22 Best Hotels in Harbourfront, the Entertainment District, and The Financial District, Toronto

This dimly lit urban oasis is easy on the weary traveler's eyes and lungs, as lushly planted walls frame the hotel's lobby and Flora Lounge bar, pumping out oxygen, while soothing music sets the mood for relaxation. Sustainability is no after-thought here. The 1 Hotel chain is known for their strong biophilic design vision and community programming and busy social calendar. Past events have included everything from cake decorating workshops with local chefs to yoga classes. Rooms are also outfitted with live plants, reclaimed wood-based furniture and detailing, and marble-lined bathrooms. Rooms that have showers (tubs are available, too) are equipped with luxurious in-house Bamford soaps and cremes, with hour glasses to remind guests to be mindful of their water consumption. Harriet's rooftop bar (and pool) is a local hot spot during humid summer Toronto nights, while the ground floor 1 Kitchen (locally sourced farm-to-table offerings) and Casa Madera (Spanish fare) are definitely worth a visit.

The retro, redbrick exterior of this chic hotel—conveniently located near the TIFF Bell Lightbox—blends seamlessly with the historic architecture of the surrounding Theater District. The lobby has a library, a cappuccino bar, and a double-sided, open-hearth fireplace. Sleek furnishings fill ultramodern rooms, which have Bose stereos, Frette sheets, and sexy see-through showers. Suites have separate bedrooms and living rooms, fireplaces, and private terraces that afford superb views of the skyline. The restaurant, Victor, draws rave reviews for its Italian and continental fare, and classy cocktails.

A big hit with families and extended-stay visitors, the modern suites at the Residence Inn Toronto Downtown come with full kitchens, spacious living and dining rooms, and comfortable bedrooms. Another major selling point is the location: just steps from the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, and Scotiabank Arena and a short walk from the Queen West boutiques and Entertainment District clubs. Be sure to check for special packages before reserving; you may get a gas card or tickets to Ripley's Aquarium thrown in. A hot buffet breakfast and high-speed Internet are free for all guests, and a gym and small indoor pool are on-site.

The Shangri-La Toronto combines the attention to service for which the brand is known with an art-focused twist on its traditional East-meets-West aesthetic. A stunning Chinese sculpture adorned with a flock of birds frames the entrance, and throughout the hotel you'll find natural woods, delicate accents, and original artwork—plus sweeping city views up University Avenue and through the Entertainment District. The hotel is home to an outpost of the ultra-luxe Mott 32 (known for its smoked Peking duck), as well as a stylish bistro, Bosk. The sunlight-flooded atrium lobby is an ideal place to gather with its inviting fire, nightly live entertainment, and afternoon tea. The health club has workout equipment and a saltwater pool with private cabanas.

This hotel is completely integrated into the Rogers Centre—the sports and entertainment dome that serves as the home of the Toronto Blue Jays—and 70 of the choicest rooms overlook the stadium itself. The price of these rooms may vary with the event taking place. The lobby level restaurant, Sportsnet Grill, has floor-to-ceiling views of the Rogers Centre.

Curvy concrete structures, Douglas fir wood paneling, and prime use of natural daylight make the urban boutique hotel a delightful spot. It also helps when rooms are outfitted with thoughtful touches like paintings from local artists, modern-retro Tivoli sound systems, turntables, a vinyl library of local independent musicians, and even guitars and wine fridges in the larger suites. The clean lines of the cabin-like rooms and exposed concrete ceilings make for a soothing joy to wake up to. A light breakfast can be had in the airy Lobby Bar with the working out-of-office crowd, or at Alder on the lower level, for decadent brunch entertaining. The rooftop bar, Evangeline, brings a swishy crowd of sophisticates and is an ideal place to enjoy city views with a stiff cocktail.

Bisha earns top marks for its boutique design hotel, with its velveteen lobby, over 3,000 pieces of art (some Warhols even), and luxurious suites overseen by Toronto's highly sought-after Studio Munge and rock and roll hall-of-famer Lenny Kravitz. The swank and sultry rooms get accented with floor-to-ceiling windows, marbled walk-in showers and tubs, heated bathroom floors, and Byredo toiletries to keep you pampered. The hotel is also home to four renowned restaurants with a variety of styles (Tulum getaway Kōst, Iron Chef--run Akira Back, Mister C lobby bar/night club, and French Made coffee shop).  

With just 12 suites per floor, this boutique hotel focuses on service: rooms are cleaned twice-daily, and there's same-day dry cleaning and laundry, a rooftop gym with a view (and a whirlpool), and complimentary dedicated Wi-Fi for each suite. Each is equipped with a full kitchen, spacious living room, dining room, and one or two bedrooms, and is decorated in muted earth tones.

Just steps from the Rogers Centre, CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, and the waterfront, the Delta Toronto has rooms with great views. The lobby, bursting with color, is also the location of Char No.5, a sleek, speakeasy-inspired whiskey bar. A 24-hour gym is on-site, as well as a fourth-floor swimming pool. Rooms feature amenities like smart TVs and large freestanding tubs.

Tucked away on a side street in the heart of Toronto, this ultra-boutique, all-suite hotel seamlessly blends a modern Eastern aesthetic with apartment-style amenities. All suites offer kitchenettes, while premium suites have washers or dryers in-unit (perfect for longer stays). Relax in the 12-person hot tub at the spa and let your travel stress melt away.

