If I had the chance I’d always jump on a plane for a getaway but things aren’t always that easy. When the plane trip isn’t possible a little staycation at a local hotel can help soothe the travel itch, and recharge your battery, just a little. A couple of weeks ago my wife and I spent a night downtown at the Delta Toronto and it was just what we needed.
The Delta Toronto. Image by The Globe And Mail
Location
We were going to take the train into Toronto for our stay but eventually decided to drive in because the hotel was so easy to get to. It’s located right off the Gardiner Expressway in the South Core, which is Toronto’s newest entertainment district. Even if we did take the train we could’ve easily walked over because it’s very close to Union Station and subway. The only downside to driving in was the cost of parking, which was a bit pricey. The hotel is also connected to The PATH which has over 30km of shopping, restaurants and various other services. As a matter of fact, Guinness World Records lists The PATH as the world’s largest underground shopping complex, which was something my wife picked up on and made sure to point out to me.
Next door to the hotel is Ripley’s Aquarium which is perfect for a family outing. The Rogers Centre is also very close. In fact, it’s so close that we were able to see into the stadium from our room. If only I could’ve seen the field I would’ve stayed in the room, ordered up a steak, and cheered on the Blue Jays.
First Impressions Of The Hotel
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the lobby was just how big it is, but the space didn’t seem wasted. There were the usual things you’d find in a lobby, but it was modern and very nicely decorated. There were lots of seats and separate little sitting areas. Those spaces were perfect for impromptu business meetings or even sitting alone for some “me” time. I also noticed some interesting pieces of art in the lobby and the hotel itself that showcased both Toronto and Canada. The hotel rises to 46 floors, has 567 guest rooms which includes a number of suites designed for extended stays. These suites come with a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living areas, and king beds.
The Room
Our room was on the 43rd floor and the views were spectacular! My jaw dropped as I walked into the room, looked out the window and saw the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Billy Bishop Airport, and Lake Ontario right in front of me. I’m sure we stood at the window for at least 10 minutes taking in the view before exploring the rest of the room. Floor to ceiling windows flooded the room with natural light and opening up the drapes made it feel huge.
Modern furniture and a lovely piece of artwork over the king sized bed added some nice splashes of colour. Lets talk about that bed! Apart from it giving me a perfect night’s sleep, I liked how there were electrical outlets and lights on both sides so my wife and I could charge our devices, or read (surf Instagram) without disturbing each other. The room also included a mini-fridge, work area, lounger, lots of storage, robes and slippers. Other rooms offer a soaker tub that faces the window. Imagine relaxing in a nice warm bath with a book, a glass of wine and these views.
Amenities
I love being in water so I headed down to the 4th floor to check out the pool. It’s not the biggest but the huge windows made the whole space seem much bigger and provided a great view of the city. Next door to the the pool was the fitness centre. I thought it was well equipped for a hotel gym with a nice selection of cardio machines and free weights. They say that it’s the little details that make biggest difference.This couldn’t be more true because in the gym guests are provided with free fruit, bottled water and disposable headphones for their workout.
Dining
I don’t think the words “There’s nothing to eat” have ever been uttered in this hotel. Executive chef Keith Pears, is the man responsible for all the food offerings. Originally from Vancouver he moved to Toronto when he took on the role of Executive Chef at the hotel. He has quite the resume behind him. He started washing dishes when he was 15 years old and has been in the kitchen ever since. He has worked in a number of well known restaurants in British Columbia, competed in many food competitions and has been recognized as B.C.’s Chef Of The Year. He’s also a Chopped Canada champion and is the current Coach/Manager of the Canadian team at the Worlds Chef Global Chefs Challenge in Malaysia.
The main restaurant at the Delta Toronto is SOCO Kitchen + Bar whose menu can be described as Mediterranean inspired. Their sister restaurant, SOCO To Go, is more like a grab-and-go spot. They offer soups, sandwiches, pizza and pastries, as well as coffee and tea. I found some unique cocktails at Char No. 5, the whiskey bar that’s also located in the lobby. Needless to say I didn’t want to leave!
