Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square Toronto

With the opening of its second Toronto boutique hotel, the Montreal-based Groupe Germain has kicked off a study in contrasts — A Tale of Two Sister Hotels, if you will, each one seamlessly integrated into its particular neighborhood. Where the first Le Germain was an infusion of poetic modernity into the theater district, the newer Maple Leaf Square hotel takes its cues from sportier neighbors (namely the Air Canada Centre, home of the Maple Leafs and the Raptors). Pairing lithe, athletic design with a Euro-chic sensibility, this hotel feels right at home in the downtown office/condo/shopping district.

Making overtures to out-of-towners here for business or sports (or sports business, for that matter), the exterior is heavy on the steel-and-glass look. But where other hotels are content to let half-hearted minimalism stand in for style, Hotel Le Germain plays with a variety of tactile design elements. Here, polished wood and stone, Frette linens, and a wide array of fabrics and upholsteries vie for your attention. Open loft-style floor plans take full advantage of long windows to bathe the 167 guest rooms in an abundance of natural light, while glass-walled showers provide a cheeky counterpoint to the photos of shirtless athletes that decorate the walls.

Even if you find yourself trapped in the dullest meeting on earth, Le Germain’s corporate gathering spaces do what they can to make things tolerable. The designers wisely skipped the soulless conference room in favor of a private dining area that carries over the wall-to-wall windows and high ceilings of the welcoming public spaces. The most relaxing of these, the lobby lounge, serves cocktails and tapas to help pre-game for an evening in the stands or out on the town.

How to get there:
Le Germain Maple Leaf Square is located 28km (20-45 min depending on traffic) from Toronto Airport. Transfers can be arranged for $63, one way.