Here are the facts:
- i travel for work (like a lot of you probably do)
- i often end up in Toronto (like a lot of you probably do)
- i need a hotel to stay in (like a lot of you probably do)
- i like cutting edge design
- i appreciate attention to detail
- i enjoy red carpet treatment
- i love granny smith apples (i have no idea if you do)
Here is the answer: Hotel le Germain
For you history types, le Germain has been in Toronto for a short while (2003) and is part of the Groupe Germaine mother ship out of Quebec (known for its boutique hotels). But let’s cut to the heart of this thing…why you should stay there! Here goes:
Having lived in Toronto for a few years near the turn of the century (the most recent one), I traveled back and forth a fair bit when I first moved to Vancouver. That said, I’m quite familiar with the downtown district and the usual suspects when it comes to Toronto hotels. That’s now changed.
In April of this year, I was planning a business trip to that would have me in Toronto for a number of nights. I was sick and tired of the usual fare and wanted something unique that wouldn’t cost anything more than a typical downtown Toronto hotel.
Here’s what happened (most likely in this order):
- i found Hotel le Germain
- i did some research (The New York Times, Frommers, and Entertainment Tonight reviewed this place into the stratosphere)
- i booked my stay
- i stayed
- i liked
- i want you to know about it
Here’s some of my favorite touches that hopefully will pique your interest. If not, these are still some of my favourite touches:
- glass walled shower enclosure in each room
(complete with rain shower system and blinds to allow for privacy); - staff that know exactly how to treat you by adding a personalized aspect to everything you touch (something you don’t get at the mega-chain hotels, I think);
- library lounge complete with open fireplace, espresso maker,
and couches to get lost in; - a breakfast ‘room’ (read: enclave) that is essentially a cross between the your favourite high-end restaurant and your own kitchen; and of course,
- granny smith apples aligning hallways and other areas throughout the hotel (yes, you can eat them).
I also recently discovered that they’ve just opened Toronto’s first rooftop putting green for hotel guests. That’s right…putting green. 
Apparently it’s a 374-square foot, 3 hole ‘course’ complete with slight contours, high-quality plastic turf, glass fence to protect innocent bystanders 11 floors down, and hours from 7am to dusk. Nice…
I don’t think I’m being too picky when I say that being comfortable when you’re ‘on the road’ is hugely important.
If you can manage to do that, and do that in high style without changing anything other than the address you give the cab driver at the Toronto airport, do it. And trust me…do it at le Germain.
T&D Rating: 5 apples (out of 5)
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