The Saint James Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection

We spent 3 nights at the Saint James Hotel, a small (about 28 rooms) boutique hotel downtown Toronto, close to Yonge Street and Ryerson University. The location is perfect to walk everywhere and there is a variety of restaurants in close proximity. I felt safe in this area, even in the evening when it was dark outside. Based on the recommendation of other reviewers, I had requested a quiet room at the back of the hotel and indeed, we didn't hear any street or hallway noise or sounds from adjacent rooms. Our 2 queen beds were super comfortable and the room (with flooring instead of carpeting) was very clean. The wifi worked great and the rain shower was an added bonus! Upon checking in, we received breakfast vouchers to use at Freshii, the small restaurant located on the ground floor. With this voucher, we could order any item on the breakfast menu. There was a good selection and all of the items we tried were healthy and tasted good too! At check-out, we were able to store our luggage safely for the day. Before I booked our stay at the Saint James Hotel, I had done a lot of research and this hotel happened to offer the best value and the highest ratings for this area of Toronto. With my CAA membership, I also received a discount. Add on a free continental breakfast as well as good service, and I really think that the Saint James is the best choice!

Hotel overall is lovely. It is the perfect size and the location is fabulous. We did not have a car so cannot comment on parking. Nice simple touch having a small Freshii food outlet within the building. As a result a nice breakfast with hotel voucher had by all. I really liked the real espresso coffee that is free and on hand in the lobby and the lemon and lime water also nearby. Decor is nice/modern with a boutique historic photo flavour and touch. Rooms were ample size with the usual amenities and bathrooms were really nice. Zero complaints. Front desk is occupied by one person and they were all great. Beds were extremely comfortable and of very high quality. Our room overlooked gardens in the back and were extremely quiet, so much so we kept sleeping in too late. Our five nights were very relaxing. It actually is the best hotel I have stayed in while in Toronto or put another way it suited me the best. It is next door to historic Covenant House so some people might think this area of town is rough but really the city is made up of all kinds of people and with Ryerson University across the street it is a very safe area. Very nice stay and surpassed expectations.

Our 2 Queen Beds room was immaculate, bright, fresh, and provided adequate space. The modern dark wood furnishings and flooring complimented the white décor very well. The high beds and high quality bed linens provided a comfortable rest. The microwave and refrigerator were handy. We liked that the modern bathroom (with nice shower) was well stocked with good quality towels. We also appreciated having complimentary bedroom slippers. In terms of room for improvement, the bathroom could perhaps do with another small shelf since there is not much space to put stuff at the sink area. Excellent customer service; friendly but professional staff. Great location.

Overall condition of the hotel was good. Location was perfect for what I needed. The price was very reasonable, and loved the included breakfast from Freshii. The hotel has been updated, and the rooms are large with great flooring, and comfy beds. Unfortunately, my room was in need of some repairs (phone, blinds, heating system, sealing around windows) and it appeared that this had been the case for at least a month based on a friend's experience in the same room. It was also already noted on the room file. Might go back again - there are lots of options in the area though.

My stay was very comfortable. The room was very spacious and quiet. Nice to see a smiley face at reception At time of arrival. The hotel is a excellent location, close to everything. Breakfast was healthy and yummy! The only negative was that the microwave was dirty and would have like to have a kettle in the room instead of coffee machine to make a good cup of tea. Would go back again and recommend the St James to my friends.

The location is great and the parking next to the hotel is free for the guests, the parking itself it's a bit confusing. The cleanliness level is EXCELLENT! The bathroom and the amenities are great and the beds are comfortable. Even though located in downtown the room was very quiet itself. The biggest problem was the heating, it was very old, noisy and either too cold or too warm due to lack of a thermostat, it was very annoying. The breakfast at freshii was nice. Unfortunately there was no chrome cast available.

