The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto

Apparently members of the Royal family stay at this beautiful hotel situated in downtown Toronto and who could blame them?

This hotel is situated on Front Street opposite Grand Union Station and handy for many attractions - see below. It was once the tallest building in Toronto though is now dwarfed by surrounding towers.

It is a wonderfully elegant hotel - sumptuously decorated with beautiful furnishings mostly in a ...
...staffed check in desk where the staff are extremely helpful.


ROOMS:

The hotel has 1365 rooms - the most basic of which are luxurious and have the following amenities:

• Air-conditioning with individual climate control
• Alarm clock-radio
• Bathrobes
• Cable television with in-room pay movies and express video check-out
• Coffee/Tea maker ... more

Apparently members of the Royal family stay at this beautiful hotel situated in downtown Toronto and who could blame them?

This hotel is situated on Front Street opposite Grand Union Station and handy for many attractions - see below. It was once the tallest building in Toronto though is now dwarfed by surrounding towers.

It is a wonderfully elegant hotel - sumptuously decorated with beautiful furnishings mostly in a blend of red and gold. On entering the hotel you find yourself in a huge open lobby with a mezzanine above, there is a long well staffed check in desk where the staff are extremely helpful.

ROOMS:

The hotel has 1365 rooms - the most basic of which are luxurious and have the following amenities:

• Air-conditioning with individual climate control
• Alarm clock-radio
• Bathrobes
• Cable television with in-room pay movies and express video check-out
• Coffee/Tea maker
• Hair dryer
• Iron and ironing board
• Mini-bar
• Windows that open to the outside
• Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and soap pack with shower cap
• In-Room Business Amenities:
o Computer data port
o Desk with business amenities
o Telephone with voice-mail

All rooms have a minimum of one King or one Queen or two double beds. (Note that King here is the Canadian King which is larger than a Queen unlike the UK).

There are junior and executive suites - some have just a sitting area whilst some have an extra bathroom as well. There are also two bedroom suites, plus a Governor General's suit, Prime Minister's Suite and the Royal Suite - the latter has space to entertain up to 16 people and is 2,470 sq. ft in area. Some of the one bedroom suites have a "parlour" with a sofa bed for extra guests.

The standard of cleanliness is extremely good, towels are changed every day if required, although as in most Canadian hotels you are asked to leave your towels on the rails if you can use them again as the country is conscious of the need to conserve water.

DINING:

As is usual in Canada most rooms are for "bed" only - except for special packages and the notable exception mentioned below. There is however below the lobby the "York's Kitchen" which serves a breakfast buffet or dishes to order and a reasonable price. It is open from 6:30 to 11:30am for breakfast then serves lunch from 11:30 to 14:30. Reservations are not required and dress is casual. Next to this is the York Deli for sandwiches etc which is open at the same times.

For evening dining there is the EPIC room on the lobby floor - (thought I believe breakfast and lunches are available there too). This is more elegant dining smart casual dress required and reservations necessary - indeed personally I found that there were too many fancy meals where I would have liked a choice of some plainer dishes. No doubt this would be sacrilege to the chef! Dinner is served between 17:30 to 22:00 - though I believe you can still purchase drinks after this time. This restaurant serves afternoon tea between 14:30 and 16:00.

There is also a gastro pub diner - Pipers - this is also located on the Path below lobby level and is open from 17:30 till midnight and dress is anything from jeans to dinner suits. The waiting staff used to sing to the diners but I do not know if they still do.

On lobby level this is also a bar called the Library Bar which is a lovely room - funnily enough lined on one side with books. The bar looks odd because unlike other bars the stools are quite low as is the bar - then you realise that the other side is much lower and the bar staff are not going along it on their knees!. There are comfortable chairs as well as bar stools and a decent variety of drinks - though do beware of the Bird Bath Martinis - they are delicious but extremely potent! Dress here is casual and the bar is open 12 noon to 1:00 am Monday to Friday with later opening Saturdays and closed Sunday.

