Arrival/Check-in: My arrival at the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville felt personal and genuinely welcoming, as if I were being received at a well-managed private residence. The hotel opened just before the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, and its lobby—contemporary and residential in style—immediately conveyed refined artistic taste. An attendant carried my overnight bag and laptop to the room while pointing out amenities and asking if I needed anything arranged, from restaurant and spa reservations to directions to nearby shops, galleries and cultural sites. The staff also mentioned the hotel’s chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benz for local drop-offs. My room was stocked with complimentary chilled beverages, Wolfgang Puck coffee and a selection of teas, setting a thoughtful tone from the start. (28/30)
Guest Quarters: French doors opened from the living area to views of Yorkville. The spacious room featured a plush sofa and chairs facing a 42-inch plasma television. At approximately 640 square feet, the suite offered an ample dressing room for formal wear and a safe with an electric charger suitable for laptops and personal electronics. The marble bathroom encouraged lingering, with a deep soaking tub large enough for two, a glass-enclosed shower, a television set into the wall-to-wall mirror and a generous selection of Bulgari toiletries. The desk was equipped for those who need a proper workstation, though I chose to use the complimentary private business office available on every floor to send email. Two signature suites stand out: the Belair, with zebra-wood paneling, and the larger Hazelton suite, featuring indigo woods and a semi-circular living room—both designed for private indulgence and entertaining. (29/30)
Services/Amenities: One, the hotel’s restaurant led by Chef Mark McEwan, is a popular meeting spot for the city’s social scene. I enjoyed a fragrant cup of Japanese kombucha lime tea there, and explored the hotel’s plush 25-seat Screening Room, used for VIP film screenings during TIFF. The Spa at the Hazelton caters to high-profile guests with treatments such as the “Eclat Contour for Jet Lag.” After visiting the spa, I began the next morning with a workout in the gym followed by a swim in the lap pool. That refreshing routine, paired with in-room breakfasts of smoked salmon scrambled eggs and eggs Benedict, made for an excellent start to the day. (38/40)
The Experience: Designed by Yabu Pushelburg, the hotel’s residential style combines understated luxury with attentive service around the clock. In warm weather, the One restaurant’s corner patio at Yorkville and Hazelton becomes a lively spot to see and be seen. The Hazelton’s membership in Leading Small Hotels of the World distinguishes it from trend-driven boutique properties and reinforces its position as a refined, service-focused choice in Toronto.
Total Score: (95/100)
The Hazelton Hotel
118 Yorkville Ave.
Toronto, ON M5H 1G2 Canada
tel 416 963 6300
http://thehazaltonhotel.com