The Royal York, the tallest building in the British Commonwealth when it opened in 1929, remains one of the largest hotels in the city and a favorite of both royalty and Hollywood stars. Countless movies have been filmed here, but the rooms are the main draw. The hotel has been restored, and many rooms have been renovated, featuring an updated look with hints of yellow and gray; others feature regal, if slightly fussy, early-20th-century-appropriate furnishings. On-site dining options include Reign, which serves modern Canadian fare with a traditional French touch; Clockwork, which specializes in bubbly and small plates; Toronto's only location of the Japanese eatery Benihana; and the stately Library Bar, a locally beloved hideaway that serves top-notch martinis.

If you want to be close to the Entertainment and Financial Districts, this hotel offers one of the area's best locations, and its lobby restaurant, Frenchy, serves classic Parisian brasserie fare. The hotel itself is decorated in golds and browns in the lobby with wooden floors and subtle earth tones. Guest rooms have modern furniture and offer Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries. The indoor-outdoor pool is surrounded by towering skyscrapers, which lends a certain eeriness to your swimming experience.

Request views of the CN Tower at this luxury hotel smack in the middle of the pulsating Entertainment District. Guest rooms are decorated in a chocolate, modern palette with clean-lined, contemporary furniture and spa-inspired toiletries. Hotel restaurant King Street Social does luxurious fare like grilled Nova Scotia salmon and AAA steaks, while Mix Bistro offers tapas-style options. An outdoor swimming pool with a seasonal sundeck provides excellent views from its rooftop on the 17th floor, as does the 24-hour fitness center.

Attached to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this large but unassuming hotel is a good bet for visiting business executives, and vacationers can often find deals on weekends. It's also less than a five-minute walk to the stellar live theater and restaurants on King Street West. The hotel has an excellent day spa and exudes a quiet elegance even when full. Room decor is fresh and modern, with clean-lined furniture and linens in calm neutral colors.

Inside the Maple Leaf Square complex, this ultrastylish hotel is perfectly poised to receive traffic from the Scotiabank Arena across the street and the Rogers Centre just minutes away. The decor is sexy, with a mixture of elements like exposed cement, lush plants, and wood accents. Rooms are comfortable with king beds (double beds and even round beds available on request), Molton Brown toiletries, and rain showers. Other touches include goose-down comforters and a 24-hour gym.

Made up entirely of suites, this 51-story tower is attached to the old Dominion Bank of Canada (circa 1914) in the city's downtown business and shopping core. There's a community feeling to this property, which is a mixture of condos, long-term rentals, and hotel rooms frequented by repeat customers. The spacious guest suites are geared toward extended stays with washer-dryer units and kitchenettes—a small fitness center with a city view, valet parking, 24-hour concierge, and a connection to the PATH are bonuses. Request a suite on Floor 25 or above for breathtaking views of either Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands, the CN Tower, or the city's sea of skyscrapers.

You can't get much closer to Toronto's waterfront than this hotel, where unobstructed Lake Ontario and Toronto Islands vistas come standard. The decor has a fitting maritime theme with deep blue accents, full-grain woods, and brass embellishments. Rooms are spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum view potential. Watermark Restaurant serves Canadian dishes with a global twist, and the Amsterdam BrewHouse across the street serves hearty pub food and famous local beer. The outdoor pool has an open deck overlooking the CN Tower, Harbourfront, and Lake Ontario.

This Ritz has a great location—across from Roy Thomson Hall and smack-dab in the center of the Financial District—and a solid elegance, embellished with a Canadian motif of brass maple leaves and local woods. The building itself is a cube-like glass podium topped off with a 53-story tower; guest rooms display spectacular views overlooking the CN Tower and Lake Ontario through floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities include a full-service gym, saltwater pool, and spa. The menu at TOCA, the hotel restaurant, stuns foodies with Italian-inspired dishes using local crops and farm-raised meats.

Views from this hotel in the city center are marvelous—to the south are the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre; to the north, both new and old city halls. Guest rooms and suites have pillow-top mattresses, crisp linens, and cozy duvets in a neutral palette. Perhaps owing to its great size, there are plenty of places to escape: a garden with waterfalls, a 24-hour fitness center, and a giant year-round indoor-outdoor pool (complete with bar). Club Level rooms have access to a complimentary continental breakfast and cocktail hour with a view at the 43rd-floor Club Level Lounge. Quinn's, a moderately priced steak house, is attached, with breakfast and lunch served at the Dual Citizen grab-and-go bar. 

Saturated in pampering detail, the SoHo Met conjures luxury with Frette linens, down duvets, walk-in closets, marble bathrooms with heated floors, and Molton Brown bath products. Glamour begins in the cosmopolitan open-concept lobby, where a stunning blown-glass installation by artist Dale Chihuly dazzles guests. Other amenities include a fitness center, lap pool, full-service day spa, decadent Italian dining at Pizzeria Moretti, and Les Clefs d'Or concierge services.

Both business and leisure guests are greeted with a lobby adorned with cherry blossom ceiling panels and hyper-attentive check-in service at one of Toronto's most luxurious and expensive hotels. Suites are decorated minimally but equipped with large, white-stone-finished bathrooms with heated flooring and TVs built into the mirror.  Do not miss the daily complimentary Champagne sabrage at 6 pm in the lobby lounge, a signature St. Regis ritual since the 1900s. Early risers can also experience a sunrise Peloton workout at the glass-walled health center on the 31st floor.

On a clear day you can see the skyline of Rochester, New York, across the sparkling blue Lake Ontario from most rooms at this midrange, kid-friendly hotel. Guest rooms feature expansive windows, elegant marble bathrooms, and chaise longues in some rooms. Other features include a heated indoor pool, gym, the chic Don Alfonso restaurant, European-style day spa, outdoor tennis and squash courts, and an enclosed walkway that links the hotel to the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre.