Looking for the best luxury boutique hotels in Toronto?
We hotel hopped around downtown Toronto searching for the city’s trendiest art and design adorned accommodation options.
Read our Boutique Hotels Toronto Guide to find the perfect petite property for your next visit to Hogtown!
These popular Toronto Boutique Hotels typically have under 200 rooms, offering a more intimate experience when staying in Canada’s vibrant “city on the lake.”
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Luxury Boutique Hotels Toronto Guide
So how does one define Toronto Boutique Hotels?
Before visiting the properties in our list we researched online to see what other publications had written about the best boutique hotels in Toronto. We were gobsmacked as many articles featured famous luxury hotel brands like Fairmont, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton.
These publications seem to be misinformed, assuming boutique hotels and design hotels are one and the same.
It’s best to look to hotelier industry experts to help define the term, “Boutique hotels are small-inventory, design-driven, unique hotels with their own character, personality and storytelling at the heart of their concept. Positioning is secondary for these hotels as they focus on authenticity and personalization.”
Boutique hotels began appearing in the 1980s in major cities like London, New York, and San Francisco. Years later when the accommodation trend caught on international hotel chains began to establish luxury boutique sub-brands to capitalize on the growth of the sector.
In Europe where boutique hotels are often the most luxurious accommodation option in a destination (thanks to upscale outfits like Relais & Châteaux) the definition typically includes properties with no more than 100 rooms and suites.
In North America and Asia boutique hotels often have a bit more wiggle room, typically offering no more than 200 rooms.
All of the Boutique Hotels in Toronto featured in our guide have a very particular vibe. There is an air of independence here and personalized service that you won’t find at a towering 500+ room mega hotels.
We’ve spent the last decade visiting the Best Luxury Boutique Hotels in Ontario so are delighted to finally share our accommodation list for downtown Toronto.
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St W, 416-531-5042
The Drake Hotel reopened 17 years ago, transforming a historic 19th-century building into a world-renowned contemporary art and culture destination that has helped revitalize West Queen West.
Built in 1890 as Small’s Hotel, the property was frequented by passengers on the nearby Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1949 it was expanded and renamed The Drake, but the hotel eventually closed with the closure of the railway station. In the 1970’s it was a flophouse, and later in the 80s and 90s it was a punk bar and rave venue.
In 2004 the property was reinvented as one of Toronto’s first, stylish boutique hotels. It quickly became one of North America’s most talked about art & design hotels, offering quirky rooms, trendy cocktail bar, elevated comfort food restaurant, sparkling rooftop patio and alternative music venue in the dark corners of its underground.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to enjoy a staycation at The Drake Hotel, taking time to indulge in the properties famous Drake Hotel Brunch as well as cocktails on the al fresco Sky Yard rooftop patio.
In more recent years the legendary Toronto boutique hotel brand has expanded to launch an award winning property in the heart of Ontario wine country in Prince Edward County. During my visit to the Drake Devonshire I had dinner with a pretty lakeside view at the boutique hotels now iconic Drake Devonshire Restaurant.
In 2021 The Drake Hotel launched its modern wing, adding 32 additional guest rooms, a bold new art collection and intimate Queen Street West facing bar in its eye-popping lobby.
The Drake Hotel’s Modern Wing is a 5-story building adjoining the original hotel, capped with a polished steel and cantilevered rooftop level suite.
New guest rooms are welcoming and whimsical, decorated in rich colours with warm woods, textured fabrics, custom carpets, in-house designed blankets and curated wallpaper that compliments the original art pieces that elevate each room.
- If you’re staying at The Drake Hotel we suggest booking one of the rooms in the modern wing to get a taste of the properties freshest accommodations.
- Luxe room amenities include in-room tablets for contactless concierge services, USB charging ports, staycast-enabled large screen televisions, Frette linens, comfy Drake robes, Mailn + Goetz bath products and locally sourced mini bar treats.