We loved everything about this hotel from the time we checked in until departure. Our 2nd floor suite could not have been more perfect. The soaking tub and the huge glass-enclosed rain shower were just what the doctor ordered. The complimentary slippers in the bathroom were also a nice touch. The bedding was very comfortable. Our unit was spacious and spotless. The absence of carpet was a very pleasant surprise. It just enhanced the cleanliness of the suite. The hotel staff were very accommodating. They were genuine and friendly. The ladies at the front desk went up and above anything we could have expected in making our stay one of the most memorable trips of our 29 years of marriage. I also highly recommend having a cup of espresso, cappuccino or latte macchiato from the Jura coffee machine in the lobby. The complimentary breakfast from Freshii was a delicious and healthy start to our day. This is the first time I recall saying that a hotel was perfect in every category, but it certainly was. It was also just a 3 minute walk to a transit connection. Parking is offsite but it is just next door. Don't go to Toronto and stay anywhere else.

The Ascend Hotel was a pleasant surprise from the usual Comfort Inn chain hotels, it is indeed a unique boutique hotel. The rooms felt spacious and airy and none of those stuffy carpets found here...the entire hotel has wood flooring which provides a nice fresh face lift in comparison to other hotels with carpets. The staff was always warm and friendly. We were always greeted with smiles and when prompted for assistance, the staff was more than helpful and knowledgeable. While they do not offer a full breakfast; they did provide a nice welcome snack kit and complimentary pastries daily. And at a touch of a button, you could get gourmet coffee instantly made in seconds - and with hot milk! A hotel of this caliber seemed a bit oddly placed given it's neighboring buildings and some of it's local businesses, but it's overall convenience to shopping, food, transportation, and other neighborhood charms more than make up for that. BTW, it also had the best showers of all (four) hotels we stayed at while in Toronto, Canada.

We stayed at the Saint James Hotel three nights on a recent trip to Toronto. It was a good experience, and I would recommend this hotel. The staff was friendly, the location is good, the price was solid, and the room was comfy and clean. Some touch points: Conveniently located near a college campus so there are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance. The hotel offers parking, although we did not utilize it. We did valet check our bags the last morning after checking out so we could do some more sight-seeing prior to going to the airport - always a plus to be able to do. Breakfast is included - you receive a voucher per guest per day for the Freshii downstairs, served until 10:30AM. This was convenient and the food was good. The room was spacious, clean, and comfy. Modern/Ikea-esque decorations, TV, couch, coffee table, closet. The bed was really comfy. In-room fridge which I love! Nice bathroom, basic toiletries provided, hairdryer, and some fun post-shower slippers made from towel material. Bathrobes in the closet. Low noise level - we had good night's sleep. This was a great hotel choice and we enjoyed our stay! I would recommend the Saint James Hotel.

Traveling to Toronto was nostalgic because it's where my dad grew up. I'd only been here as a young child and don't remember anything, so it's neat to form new memories around a city I've probably explored before. This time I was in Toronto for a conference, and my colleague had booked us rooms at the St. James. It was pretty late at night when we arrived, but we were still greeted by a friendly face at the front desk. We made our way to the super comfy rooms upstairs. No complaints there. Bathroom was small but everything was in good order. Too bad we couldn't enjoy it more, since we spent most of our time out. Because it was so late, the hotel eatery was closed so we walked down the street to Red's. Short distance to a good number of places, right next to downtown. The check-in and check-out process at St. James was easy. One colleague had her flight canceled and the hotel gave us a night back. Valuing customer service over money says it all. I'm happy with my experience here overall. The brick appearance makes the outside of the hotel look older, but the rooms and common spaces are nicely renovated. I didn't deal with parking or breakfast so can't speak to those. Despite that, I would stay here again!

Booked here at the last minute; taking son to hockey camp. So happy they had a room! Lived up to the positive reviews: - clean, modern rooms - comfy, very comfy beds - we had one of two rooms with a tub - totally worth it! (Lovely) - amenities: slippers, robes, shampoo, etc. - friendly service Two suggestions: 1) parking is for small cars; if you are driving a large SUV suggest you go else where. We made our car work, but it was tight. Bigger cars might have an issue. 2) breakfast was small; not sufficient for my growing teen hockey player. It's ok, he went to another place. Maybe have something like cereal or oatmeal. Thank you for a great stay! Will def come back here again!