While it’s fun to hang out at any of those restaurants, I think the hottest spot in the hotel for the summer months is the new rooftop bar called, fittingly, The Roof. I can’t stop talking about the views of Toronto that this hotel offers and this spot delivers. I loved the relaxed vibe with a live DJ and games such as ping pong to help us pass the time. The menu up here isn’t a very big one. It’s made up of small bar snacks and delicious cocktails that went down very nicely.
After spending a night at the Delta Toronto I can see why it’s such a popular place. The location, the views (I’ll never stop mentioning the views), the friendly staff, the food and everything else make it the perfect spot for families, a couples getaway, or business travelers who need to be downtown. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, they’re also pet friendly so make sure and bring your furry friends.
Disclaimer: Our overnight stay at the hotel was complimentary but all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Perfect place. I liked your photos. Thanks for sharing!
I’m from Ontario and I love visiting Toronto! This looks like a terrific time :)
This is… WOW! from view, facilities and the food! OMG! This is really something to share, I bet this is so much worth it!
Stunning! I have always kicked myself for not visiting Toronto when I lived in New England and was so (kind of) close. One of these days I’ll get up there, and I want to stay at the here for sure!
It’s never too late to come visit.
I kinda love all the details of the hotel and the services. Great shots too
Thank you!!
What a great hotel! It’s comfortable that everyone stays in here will be satisfied.
Oh my, this hotel looks so luxurious. I love the modern vibe it has and it just screams elegance. It looks like an instagrammers dream!
You got that right, love of places to photograph.
Those are some great photos! Nice. I have never visited, but would love to one day. Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow, what a gorgeous hotel! Definitely a spectacular view from your room, and it looks like there were some fabulous amenities.
Looks like a great hotel. Last time I was in Toronto (and it has been a while) I stayed in the hotel connected to the baseball stadium, and that was a lot of fun.
Yep, that hotel is still there. Were you in a room facing the field?
Wow, 46 floors! The view from your room is awesome! :)
The views are some of the best in the city!
What an amazing experience it must be to stay over at this beautiful hotel. The building and interiors are divine. I would love to photograph a wedding in there
Yes it’s gorgeous in there. And there’s so many spaces I’m sure your photos would be beautiful.
I love the location of the hotel. Nice view from the window. Makes me want to save more for this kind of trip and vacation.
You should definitely come visit Toronto!
The hotel decoration is so modern looking, love the design. You are lucky to be given room up to 43rd floor, the high rise will enable you to see fantastic view. I am pretty impressed at the stunning view from the window. The pool and the gym area is another favorite of mine for this hotel, look super neat and fully equipped.
Yes we were definitely very lucky.
Wow! What a nice hotel you’ve just post. This is such a nice review for us traveler, you’ve given us a very good option when we are near the area.
I’m glad to have helped, hope you come visit Toronto soon.
The hotel looks like a great place to stay! The food looks so delicious! I hope I can visit Toronto some day!
Yes the food and drinks are delicious!
This is usually what we do too! Going out of Cebu is quite challenging for us since plane tickets are just expensive so we resort to going on weekend staycations too. It’s almost the same thing. Vacation is vacation. Hehe. Anyway, Delta Toronto seems like a really nice hotel to stay in with the family. I’d love to stay in the same room with the amazing view!
I agree vacation is vacation, anything to escape reality even for a short period is helpful. Hope we see you in Toronto soon.
Holy the view from your room is spectacular! Also, what a view from the pool
Also Roof at SOCO is now on my must visit list!
You have to come visit!
This hotel looks gorgeous! Love the rooftop bar area — that’s always a pro when I look for hotels!
Hey! The Hotel looks great !All the photographs looks amazing. Would love to visit it Soon. :)
WOW! This hotel has such a great setup! Ideal for photographers ( I loved all of your pictures!) My family was just talking about a trip to Toronto, perhaps I can convince them to stay at this hotel!
Thank you. This hotel is perfectly located in Toronto, I hope you all do make it here and have a great visit.