Frommer's Review
Fairmont properties tend to the gigantic, and this historic hotel built by the Canadian-Pacific Railroad in 1929 is no exception. It has 1,365 guest rooms and suites, and 35 meeting and banquet rooms. The old-fashioned lobby is magnificent; just sitting on a plush couch and watching the crowd is an event. Still, you have to decide whether you want to stay under the same roof with more than 1,000 others -- business travelers, shoppers, tour groups, and conventioneers. Service is remarkably efficient but necessarily impersonal; the downtown location, across from Union Station and just steps from the Theater District and the Hummingbird Centre, is excellent.
The guest rooms are furnished with charming antiques reproductions. Some are reasonably airy, but there's generally not much spare space. If you're willing to spring for a Fairmont Gold room (the extra cost is well worth it, in my opinion), you'll stay on a private floor with superior, spacious rooms, separate check-in and concierge, a private lounge, and complimentary breakfast.
If you're interested in pampering yourself, ask about special spa packages -- the Elizabeth Milan Day Spa, in the shopping arcade, is one of the best in the city. Among the multitude of dining and drinking spots in the hotel, the don't-miss ones are Epic and the Library Bar, which serves the best martinis in the city.
Travelers who won't leave home without Fido, fear not: Fairmont has a VIP (Very Important Pets) program. For an extra C$30 (US$29/£14) per night, guests and their furry friends can stay in a special "dog-friendly" room that comes with toys, treats, and other amenities. (Part of the extra fee is donated to the Toronto Humane Society.)
The hotel pays particular attention to accessibility, making adaptations to some guest rooms so that they are specially designed for wheelchair users, the hearing impaired, and the visually impaired. Every public area in the hotel is wheelchair accessible.
Hidden Gallery -- Even if you're not a guest at the Fairmont Royal York, take time to stop by the hotel. It's loaded with Art Deco charms, and it's got some tempting watering holes and places to dine. It also has its own gallery of photographs, which is located on the mezzanine level, just above the lobby. The black-and-white prints reveal a great deal of Toronto history, which, of course, is intimately tied to the hotel's. There are also candid portraits of some of the hotel's more famous guests, including one of a young Queen Elizabeth II.
Facilities: 5 restaurants; 4 bars/lounges; skylit indoor pool; health club; spa (w/special packages for guests); Jacuzzi; sauna; concierge; business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; same-day laundry service/dry cleaning.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
