Review: Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre

The Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre is a solid property in a city chock-full of Marriott Bonvoy hotels. With ample choice of hotels to spend your hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points with, choosing the right one is essential. 

I decided to stay here for my weekend conference in Toronto because I thought it would provide good value for money—and I was right! Read on to see if this hotel is the right fit for you.

Booking & Check-In

I booked this property with a favorable industry rate, but Marriott Bonvoy points can be used here at an above-average value with an average of 1.1 Cents Per Point. Remember, the prices you see on the calendar below don’t include taxes and fees, except for the night of August 25th, which I’ve highlighted and does include taxes and fees.

Check-in was the first thing that impressed me about this hotel. I arrived at the hotel at 7:45 AM after landing at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) around 6:30 AM and was elated that the hotel could give me a room that early. I was prepared to leave my bags with a porter, but having a moment to freshen up before heading to my conference was a fantastic surprise and delight.

A professional touch I appreciated was a card between room keys with the hours of service for the lounge. It’s open 24 hours, but knowing exactly when service is happening saves me the trouble of inevitably asking through the chat feature in the app.

The lobby is well decorated with lots of natural light, but maybe a little dated.

Location

This hotel is centrally located in Toronto, but accessing the subway system is not straightforward. As I was arriving from Union Station, I got off at Dundas Station and then ventured into the Eaton Centre, thinking there was direct hotel access, given the Eaton Centre name is part of the hotel’s.

You can access the hotel by walking to the escalators in front of Danish Pastry House, heading up to level 3, then walking into Trinity Square.

When I visited, Trinity Square was home to a few folks who had fallen on harder times, but no one gave me any trouble as I walked through to the hotel entrance.

While the door from Trinity Square to the Marriott says it’s open from 8 AM—6 PM without a room key, it’s actually locked all the time unless you have your room key. When you first check-in, it’s worth taking an Uber or Lyft to the hotel, especially if you have luggage, as you’ll end up walking around to the main entrance.

Contrary to some other reviews, these stairs near the front entrance are not an entrance to the subway. They lead to some doors that don’t have handles and what I assume is a sprinkler room or maintenance supplies.

If you were interested in seeing where this hotel is located on a map to see what is nearby:

The easiest way to get to the subway from the hotel is to walk north on Bay Street, make a right on Dundas, and enter Dundas Station at Yonge-Dundas Square. Steps away on Bay Street, a fleet of Toronto Bike Share bikes are available. During my stay, I found the Bike Share to be the most efficient form of transportation around the city.

Parking

Parking is available at an hourly rate of $11, a daily rate of $50, or a daily rate of $60 for valet parking.

Room – Guest Room 1 King City View

Walking into the room, I was immediately impressed by the amount of space. City hotel rooms are often cramped, but that was not the case here.

To your right is a large closet with a full-length mirror, and to your right is the entrance to the bathroom. It’s a small detail, but I particularly enjoyed having the small side table near the entrance to leave keys and such.

The bathroom has been renovated recently and is in line with what we come to expect at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. A clean design, twin shower heads, lotion, and hand soap make up the amenities at this mid-range property.

Moving to the meat and potatoes of the room, there’s quite a lot of space between amenities, and the ceiling is higher in the bedroom compared with the foyer.

The mattress at this property was exceptionally comfortable. It was comparable to the W Seattle, where we held our 2024 Annual Team Meeting, and we all raved about the beds.

At the foot of the bed is a desk, the TV, and a chest of drawers containing the un-stocked mini-fridge. The TV welcomed ‘Peter’ to the hotel, and the fridge sticker was haphazardly placed, but I looked past those details as I was super lucky to be in this hotel before 8 AM in the first place.

On the desk, there’s a standard coffee machine, the most tastefully branded ice bucket I’ve seen, and extensive connectivity for the TV. Just below the coffee machine is the safe.

Next to the bed is a sectional that I didn’t use, but it was a nice complement to the room. The views from the window were lovely, but they didn’t feature any landmarks.

The nightstands on the bed were above average, which is a funny thing to say, but it’s true. Semi-permanent QR codes for amenities come in clutch when I need an answer to something but don’t want to hunt on the hotel’s website. Built-in power ports are also a favorite of mine. That being said, the clock was extremely out of date.

Restaurants & Bars

Trios Bistro – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

Open from 6 AM to Midnight, Trios Bistro is the main restaurant at the hotel. After a long day at the conference, I sampled some of their nachos, and they tasted about as average as I expected. But as a welcome gift, I did select a $10 dining voucher, so at least they were cheap!

The breakfast spread here was wonderful. As a Marriott Platinum Elite member or higher, the staff asks that you help yourself with the extensive breakfast options and then seat yourself in the Elite Club Lounge to make room for other guests in the restaurant.

Adjacent to Trios is a fireside lounge where you can enjoy an evening cocktail. It looks quite inviting, but perhaps a bit too open to feel cozy.

Back to what you came here for—the breakfast! As I said, it’s extensive. Fresh pastries, cereal, six hot plates, fruit, a table dedicated just to toast, and a made-to-order omelette station make a wonderful way to start the day.

These were my final selections once the dust had settled.

PAR BAR – With Topgolf Swing Suite

PAR BAR hosts a Topgolf simulator called a Swing Suite and also offers billiards. Pricing starts at $70 CAD per hour, with a two-hour max, and I’m sure it would be a great way to unwind if traveling with family or colleagues. 

It’s located on the lobby level, just next to check-in.

Elite Club Lounge

The Club Lounge is located next to the Trios Bistro bar. It’s easy to miss as it’s in the corner and not explicitly marked.

There’s ample seating but no windows inside, so it’s a little stuffy. When I visited, the evening hors d’ oeuvres were steamed dumplings and a charcuterie spread.

In the morning, guests could pick up a few basic pastries and fruit, but the more impressive spread at Tios Bistro had all the same options. The milk for coffee was placed in the fridge below with other beverages, as the sign said, but the sign was placed in an odd spot, and I saw more than one person (myself included) open up the ancillary machine the sign was sitting atop.

On-tap water was a relatively unique feature. Both still and sparkling were available.

Facilities

Fitness Center

While I didn’t use it other than to take photos, the fitness center is a highlight of this property.

It offers some of the best views at the hotel, including Toronto City Hall and the top of the CN Tower.

Pool

I did not have an opportunity to photograph the pool, as other guests were using it when I visited, but it’s located just next to the fitness center.

Conference Centre

Next to the entrance of PAR BAR is the escalators to the conference center.

Conclusion

The Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre is a solid hotel close to subway stations and in a good location if you have a full schedule. I would prefer to stay here during the summer months, as it might get a bit cold walking outside to subway stations, and rideshare is a bit expensive.

If you’re looking for a central hub in Toronto while you’re in for business or a quick visit, this is a great hotel to host you!