Destinations
3 of the Best Hotels in Toronto by Neighbourhood
Choosing the right Toronto hotel starts with picking the perfect neighbourhood. Explore some of the city’s best stays, tailored to match the character of each vibrant area.
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The best way to choose a hotel in Toronto? Pick a neighbourhood first. Whether you’re looking to spend time in the super-trendy West Queen West, the laid-back east-end Leslieville or the bustling downtown Entertainment District, here’s where to stay in Toronto in three popular neighbourhoods.
West Queen West: The Drake Hotel
The two-kilometre-long neighbourhood along Queen Street West is known for its independent boutiques, street art, music venues, eclectic restaurants and much more. Want to be in the middle of it all? The Drake, a 51-room boutique hotel, is not only artsy (think: bold pops of colour and contemporary art), but incredibly fun, too, thanks to Sky Yard, its sun-soaked rooftop patio, and Underground, the hotel’s basement club that hosts live music, comedy shows and film screenings.
Leslieville: The Broadview Hotel
If West Queen West is where all the city’s west side hipsters hang out, Leslieville is where the east end ones are. Known for its countless breweries, vintage shops and bookstores, the best hotel here is undoubtedly the historic Broadview at the corner of Queen and Broadview. The property, built in 1891, was a strip club for three decades (RIP Jilly’s) and these days is a boutique hotel with 58 rooms and a rooftop bar and restaurant with A+ views of the city skyline.
Entertainment District: Shangri-La Toronto
The city’s downtown Entertainment District is filled with, well, entertainment—think: sports arenas, theatre venues, museums and more—so it should come as no surprise that it has the highest concentration of hotels, but the Shangri-La Toronto stands out from the rest. Why? The luxury five-star property has impeccable service, floor-to-ceiling windows for downtown city views, plus an award-winning on-site spa, two restaurants and a bar.
Jennifer Foden
Contributor
Jennifer Foden is a Toronto-born freelance editor and writer whose work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, CBC, Canadian Living and more. She’s also one of the authors of a Toronto guidebook published by Fodor’s. Born in Scarborough, but now living in Cabbagetown, she loves biking, softball and hockey, cheering on the Jays (it’ll always be the SkyDome to her), riding the ferry over to Toronto Islands and taking her niece and nephew on adventures all over the city.