I believe somewhere in the hotel (thought I have not seen it) there is a Benihana Japanese Steakhouse serving Teppan food and sushi dishes - I cannot say more as I know nothing about it.

There is 24 hour in-room dining - the service is quick and the food comes up still fairly hot, however, it is a little expensive - as by the way are the mini bars!

GOLD FLOOR:

Now exception to the "bed only" rooms. If you book a gold room which is a little more expensive, you will be situated on the 12th floor. This is where you check in and out too so ignore the lower reception. These rooms have little extras like toweling slippers and an umbrella for your use during your stay. Also, there is a continental breakfast available in the bar area. When I say continental breakfast - you can help yourself to a selection of cold meats, cheeses, toast or rolls, hard boiled eggs, porridge, fruit and yoghurts, croissants, smoked salmon, etc etc. Tea coffee and fruit juices are available too. This is included in the price of your room and trust me, you will not need to eat lunch if you breakfast here.

In the evening the bar area one this floor has hors d'ouvres between 18:00 and 19:00 I think. There is also an honour bar, beers spirits and wines - you simply note what you have and it is added to your bill. I am not absolutely sure but I think coffee might be available throughout the day in this area and I think it is free of charge. But any alcoholic drinks are on the honour system - not free of charge - they have quite large wine glasses though!

This area also has a couple of computer terminals in case you forgot to take your lap top and of course papers though the local paper is delivered to your room in the morning anyway!

PRESIDENT'S CLUB:

Like many hotels chains the Royal York being part of the Fairmont group is a part of the President's club programme.
.
Membership is free and gives you benefits such as express check-in and complimentary
high-speed Internet access, free local calls, and 500 airline miles per stay on qualifying rates,

Once you have stayed in any of the hotels ten times or stayed for 30 nights you go up to Platinum status. Platinum members can get extra benefits such as room and suite upgrades, complimentary night, access to Willow Stream The Spas at Fairmont, 500 bonus airline miles per stay and $100 USD dining credit.

OTHER FACILITIES:

There is a health club in the hotel, with swimming pool open 5:30 to 23:00 hours, a children's wading pool, whirlpool, saunas, steam rooms and a gym room with various exercise machines and free weights.

There is a baby sitting service, laundry and cleaning services, safe deposit boxes and booking service for tours etc. There is also a comprehensive business service with meeting and conference rooms and small office rooms available plus printing, binding and copying services, fax machines, etc.

Parking - the hotel does not have it's own car park, so you park in a public car park with which they have an arrangement but it still cost you something and is a bit of a pain finding it - round the back of the hotel, then getting yourself through into the hotel. When last there they did not have valet parking - I hope this has changed since.

Attractions and other places nearby:

PATH shopping complex - beneath hotel
Union Station - across the street
Air Canada Centre - 2 blocks
Metro Toronto Convention Center - 2 blocks
Hockey Hall of Fame - 3 blocks
CN Tower - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
Rogers Centre (SkyDome) - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
Eaton Centre (shopping) - 0.8 km (0.5 mile) - can be accessed entirely underground via the Path.
Harbourfront Centre - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
Toronto City Hall - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
Lake Ontario - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
Toronto Island Ferry Terminal - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
St. Lawrence Market - 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
University of Toronto - 1.6 km (1 mile)
Chinatown - 1.5 km (1 mile)
Canadian National Exhibition - 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
Royal Ontario Museum - 2.5 km (1.5 miles)

MY OPINION:

I have stayed in this hotel several times and I think it is a fantastic place. I do think that the choice of dining and amount of dining areas is a little limited for the size of the hotel. However there are restaurants nearby to which you can go should you wish. The service is really good and the standard of cleanliness and decoration is excellent. However, it is not a cheap stay - generally £150 per night and upwards, but if you want to treat yourself it is well worth the extra cost.
 

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