Top 20 Cool and Unusual Hotels in Toronto 2023

The shiny, easy-on-the-eye capital of Ontario has been recently ranked the 4th most liveable city in the world. The affluent Canadian city is a dynamic metropolis known for its towering skyscrapers and go-getting attitude when it comes to business.

It also has great green spaces, glitzy architecture, excellent museums, some of the world’s finest restaurants, a collection of hip and happening bars, eclectic festivals, a slick public transport system and an attractive lakefront.

With an influx of flush new residents from across the globe and plenty of trendy neighborhoods and creative districts to explore, it’s also an increasingly hip city. Unsurprisingly, Toronto is also home to a fabulous collection of cool, hip and interesting hotels, here are the best (in no particular order)…

1. The Gladstone Hotel – a funky, colorful, fun and very Instagrammable boutique hotel with rooms designed by artists

The oldest hotel in Toronto and one of the biggest supporters of the city’s thriving art communities this place is seriously cool. The highly-rated Gladstone Hotel is housed in a characterful 19th-century Victorian building and is located on the streetcar line 1.1 km from Trinity Bellwoods Park. 

What was once one of Toronto’s grand railway hotels, this unique building offers vaulted ceilings, two-story gallery space and a manual cage lift, as well as plenty of unusual pieces of art throughout.

The stylishly quirky bedrooms are themed and all have an individual look and style including a Biker room that is inspired by Seventies motorcycle culture and the forties-inspired Parlour of Twilight, among others. Some have trendy exposed brick walls and one even has a very cool private rooftop deck.

Dine at the Cafe offering local favorites, cooked up by a revolving program of local chefs, or enjoy a drink at the Melody Bar, a funky and raucous venue for live music, film screenings, and even karaoke. Like everyone else, you’ll probably fall in love with this hip Toronto accommodation!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Gladstone Hotel

2. The Drake – one of Toronto’s hippest hotels perfect for partying Millennials and Gen Z’s

This arty boutique hotel was previously a derelict apartment block but has now been transformed into one of the hippest places to stay in the city.

The exceptionally rated Drake Hotel is a cultural hub for both visitors and locals and offers informal, quirky accommodation close to the Queen Street West shopping area and the bars of Ossington Avenue.

Bedrooms at this very cool Toronto hotel are full of bright retro-style furniture and lighting and contemporary art, as well as Bose SoundLink Mini’s and bathrooms that are cleverly curtained off from the main sleeping area.

Easily one of the coolest hotels in Toronto, guests can really live the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle here and enjoy drinks at the uber-hip bar, listen to live music events, participate in one of their famous cooking competitions, sip cocktails on the rooftop, gaze at the collection of contemporary art and exhibitions, or bite into arguably some of the best burgers in Toronto, in the upscale restaurant whilst enjoying views across the city! Wonderful!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Drake Toronto

3. Shangri-La Toronto – contemporary Asian-inspired opulence housed in a sleek modern building 

Asian inspired elegance and total luxury are all on offer at the 5-star exceptionally rated Shangri-La Hotel in the upscale streets of the Entertainment District.

This place is a chic Toronto institution and a magnet for the wealthy and interesting, the sleek and beautiful Toronto hotel offers much more than just bedrooms and a bar.

A gigantic ballroom, a modern spa, a hip cocktail bar, a garden terrace, and a 42-seat screening room have all been designed to meet the requirements of the hotel’s eclectic clientele, while the 24-hour fitness center and adjacent yoga studio, as well as a pool with cascading private cabanas and an infrared sauna, are there for every guest to enjoy.

Asian-inspired bedrooms boast iPads and oversized bathrooms with jet tubs, while the Boss restaurant offers uniquely Canadian cuisine and over sixty-eight different kinds of tea. Just fabulous darling!

• To book, check prices or availability for Shangri-La Hotel Toronto

4. 1 Hotel Toronto – an exquisite and upscale hotel with incredible design details and beautiful stunning skyline views

If you like the idea of a sustainable luxury hotel inspired by the surrounding natural world, 1 Hotel Toronto is the right choice for you. Warm earth colors reflect the changing seasons around Lake Ontario and floor-to-ceiling windows let in the natural light, creating a comfortable retreat amid the bustle of the great city.

Natural and manmade materials such as driftwood, reclaimed barn wood, limestone and native plants create a feeling of home in the deepest sense of the word.

The rooms have windows looking out on the city, furnishings in soft natural colors, wood accents, potted plants, comfy duvets and Nespresso machines with stoneware cups to drink out of.

