Is there anything more gratifying in life than waking up and seeing a beautiful panoramic view of your city? Suddenly staying at hotels in Toronto and having a staycation, is kind of my favourite thing to do. I love the idea of escaping my own daily routine even though I am still staying close by to all my favourite things. I have actually been eyeing One King West for a while now. When traveling, it is my personal preference to always stay at hotels that have a deep routed history within the city. A hotel that tells a story. A hotel with history and cultural imprint. You do not have to step inside One King West to realize that the hotel is emerged in history. Just a look on the outside gives you an idea that it is a hotel that has so much history surrounding it. In the late 1800’s, the hotel used to be Dominion Bank but was then transformed into a luxury hotel given guests the ultimate experience.
I did not have a chance to visit the Grand Banking Hall because there was a wedding reception being held, but I did take some photos of the lounge area leading to it. The Corinthian columns and the towering windows, along with all the off- white marble used makes this the perfect spot for a photo op. Then there’s the historic vault in the basement. Yes! A vault! The vault is actually used for private meetings or meals which is pretty awesome.I mean, what other hotel do you know other than One King West that has a Vault?
For our mini vacay we stayed at the Vista Suite, on the 35th floor of One King West’s Tower, which gives you an amazing panoramic view of Harbourfront, the East and West of the Toronto. You can even see the CN Tower! Each room within the suite has its own special view of the city. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
The Vista is a luxurious two-bedroom feature suite where essentially I want to move in for the rest of my life, please and thank you. This stunning suite is perfect for all occasions. Whether you want a romantic escape like us, or want to bring along the kids, or even be here for your birthday gathering. I loved how spacious the master bedroom is and its bathroom was out of this world. Marble everywhere and I am talking counter tops, bathtub, shower. The walls! Ah, I was in Instagram heaven to say the very least. I even lured Margot into the bathtub for the perfect Instagram op. Another thing I loved about the suite, is all the natural light it gets.
The Amenities
- Plush King-size Bed
- High Ceilings
- Kitchenette with fridge, microwave oven and dishwasher
- En suite Washer and Dryer
- Individual Climate Control
- High-speed Wireless Access
- Electronic in-suite safe that fits a laptop
- 47” 240 Hz, 3D-ready, Smart HDTV
- Pet friendly!
See a 3D Tour of the Suite by clicking on this link
The Vista Suite also has a spacious living room area, a dinning room area and a beautiful kitchen where I can see lots of dinners happening with friends. The large open-concept kitchen with the double oven (see picture of Margot above), full-size refrigerator and tons of cabinet space really took my breath away. Even though we wanted to have a romantic weekend it was hard to resist not inviting a couple of friends over. The kitchen is an entertaining hub. Did I mention management was so amazing that left us two bottles of Brut and delicious desserts on the kitchen island? It was so nice to actually celebrate nothing. Kam even joked we are celebrating being us, and it is so true and so important to take some time to treat yourself to a romantic getaway even if it’s in your own city.
*image taken from One King West website
Guest Services were also very attentive from the moment we made our reservation to even up to the point we checked out. Everyone of course was so lovely to Margot, and so eager to help. Kam and I actually debated about the size of our Vista Suite. Kam seemed pretty convinced that the suite was over 2500 sq feet. I said there is no way and said it’s around 1800sq feet. Well, Guest Services came to the rescue! After calling Front Desk and inquiring about the size of the suite they confirmed it is actually 2136 sq feet. Ok, I lost the bet, but I honestly thought Guest Services would make fun of us. We legit called Front Desk and asked about this. But, no. Front Desk at One King West was amazing and even made a joke about it. For me, friendly staff is what defines a hotel’s services as exceptional.
We had dinner at the Teller’s Bar and Lounge. You know we are very hard food critics, but our food was amazing. I have no complaints, except I was too full by the end of it.(See my little info graphic for all the yummy food we ate). We also had a buffet breakfast in the morning, and if you have breakfast at One King West, make sure you try the omelette. I know you are thinking it is just an omelette, but believe me this omelette is phenomenal. Dare I say, I went back three times? I couldn’t stop eating it. It was that good! Breakfast is served as follows: Weekdays: 6:30am – 10:30am Weekends: 6:30am – 11am which is amazing considering most hotels stop serving breakfast as early as 10am.
The cityscape view at Fifteen Hundred was also breathtaking. I love the juxtaposition between this room and the rest of the hotel. This event space is actually very contemporary, it embodies the epitome of minimalist style and it is a step away from your traditional banquet venue like wedding spaces. This space is perfect if you are looking for an intimate wedding venue that will cater to your urban identity.
One of the things that definitely stand out about the hotel is its prime location. Conveniently located in downtown Toronto, One King West is so close to some of my favourite coffee spots like Cafe Plenty, Dineen Coffee, and Maman to name a few. Also, dangerously close to Eaton Centre for those that really do not need to add another piece of clothing in their wardrobe like myself. Kam and I actually walked over to St. Lawrence Market for drinks on Saturday evening, and I loved how we could just walk over. Also a little bonus for staying at the hotel is that it is right by the Subway and Union Station.
With spectacular city and lake views, but also wonderful staff, Kamiran and I definitely want to come back to One King West very soon.
Address of Hotel
1 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 1A1
Phone: (416) 548-8100
Thank you to One King West for hosting us and collaborating with me on this post.
Well…if you play by Price is Right rules, I think you won the room size bet 😉