Top 15 Cool And Unusual Hotels In Toronto

Toronto’s creative spirit and cosmopolitan energy shine through in its ever-evolving hotel scene. I spent a year living in the city, staying in everything from stylish boutique hideaways in historic buildings to sleek, design-forward stays with skyline views — and I’ve narrowed it down to my personal favorite 15…

1. The Ace Hotel

This design-forward, artsy boutique hotel was my favorite for its industrial-chic style by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and its buzzing lobby that doubled as a creative hub!

I loved how the design reflected the neighborhood’s past and the city’s spirit with red Toronto brick, Douglas fir, exposed steel beams, and concrete with amber-colored wood, retro-inspired custom furniture, and funky local art. It felt hip, creative, and very social with a laid-back, urban edge!

My rooms had a comfy king bed, a retro-style Tivoli radio, curated art, earth-toned furnishings with warm wood and copper accents, a minibar, and a walk-in shower with UKA eco-friendly toiletries. I especially enjoyed sipping on a Maple Cardamom almond milk Latte while sitting in the window seat at the large window each morning!

I unwound on the rooftop patio with its sweeping city views before heading to Alder for delicious wood-fired dishes from the open kitchen, stopped by The Lobby bar for a drink with creative small plates and then explored my base in the Garment District – I was just steps from indie galleries, coffee roasters, and the trendy restaurants along King Street West!

• To book, check prices or availability for Ace Hotel

My personal highlights…

• I especially loved the acoustic guitar and awesome vintage record player complete with vinyl records in my room – I couldn’t stop playing my favorite indie band Stars album “Set Yourself on Fire.”

2. The Drake

This arty boutique was previously a derelict apartment block but I personally think it’s has now been transformed into one of the hippest places to stay in the city! It stood out to me for its rotating contemporary art exhibits, buzzing live music venue, and playful details like rooftop lounging spaces and retro photo booths.

I discovered funky, eclectic interiors with vintage mid-century furniture, modern art, and pops of vibrant color mixed with trendy wood accents. It felt artsy, social, and a little mischievous — like staying inside a living gallery with a built-in nightlife scene.

My bedroom featured bright retro-style furniture and lighting, contemporary art, a custom-crafted bed with white linens, original artwork, a minibar stocked with local snacks, a Tivoli radio, Bose SoundLink Minis, and a cleverly curtained bathroom with a walk-in glass shower and Malin+Goetz toiletries. I particularly liked the chalkboard wall where I left a note for the next guest.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Drake

My favorite highlights…

• Watching the Canadian electroclash musician Peaches in their cool industrial-chic onsite basement music venue Drake Underground – I loved that it attracted so many other people from all over the USA not just other hotel guests!

3. The Gladstone Hotel

I loved how the oldest hotel in Toronto – housed in a characterful 19th-century Victorian building  – was one of the biggest supporters of the city’s thriving art communities – this place was seriously creative! 

I thought it was a unique gem because it was one of the city’s grand railway hotels with vaulted ceilings, two-story gallery space, a manual cage lift, and plenty of unusual art pieces. It also housed a rotating art exhibition and live music too!

I found that the heritage architecture had exposed brick, original woodwork, and stained glass, contrasted with bold contemporary art and quirky themed interiors. I love the vibe – it was creative, inclusive, and full of character! 

My uniquely artist-designed was stylishly quirky with a comfy bed with white linens, original art pieces, hardwood floors, vintage-inspired furnishings, an exposed brick accent wall and eco-friendly bath products. Staff told me that some of the rooms featured whimsical themed decor.

I wandered the hallways discovering the rotating art exhibits before ending the night with a craft cocktail in the funky, raucous Melody Bar, where I caught live music and even a film screening, and the next day I dined at the Café, enjoying local favorites cooked up by a rotating lineup of talented local chefs.

I also couldn’t have asked for a better spot — right in West Queen West, I stepped out into a neighborhood buzzing surrounded by indie galleries, trendy bars, and colorful street art.

My personal highlights… 

• Dining on their incredible Rancheros Tostada brunch which came with smashed avocado, pico de gallo, chili lime crema and refried beans. 

4. The Broadview Hotel

I was fascinated by ow historic 1891 landmark in Toronto’s east end has lived many lives — from offices and a community hall to a long-running local hotel — before being beautifully restored into a 55-room boutique property that now serves as a stylish gathering place for the neighborhood! It felt sophisticated yet playful!