Wellness amenities include a pool, yoga and the gym at The Field House. Outside, you can explore Canada’s coolest neighborhood, King West Village, and beyond, all the way to Niagara Falls. If you’d rather stay in, there are five restaurants on-site and fresh fruit at the Lobby Farmstand.

• To book, check prices or availability for 1 Hotel Toronto

5. Ace Hotel Toronto – a cool and modern boutique hotel located in the historic Garment District that captures Toronto’s spirit and culture 

This cool new hotel in Toronto’s Garment District overlooking St. Andrew’s Market park was designed by leading Canadian architects Shim-Sutcliffe.

Materials like red Toronto brick, Douglas fir and steel are used in exteriors and interiors, blending traditional and futuristic design to reflect the past and spirit of the neighborhood and the city.

The location puts it near Queen West, Chinatown, the Downtown business core, music venues, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Bentway.

The rooms with furnishings in soft earth tones, warm wood detailing and copper accents come with minibars, large windows and comfortable windows seats to enjoy the view.

Stop by The Lobby bar for a drink accompanied by small plates, or enjoy a delicious meal at Alder.

• To book, check prices or availability for Ace Hotel Toronto

6. Hotel Ocho – a trendy industrial chic minimalism located in the heart of downtown Toronto

The highly-rated Hotel Ocho is a small but perfectly formed very hip boutique hotel housed in a 1902 building, offering beautiful views across downtown Toronto (and just a 9 minutes walk from the Art Gallery of Toronto).

With just 12 well-appointed bedrooms on offer, guests can enjoy sleek, unique modern bedrooms with a very cool minimalist industrial-chic decor with marble and granite accents and flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, as well as open-concept bathrooms with free-standing bathtubs.

The hip on-site restaurant provides exceptionally well-executed modern European cuisine, whilst the Bar and Lounge area provides light bites and a fine selection of beers, wines, and whiskeys.

There’s also a trendy espresso bar and regular art exhibitions. The addition of relaxed and helpful staff give the chic and cool Toronto hotel a family feel, set deep in the heart of the city.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Ocho Hotel

7. Le Germain Hotel – a sleek, chic and modern boutique hotel set among the theatres of the Entertainment District

Built-in an old hat factory, the 4-star exceptionally rated Le Germain Hotel is a cozy super-sleek boutique with plenty of interesting amenities. The chic Toronto abode is based in a central location within walking distance of the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower. More of a hideaway than a hotel, the cozy, comfortable ambiance of Le Germain is perfect for those looking to escape the bustling city streets.

Bedrooms have been recently renovated and now offer plenty of rich wood and grey concrete ceilings, while the moulded-Corian bathroom sinks exude sophistication.

Visitors can also take advantage of the in-room baby Bose stereo, espresso machine, and minibar. If you are hungry, the Victor Restaurant feels like a high-class American bistro, while the French-style Café Victor serves espressos and tea cakes. Other stand-out features include a seasonal rooftop putting green and a library offering a complimentary cappuccino bar.

• To book, check prices or availability for Le Germain Hotel

8. W Toronto – a funky upscale design hotel and party hotspot located in downtown Toronto

This trendy hotel is right in the heart of downtown Toronto, close to all the shopping, dining, arts, music and culture of this buzzy city. The funky design by creative agency SidLee uses bright jewel tones and velvet 70s-style furniture to create inviting spaces.

The guest rooms at the W Toronto look out over the greenery-filled inner courtyard and have luxury fittings like padded headboards, luxe fabrics and seating, and artwork with quotes by the city’s famous hometown writer Charles de Lint.

Guests can use the fitness room any time of the day or night, and recharge at the Public School coffee house or the rooftop bar Skylight with indoor-outdoor seating and a live DJ. The menu at The Living Room is built around Toronto Tapas, celebrating the diverse city neighborhoods.

• To book, check prices or availability for W Toronto

9. Kimpton Saint George Hotel, an IHG Hotel – an elegant upscale boutique hotel with a vintage chic vibe based in a central downtown location

Set in the bohemian downtown Bloor-Yorkville neighborhood, Kimpton Saint George Hotel gets in the spirit with furniture and lighting designed and made by local artisans, Toronto-inspired artwork and a design of interior wooden arches that echo local architecture.

You’ll find the hallmark Klimpton luxury in the rooms and suites, which are designed to look like apartment homes rather than impersonal hotel suites. There’s a morning tea and coffee service, and a fitness center

You’ll find a range of restaurants and bars within walking distance, or you can eat in at the hip gastropub The Fortunate Fox.