This is a really nice hotel with a GM who obviously cares about what people think about it. Nice up to date / clean rooms, great location, reasonable price. Willing to accommodate an extra hour for late checkout, held bag at checkout, followed up immediately on feedback for improvement. Negatives were getting locked out of room (key stopped working) in the morning, breakfast not vegan friendly (which is fine since there are many amazing restaurants in walking distance, but would rather have not had price included in room rate if there weren't going to be acceptable food choices), elevator is painfully slow and hotel internet is not very good. All in all, this is an excellent hotel. None of these would detract from a future visit.

We enjoyed a recent stay at the St. James. It's a newer property and a real treat compared to, say, Manhattan hotels. Our king room was spacious and well-appointed: a nice variety of lights for general illumination and reading, huge bathroom with a soaking tub and a marvelous rain shower, and a fairly quiet climate control system. The mattress and pillows were very comfortable. Everything was in working order. The street noise was not objectionable. The staff was cordial and helpful. The hotel was well-located for our purposes, and there were very good restaurant within a 30-minute walk (as well as run-of-the-mill dining within a couple of blocks). My only complaint was the lack of a decent breakfast café either in the hotel or nearby. There is a Freshii café on premises, but the fare is quite limited and neither the Freshii space nor the "lounge" area of the hotel possess much comfort or charm. If you want coffee beyond the complementary coffee in the lobby (or the Keurig in your room), you'll have to go to one of two Starbucks within a couple of blocks. Also note that there is no parking at the hotel (not even a pickup/dropoff in front due to the bike lane); you'd have to park in a nearby parking garage for a fee. All in all, though, the St. James was a good value for us, and we'd stay there again.

This place is one of the best places where I stayed when I came to Toronto for the very first time! It looks old and small from outside but the rooms are renovated and they are way more modern than what you might think by looking at the facade of the building. First they welcome you with a small bag of snacks and water! The concierge is so friendly and nice! Everything was perfect and new in the room, the bed was comfortable, the bathroom and glass shower door were so clean, nice and scented you can't imagine! They also provide a complimentary breakfast in Freshii cafe on the ground floor which was healthy and tasty! The price is reasonable compared to other pricey hotels around Dundas Sq. and in downtown. I found this hotel online and didn't know that this could be this good! I do recommend this hotel to everyone who comes to Toronto!

Best. Hotel. Breakfast. I. Have. Ever. Had!!!!!!! Usually when you go to a hotel for vacation they say "Free Continental Breakfast" well, this is not it! The hotel has a Freshii restaurant inside the ground level which has a specialty breakfast menu for the guests. ***They had different choices on the menu but I am writing in regards to what I had*** I was blown away by the flavor and size of the breakfast. Egg, large amounts of fresh bacon, tomato, and deliciously melted white cheddar cheese all wrapped up in a wheat tortilla and Panini pressed to perfection. Then if that wasn't enough, you get a large portion of cooked oats topped with scoops of dried cranberries and sliced almonds. Parking is a great feature of this hotel and at a great price. The hotel shares an underground public parking space with other business' around the area. It is a little tricky to find since the signs show that there's a parking garage and you can tell there is a garage but the door is motion censored and you have to get close enough to the door to be recognized for access. Best thing about the parking, they give you an access card that allows you to go in and out as much as you'd like at no extra charge! Once you leave the hotel, you just drop the card into a little black box that they have set up at the exit, no need to drop it back at the hotel. Hotel Room: Welcome bag with goodies - Bottle of water, Chips, snack bar, fruit snacks Simplistic Clean Chic Bedding that feels like you are sleeping in clouds Shower head that feels like you are under a waterfall And our room (203) was the only one with a balcony (AMAZING) Most certainly going to stay here again next time in Toronto and requesting the same room!

