The 14 Best Hotels in Toronto
"In 2012, Hong Kong–based Shangri-La opened a Toronto location in a newly built tower in the heart of Downtown, not far from the Theater District, a number of corporate HQs, and the main hub for the city’s international film festival. Past a dramatic steel outdoor sculpture by Chinese artist Zhang Huan is a chic, contemporary lobby adorned with four large-scale Chinese calligraphy paintings, a Fazioli piano (featuring lyrics by Canadian-born singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell carved into its lid), and cushy leather seating surrounding a modern dual-sided fireplace. Shangri-La's high standard of service is in full effect here. Rooms feature intuitive technology (and handy bedside panels), as well as iPads loaded with hotel info and room service menus; you can also contact housekeeping, the bell desk, or the concierge via the tablet. A 42-seat screening room is popular with the film crowd. On the third-floor Garden Terrace, the recently installed B Wall is where 50,000 bees help generate honey for the hotel's culinary team. On the fifth floor, a 9,000-square-foot wellness facility includes a 24/7 gym with Technogym equipment, a group-fitness studio, a 64-foot pool with a skylight, and a Caudalie spa. Afternoon tea here is also a must; it’s available daily (just be sure to make a reservation) and comes with your choice of more than 68 blends from around the world, each presented in an antique or contemporary Chinese teapot." - Sandra Ramani, Todd Plummer