My guest room was a pleasant retreat with stylish decor, wood floors, floral panels, vinyl records, a vintage-style minibar stocked with locally produced gourmet foods, original art, a Nespresso machine, and I especially loved the deep soaking tub which was set right in the middle of my room!

I sipped on a Riverside Negroni in the rooftop lounge while watching the sun set over Toronto’s skyline, headed to The Civic with its old-world glamour or the Bistro+Bar and then explored the trendy Riverside neighborhood where I surrounded by cool coffee shops, and indie boutiques.

My personal highlights… 

• I loved that my room minibars was stocked with locally produced treats which included Pilot Coffee, Ontario wines, SOMA chocolates, Bellwoods Brewery craft beers and Maple Syrup Popcorn!

5. 1 Hotel

A luxury, eco-conscious urban retreat in downtown Toronto won me over with its nature-meets-design philosophy, with reclaimed materials, lashings of greenery, and sustainability woven into every detail — from living plant walls to filtered water stations on every floor!

I really liked how the warm earth tones, reclaimed wood, stone accents, and native plants, plus floor-to-ceiling windows with city or lake views, created a serene, stylish, eco-luxe retreat that felt like a nature sanctuary in the heart of the city.

My room had sustainably sourced linens, natural-toned furnishings with wood accents and plants, a Nespresso machine with stoneware cups, a farm-to-minibar, city views, filtered water taps, and a rain shower with Bamford toiletries.

I relaxed by the rooftop pool with a Green Goddess cocktail while gazing at panoramic views of the CN Tower before heading to 1 Kitchen for farm-to-table dishes bursting with local flavor, then I unwound with yoga at The Field House, grabbed fresh fruit from the Lobby Farmstand, all while being right in Canada’s hippest neighborhood, King West Village, with Niagara Falls just a 1.5 hour trip away!

• To book, check prices or availability for 1 Hotel

My highlights… 

• I loved its eco-friendly policies and I especially liked my guest room Honeywell Inncom Thermostats that adjusted the airflow automatically!

6. Shangri-La 

I thought this luxurious, Asian-inspired five-star hotel was very cool spot for its East-meets-West elegance, soaring glass architecture, a grand lobby featuring a 13th-century Chinese temple door, and an impressive art collection.

The interiors were heavenly with refined and contemporary with Asian accents — I saw marble floors, rich wood paneling, silk textiles, and dramatic floral arrangements, I even spotted a gigantic ballroom! I loved the vibe here – it felt opulent, tranquil, and cosmopolitan — a serene escape with world-class service! 

My spacious guest room had floor-to-ceiling windows, a gorgeous king bed adorned with Frette linens, a Nespresso machine, heated marble bathroom floors, a loaner iPad and Acqua di Parma toiletries. I couldn’t get enough of relaxing in the freestanding oversized soaking tub complete with jets !

I enjoyed afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge with live harp music, then the spa, cocktail bar, garden terrace, screening room, pool cabanas, infrared sauna, and gym with yoga studio, while The Boss restaurant served uniquely Canadian dishes and 68 teas!

My highlights… 

• Indulging in the incredible Radiance botanical skincare facial which was infused with Sweet Orange, Ylang Ylang, and Damask Rose for a bright, hydrated glow.

7. Le Germain Hotel

I discovered this cozy, retro-modern boutique was a unique gem! It was built in an old hat factory and had a personalized, high-touch service with unique perks.

Inside I found that the decor was mix of retro modern and Scandi-chic with wood, soft textiles, modern furnishings, pops of color, and curated local art. It felt intimate, romantic, and quietly upscale.

My guest room featured sumptuous beds with luxury duvets, Molton Brown toiletries, a rainfall shower, a Nespresso machine, and oversized windows, with wood-and-concrete ceilings and Victorian bathroom sinks adding refined sophistication! I particularly loved the baby Bose stereos!

My personal highlights… 

• Starting the day with smashed avocado toast, grilled sourdough and Cold-Pressed Aloe Vera Juice in their rooftop terrace restaurant surrounded by hanging baskets filled with petunias and awesome city views!

8. Bisha Hotel 

This boldly original five-story hotel wowed me with its ever-changing collection of contemporary art and having a floor curated by Lenny Kravitz’s design firm!

I loved the moody, high-glam interiors by Studio Munge, with black marble, crushed velvet, gold accents, dramatic lighting, bold Warhol prints, and striking statement art pieces. 

