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The Drake Hotel

The Drake Hotel, Queen West
Fodor's Hotel Awards 2011 Clubby Atmosphere  |  Winning Attributes

At a Glance

    Pros

  • attracts Toronto's hippest crowds
  • food consistently good
  • forward-thinking
  • complimentary access to off-site gym

    Cons

  • slightly seedy neighborhood
  • can be noisy at night
  • not great for children

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The Drake Hotel Review

Once a notorious flophouse, this 19th-century building is now an ultra-hip hotel peppered with contemporary art and attracting a chic, creative crowd. Hanging near the lobby's 66-year-old terrazzo staircase is a Rorschach ink-blot mural that spans the lounge and dining room. Vintage 1950s leather couches, modern ottomans, art curios, and digital-art projections grace the lobby. Flat-screen TVs, hardwood floors, and transparent shower stalls decorate the guest rooms, which are on the smallish side (150 to 250 square feet). DJs rock and roll in the lounge, the underground bar, and on the rooftop patio nightly, and there are regular art shows and installations by local artists. There are yoga classes on the rooftop, a pop-up restaurant next door called the Drake BBQ, and a super-trendy lounge that serves food grown in the hotel's own garden. Hit the General Store next door for off-beat souvenirs.

2011 Fodor's 100 Hotel Award Winner

Hotbed for Arts & Culture
Anchoring Toronto's trend-setting West Queen West district, the multi-talented Drake Hotel sails way ahead of the city's other boutique properties. The Lounge hosts themed pop-up restaurants, film-festival screenings, and art shows, while the Raw Bar serves up spectacular sushi and retro ambiance. The all-season Sky Yard is the city's go-to for cocktails with a side of nostalgia, and the Underground hosts the hottest indie bands around. After hours, head for one of nineteen Crashpads, design-conscious guest rooms enveloped in charcoal and brick, and outfitted with local art, handmade dolls, and coveted Malin + Goetz toiletries. Swing by the General Store for souvenirs—CBC kit-bags and Marie Antoinette action figures are top sellers.

    Contact Information

  • Address: 1150 Queen St. W, at Beaconsfield Ave., Queen West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J3 | Map It
  • Phone: 416/531--5042; 866/372--5386
  • Website: www.thedrakehotel.ca
  • Metro Osgoode, then streetcar 501 west.
  • Location: Queen West

    Hotel Amenities

  • 19 rooms, 1 suite.
  • Restaurant, bars, business center.
  • Rooms have: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi.
  • Credit cards accepted.

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