- The Drake is an entertainment venue all on its own and a great place to mix and mingle with locals. We suggest planning your trip around the hotels programming schedule so you can experience a Saturday drag brunch, Sunday high tea, late night concert or poetry slam.
- The Drake Hotel is famous for its excellent food and drink program. Hipsters in the west end rave about The Drake’s weekend brunch, The Lounge has a comfort food menu that is regularly refreshed and updated, and in the warmer months of the year The Sky Yard ranks as one of Toronto’s best rooftop patios to enjoy sips and nibbles under the sparkling night sky.
The Windsor Arms
18 St Thomas St, 416-971-9666
At the Windsor Arms, historic and new-millennium amenities are fused together to create a delicate balance of old-world charm and modern decadence.
Located in Toronto’s fancy Yorkville neighbourhood, the building dates back to 1927 when the University of Toronto, with its neo-Gothic buildings and distinctive piers, porches, and crests were architectural marvels of the burgeoning metropolis.
Back in the 30s the original idea was to create a hotel residence to blend in with the university’s signature, Victorian buildings.
Nowadays, the Windsor Arms Hotel plays home to visiting A-listers, big-ticket musicians and prestigious jet-setters.
Did you know Elizabeth Taylor once got engaged to Richard Burton here? Other notable past guests include Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Edward Norton, Demi Moore, Clint Eastwood, Jessica Lange and Sean Penn.
The hotel features 28 perfectly appointed suits all of which were designed by the hotel owner George Friedmann.
Most of the stylish suites feature a unique butler’s pantry, oversized bathroom with limestone floors, comfy living room, state of the art sound system, Nespresso maker and Molton Brown amenities. Each suite also features a musical instrument for guests to enjoy and include baby grand piano, harp and guitar.
- Since 1927, High Tea at the Windsor Arms has been ranked as one of the Best Toronto High Teas. The hotel offers plenty of nooks for sipping loose leaf: French-style lobby tea room, majestic purple room with original working fireplace or behind velvet drapes in the romantic Russian Red Tea Room.
- The Toronto boutique hotel offers guests a full-service spa, featuring a healing salt cave, indoor Bromine Salt Pool, 2 Scandinavian-style dry saunas, fitness centre and RMT Massage. In the summer months spa guests can relax on the hotel’s rooftop terrace.
- Windsor Arm Hotel’s fine dining concept, The Gatsby, has an impressive wine cellar with a 20k capacity. Chef Alessandro Panattoni crafts a seasonally inspired menu with highlights including Sea Bass Acqua Pazza, Red Wine Marinated Beef Short Ribs and Cacio e Pepe.
Kimpton Saint George
280 Bloor St W, 416-968-0010
The Kimpton Saint George is a Toronto boutique hotel located on Bloor Street West in the heart of The Annex near Yorkville.
The IHG property opened in the summer of 2018, offering visitors to Toronto a sophisticated and playful accommodation option.
The 14-storey hotel integrates elements of Toronto’s unique culture, with nods to the Annex’s heritage homes and community design.
Skip inside and you’ll find eye-popping art murals, custom designed furnishings and artwork created by celebrated Canadian artists. The interior design showcases Canada’s natural earthy colour palette, layered with wood and stone.
The Kimpton Saint George features 188 artfully designed guest rooms, 20 chic suites, fitness centre, meeting space and an onsite gastropub.
The rooms and suites at Kimpton Saint George were designed to feel like an apartment with a collection of art and furniture sourced over time.
Natural textures in marble, wood and stone contrast with custom carpets that feature a classic diamond herringbone pattern.
Freestanding wooden armoires made of natural oak and caning mimic the Toronto boutique hotel’s curved archways. Peak inside and you’ll spot a hat tip to Trinity Bellwoods, a sculpture of the parks famous albino squirrel.
