Sheraton Centre Toronto- Toronto, ON

Full disclosure- I would not have chosen the Sheraton for a personal stay. It is a convention/tourist hotel, that is always busy, without a lot of personality. It is centrally located however, and the property was fully renovated during the pandemic, making it a solid choice in downtown Toronto. 

Constructed during the Toronto City Hall urban renewal project in 1972, the Brutalist building definitely reflects the era in which it was built. At 43 stories, 1300 rooms and 171,716 square feet of event space, it is one of the largest hotels in the city. Ergo, the lobby will be loud and crowded, both day and night; everything seems designed to handle volume. 

The property’s one stand out feature is a landscaped inner courtyard, complete with waterfall, designed by Canadian architect J. Austin Floyd. A tranquil oasis, complete with bee hives, it gives the property an edge over similar downtown hotels. The recently renovated club lounge is also impressive. Located on the top floor of the hotel, the city views are fabulous, as is the private bar, which offers relief when the lobby is overflowing. 

The club level rooms, located on the highest floors, offer the best views (naturally). Given our month long stay, we were given a corner unit on the 42nd floor, which was a bonus. The rooms were comfortable, albeit generic. In sum, it is a business hotel, which will work for most; for those looking for an elevated experience, there are much better options around the city.