Intro
So, it must be said that we don’t know Toronto that well. But the 1 Hotel Toronto is located in King West Village, which was named Canada’s coolest neighbourhood by Travel + Leisure. Now, we don’t know about that, but it’s next to the sport/concert arena, within walking distance of the iconic CN Tower, close to Lake Shore (waterfront), where you can run, watertaxi, and boat, and surrounded by shopping and dining options.
The Hotel
If you’ve been to a 1 Hotel, you’ll know the drill. Colours are neutral and they use local and reclaimed materials; here there’s local timber and driftwood everywhere, and lots of foliage around. The central fire at reception adds warmth, and the lighting throughout is warm.
The Vibe
This is definitely a buzzy 1 Hotel. On the ground floor, trendy types seem to be using the space for hot desking, and the rooftop pool and bar have some of the city’s best views.
The Rooms
This building has 10+ floors, so ask for a room high up to take advantage of those views. The Panoramic King has wraparound windows, and several of the rooms have bathtubs and seating areas. Other 1 Hotel touches include filtered water everywhere, yoga mats in rooms, speakers, Bamford products, and timers in the showers to remind you about water use. Colours again are neutral, and materials (mattress, bedding linens) are carefully sourced. Suites have kitchenettes/dining tables, with other perks like upgraded mini-bars and breakfast.
Restaurants/ Bars
There’s the 1 Kitchen, which is zero waste, farm-to-table, and has interesting healthy options, cold-pressed juice cocktails, and of course organic and biodynamic wines; the vibey Mexican/Mediterranean Casa Madera, which seems to have energetic, music-led weekend brunches and happening evenings; and Harriet’s Rooftop, for sushi with views.
Highlights
The rooftop: with the pool, views, sashimi, and outside tables, it’s a great inner-city offering. The proximity to Lake Shore is good if you like to run, and the use of their house car, an Audi e-tron, for bookable rides is helpful.