• To book, check prices or availability for Kimpton Saint George Hotel

10. The Broadview Hotel – a stylish quirky-chic place to stay in Toronto housed in a historic redbrick building dating from 1891

The historic landmark 1891 building in Toronto’s east end has had a chequered past, but was renovated and restored to create a 55-room boutique hotel that also serves as a gathering place for the neighborhood.

The highly Instagrammable hotel interiors merge gracious touches of the past like chandeliers and red velvet drapes in the rooms with clean, contemporary lines and spaces full of light.

The rooms provide a pleasant retreat with stylish decor, wood floors, floral panels, vinyl records and minibars with local gourmet foods, and many have private terraces.

Onsite bars and restaurants like the Rooftop bar, The Civic with its old-world glamor, and the Bistro+Bar are popular destinations in their own right

• To book, check prices or availability for The Broadview Hotel

11. The Anndore House, part of JDV by Hyatt – a unique contemporary boutique hotel set in the heart of Toronto’s downtown

This stylish hotel is just steps away from Yonge Street, Toronto’s most famous thoroughfare, and makes a great base to explore the rich, cosmopolitan culture of the city, with designer boutiques, museums, international cuisine, music and nightlife.

The decor is a mixture of classic and playful, with touches of industrial chic.

Rooms are likewise a mixture of comfort and fun with comfortable beds, plush and soft leather seating, and views of Yonge Street and the city. Quirky accents like iPod-compatible record players and old-fashioned rotary Bakelite telephones add a playful retro flavor.

Onsite you’ll find a well-equipped fitness center, the Crow’s Nest breakfast cafe, and Mediterranean-inspired cooking at Constantine Restaurant and Lounge

• To book, check prices or availability for The Anndore House, part of JDV by Hyatt

12. The Ivy at Verity – elegant upscale boutique charm featuring an award-winning restaurant located in a restored 1850s chocolate factory 

Toronto’s smallest boutique hotel offers just four beautifully designed bedrooms and is attached to Verity, the city’s premier women’s club. Housed in a converted 1850s chocolate factory in the Queen Street East District, it features first-class spa facilities, and some are available for females only, the 4-star exceptionally rated Ivy at Verity is an exclusive place to stay.

As well as an excellent downtown location (a 9-minute walk from Old City Hall), interiors are bold and eclectic with plenty of interesting antiques thrown in, while the distinctive bedrooms are bright, elegant and spacious and offer mod cons, in-room spa services as well as French doors that open up onto little balconies overlooking a tranquil 19th-century courtyard.

Guests at this chic and unique Toronto hotel can also enjoy dinner at the George Restaurant which has been serving first-class cuisine since 2004 or take afternoon tea in the colorful lounge. 

• To book, check prices or availability for The Ivy at Verity

13. Bisha Hotel – Toronto’s new creative and cultural hotspot with rock star chic decor and great views

The 4-star exceptionally rated Bisha Hotel is an unabashedly original, five-story hotel that is definitely designed to impress, complete with one whole floor having been designed by rock God, Lenny Kravitz himself!

Located at the heart of the Entertainment District (a minute’s walk from the King St West at Blue Jays Way LRT station), this very cool Toronto hotel packs a punch with plenty of black marble, crushed velvet and bold Warhol prints throughout.

The bedrooms are full of over-the-top touches like antique armoire’s paired with bar carts and patent-leather sofas, as well as a pretty cool-looking collection of artwork on every wall. Bush’s restaurant is home to the highly regarded chef, Akira Back and serves unusual Asian fusion, while the KOST swish rooftop terrace serves Mexican breakfasts on porcelain tabletops on the 44th floor.

There’s an infinity pool, fabulous city views and the bar is dark and atmospheric and perfect for working your way through the lengthy whiskey list. Toronto’s newest cultural hub and hotspot!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Bisha Hotel

14. SoHo Metropolitan Hotel – a stylish upscale downtown hotel that is one of the best design hotels in Toronto

Located in downtown Toronto (1.3 km from the Harbourfront Centre) The “SoHo Met” as it is affectionately known locally, is a stylish boutique hotel with a difference.

Luxurious and indulgent, yet somehow subdued and understated at the same time, the 4-star SoHo Metropolitan Hotel offers sleek sleeping quarters with cozy furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, European plush duvets, and Italian bed linen, as well as marble-clad bathrooms with deep soaker tubs.

