The Ivy at Verity

The Ivy at Verity is set in a 19th-century former chocolate factory, a building with a handsome brick facade that echoes the timeless elegance of its interior. From the soft lighting to the Victorian chairs, every aspect of the hotel looks carefully-chosen. Like masterpieces in a fine art museum vying for attention, each subtle detail of the hotel’s decor feels like it’s begging to be admired. 

The Ivy is part of Verity, a private women’s club which aims to foster personal and professional development. This balance between rejuvenation and determination plays out in the hotel’s decor, with flowing lines and floral patterns offset by functional spaces and business-like stripes. The dominant color scheme of pinks, purples, and burnt oranges is feminine, yet also bright and self-assured. It’s clear that the Ivy caters towards women, although men are also welcome to stay at the hotel.

The Ivy is set in Toronto’s Garden District, a six-minute walk from the Toronto Eaton Centre and Massey Hall as well as diverse shopping and dining options. Slightly further away are attractions like the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Air Canada Centre, and Roy Thomson Hall, all of which can be reached in less than 20 minutes on foot. Both the Queen and Dundas subway stations are accessible from inside the Toronto Eaton Centre, allowing for further exploration of the city.

Facing towards a parking lot and a few pawn shops, the hotel’s location doesn’t immediately seem appropriate for a neighborhood called the Garden District; however, there are a number of green areas and gardens found less than half-a-mile away, including Moss Park and Saint James Park.

Rooms are large and beautifully laid-out with small sitting and dining areas. Decorated with chic, European-inspired decor, each room features a distinct design but bold wallpapers, colorful furniture, and intricate patterns are a common theme. All rooms include a Hästens hand-crafted bed with Italian linens, as well as iPod docks and lovely branch-like overhead light fixtures. Private terraces with seating areas overlook a seasonal courtyard.

Enormous marble bathrooms include separate deep soaking tub, shower, and water closet. Soaking tubs feature a selection of aromatic bath salts, and large counters are stocked with high-end Bvlgari bath products.

The reputation of on-site George Restaurant extends far beyond the hotel; Chef Lorenzo Loseto was awarded the gold medal at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2014. The restaurant’s sophisticated, made-from-scratch menu attracts guests and non-guests alike. With its muted rosewood-colored chairs and ornate details, the restaurant’s decor is more masculine compared to the rest of the hotel but mirrors its European-style elegance. The restaurant also provides in-room dining, as well as catered food and beverage service in the hotel's meeting rooms.

The meeting rooms and lounges show the same attention-to-detail as the guest rooms, with textured wallpapers, chaise loungers, and fresh flowers dotted throughout. There are six meeting rooms, ranging in size from a four-seat salon to a large conference room with space for 80 people. Meeting rooms are equipped with presentation screens, and a compact business center offers several computer stations as well as a printer. There’s a gorgeous members’ lounge adjacent to the lobby, which serves afternoon tea, cocktails, and light meals; as well as a shared honor bar found near the guest rooms, where an excellent selection of wines and spirits is presented on a gleaming marble pastry table.

Room rates include free Wi-Fi and a daily continental breakfast. The hotel also offers a full-service women-only spa with an ozonated pool, whirlpool bath, steam shower, and luxurious lounge. The massive fitness center features treadmills, weight machines, and free weights. Like the spa, the fitness center is reserved for women only, with male guests given the option to buy day passes to a choice of two other locations.