- Suite guests enjoy unique amenities like luxurious Atelier Bloem bath products, TEAC turntable systems with selection of vinyl records, complimentary morning coffee and tea service, in-room yoga mat, and access to Kimpton-branded PUBLIC bikes.
- All accommodations are pet-friendly with no weight or size limitations or additional fees. Separate pet-free floors ensure guests with allergies are cared for.
- Kimpton Saint George’s signature experience is its fun evening social hour. Each night at 5pm guests gather in the Living Room for a complimentary wine tasting with bottles by Niagara on the Lake winery Pillitteri Estates.
- The Fortunate Fox is the hotel’s onsite restaurant. The hip gastropub offers an elevated take on pub classics and a top drawer selection of spirits and local craft beer.
- Those looking to splurge on a moment of rest and relaxation can book in-suite beauty services with Toronto’s celebrated Radford Studio, which is ranked as one of the top providers of quality facials in the city.
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The SoHo Hotel
318 Wellington St W, 416-599-8800
The SoHo Hotel is an 89-room luxury boutique hotel located on Wellington Street in Toronto’s vibrant Entertainment District. It first opened its doors in April, 2003.
Situated in a lavish condominium complex, The SoHo Hotel features a sleek contemporary lobby graced by Chihuly art; chic over-sized luxury suites with panoramic views of downtown via floor-to-ceiling windows; and state-of-the-art Fitness Centre with indoor pool, hot tub and steam room.
The Gluckstein-inspired décor of the hotel has been augmented with select pieces of art installed around the property, such as an original photograph of Steve Jobs and works by Peter Andrew Lusztyk, which includes his famous Canadian Dollar Bill series.
The SoHo Hotel has some of the largest hotel rooms in Toronto, which feature separate dressing areas and bathrooms with heated marble floors.
Overnight guests will find Molton Brown bath amenities along with Italian linens by Frette. A unique Pillow Menu offers everything from buckwheat, ObusForme, real down, memory and body pillows.
The hidden gem of The SoHo Hotel Toronto is its one-of-a-kind, 3-storey Presidential Penthouse Suite.
Sitting atop the hotel, the jaw-dropping penthouse is composed of two separate one-bedroom suites, offering a total of over 4,000 sq ft. of pure luxury. The space was updated in 2020 and now includes a hot tub on a large rooftop terrace with views of the CN Tower and Rogers Centre. It’s the kind of over-the-top suite you’d expect Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift to feel very at home in after performing at the nearby Scotiabank Arena.
- If you like to keep fit on holiday (or an extended work trip) you’ll be impressed by the hotel’s fitness centre. Dalton Brown, a famous personal trainer to stars like Madonna and Pink helped design the gym at The SoHo Hotel. The state-of-the-art health centre also features an indoor saltwater pool, hot tub and steam room.
- The SoHo Hotel is a popular hangout for celebs in September as it’s located in the heart of TIFF-town. Hollywood heartthrob Mark Wahlberg announced his family’s Boston-based Wahlburgers concept would be launching in 2014 during a lavish party at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. If you’re a sports fan we suggest visiting Wahlburgers to watch a game and feast on some of Toronto’s best burgers.
- Pizzeria Moretti is a trendy Italian restaurant located on the hotel’s main floor. Visit for dinner to enjoy craft cocktails, fine wine and selection of authentic Italian dishes like pizza, pasta and and quality meat and seafood grilled to perfection.
- In the morning skip downstairs to the hotel lobby and wake up to the world at Mortetti Caffe, which serves top notch espresso, breakfast pastries, and brunch classics like avocado toast and smoked salmon topped toasted bagels.
Annex Hotel
296 Brunswick Ave, 647-694-9868
The Annex Hotel is an art and design lovers boutique property located conveniently between Spadina and Bathurst on Bloor.
The Toronto boutique hotel is a hidden gem in The Annex neighbourhood as its entrance is tucked away in an alleyway just south of Bloor on Barbara Barrett Lane.