If you are logging on to Trip Advisor for recommendations for a clean, awesome, nice, affordable, modern, quiet, roomy, great-customer-service offering hotel, look no further! We traveled to Toronto from Niagara Falls, USA for my girlfriend's birthday last weekend and stumbled upon this boutique hotel when searching online for a place to stay. We are so happy we did. The St. James is located SO CLOSE (one block!) away from Yonge Street right in the heart of the Entertainment District and close to EVERYTHING! The room was very clean and nicely decorated, the bed was comfortable, big television with a ton of channels, free breakfast in the morning, free coffee in the lobby... what a great place. I'd like to stress how awesome the staff and the customer service is at this hotel. We were treated so nice and really made to feel special. Everyone on the staff was nice and courteous and always offered good advice to us wandering tourists! The General Manager extended a birthday wish to my girlfriend and really impressed her and made us feel welcome. Our room was quiet and we slept in after a night of roaming Toronto and it was wonderful. We had the complimentary breakfast at Freshii - the restaurant located downstairs. It was perfect. Breakfast wraps and some darn good strawberry (fresh!) oatmeal. There is juice and coffee also in the lobby. Okay, so yes, I'm bragging and glowing about everything being so positive... was there anything negative? Well, I wouldn't describe anything as "negative," but we didn't have much of a view from our window (if that matters to anyone... since the entire city is at your disposal just footsteps away!) and sometimes the elevator took a while for the doors to finally open... ooooooh, big deal! LOL! So, no, nothing to go on and on about in any way, nor should anyone care about those minor teeny weeny flaws. [And... I'm only mentioning these two minor details so the people reading this review don't think a robot wrote this or that I'm a paid review writer!] So, of the million choices we could'a made to stay in Toronto, we chose the St. James Hotel. It was a great decision and it will be a great decision for you, too! Thanks again to the staff and General Manager.

We loved the room. And the other reviews pretty much hit it spot on. Freshii is just ok for me. The complimentary stuff literally was a choice of two items plus the oatmeal. We didn't even go there the second day but went around the corner. I think it would of have been better to do say $5 off per person and let the people order what they want. I'd go back to the same hotel again but some place Else for breakfast....

There were renovations at the apartment and I needed a place to stay for a few business meetings bunched up together within a space of 18hrs all in the downtown area. So I picked this hotel based on it's location, pricing, amenities, and the fact that they had 2 Queen Beds made it less awkward for 2 men to share the same room. Parking is a tiny bit hassle, you have to check-in, and get a parking pass which will enable you to park in the adjacent apartment building's basement. Check-in was a breeze and took less than 90 seconds. Super! The hotel and the rooms are very clean, spacious and modern. For the price, it's great!! The room was spacious & very clean. There isn't any safe, fridge or microwave in the room though. And finally a hotel that doesn't force upon the tenants the bible next to bed. Welcome to the secular 21st century!! The washroom is very well designed & spacious. Loved the wooden box with all the amenities inside. For 2 people, we had 6 shower towels, 6 small towels, and 4 tiny towels. Very nice! There was a bit of confusion about the breakfast timings, and we didn't get chance to try it. The hotel was a breakfast at the Freshii on the ground-floor where you can choose from a few options. Check-out was super easy and took about 30 seconds. And we handed them the parking pass once we had our cars on the way out. Excellent stay, and will definitely recommend! Room Tip: Higher floors have less noise from the street downstairs.

Small and charming. The rooms are very clean, maid service comes is about once a day but there is a sign on the door available if you want to sleep in and not be disturbed. In the colder months, the rooms are well heated with individual thermostats. The beds are extremely comfortable!! I wish I was this kind of mattress at home. The neighborhood is safe and close to the attractions as I walked at night a few times by myself. I feel as though I'm getting a luxury hotel experience with a blend of a boutique hotel as well. The customer service is outstanding everyone who is help me has been truly friendly and has gone above and beyond. I was offered complimentary breakfast from the Freshii cafe located in the lobby is extremely convenient and the service there is very good as well. The breakfast portions are generous and they have fresh OJ and coffee available. I love the fact that they have a microwave at other hotels they do not have an ample fridge. In the lobby, they have complimentary cold fruit-infused water, hot water for teas and coffee as well 24/7 and you can adjust it for a stronger blend as well. The bathroom design is lovely but if you're hoping to take a bath you won't have it here at least not in the room but I got it only had a shower. The water pressure was really great and the temperature was good as well. They carry small details such as toiletries and they wrap bath slippers for you. The hotel is small enough to navigate through easily and it feels friendly and warm enough as it will you were staying in a small community that is very welcoming. They have a laundry room which is so helpful! The cost is $1.50 per wash and another $1.50 per dry. You can ask for coins at the Freshii and the soap and dryer sheet at the front desk, there is a charge but no more than $3. Overall, great experience.

