The Anndore House

"Take us inside the Anndore.As its name suggests, this hotel aims to make you feel at home—which makes sense, given the 10-story brick building’s former life as an apartment tower in an area that was once, as the Anndore proudly acknowledges, "shady." Relaunched in 2018 as a 113-room hotel, and boasting what's now a great location—close to upscale Yorkville, the Bloor Street museums, the Yonge Street shops, arts venues, and more—the hotel has a dimly lit lobby with moody greens and purples, dark woods, and glam gold-framed art. Past the kitchen island–style reception desk—another nod to residential living—lies a sexy bar bedecked in velvet and wood paneling. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Sophisticated travelers who gravitate toward low-key luxury, plus area residents drawn to the restaurant, lounge, and barber shop. After a long day of travel, how quickly are you able to get up to your room?Checking in is a casual, personable, and efficient affair. The situation upstairs is just as seamless because everything—unlocking your room, working the TV, changing the lighting and temperature, and accessing hotel services—can be controlled directly from your phone via the Anndore House app. Translation: no need to fiddle with confusing panels or remote controls. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The serene, chic décor toes the line between industrial and retro: polished concrete floors, a palette of grays and blues, king-sized beds, cushy leather club chairs, large plasma TVs, and a bookshelf topped with LPs and an iPhone-compatible record player. Some rooms have skyline views; others look out onto a courtyard. Spacious bathrooms have rainfall showers and CO Bigelow products. It's time for a quick snack, and a check of the email. What's the word?There's no mini bar; there is, however, a small fridge and a coffee/tea machine. The wifi is free. Okay, no mini bar. Provided we want to leave the room, what are the other dining option?Constantine, the hotel's full restaurant, offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes—eggplant caponata pizza, pumpkin kibbeh, lamb burgers, duck kofte, and meze platters—plus a family-style tasting menu ($65). For a convenient coffee or pastry, the Scarlet Door, the lobby café, pays homage to the area’s scandalous and edgy past with its logo: a courtesan holding a Fender guitar. What's available on the wellness front?There’s an onsite barber shop but no gym—guests can access the fitness center and book massages at the KX Clinic Yorkville. And there's both a human and a virtual concierge—in addition to all of its other functions, the Anndore House app offers tips, event listings, and restaurant suggestions. Bottom line: why the Anndore?Live the high life at this residential-style Yonge Street sanctuary." - Sandra Ramani