The Chelsea Hotel, with a whopping 1,590 rooms in downtown Toronto, has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and it shows. Inside Canada’s biggest hotel, the lobby has been freshly polished, the Elm Street Bar & Lounge enhanced, and spaces for meeting and banquets upgraded.
On a recent stay there I was pleased to stay in one of the 993 guestrooms in the Chelsea Tower that have also been given an impressive facelift.
The Chelsea Hotel is a favorite for flight crews. When my husband and I checked in we were delighted to see uniformed personnel from a couple of different airlines milling about in the lobby.
Unlike some Toronto hotels with more of a celebrity vibe, it’s also a draw for anyone with business downtown, families that want a little staycation, and folks looking to park their car and walk to the city’s many attractions.
Enjoy spacious, upgraded guestrooms
Our Executive room was generous in size, around 315 sq. ft, with two double beds and a balcony. Décor was airy and light with blue accents. In-room wifi was free, there was a flat-screen TV, desk, chair, coffee maker, electric kettle, mini-fridge and Blackout drapes ensuring that we got a sound night’s sleep.
Photo courtesy The Chelsea Hotel.
Other configurations available included the Chelsea Room with a Queen or King bed, or the Studio Kitchenette with one King bed, pullout couch stove top, bar fridge, and microwave. China and utensils provided. If you want a balcony, be sure to ask for one. If you book a room with E/Club lounge access you’ll get a deluxe continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres included.
There were also one-bedroom suites available with separate living area/kitchen, pullout sofa, and a Queen bedroom.
Chelsea Hotel’s deluxe breakfast options
For breakfast, we decided to try the newly renovated Elm Street Bar & Lounge. On the lobby floor, it has doubled its seating capacity and fresh furniture and lighting made it a welcoming spot for a relaxing nosh in the morning.
I ordered the avocado toast with heirloom tomatoes while my husband had eggs benny. I spied another guest who had ordered the stuffed French toast with mascarpone, Nutella, and banana filling. Wow. I’ll have to remember that one for next time.
A great thing about the breakfast menu was that most dishes allowed substitutions. For no extra cost, you could order a different style of egg (poached, scrambled, or fried) or meat (side bacon, back bacon, or breakfast sausage).
Choose from a variety of food and beverage spots
The Elm Street Bar & Lounge also serves lunch and stays open until 1 a.m. for dinner, plus they offer Happy Hour discounts from 3-5 p.m.
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Market Garden Restaurant was a bright cheerful spot to have a pick-me-up snack. New carpet and furniture made it an inviting place to rest amid a busy day. I could also buy snacks and souvenirs in the restaurant’s shop, including honey from its rooftop hives.
Express O coffee and wine bar delivers organic blends and regional wine, as well as sweets including cakes and gelato. They even serve after-meal Irish coffees with a shot of whiskey or a Grand coffee with Grand Marnier.
In the summer, the al fresco option is the Chelsea Patio where you can order cool cocktails, beverages, and snacks.
Lots of family friendly activities at the Chelsea Hotel
The Chelsea Hotel is family-friendly and offers an indoor heated family pool and whirlpool. The most exciting thing for kids is the corkscrew waterslide that loops outside the hotel for splashy fun.
The Club 33 Teen Lounge provides old-school arcade games, two flat-screen TVs, a foosball, and a pool table. Little ones will enjoy the Kids Centre with educational and artistic activities. They can even dress up in costumes to be a superhero or princess.
Why Adults like the Chelsea Hotel, too
For adults there is a great fitness centre, indoor pool and outdoor, rooftop patio.
One of the main reasons to book the Chelsea Hotel is its downtown location. Steps away from the subway, it is also within walking distance of theatres, museums, galleries, restaurants, and shopping.
Take a look at the Chelsea Hotel room rates
Chelsea rooms with one Queen bed range from around $220-$375 and you can opt for the buffet breakfast package for a fee. Executive rooms range from $220-$400, and Studio Kitchenettes range from $280-$450. One-bedroom suites range from $350-$500. You can also book your stay through Expedia or Booking.com.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn (except where noted). Hotel Chelsea arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