Very nice. Comfy beds. Rooms are clean and small amenities like slippers excellent shower and coffee has made our stay top notch. My wife and I are very happy. Staff is friendly and helpful and the location is perfect. Great Hotel!

Excellent downtown gem. Reasonable rates cool, hip, and most important clean modern rooms. But that's not the main reason for my review. My visit to Toronto this time was not for fun or for business...although this is a great hotel for either. This time it's because my sister is in the hospital for cancer surgery and I'm naturally anxious...not sure how the surgery will go or how long my stay. The awesome staff...Dianna et al are so sweet and helpful. They extended my reservation at the same rate, lent me an umbrella for my short walk to the hospital and had tons of smiles to share.

When traveling to Toronto in the past I had always stayed at the sutton place. Alas, it is now condominiums, so I went through expedia to find the St. James. As noted above, the Saint James is a no-frills boutique hotel, newly renovated in August. My wife and I got a good rate and arrived in late March. The room was clean and well-appointed, the beds were extremely comfortable and the TV worked fine. It is conveniently located a block from Yonge/College, so it was easy to get on the subway for traveling the city. One nice addition was a gift bag we received on our arrival with cheetos (my wife ate them), an apple, cereal bar and water. it was a nice touch. the one thing that bothered me in particular was the Covenant House next door, but we didn't have any issues walking by, just some weird people hanging out and smoking outside. The Neutrogena toiletries were nice, and in our room at least there were slippers located in a corner of the bathroom. The shower head was some type of modern design that I never encountered, but it was good once I figured out how to use it. A pleasant experience, would definitely consider staying there again.

Stayed here with the hubs for one night while visiting Toronto. Located downtown, this place is clean and tidy and the rooms are stylish and chic. We loved the fact that the floors weren't carpeted, which felt much cleaner and sanitary, especially with complimentary slippers! Also included in the room is a mini fridge with a microwave as well as a hair dryer and iron. Good sized bathroom with a large mirror and glass door shower stocked with Neutrogena products. Full length mirror is also always a plus. No amenities such as a gym or pool, but we only stayed a night so this wasn't an issue. Concierge is super friendly and provided us with a welcome bag on arrival which included some snacks and water. The parking is an approx $15 fee for 24 hours, which is located in the adjacent apartment complex. You can use your parking pass to come and go as many times as you'd like during your stay. Furthermore, location is perfect and in walking distance of everything!

Clean, minimalist rooms in a quiet neighborhood. Romain at the front desk really made us feel welcome. Because of him we stayed an additional night. The complimentary breakfast at Freshii was very enjoyable and an unexpected perk as was the complimentary espresso machine in the lobby! The parking was a little annoying, but definitely a good deal. We would stay again if in Toronto.

The hotel was pretty quiet and in a good neighborhood. The people who work there were also very welcoming, and accommodating, gave us a welcome package with water and chips and gave us free parking pass as well. However, once we got to the room, it seemed one of the people who was supposed to clean it just made the bed with old sheets that had stains it in, which was a big turn off for me. When I asked for it to be changed, however, it had been changed by the time we got back to the room which was plus for them taking that initiative. The beds and pillows were comfy and they extended our checkout upon request, which I really appreciated. I would stay there again, I would just implore that you check the sheets as soon as you arrive. The room layout is great too, with the microwave and fridge hidden behind a pull-away visor. There's also a healthy salad bar type of eatery attached to the hotel as well, which is good if you're into that. Then there's the complimentary breakfast and the plenty of food places around within walking distance.

Lovely little hotel in downtown Toronto. I'm in town because my sister is having surgery. Not the usual fun vacation trip. So naturally I'm anxious...the staff is marvellous. They've extended my stay at the same low rate and even gave me an umbrella for the walk in the rain to the hospital Dianna and the rest of the staff are wonderful. The room is very cool, hip and , more important, clean. I highly recommended it.