking all over town or pick up a pair of
Bixi bikes. Public transportation is available as well, but it doesn't reach everywhere. Foodies must pay a visit to the
St. Lawrence Market, where purveyors of the city's best comestibles display their wares — and often press samples on you.
Devour culture? You could spend a whole day at the Art Gallery of Ontario. We loved Frank Gehry's ingenious architectural update of the museum and the impressive collection of Canadian art. We became instant fans of Lawren S. Harris, painter of bold snow-capped Canadian Rockies landscapes.
At night, attend an opera or ballet at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Too highbrow? Head to the top of the CN Tower for an eagle's eye view of the city. Sunset is the most romantic time to visit. Daredevils will want to go outside on the 116th floor to do the EdgeWalk (strapped in with a safety harness, of course). And if it's baseball that thrills you and the Toronto Blue Jays are in town, catch a game at the adjacent indoor/outdoor Rogers Centre and root for the home team.
What Could be Improved at The Ritz Carlton, Toronto:
One of the pleasures of staying at a Ritz-Carlton hotel is booking a room or suite on the Club Level, located on floors 18, 19 and 20 of the Toronto property. We've been to several such sanctums in different Ritz-Carltons, and found the soft drink selection and snacktime offerings at this new hotel (wasabi peas, potato chips, breadsticks, really?) both skimpy and disappointing. Next time we visit, we'll pass on this amenity. Also, we wish that this new hotel had thought to offer bathtubs that could accommodate two, a very romantic feature. Otherwise, our visit was flawless.
The Ritz Carlton, Toronto Info and Reservations:
The Ritz Carlton, Toronto
181 Wellington Street West
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5J 2H5
Phone: 416-585-2500
Official Hotel Web Site
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As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not
influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