If you’re looking for boutique hotels in Toronto offering something unique, The Annex Hotel has eliminated the need for a front desk and lobby by making the customer service experience entirely digital.
On the day of check in guests are sent a text confirming their room number and unique access code. Upon arrival go straight to your room, type in their code and step into your new home away from home.
Guests can text the hotel throughout their stay for concierge and customer service needs. Want an additional pillow for your bed? No need to call housekeeping. Just text the hotel and a staff member will arrive in just minutes.
The Annex Hotel first opened in 2018 and is housed in a heritage building. In its former lives the space has acted as a horse stable as well as several iconic bars like The Green Room.
The trendy Toronto boutique hotel is inspired by simple, functional design. The rooms are designed by award-winning firm: AC Studios and have been featured in Dezeen magazine.
Luxurious bath amenities are provided by Grown Alchemist and comfy mattresses are the same you’d find at a Ritz-Carlton.
You won’t find any old landlines or TVs from another era at The Annex. Instead, guests enjoy an iPad Pro pre-loaded with streaming services, a record player with a curated record selection.
The Annex Hotel’s most coveted suite is room 301, an expansive room that feels like a beautiful New York City loft. Wrap around windows offer pretty views overlooking the neighbourhood with eye-catching street murals below.
- The Annex is the perfect boutique hotel in Toronto to book if you’re looking to enjoy a neighbourhood vibe. It’s a great option for out of towners visiting family or friends who live in this leafy residential neighbourhood.
- The tech-savvy customer service experience is perfect for those who like prompt and friendly service. If you dislike waiting in line to check in at a hotel you’ll love the DIY experience.
- Guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s cafe each morning, which features tea and coffee, croissant breakfast sandwiches and sweet pastries.
- The hotel’s wine bar features a well curated selection of natural and biodynamic wines as well as creative craft cocktails. The intimate interior feels like a Parisian bistro and during our dinner we couldn’t help but notice all the tables seemed to be filled with locals on a first date.
- The Annex Wine Bar menu features French bistro classics like steak frites, oysters, and steak tartare.
- On a sunny day skip outside to enjoy your breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks on a petite al fresco patio surrounded by pretty ivy, which crawls up the hotel’s brick walls.
Gladstone House
Looking to stay at one of the most historic boutique hotels in Toronto? Gladstone House is the oldest operating hotel in the city, originally established in 1889.
When it first launched Gladstone House was a grand railway hotel, serving the nearby Parkdale trail station. Today, the boutique hotel in Toronto’s west end has been lovingly restored, delighting guests with its contrast of historic architecture and contemporary art.
Art at Gladstone House focuses on local and regional artists, including a combination of permanent and temporary exhibitions. In the past Gladstone House has regularly hosted fun art parties and music festivals, one of our favourites being Come Up To My Room.
Gladstone House is a 55 room boutique hotel located in the trendy West Queen West neighbourhood that features a restaurant and several event spaces.
Throughout the hotel, historical and contemporary elements are interwoven. The original millwork in the lobby for example is complemented by new panels, trim and baseboards in a heritage style. The check-in desk and fireplace are sourced vintage pieces, and the accompanying lobby furniture is a combination of new and reupholstered vintage.
Gladstone House’s iconic elevator is one of Toronto’s few remaining hand-operated elevators. The elevator is birdcage style, characterized by open grillwork, which was popular around the turn of the 20th century.
The hotels newly reimagined guest rooms feature light hardwood floors, neutral accents, and exposed brick walls.
The rooms at Gladstone House are tailored to meet the needs of both leisure and business travellers and include clever solutions to optimize space and complement their high ceilings and picture windows. Bathrooms include glass enclosed showers and locally crafted bath amenities.
- Gladstone House is the perfect Toronto boutique hotel for those looking to situate themselves in the West End. It’s particularly perfect for history buffs, architecture lovers and contemporary art fans.