My bedroom was home to over-the-top touches such as antique armoires paired with bar carts and patent-leather sofas, as well as a pretty cool-looking collection of artwork on every wall.

I sipped on a mezcal-based Smokeshow in the velvet-draped lobby bar, took a breakfast at Kōst 44 floors up, enjoyed Akira Back’s bold Asian-fusion dishes, swam in the rooftop infinity pool and saw incredible city views, and ended the night with a smooth Yamazaki 12 Year in the atmospheric whiskey lounge all just steps away from theaters, nightlife, and the CN Tower in the buzzy Entertainment District! 

My personal highlights… 

• The Lenny Kravitz–designed floor – I saw bold geometric carpets, black-and-white rock star portraits, funky red velvet sofas, and vintage music posters (especially the Rolling Stones 1975 Tour of the Americas poster)!

9. Hotel Ocho

I enjoyed my weekend stay at this small but perfectly formed hip, design-forward boutique hotel which was housed in a restored 1902 textile factory!

I admired how the decor celebrated its industrial heritage with exposed brick, soaring ceilings, original wooden beams, polished concrete, reclaimed wood, steel accents, and minimalist modern furnishings. It felt creative, urban, and effortlessly cool!

My guest room had a unique design with minimalist industrial-chic decor, marble and granite accents, a flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi, and an open-concept bathroom with a free-standing bathtub (which was my favorite feature)!  

To book, check prices or availability for The Ocho Hotel

My highlights… 

• I loved that I was located near the bohemian area Kensington Market – I spent a lot of time in the super-cute Moonbean cafe drinking their divine Salted Caramel Rooibos Matchas! 

10. W Hotel

This luxury lifestyle hotel was wow-inducing! It had a rooftop bar with sweeping skyline views, an Insta-worthy design inspired by Toronto’s diversity, and immersive programming from DJ nights to mixology classes!

The funky decor, designed by creative agency SidLee, mixed bright jewel tones, 70s-style velvet furniture, bright colors, statement lighting, modern art, and lashings of marble and brass. The vibe was awesome – I love how energetic, fashion-forward, and social it felt!

My guest room featured a gorgeous signature W bed with a padded headboard,, floor-to-ceiling windows, Bluetooth speakers, a trendy Illy coffee machine, and a spa-like bathroom with a rainfall shower and Davines toiletries. I particularly liked how it overlooked the greenery-filled inner courtyard! 

I sipped on cocktails at the Skylight rooftop bar which had indoor-outdoor seating, took a soak in the WET Deck’s heated pool, and ended the night with live DJ sets in the Living Room lounge over Toronto-inspired tapas. The 24/7 access to the fitness room and morning coffee runs to the quirky Public School café were also fun aspects! 

I couldn’t have asked for a better location – in upscale Yorkville, I was steps from designer boutiques, galleries, and some of the city’s best dining!

• To book, check prices or availability for W Hotel

My personal highlights…

• Tying their incredible gin-based Violet Sky cocktail which came smoking which created an exciting visual effect!

11. Kimpton Saint George Hotel

My room, designed to feel like a stylish apartment rather than a typical hotel suite, featured fine Frette linens, a Tivoli Bluetooth radio, original Canadian art, a work desk, a minibar with local snacks, and a spa-style bathroom with Atelier Bloem toiletries. I especially loved the striking wall mural of Toronto and playful art quotes!

I sipped on a Inniskillin Riesling at nightly wine hour in the lobby lounge, dined at the hip gastropub The Fortunate Fox or exploring the many nearby restaurants and bars.

It was also in the perfect neighborhood for my trip right on trendy Bloor Street, I was steps from the Annex’s indie shops and cafes, and a short walk to Yorkville’s designer boutiques and museums.

My personal highlights… 

• Being steps from upscale Yorkville and savoring the superb “Don’t Waste My Thyme” cocktail at the chic Parc Avenue Bar, made with thyme-infused gin and lavender-rosemary honey syrup.

12. The Anndore House

I have a real soft spot this chic boutique hotel in downtown Toronto – I really liked how it cleverly mixed vintage charm with a stylish modern edge. It’s cool and unique for its loft-style rooms with retro record players, locally curated artwork, and an in-house barbershop.

I thought the decor was awesome too which had an industrial-vintage with exposed brick, leather accents, mid-century furniture, and quirky art pieces. It had a real hip, creative, and effortlessly stylish vibe!