Alternatively, treat yourself to their 3-story penthouse suite which comes with a private glass elevator and a roof terrace. Located close to the CN Tower and within easy reach of the entertainment district, the trendsetting Toronto hotel makes a great base from which to explore the city.

It comes complete with its very own hip cocktail bar, swimming pool, steam room, fitness center, and a complimentary luxury sedan provides a morning shuttle service to Downtown locales. 

• To book, check prices or availability for SoHo Metropolitan Hotel

15. The Hazelton Hotel – one of Toronto’s leading luxury hotels with a spa located in the upscale district of Yorkville 

The 5-star exceptionally rated Hazelton Hotel offers luxury by the bucket load, as well as first-class service and a real high-end feel.

Located in the tree-lined, up-market district of Yorkville, the trendy Toronto abode is just a two-minute walk from Toronto’s designer shopping strip, the Mink Mile.

The plush bedrooms are spacious and uncluttered and offer first-class touches like high thread count bedding, granite bathrooms, and a bathtub big enough for two. Upgrades off super lush balconies.

The on-site restaurant, One Canada, is led by one of Canada’s leading chefs and is a destination on its own merit. There’s also a superb art collection and a zen-like health club and fine wines complement a spa and the breakfasts are pretty darn good too!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Hazelton Hotel

16. Executive Hotel Cosmopolitan – find your zen at this upscale spa hotel which is a leader in lifestyle hotels

Sleek suites with floor-to-ceiling windows come as standard at this upscale chic Toronto hotel that is just a 2-minute walk from the sporting events at Roger Centre.

Private balconies, high-quality linens, rainfall showers, and flat-screen TVs also add to the superior feel of this city center hotel.

Communal areas at the 4- star highly rated Executive Hotel Cosmopolitan are bright and functional, while the lobby area features a light installation created by the famous glass artist and glass fusion pioneer Rob Synder.

There’s an onsite restaurant that has an extensive wine list, while the gorgeous SpaZen Spa is one of the finest Spa’s in all Toronto.

• To book, check prices or availability for the Executive Hotel Cosmopolitan

17. The Beverley Hotel – sociable minimalist chic located right in the heart of downtown Toronto on the city’s famous Queen Street

Offering a subtle blend of minimalist design and comfort, the highly-rated Beverly Hotel is surrounded by trendy shops and restaurants in the popular Downtown location of Queen Street West.

A quirky boutique hotel with a sense of fun as well as stylishly quirky inviting bedrooms that offer trendy glass and wood decor, a full art scene wall murals, music docking stations and free WiFi, you can be sure to enjoy a good night’s sleep here.

Close to the Osgoode Subway Station, and just a 5-minute walk from the nightclub and theatre district, the cool and funky Toronto hotel offers functional and stylish accommodation.

The on-site restaurant serves up locally sourced fare and the sociable and hip Rooftop Bar serves you a wide range of drinks while you enjoy the views out across the city.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Beverley Hotel

18. The Windsor Arms – a European-themed upscale Toronto boutique hotel housed in an opulent 1927 building 

This classic 1927 building is just a short walk from the luxury shops and restaurants on Bloor Street and offers high-end European-style accommodation.

Plush suites at the 5-star highly-rated Windsor Arms Hotel comes complete with butler service, French-style custom-made furnishings and separate living areas that include musical instruments such as baby grand pianos or harps.

Guests at this beautiful Toronto Hotel can go all out on the Euro-themed interiors when enjoying cake in the French-style tea room, or a pint or two in the British-inspired public house.

The Windsor Arms also offers an upscale spa with a panoramic terrace, a large and attractive swimming pool, and a private screening room.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Windsor Arms

19. Loft – Entertainment & Financial District – hip and trendy apartments with great views located in downtown Toronto’s entertainment district

Right in the heart of Toronto’s financial and entertainment district, these apartment-style accommodations have all the features that make urban loft living so appealing.

There are high ceilings, wood floors, large windows that let in the natural light, and tons of space to spread out and get creative.

The Loft – Entertainment & Financial District have an understated, restful decor and the lofts have balconies where you can relax and enjoy the city views. The apartments are fully equipped with an open-plan living area and kitchenette containing dishwasher, stove and fridge.

There’s also a fitness center and lounge area, and all kinds of restaurants nearby. The location is close to the famous landmark CN Tower and Union Station. Also nearby are the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto Union and the Air Canada Centre.

• To book, check prices or availability for Loft – Entertainment & Financial District

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