Oh wow, Toronto! You have an all-suite hotel that can be experienced for just $149 night – and no, that’s not a typo.
“We are pleased to offer an exclusive Suite Summer Staycation package which is on now until September 8th,” says Steve O’Brien, OKW’s General Manager. “Since entering Phase 2 in Ontario, we’ve seen a significant increase in guests booking Staycations with us, especially for weekend trips, which we are thrilled to see!”
Incredible value is not the only point of difference at OKW. For starters, there’s the architectural provenance: the original building began as an upscale food and wine merchant – a place to buy fresh figs and Valencia oranges in the mid-1800s – before becoming the head office of The Dominion Bank in 1879. A redesign in 1999 saw the addition of a second tower, and One King West launched in 2006 as a hotel and residences. This is the bank’s original vault.
As the hotel also features permanent residences, it did not shut down during the pandemic, but it certainly adapted. What’s it like to stay here now?
We had a very friendly welcome at check-in from Colin who happily follows protocol.
Reassuringly protocol-enforced: clear barriers separate guests from Front Desk staff (all of whom are masked), guests can purchase care kits that contain hand sanitizer, a face mask and gloves, common-area hand-sanitizer stations abound and check-out rooms have a 24-hour incubation period before they are deep-cleaned. There are many more behind-the-scenes safety measures hard at work (they’re listed on the hotel’s website), but I want to skip to the fun stuff: the suites and amenities.
The Care Kit (face mask, a pair of gloves and hand sanitizer) can be purchased at the front desk.
Our room was on the 44th floor in the hotel’s Tower Section and it truly made me pause and feel like a tourist in the best possible way. I’ve lived in Toronto for 33 years and not seen views of the city and lake like this anywhere else – it really is a special point of difference.
It gets even better! The Staycation package includes super flexible timing with check-in allowed as early as 10:00 am and check-out as late as 7:00 pm.
The rooms themselves channel condo-style – think kitchenette (small fridge, dishwasher, microwave and cooktop) with sitting room. The king-size beds are incredibly comfy; I slept through the night uninterrupted which is saying something for me!
Delicious-smelling Byredo toiletries delight and, yes, I did take my half-used body lotion, shampoo and conditioner home with me – the spicy, sunny, clean notes of Bal d’Afrique are hard to resist.
Another highlight of this stay (and my previous visit to the hotel last December for a holiday lunch) was the food.
Thanks to Chef Akshay and his team, a sweet welcome awaits at One King West.
Chef Akshay, a graduate of the Culinary Academy of India, cooked at hotels, resorts and restaurants all over the world and was Executive Chef at two high-end Toronto resorts before joining the OKW team. I believe Chef Akshay’s prowess lies in his ability to balance his classic training and experience with knowing what people really want. He says, “The best feeling is coming home to my family and eating a simple, home-cooked meal prepared by my lovely wife.” I think this is why he excels at comfort food: his lasagna, roasted chicken and carb-heaven focaccia are best-sellers for a reason.
The hotel dine-in option, Teller’s Bar and Lounge, is temporarily shuttered because of Covid, but Chef Akshay’s Curbside Pick-up service is flourishing – if you live nearby, it is definitely worth checking out. The takeout meals are available Thursdays through Saturdays from 2pm to 10pm and menus change weekly. They’ve also recently partnered with DoorDash for delivery options as well.
Take note: not all suites starting at $149 have a view of the city. When booking at this rate, make sure to specify a Tower Deluxe Suite which does offer exterior views. “If guests plan to spend most of their time exploring Toronto, the Tower Deluxe is a top-choice as it’s modern, spacious, features the ultra-comfy King bed and second-to-none views,” says O’Brien.
This Tower Deluxe Suite with a view is available for the special Staycation rate of $149 a night. Taxes are additional of course, but this is pretty incredible in a city as expensive as Toronto.
My tip: head to the steps-away Commerce Court after dark. It’s pretty much deserted, weirdly romantic and, thanks to Mies van der Rohe architecture, public art installations and assorted soaring sky-scrapers, utterly Instagrammable.
With the future of travel, especially by air, changing so drastically, it feels reassuring to stay close to home. I highly recommend One King West for its friendly service, killer location, jaw-dropping views and delicious food. And then there are the incredible room rates – I have stayed at some of the city’s best hotels (including an eye-wateringly expensive Yorkville stalwart that shall remain nameless), and One King West holds its own.
In the background: One King West’s tower addition, nicknamed “The Sliver” for obvious reasons, cuts a contemporary silhouette that’s in sync with the surrounding Financial District. Also nearby, The St. Lawrence Market, The Distillery District (we could see both from our room!) and the fun patios of King St.