My room blended comfort and retro charm, with a plush Egyptian cotton–clad bed, leather seating, and city views, a quirky rotary Bakelite phone, a Illy espresso machine, Skoah bath products, and a rainfall shower and my favorite fun feature – a Crosley vinyl player complete with a curated vinyl selection! 

I spun vinyl on the in-room record player before heading downstairs for wood-fired pizza at Constantine, their Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, which sits alongside the Crow’s Nest breakfast café and a well-equipped fitness center.

I thought the location was awesome too – it was right near Yonge and Bloor, I was very near chic Yorkville boutiques and indie cafes!

My highlights… 

• I loved the arty details including the super-cute owl pillow adorning my four-poster bed and the black and white signed photo of Toronto-based rock star Neil Young!

13. The Ivy at Verity

This intimate, luxury boutique hotel tucked inside a restored 1850s chocolate factory was very unique! It was exclusive, four-room experience offering a private, club-like experience with access to a women’s-only members’ club and an award-winning spa!

I found interiors which had an elegant Parisian-inspired style with high ceilings, French antiques, rich fabrics, and hand-painted finishes and lots of interesting antiques. It had an atmosphere that was romantic, refined, and quietly indulgent.

My bright, elegant room featured a king bed with Italian linens, bespoke antique pieces, in-room spa services, and a bathroom with a deep clawfoot tub and heated floors. I really loved the French doors which opened out onto a private balcony overlooking a pretty tranquil courtyard!

I enjoyed a complimentary gourmet continental breakfast in the club lounge, unwound in the women’s-only Sweetgrass Spa with its ozonated pool, sauna, and steam room before indulging in a gourmet dinner at George, the hotel’s acclaimed fine-dining restaurant.

The location gave me easy access to many highlights I was right in downtown Toronto, so in walking distance of charming boutiques, theaters, and the busy St. Lawrence Market.

My favourite highlights… 

• Going for a unique “Buccal Massage” which pleasantly sculptured my face at their chic onsite Sweetgrass Spa!

14. SoHo Metropolitan Hotel 

I really liked this sleek luxury hotel in Toronto’s vibrant Entertainment District and thought it deserved a spot on the list for its celebrity-approved status, rooftop pet terrace, and world-class dining, including Luckee by Susur Lee and Wahlburgers!

I found decor that combined contemporary elegance with clean lines, polished wood, neutral tones, marble accents, and large windows which flooded the spaces with light. It felt upscale (but not intimidating!), polished, and cosmopolitan.

My sleek, spacious suite featured a luxury king bed with Italian linens and a European duvet, floor-to-ceiling windows, and tech touches like motorized blinds, a marble-clad bathroom with a deep soaker tub, heated floors, and a rainfall shower stocked with Molton Brown toiletries. I particularly loved my private terraces which had incredible skyline views and even a telescope for stargazing!

I dined on incredible truffle mushroom dumplings Luckee for Susur Lee’s, sipped on a Lychee Martini in the stylish lobby bar, relaxed in the hotel’s pool, steam room, fitness center, and then took a complimentary luxury sedan which shuttled me to Downtown in the morning! I stepped outside and I found myself in the Entertainment District, where I was very near theaters, nightlife, and the Rogers Centre.

My favorite highlights…

• I loved that they had an onsite store where I could buy everything from the Frette hooded bathroom in my room to the Orange + Bergamot Reed room fragrance! 

15. The Hazelton Hotel 

I discovered this five-star luxury hotel in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighborhood was a striking spot with a celebrity-favored status, a private screening room, and refined blend of art, design, and exceptional personalized service! 

Inside I saw an elegant contemporary design with rich wood paneling, marble finishes, plush textiles, and curated Canadian art. It felt discreet, sophisticated, and very classy!

My spacious guest room came with custom furnishings, a king beds adorned with Sferra linens, a granite bathroom with heated floors, deep-soaking tubs, and a separate rainfall shower stocked with L’Occitane en Provence toiletries. My favorite feature was the furnished Juliet balcony which overlooked Yorkville’s tree-lined streets!

I enjoyed an elegant à la carte breakfast at its ONE Restaurant, caught an art-house film in the hotel’s private screening room, unwound at the spa’s saltwater pool and eucalyptus steam room and admired the superb art collection, then dined on the on-site restaurant, One Canada, which was overseen by one of Canada’s leading chefs!

My favorite highlights…

• Starting the day with a super-healthy Isobolic Protein Shake and then dining on plant-based mushroom bolognese and eggplant schnitzels in the evenings in their chic onsite One Restaurant!

 

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