The St. Regis Toronto: What's the draw
Flashy hotels often draw more youthful, raucous crowds, but loud decor and even louder restaurants sometimes leave me feeling completely overstimulated. The St. Regis Toronto is a soothing abode where you can fully relax and unwind after a long day of trompsing around the city — or during the entirety of the stay.
A sea of creams and browns envelops guests in a warm, comforting embrace, from the lobby and the onsite dining areas to the guest rooms. It's left up to the beautiful, fresh flowers to add colourful pops of life to every corner of the hotel.
The St. Regis Toronto is a calm, elegant respite with a swoon-worthy scent that lingers around the hotel without being overpowering. From the muted colour palate to the delicate background music, there's nothing here to overwhelm the senses.
Old-school charm and tradition weave their way throughout this modern, relatively new hotel. In the lobby's Astor Lounge, guests can take afternoon tea, sip cocktails and snack on light bites, and watch the daily champagne sabrage. Carried out at every St. Regis hotel around the world, the ritual, and the hotel itself, is reminiscent of something out of The Great Gatsby.
The jewel in the hotel's crown is the exceptional service. The St. Regis Toronto absolutely nails its hospitality and the guest experience, down to every detail. The staff are extremely well-trained and courteous — you won't see a single lapse in manners or care here. The St. Regis Butler Service takes things to the next level. Your personal assistant during a stay, the St. Regis Butler takes care of every whim and wish, from delivering mimosas to your room to drawing a bath for you in the evening (squee!).
The St. Regis Toronto: The rooms
The spacious, comfortable rooms start around 500 square feet — larger than my entire downtown Toronto apartment. I appreciate the layout: A long entranceway to the main area prevents staff from seeing all of your business when they bring something to the room. The details are immaculate. A touch screen makes climate control easy, and in the bathrooms, they've provided every amenity that you could think of (or not, and forgot to pack).
My favourite part of the hotel, the marble bathrooms are absolutely stunning, with a standalone glass-enclosed shower facing the large light-up mirror (hello, me!) and separate deep tubs for bath time. A TV screen is hidden in the bathroom mirror, so you'll never get bored during your skincare routine. But the real treat is the heated floor, as warm and comforting as a loaf of freshly baked bread.
The St. Regis Toronto: The amenities
On a recent trip, I had a life-changing experience: getting a massage as the first activity on the very first day. And now, I'll never go back. Starting a vacation or staycation with a spa treatment sets the tone for the entire experience, washing away any residual stress from everyday life.
Set on the 31st floor of the hotel, The St. Regis Spa is a serene oasis with beautiful views of the city, where you can ease into your stay. Guests start and end the experience in the Spa Lounge with complimentary water, tea and healthy refreshments. Bring a book and stay a while.
Outfitted with loungers and large windows offering more views of the city, the heated pool and whirlpool area, along with the fitness centre provide even more reasons to stay in and enjoy the hotel.
The St. Regis Toronto: What's on the menu
Don't forget to look up and around inside the gorgeous Louix Louis on the 31st floor. The restaurant and bar is designed to feel like being inside a whisky barrel — if it was filled with gilded, sparkling details instead of the golden spirit. High above the well-dressed diners, the soaring ceiling features a mural of flowing browns, creams and gold that mirrors a swirling glass.
Elegantly masculine with feminine touches, the space is a treat to behold before we've even put anything in our mouths. All this charm doesn't come cheap though — be prepared for menu prices that might make you wince. If you don't have the company card, and you're not looking to spend a small fortune on dinner, Louix Louis is an excellent spot for a drink or two (and the largest, most decadent slice of chocolate cake in the city), especially with a date. The sultry atmosphere and deliciously boozy cocktails will easily cover for any lack in rizz. Drinks like the Pink in the City, a mixture of vodka, cointreau, peach and lime, and the Satine, a bubbly, champagne-forward sipper balanced with gin and notes of fig, are the perfect combination of sweet and strong.
Canada is well-represented on the wine list, alongside the usual suspects like France, Italy, New Zealand and California. There's a page of by-the-glass options, while the book of wines by the bottle goes on for days.
If you're willing to splurge, the food menu is stacked with all the indulgent dishes you can imagine — caviar, foie gras, beef tartare, truffle chicken, beef wellington, steaks and more. We start by sharing a caesar salad that's topped with chunks of maple bacon, croutons, parmesan reggiano and a perfectly gooey, soft-boiled, free-range egg. Six big, juicy, wild-caught Argentinian shrimp are more than enough to share the shrimp cocktail.
With the focus on fresh, sustainable ingredients, it feels like they've barely been altered before being presented on the plate — no strong seasonings, spices or flavours overwhelm the palate. The lobster risotto is creamy and delicate with just a hint of truffle. A large slab of crispy-skinned, organic, sustainable salmon is punctuated by a tasty saffron corn purée and served with baby clams.
For dessert, the Instagrammable King's Cake is a massive, 13-layer dive into fine chocolate, hazelnut buttercream and chocolate sauce, with a side of vanilla ice cream — hats off to anyone who tries to tackle it without the help of four grown men.
The St. Regis Toronto: What else
You don't have to save all the love and romance for Valentine's Day — The St. Regis Toronto is offering its Romance Celebration package all year long. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a special occasion or just being with each other, The St. Regis is the place for a truly relaxing, luxurious stay. Included in the experience, your visit starts with a special welcome amenity like chocolates and bath bombs, a bottle of champagne, a $200 credit to use at Louix Louis or in the spa, and a 2 p.m. late checkout so you can sleep in after a late night of... activities.
From the impeccable service to the comfortable atmosphere, The St. Regis is a luxurious, elegant property where guests can fully relax and indulge in the romance of the moment.
Rooms from $700 per night.
