As the adage goes: Location, location, location. When you're visiting a major city with as much to do as Toronto, the last thing you want is to waste time traveling between destinations.
The Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto delivers with a prime location within walking distance of the CN Tower, Harbourfront Centre, Kensington Market and the Hockey Hall of Fame. When you want to go farther afield, that's easy, too, considering there's a streetcar stop right in front of the hotel's door. If Uber is more you're thing, the hotel's doorstep serves as an easy pick-up spot.
Once you're ready to return from the hustle and bustle of Canada's biggest city, Sutton Place offers a calming respite with modern furnishings, a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Despite checking in much earlier than my check-in time, the staff greeted me with a warm welcome, offering to store my bags and granting access to the rooftop (indoor) swimming pool as well as the second-floor meeting area so I could catch up on work.
Once in the guest room, I found a thoughtfully designed space with a shocking amount of space. The guestroom included a king bed, a long desk, nightstands, a couch and plenty of storage. The bathroom—also spacious—felt contemporary and fresh with its huge mirror, gray tile floors and intricately tiled shower. My favorite part of the room, however, was the entryway with its perfectly sized table—ideal for dropping my keys, sunglasses and purse. (It also made it easy to remember everything when I once again left the room.) While appealing to most palettes with its gray-and-tan room design, I'd love to see more Toronto touches in the design; even some local artwork would make the aesthetic feel more memorable.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the room offered nice views of the street below and plenty of light during the daytime. Thankfully, heavy curtains allowed me to turn the room into a cocoon for sleeping overnight. Even though the hotel is located in the heart of the city, the room was quiet, making for a truly restful sleep before heading back out in the morning.
Speaking of morning, I grabbed breakfast at Abrielle, the hotel's ground-floor restaurant, which describes its menu as coastal Mediterranean. The baked eggs with peppers, tomato, manchego and parsley made for a savory start to the day, though service on the day I visited was slow. I also visited for dinner where the charred broccolini with lemon marmalade with lemon zest was a standout; I'd love to see more vegetarian mains on the menu, rather than as solely sides and appetizers.
Neighborhood
It doesn't get more Downtown Toronto than this. Sutton Place is located in the heart of the city with excellent transit access and walkable streets.
Nearby
1. CN Tower. The biggest tourist destination of all is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel. See incredible views—and if you're really brave, do EdgeWalk.
2. Kensington Market. This cool neighborhood offers quirky and delightful shops, as well as a diverse array of food options.
3. Hockey Hall of Fame. If you're a hockey fan, then you already know all about this spot that pays homage to Canada's favorite sport.
Time Out tip
Canada definitely isn't a tropical destination, but bring your swimsuit regardless! The indoor rooftop pool is worth a swim no matter the weather. This step-in, heated lap pool works well for adults who want to get exercise or kids who want to splash around. There's a changing room with lockers and showers, plus an adjoining fitness room.