- The hotel has its very own art curator, who handpicks local artists to decorate each room. A stellar stand out was Cole Swanson’s Terra Nimbus, a hand-rendered mural using mineral colours as well as pigment from the hotels very own heritage red brick.
- Gladstone House recently renovated the hotels basement, which now features fun fitness rooms where you can take pilates classes, run on a treadmill or workout with free weights. The subterranean spaces are cool for a sweaty gym session and feature graffiti by local street muralists.
- The Bistro & Bar is the hotel’s eye-catching dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bright and spacious with a laid back atmosphere, guests and locals gather here to tuck into weekend brunch and elegant dinners. Highlights from the menu include the Melody Burger, Salmon Tartar, and Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich.
- The hotel hosts a popular Games Night every Monday, a great way to meet locals over a game of cards.
Broadview Hotel
Looking for the best boutique hotel in Toronto’s east end? The Broadview Hotel is located in the city’s historic Riverdale neighbourhood near Leslieville.
Originally built in 1891, the historic building has been meticulously restored and reimagined as a 58-room boutique hotel, which is now one of the east end’s most popular dining destinations for locals in-the-know.
The Broadview Hotel is most famous for its stunning and spacious Toronto rooftop patio, which offers unobstructed views of the city’s skyline and Don River.
With a 360° glass, pyramidal skylight, and expansive indoor and outdoor rooftop terrace, the Broadview Hotel’s Rooftop is a sublime spot to sip and nibble both day and night.
Some of the Broadview Hotel’s spacious rooms feature outdoor terraces for lounging and relaxing, as well as urban views looking out over the hustle and bustle of Queen Street East or Broadview Avenue. Rooms on the hotel’s north façade look over Riverdale and up along the Don Valley River.
The pet-friendly rooms at Broadview Hotel feature a Eurotop king bed, luxury linens, custom, locally crafted bathroom amenities and blackout blinds.
All accommodations feature a vinyl record player and a fun minibar fully stocked with locally sourced sips and snacks. Rooms also feature curated artwork and unique architectural details ensuring each suite has individual character.
- Broadview Hotel is the perfect Toronto boutique hotel for those looking to situate themselves in the East End. The jaw-dropping views at The Rooftop make for an extra special romantic getaway, urban honeymoon or anniversary celebration.
- The hotels strengths are its private event spaces, which are popular for weddings, conferences and special events like birthdays and retirement parties.
- The Bistro & Bar is a Riverside hub located on the main floor featuring soaring windows. We recommend enjoying a frothy cappuccino and breakfast while watching the Queen Street Car flash by.
- The Rooftop on the 7th floor offers jaw-dropping views best paired with craft cocktails and a mouth-watering Asian dishes. The menu is a hat tip to the hotels close proximity to Toronto’s original Chinatown at Broadview and Gerrard.
- If you’re a music fan The Rooftop in the summer to enjoy beats by DK Michael Coombs the last Thursday of every month.
The Anndore House
The Anndore House is a charming boutique hotel in downtown Toronto conveniently located near the intersection of Yonge and Bloor near Yorkville. It’s the nicest hotel within walking distance to the Church & Wellesley Gay Village and sells out every June during Pride.
The hidden gem is tucked away on Charles Street across from one of our favourite Toronto ice cream spots, Nani’s Gelato.
The trendy boutique hotel in Toronto is part of the Joie de Vivre brand by Hyatt, which focuses on immersing its properties in local communities.
The property was initially built as a residential building before being converted into a boutique hotel when it opened in 2018. Legend has it the name Anndore comes from the first owner’s daughters, Anne and Dorothy.
The overall design of the hotel is a modern approach to a vintage feel. The 115 contemporary guest rooms are available in 4 styles: 2 Queen Bed Loft, 1 King Bed Corner Room, Master Suite and Residence Suite.
All rooms feature flat-screen plasma TVs, iPod compatible vinyl record player, Gilchrist & Soames London bath amenities, in-room laptop safe, ensuite bathroom with luxurious rainforest shower and vinyl record player with selection of records. In-room photography is by Turkish photographer Merve Ozaslan.
