Photo courtesy Hotel X
Updated April 28, 2024 / Commissions may be earned from LuxuryOntario‘s affiliate partner links
Toronto, Canada‘s largest city and one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in North America, is renowned for its diverse culture, world-class dining, and iconic skyline.
This fast-growing city is also home to a substantial collection of opulent 5-star hotels, each offering unparalleled luxury, exclusivity, and top-notch services. In fact, the best luxury Toronto hotels are well-known as places where the rich and famous congregate when in town.
Whether you’re planning a business trip, a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or some time at the city’s TIFF film festival, be sure to read through our list of the best 5-star hotels in Toronto for ideas and inspiration.
The Best 5-Star Hotels in Toronto
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York is another of Toronto’s landmark hotels and has been hosting discerning travellers since its opening in 1929. One of the closest hotels to Toronto Union Station (it’s literally right across the road), it has long served as a gateway for both international and domestic visitors, welcoming them with a high degree of opulence and sophistication.
First impressions here are lasting impressions, with its high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and classic interiors setting the tone for the remainder of your stay. And while a big hotel with 1,363 luxurious guest rooms and suites, its public areas are big enough to never feel crowded.
The accommodations are all richly appointed with plush bedding, classy furnishings, state-of-the-art technology, and great city views, ensuring optimal comfort and convenience. Our favourite are the spacious Signature Suites, which come with separate living and dining areas. Upgrade to the Fairmont Gold experience and you’ll enjoy private check-in, an exclusive lounge, and personalized concierge services.
Dining at the Fairmont Royal York is an experience in itself, with several restaurants and bars offering a range of gourmet options. Guests can enjoy locally sourced dishes at REIGN Restaurant + Bar + Bakery, which combines the refinement of a Parisian bistro with the coziness of an English pub. Fancy a little tipple? The hotel’s Library Bar’s award-winning cocktails are a must, and are so good, in fact, we consider this one of the very best hotel cocktail bars in Toronto. Like The King Edward, the Royal York also puts on a grand afternoon tea experience.
Other amenities worth mentioning include a health club that features a state-of-the-art gym, a heated indoor pool, and a hot tub, and there’s also a luxurious spa on site. Meeting and event spaces are also available, which include grand ballrooms and versatile conference rooms.
LuxuryOntario Recommends: To learn more, including the latest reviews and rates, and to make reservations, visit Fairmont Royal York.
Hotel X
One of the newest as well as one of the best luxury hotels in Toronto, Located in Exhibition Place, Hotel X boasts some of the best views in the city. Situated on 12 landscaped acres, the hotel’s 404 guest rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Lake Ontario or over the Toronto skyline.
The hotel’s sports facility, Ten X Toronto, is huge and features four indoor tennis courts, nine squash courts, a Pilates studio, a yoga studio, a spin room, a workout room with cutting edge Techno Gym machines, a golf simulator, plus a swimming pool. There’s also a heated rooftop pool, as well as the three-story Skybar, a fine dining restaurant, and a spa.
Complimentary transportation to Union Station and Billy Bishop Airport is provided, along with free Wi-Fi and in-room bottled water. Other amenities include a 3,000-sq ft children’s play centre, a library, and a business center. This plush 5-star property is also pet-friendly.
LuxuryOntario Recommends: To learn more, including the latest reviews and rates, and to make reservations, visit Hotel X. For other ideas of great places to stay near Exhibition Place, click here.
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Located in the city’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto has 259 spacious guest rooms, including 42 of the city’s most luxurious suites. Highlights include tall floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping views of Toronto’s skyline, sumptuous linens, and custom furnishings. The real star, though, is the hotel’s stunning Presidential Suite, which boasts a grand living area, a private dining room, and a marble-clad bathroom with a deep soaking tub.
A close runner-up, the Four Seasons Executive Suites come with additional amenities and exclusive access to the Four Seasons Executive Lounge. Here, you’ll enjoy personalized concierge services, complimentary breakfast, and evening cocktails.
On-site amenities include the award-winning Spa at Four Seasons which offers a variety of treatments designed to rejuvenate and revitalize, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an indoor lap pool.
Dining is an exquisite affair, with the hotel’s Café Boulud ranking as one of the best restaurants in Yorkville (if not Toronto). Run by internationally renowned Chef Daniel Boulud, this fine-dining establishment serves French classics with a contemporary twist. Be sure to also spend time at the excellent d|bar, which offers a chic spot for cocktails and light fare crafted by expert mixologists. We like it so much, in fact, that we’ve ranked it one of our favourite hotel cocktail bars in Toronto.
LuxuryOntario Recommends: To learn more, including the latest reviews and rates, and to make reservations, visit Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. Check out our affiliate partner link for other great Yorkville hotel ideas.
1 Hotel Toronto
Despite being the new kid on the block, 1 Hotel Toronto has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the city’s luxury hotel space. Located a 20-minute walk from major Toronto attractions like the famous CN Tower and the Rogers Centre stadium, this lovely 5-star hotel prides itself on being eco-friendly. This commitment to sustainability is evident in its use of reclaimed materials, living green walls, and organic linens, all of which add up to creating a very “natural” accommodation experience.
This same aesthetic is carried over to the hotel’s accommodations, with its 112 rooms and suites all featuring custom organic cotton bedding, reclaimed timber, and native greenery, paired with state-of-the-art technology.
For an even more exclusive experience, the hotel’s signature suites, including the Cloud Suite and Greenhouse Suite, offer expansive living spaces, deep soaking tubs, and private terraces.
Topping the list of amenities, the rooftop pool is a must-visit. Other highlights include a 24-hour fitness center with personal training sessions upon request, two great dining establishments, and plenty of venue space. I also highly recommend the two on-site restaurants, as well as the excellent lobby bar.
LuxuryOntario Recommends: To learn more, including the latest reviews and rates, and to make reservations, visit 1 Hotel Toronto.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyle and travel writer and Co-Founder of Riley.
