Windsor Arms Hotel

From the
street, the Windsor Arms' structure is obviously classic and well maintained, and the
grand stone-framed entrance feels like the door to a castle, but it's flanked by enormous planters instead of armored knights. The former
University of Toronto building dates back to 1927, and the Windsor Arms Hotel
first opened in the ‘30s, before falling into neglect and closing in 1991.
Reopened just before the turn of the millennium, the delicately restored
property retains much of its original charm. The dramatic lobby’s high
ceilings, indoor balconies, and striking chandelier ooze grandeur, and the
reception desk is suitably old-fashioned. Dramatic hallways have contrasting
black painted walls, beige tiling, and retro black-and-white framed photos. The
opulent Courtyard Cafe has more high ceilings and imposing pillars, along with
attractive parquet flooring. The Living Room restaurant’s high-backed
throne-like seating feels stately, and the Tea Room’s gorgeous restored tiled
flooring and black walls are set against a grand fireplace. Not everyone will
appreciate the hotel’s style, which can feel close to over the top in places,
but this is a popular spot for celebrities seeking a luxurious hideaway, and
those looking for elegance and comfort will probably feel right at home. Weddings and screening events are regular occurrences, and past guests have occasionally complained about the resulting noise. 

The Windsor
Arms Hotel’s location is one of its best features. Surrounded by office towers,
it's right at the center of Toronto’s prime shopping district of
Bloor-Yorkville, which is known for upscale shops like Prada and Hermes. Yet it stays quiet by being tucked just down a side street. Bloor
Street’s shops, restaurants, and theaters are at the top of the road, less than
a minute’s walk from the hotel’s front door. If you’re driving, note that Bloor
Street can get busy during the daytime -- on foot, it’s an eight-minute walk to
Yorkville Avenue. The Royal Ontario Museum is less than two blocks away; both
it and the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus are within a five-minute
walk. A number of subway stations are easily walkable; the closest is Bay Station, a two-minute walk from the hotel. Toronto Pearson International
Airport is around a 25-minute drive away, or about 45 minutes by public
transport. Valet parking incurs an extra fee at the hotel. 

The Windsor Arms has 28
spacious suites, each with individual touches.
They feel almost ridiculously stately, yet also a bit dated and homey -- if home happened to be a luxury apartment in a chic zip code. Large, comfortable, mahogany-framed beds
and bedside tables sit on cream carpet, and heavy curtains cover large windows
that offer pleasant views of the city. Separate living rooms, some with attractive dark wood
flooring, have elegant rugs and large heavy wooden desks. There’s plenty of
space to spread out on comfy sofas that convert into double beds. Charming
fireplaces, large floor lamps, full-length mirrors, and indoor plants add to the
cozy ambience, and framed landscape paintings extend the vintage elegance. More
compact Junior Suites have just one room, while the living room of the Corner
Suites has two double sofa beds that allow the suite to fit up to six people
in total. The 1,550-square-foot Windsor Suite has a living room, dining room,
den, and walk-in closet. Spacious and handsome
bathrooms with limestone floors have mahogany-framed mirrors and vanity units
with built-in sinks (the top-range Windsor Suite has double sinks). There are deep soaking whirlpool bathtubs, separate walk-in power showers,
and individual Molton Brown toiletries.There are
42-inch flat-screen TVs in both bedrooms and living rooms, though some guests
complain the TVs aren't the most current model. Other amenities include iPod docks
hooked up to modern surround-sound systems, safes, Nespresso coffeemakers, and
extensively stocked minibars. Rooms come with robes, slippers,
and irons and ironing boards. Befitting the hotel’s luxury statement, every
room also has individual heating and air-conditioning, and its own dumbwaiter -- allowing for discreet 24-hour room service without disturbing guests. A dedicated Wi-Fi router allows for fast and free Internet access. There’s even a
tuned musical instrument in each room -- a guitar, harp or baby grand piano --
for guests to play.

Features at the Windsor Arms Hotel are what you'd expect for a luxury hotel with regular celebrity visitors. The elegant
spa and beauty salon has treatment rooms with dark wood flooring and soothing
brown walls, complete with black-and-white framed prints. Treatments include a chocolate and coffee body wrap, airbrush tanning, and reflexology massages. A salt and ice room are available for extra pampering and there are hair and nail treatments as well. The well-equipped gym
has plenty of Matrix cardio machines, weight-lifting and pulley machines, and free weights. The first floor of the spa houses a decent-sized indoor saltwater pool -- complete with fireplace and wicker
seating -- with a distinctly vintage feel. There’s also an outdoor patio with
nice neighborhood views, though it feels a bit uncared for and seems like an afterthought.Guests can buy spa products at the spa or shop at the lavishly decorated Treasure Chest boutique that sells vintage European fashion. There’s
24-hour room service and butler service, plus free newspapers and a turndown
service. The guest-to-staff ratio of five to one means the hotel usually scores well for
efficient, personal service. It’s a popular venue for meetings and weddings,
and can host up to 500 people -- its numerous opulent function rooms include a
moody and intimate private screening room. A handsome business center has
full-size desks with personal computers and a printer, and there’s fast and free Wi-Fi
throughout; in rooms this comes from dedicated routers for extra speed. Valet
parking is available at additional cost, and pets are welcome for a fee.

The Living Room restaurant is open from morning until the wee hours, and the included buffet breakfast (ordered a la carte) is served here -- just note that guests complain the continental option is rather small. It also serves a range of comfort foods for lunch and dinner, alongside a wide selection of local craft beers and international wines at the long, intimate bar. There’s a nightly Kosher dinner menu, and brunch on the weekends, which is also served on Sundays in the Courtyard Cafe. There are numerous daily sittings at the luxurious Tea Room. Room service is available 24 hours, which can be sent to guest rooms privately through their dumbwaiters.