2 Best Hotels in West Queen West, Ossington, and Parkdale, Toronto

More than just a hotel, the Drake is also a bar, a club, and an art gallery that has been a focal point for local media for two decades. After a controversial management shake-up and a major expansion in 2021 that added a new "Modern Wing," the hotel has expanded to 51 rooms. The Drake now offers bigger and more versatile room options while still retaining boutique touches: mid-century furniture, custom artwork from local artists, and luxe details like Malin + Goetz toiletries. Guests get complimentary access to the Drake Underground music venue, front-of-line reservations at bars and restaurants, spin classes and yoga at nearby gyms, and optional extras like bottle service and custom floral arrangements.

Some boutique hotels pop art on their walls and call it a day, but this Victorian-era beauty (complete with an antique hand-operated elevator) uses guest rooms as a canvas for a rotating cast of local artists. The hotel—the oldest in Toronto—underwent a major renovation under new ownership in 2021, which added bright neon accents throughout the building without forgetting its long heritage. Homey new guest amenity spaces—like a library and billiards lounge—now sit on every floor while rooms mix modern vanities (outside the bathroom) with original redbrick walls. There are photos, tapestries, painting and mural pieces everywhere, even in the new basement gym spaces, and free studio space for local artists.