Review: The Ritz Carlton Toronto

The Ritz Carlton Toronto is one of the most prestigious hotels in the downtown core. Fittingly, my wife and I enjoyed an excellent stay filled with surprise and delight services, along with wonderful hospitality.

Let’s dive into my review of The Ritz Carlton Toronto to see what this property is all about.

Booking & Check-in

I was fortunate to find a favorable industry rate to book this two-night stay at the Ritz Carlton Toronto, which I conveniently stacked with a US Amex Offer for an extra $150 USD in savings. Usually, this property has cash rates of $900-$1100 per night or Marriott Bonvoy redemption prices at 64,000 to 85,000 points per night.

The check-in process was smooth and started with a porter taking our luggage from our vehicle. We proceeded to the check-in desk, which had very subtle Marriott Bonvoy branding.

We checked in with Marriott Titanium status, which meant a little bit as the check-in agent was able to upgrade us to a CN Tower View. While Nightly Upgrade Awards are now usable at Ritz properties, instead I did my best to “suite talk,” as Titanium members are entitled to a suite at Ritz properties, whereas Platinum members are only entitled to a room on a higher floor. 

Alas, we were staying on Friday and Saturday nights, and naturally, the hotel had high occupancy. I will say the check-in agent was friendly as he shot down my repeated requests! 

The lobby is also beautifully appointed with a “Tree of Elegance” as the focal point.

Location

The Ritz has an excellent location for a weekend in the city. Whether you fly into Billy Bishop and take a taxi or Pearson and take the UP Train, the hotel is easily accessible.

On top of being easily accessible, the hotel is located just east of Toronto’s fine dining district, King St West, and the party district of Queen St West. The Royal Alexandra Theatre is also a short walk away, as all you have to do is cross through David Pecaut Square.

I have also had the pleasure of staying at the St Regis Toronto, and I must admit the Ritz is located in a superior region of the city. Even the architecture surrounding the Ritz Carlton is more pleasing.

Parking

Parking is available for $70 per day and includes valet. But as our storage locker/parking space is only a few blocks away, we just parked there. The valet entrance is exceptionally well put together, however.

Room – Lake Ontario View Room

For our visit, we were staying in the Lake Ontario View Room. The room featured a king bed, full bathroom, lounge area, desk, closet and minibar. 

Upon entering and walking down the hallway to the main area of the room, there was a king bed in the center. A nightstand adorned each side of the bed, complete with a lamp.

The lounge area is located directly beside the bed with a couch and coffee table. A desk is available to the immediate right as well.

As mentioned, we were upgraded to a higher floor room with CN Tower views. We could also see Billy Bishop from the room, which was a nice bonus.

Across from the bed was a television with the usual Chromecast and cable connectivity.

Below the television was a rather large chest of drawers for storage.

Moving down the hallway towards the entrance of the room,the bathroom is on one side across from the minibar and closet.

The mini bar was a bit unconventional at the Ritz Carlton Toronto. In the fridge, we found a card with instructions on how to go about ordering snacks.

The coffee in the room was complimentary and was fully equipped with everything we could need.

Coffee cups, as well as more traditional glassware and an ice bucket, were also available for use.

Beside the mini bar and coffee area was a closet. As you would expect with any luxury hotel, slippers and robes were provided, but the robes here were lovely. The interiors of the robes had a faux fur-type feeling, which added to the luxury we were immersed in.

Moving into the bathroom, it was quite sizable with a double vanity that had ample room for toiletries.

Directly beside the vanity is a full-sized bath tub.

Finally, the walk-in shower and water closet were located side-by-side.

The amenities were in large bulk bottles, a trend coming over all Marriott hotel brands. I also made this comment in my review of the Westin Whistler Resort & Spa. That being said, the amenities were charming and provided by Diptyque.

As you can see, the room was very well-appointed for our stay.

