When searching for a glamorous place to lay your head in Toronto, an old world hotel like the Fairmont Royal York would be your only option! Hand-painted ceilings, travertine pillars, and crystal chandeliers greet you as you enter the main lobby filled with old world charm.
Built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1929, as the Royal York, this massive hotel has 1,365 guest rooms and suites each with an antique look via plush couches, wooden chairs and writing desks you’re afraid to damage. The bathroom is full of typical toiletries –shampoo, shower gel, conditioner – but, upon further analysis you realize these are hand manufacturedLe Labo Fragrances made with Centifolia rose, warm, spicy and woodsy notes such as cumin, olibanum, cedar and a touch of amber to relax you prior to bedtime. The sheets are crisp white, the mattress is soft yet firm, and your head sinks ever so slowly into pillows as drift into a dream state. The antique and homey décor coupled with modern bathrooms and technology, was not at all clashing, as many would think, but rather worked harmoniously to give the guest the best of both worlds.
The Fairmont Royal York hotel is a leader in eco-friendly initiatives. The restaurants like EPIC and Library Bar are a good place to get a good meal or stiff drink, while allowing the guest to feel eco-minded, as the hotel is noted for their sustainable seafood program and admired for their 3 beehives on the roof that supply honey for the kitchens.
The Fairmont Royal York is a hotel rich with history and it can be felt with every winding turn down the red carpeted hallways of the grandiose hotel. Stories begin to formulate in one’s head of the secret meetings that had transpired in the Library Bar or sordid love affairs from the mid 1900’s. I see advertising executives skipping work for an afternoon cocktail and mingling with socialites and transient businessmen. Some notable guests have includedQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles of Wales.
Great location is always listed as a traveler’s most important need when visiting a new city and Fairmont Royal York far exceeds that with prime real estate on Front Street. Situated directly across from Union Station – comparable to Stazione di Milano Centrale or New York’s Grand Central Station – is the heart of the city with over 120,000 passengers commuting via bus and train daily. The PATH, a 17 mile pedestrian tunnel below Downtown Toronto, is accessible through the hotel and allows guests safe passage to and from sights and shopping hotspots no matter the weather.
Major sights, neighborhoods and attractions are all around the Fairmont Royal Oak with the world’s tallest free standing structure, the CN Tower, and Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, only a mere 5 min walk. The entertainment, theatre, and financial district all converge around the hotel with a frenzy of people rushing to local events and venues to indulge in all that Toronto has to offer.