We will be attending a play at the Bluma Appel and are looking for a luxury boutique hotel. I like modern vs. Victorian or fussy. Can any of you Toronto experts help me?

Le Germain hotel would be a good choice to suit your tastes.

How does LeGermain compare with Soho Metropolitan? I loved LeGermain last summer but I want to try something different. And is the Soho too out of the way for Bluma Appel?

The Soho Metropolitan hotel is about one block south-west of Le Germain. On the walk to-from the St. Lawrence Centre, the Soho puts you half a block closer (south-wise) and half a block further (west-wise)

Depending on how you define boutique hotel, the Windson Arms might qualify, but it is a lot further away (Bloor and Avenue Road)

Soho has one of Toronto's most expensive restautants, Sen5es (with the 5 in the name) inside the hotel. Le Germain's restaurant received one of the worse news stories desccribing it that I've ever seen, but thehotel management talked to me last week about this, and says things have changed for the better.

Le Germain is part of a group of hoteliers who work very hard at making boutique hotels memorable -- I have no idea what the story is behind Soho Metropolitan, except it's connected somehow to The Metropolitan Hotel, which is fine, too.

BAK

Thanks, BAK. As I recall you were a great help to me on last year's trip to TO. We did stay at LeGermain and loved it. I just thought we'd try something else this trip. The restaurant at LeGermain wasn't open yet at that time, but we did go across the street to Rain. What a place!

I quite enjoyed Pantages: quite modern, lovely "feel' to the rooms...and great linens! I think it would fall into the "boutique" category.
I don't know where it falls as far as location to Bluma Appel, though, as I was only in TO for five days...I walked around quite a lot of the city, but definitely don't know my directions yet!

Pantages, on Victoria Street near Shuter, is about half way between the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St.lawrence Center, and both Le Germain and Soho Metropolitan.

The neighborhood has a different feel; the hotel is across the street from a hospital, near a jazz bar, on a back street, much closer ot the Eaton Centre for shopping, and, all in all, in a good enough location.

BAK

We opted for the Soho Metropolitan. Booked on their website for $239 ca. which includes breakfast and parking. All the other sites were coming up with the same price. Hope I got a decent deal.

Actually we changed our plans to Thanksgiving weekend: Hairspray at the Princess of Wales Theater, Cavalcade of Lights, Gourmet Food and Wine Expo. I think the hotel is within walking distance of these.

Thanks to all for the help!

All three are close. Fifteen minute walk to City Hall for the lights; probably less to the convention center for the Food and Wine, and maybe five-six minutes to Hairspray.

Have fun.

BAK

..When at the Soho be sure to have dinner at Senses..for a real splurge have the "tasting menu" and also order the wine option with the tasting menu. This is a "whole evening event" so it is not something to do before the theater ect.

Thanks, travelbunny, that sure looks tempting. I just don't know how I will fit it in. We plan to do the wine and gourmet food tasting on Friday (after which we probably won't be able to eat dinner), Saturday we have theater at 2pm, followed by the festivities at city hall. Sunday we check out at noon. We might only be able to try the bistro for lunch.