- The Anndore House is the perfect boutique hotel in downtown Toronto for those looking to explore Yorkville and the Gay Church & Wellesley Village on foot. It has an excellent location close to the Yonge and Bloor subway station makes getting around the city a breeze.
- Mini bar products, from snacks to drinks and bath amenities, are locally sourced from Canadian companies.
- The House Culture series features work by a different local artist, which hangs behind the front desk and rotates every few months.
- Anndore House is the only boutique hotel in Toronto with an onsite barber. To plan your trip perfectly, book a hair cut and shave at Crow’s Nest an hour before check in so you’re looking slick and sexy. Crow’s Next is also featured in our Toronto Barbershop Guide.
- The House Wellness program features an Earth Hour Sound Bath, in partnership with Operation Prefrontal Cortex, to raise money for wellness and meditation programs for those affected by gun violence in urban areas.
- Call yourself a java junkie? Visit HotBlack Coffee in the morning for a stellar cappuccino and flaky pastry.
- The hotel’s signature fine dining concept is Constantine, which features a menu that highlights Mediterranean cuisine. The heart of the restaurant is a wood-fire hearth and oven, so expect delicious grilled vegetables, quality meat cuts and seafood. Highlights from the Constantine menu include Ricotta Gnocchi and Wood-Fired Half Chicken.
- Looking to sip a late night boozy beverage? Skip into Constantine’s bar and you’ll find a special cocktail menu that boasts over 80 cocktails ranging from beloved classics to signature and experimental libations.
Hazelton Hotel
The Hazelton Hotel is arguably the most famous Toronto boutique hotel as it has played home sweet home to visiting A-list celebs during the Toronto International Film Festival for years, as well as touring musicians like Justin Bieber.
The distinct low-rise hotel sits perched in the city’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood, in the heart of Toronto’s fashion-forward, art-loving neighbourhood.
The Hazelton Hotel is Canada’s first and only Forbes Five-Star independent luxury boutique. Since 2008, the hotel has been an iconic landmark and the only member of The Leading Hotels of The World in the city.
Skip through the lobby and you’ll find a Hollywood-inspired interior offering layered textures, soft hues, bronze paneling, and opulent galaxy granite.
The luxurious boutique hotel in Yorkville is home to a private Silver Screening Room, Spa by Valmont, and ONE Restaurant, which has one of the best outdoor patios in Toronto.
The Hazelton offers 77 lavish hotel rooms and suites designed by interior designer Yabu Pushelberg. The sweet suites boast some of the largest rooms at any boutique hotel in Toronto. Luxury king rooms boast an average of 600 square feet, providing ample space for unwinding. Select rooms feature elegant French windows and Juliette balconies.
Sumptuous suites feature sleek bathrooms completed with heated floors, deep soaking tub, and separate rainfall shower. Guests can also enjoy their favourite TV shows while getting ready, as the bathroom mirror features an integrated LCD television. Additionally, guests can choose from a one-of-a-kind pillow menu, ensuring every night is a perfect sleep.
- The Hazelton Hotel is located in Toronto’s most luxurious neighbourhood. Its top drawer service and opulent interiors match the setting.
- Book a stay during the first two weeks of September during the Toronto International Film Festival and you are bound to run into famous directors, producers and actors from Hollywood to Bollywood.
- If visiting in the summer book brunch or lunch on the ONE Restaurant patio as its the perfect perch to people watch. Chef Darby Piquette showcases a dedication to culinary excellence by making fine-dining approachable. Must-try the beurre fondue lobster spoons.
- If you’re looking to treat yourself to an afternoon of rest and relaxation book a facial or massage at the exclusive and intimate urban oasis, Spa by Valmont. Spa guests can soak in a refreshing saltwater pool followed by a soothing eucalyptus steam room experience.
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