Restaurants & Bars

The Ritz Carlton is home to 2 restaurants, but they’re up against stiff competition as just down the street are some of Toronto’s finest. We enjoyed dinners outside the hotel at some of our favorite old haunts, as we lived in Toronto for three years prior.

In-Room Dining

We did enjoy breakfast at the hotel during both mornings of our stay. It’s important to note that Ritz Carlton properties do not grant complimentary breakfast or lounge access to any Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members.

We opted for in-room dining the first morning, which came in fantastic fashion.

In-room dining can be pre-ordered via mobile device. When ordering our breakfast the night before, I was given more egg preparation options than I even knew was possible.

Epoch, Bar & Kitchen Terrace

We had a busy itinerary visiting friends and didn’t have a chance to sample the cocktail bar, Epoch, but it’s highly regarded and attracts patrons who are not hotel guests.

TOCA

On our second morning, we opted to eat at TOCA, the breakfast restaurant. We were impressed by the ambiance and would return to eat dinner here, even if not staying at the hotel.

The breakfast menu at TOCA is identical to the in-room dining breakfast menu, meaning the only decision you need to make is if you want to leave your room for breakfast.

Facilities

Fitness Center

While I didn’t partake in a workout during my stay, the fitness center at the Ritz Carlton Toronto may be one of the most legitimate hotel fitness facilities I’ve yet to see. A wide variety of free weights, weight machines, and cardio machines were available for use.

The water and towel station featured the most perfect cucumber water in existence in addition to chilled towels and bottled water.

Pool

The pool facilities were top-notch, including a whirlpool not pictured here. The changing rooms also have a sauna, a perk meant for spa guests, but hotel guests can also indulge.

A number of loungers adorned the pool, in addition to a towel and water station.

Spa

We rarely indulge in spa services when staying at hotels, and it was no exception this time. However, this spa seemed better staffed, even on Sundays, than others. So I imagine it’s highly regarded!

Amenities

At the beginning of the review, I talked about some surprising and delightful amenities we were lucky enough to experience at the Ritz Carlton Toronto.

House Car

It started on our first night, as the porter with our luggage told us about their house car service. As long as the car is available, they are happy to take guests wherever they need to go within 10 minutes of the hotel. This service was only brought to our attention after I handed him a tip, but perhaps the two are unrelated.

That evening, we were delighted to be whisked away in a Porsche Cayenne to our dinner with friends.

Welcome Amenity & Top Tier Housekeeping

While I wouldn’t classify this next surprise and delight as an amenity, it is a testament to the expected hospitality level. After dinner, we returned to find chocolate cake and a welcome letter. When checking in, I mentioned it was our first time staying at a Ritz Carlton Property, and that small detail was picked up on and was the focus of the letter.

Also, it was not an amenity, but it was worth mentioning that the housekeeping was extraordinary. We stayed in our room until 1:30 p.m., re-packing our bags before we set off to Munich via Lufthansa First Class for Oktoberfest the following day. 

Despite our late departure, the housekeeping staff still came to make up the room. I was shocked at how perfectly everything was placed, and no stone was left unturned to make the room perfect and easy to use.

Pillow Menu

Getting back to amenities, The Ritz Carlton Toronto also has a specialized pillow menu. We decided to try the Buckwheat and Bamboo options. The bamboo is the way to go if you want to spice up your pillow life!

Complimentary Shoe Shine Service

Finally, there is a complimentary shoeshine service that we opted to partake in. It’s an overnight service not to limit your shoe selection during the day.

I’ve included the before and after photos, which I think are a drastic change. Needless to say, as a complimentary service, there is no reason to not take advantage of it if your shoes are looking a little worse for wear.

Conclusion

The Ritz Carlton Toronto is an aspirational property we are lucky to have access to through the Marriott Bonvoy program. The stay is a proper cut above many other luxury brands, and the exclusivity of the Ritz brand is well deserved. 

Whether you’re looking for a home base for a weekend or a place for a city getaway, the Ritz Carlton Toronto is an excellent splurge to indulge.