Windsor Arms Hotel

Don’t be put off by the name; behind the 1927 neo-Gothic facade of the Windsor Arms is a delightfully modern hotel, completely redesigned in a sort of luxe-minimalist style, yet with an emphasis on old-world service that today’s fashion-first boutiques would do well to study.

The intimate scale and discreet professionalism of the Windsor Arms, and niceties like 24-hour butler service and Bentley car service, have combined to make this hotel practically the official lodging of the Toronto International Film Festival, and a home away from home for actors and directors on location here in Hollywood North.

Each of the 28 suites is decorated in a warm and spare modern style, in creams and beiges, with sumptuous Frette-sheeted beds and handmade furnishings. Spacious limestone bathrooms feature Jacuzzi baths, and bedrooms come with state-of-the-art sound systems and DVD players. Room service is available 24 hours a day, and for the butler-shy, there’s a “butler’s cupboard,” a sort of two-way pantry where room service or freshly shined shoes can be deposited from outside without the guest having to come to the door.

Afternoon tea at the Windsor Arms is one of Toronto’s best-kept secrets, and in the evening the Tea Room becomes a champagne and caviar bar. The homey Living Room restaurant, meanwhile, feels like a modern update on an English drawing room, with a deep wine list and dozens of craft beers on draught — though the hotel’s location, on a quiet street near the heart of the upscale Yorkville district, means you’re hardly limited to the in-house choices. Floors 4 and 5 are given over to an indoor saltwater pool and a full-service spa, offering Ayurvedic massage and Darphine products.

How to get there:
Windsor Arms is located 25km (30 min) from Toronto Pearson International Airport.