There are only two Shangri-La Hotels – the ultra-luxurious Asian hotel brand – in North America and both are located in Canada. One is in Vancouver while the other is in Toronto. Luckily for me, I was able to spend 24 hours in pure extravagance at one of them recently: The Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto. Here is a look at one of the most opulent hotel brand in North America.
The 202-room lavish hotel is situated in a new 66-story tower on University Avenue at Adelaide Street. Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto occupies the first 17 floors of this development, which incorporates the historic “Bishops Block”- one of the oldest remaining buildings in Queen City.
More than a guestroom…
The 5+star property offers the most spacious guestrooms in the country with a contemporary yet classical style with Asian highlights. The stylish guestrooms all feature oversized bathrooms, expansive and elegant living spaces and offering impressive views of the city. In room amenities include: high-technology coffee and tea machines, ipads to order room service (I ordered breakfast from the ipad without having to talk to anyone and the exact order was delivered to my door in a flash), an expansive pillow menu (I personally tried the lavender and the buckwheat pillows who were delivered 20 minutes after I ordered them), luxury bathrobes and slippers, automated blinds and heated floors in the oversized bathrooms, just to name a few. But, top-of-the-line amenities and overall luxury don’t end at your doorstep, as refinement can be found everywhere in the hotel.
An elegant lobby lounge and signature restaurant…
When you enter the hotel, you will immediately notice Zhang Huan’s (one of China’s most influential contemporary artists) sculpture “Rising” at the front entrance, a polished stainless steel sculpture that was commissioned by the developers of the hotel with the Art Gallery of Ontario as the public art consultant. Then, you will be impressed by the elegant and spacious lobby lounge. This is where the distinguished clientele meets for teatime on weekends, coffee in the morning and wine in the evening. In the gorgeous lobby lounge, you will find a Fazioli piano, handcrafted in Italy specifically for Shangri-La hotel, Toronto and a double-sided fireplace bordered on one side by travertine columns, which showcase four large-scale paintings by Shanghainese artist Wang Xu Yuan.
The elegant hotel signature restaurant Bosk welcomes hotel guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, where they can expect modern, Asian-inspired cuisine that is still distinctly Canadian, and made with seasonal regional ingredients. The restaurant won “Best of Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator two years in a row. The decor is spectacular, the food is up to the standards and the service is first class.
The Fitness/Spa Area: probably the most impressive feature…
A visit at Shangri-La hotel Toronto would not be complete without a stop on the 5th floor, where the health club, pool area and Miraj Hammam Spa By Caudalie Paris are located. The gym is one of the most impressive I have seen so far, filled with every equipment you can think of and a yoga/fitness class studio on site. An impressive 20-meter indoor lap pool lies beneath a glass roof, embellished with cascading water features, a sauna and a jacuzzi. In addition, the pool area offers private cabanas with TVs that are complimentary, and offered on a first come, first serve basis.
For the ultimate relaxation, a visit to the newly renovated Miraj Hammam Spa By Caudalie Paris is a must. Offering one of the most luxurious Hammam Experience in the city, with an opulent Middle-East decor, enjoy signature-treatments in one of their 12 treatments rooms and exclusive hammam, such as HAMMAM & GOMMAGE. This steam & body exfoliation is part of the authentic traditions of the Middle East. De-stress between a private high intensity & low mist steam chamber, the Hammam will cleanse your body while stimulating your senses and imagination. Lay relaxed on Jerusalem gold marble as you experience an invigorating full body Gommage (exfoliation) using eucalyptus infused black Moroccan soap. This experience is considered to be the ultimate detoxification treatment. Just to continue being at the top of their game, the ultra-luxurious spa recently refurbished their signature hammam and their welcome lounge.
But, what makes the Shangri-La hotel so distinguished is the level of service. From the first-class welcome at the front desk to the in-room dining service that is absolutely perfect, the staff and service is on another level. And it is precisely what makes your stay so exceptional.
