Kimpton Saint George

Kimpton Saint George, Toronto: A Charming Michelin-Selected Boutique Experience

The Kimpton Saint George in Toronto stands out as a "Michelin Key Selected property," offering a boutique hotel experience characterized by its charming design, attentive service, and prime location. Guests frequently praise the hotel for its comfortable and stylish ambiance, making it a highly-regarded choice for visitors to Toronto.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Kimpton Saint George is overwhelmingly positive, with guests describing it as an "amazing, relaxing, and easy" stay. On review platforms, it consistently receives high marks, particularly for its location (9.2), comfort (9.0), and staff (9.0). The hotel is celebrated for its warm, friendly atmosphere and chic appeal.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love several aspects of their stay at the Kimpton Saint George:

• Service & Hospitality: The staff are frequently lauded as exceptionally accommodating, friendly, and helpful, often going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. Unique Kimpton touches, such as a "secret password" that yields a special treat at the front desk, further enhance the guest experience. Proactive room upgrades for elite members are also appreciated.
• Location: The hotel boasts an excellent location at the corner of Bloor Street and St. George Street, nestled between the upscale Yorkville and bohemian Annex neighborhoods. Its proximity to the St. George subway station makes exploring Toronto effortless.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel showcases charming character and playful, contemporary designs following a complete refurbishment in 2018. The lobby exudes a cozy ambiance with warm wooden furniture, green accents, and a welcoming roaring fireplace. The exterior features an intriguing hand-painted owl mural by a renowned Toronto street artist.
• Amenities: Notable amenities include complimentary morning coffee and tea service, as well as an evening wine-tasting reception. A 24-hour fitness center is available, and each room is equipped with a yoga mat. The hotel is pet-friendly, with no size or weight restrictions or additional fees, and offers separate pet-free floors for guests with allergies. Complimentary bicycles are also available for guests.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at the Kimpton Saint George are described as well-appointed, beautifully furnished, and generally spacious. They are often characterized as stylish and chic, providing a comfortable stay with excellent beds and pillows. Frette linens and Atelier Bloem bath products add a touch of luxury. In-room WiFi is reliable and fast enough for streaming and video calls. However, some guests have noted that while rooms are expansive, the bathrooms can feel a bit small, and some king rooms may not include a bathtub. Certain reviewers also suggested that the room design could benefit from more creative wall art to make the space feel less "barren". There are no in-room coffee or tea making facilities, though complimentary options are available in the lobby. Showers are powerful, but some guests mentioned noisy extractor fans or pipework and the absence of a handheld attachment.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's sole restaurant, The Fortunate Fox gastropub, serves both breakfast and dinner. The space features mid-century-inspired furnishings, adding to the hotel's creative charm. Breakfast is complimentary and all-you-can-eat for IHG Diamond members, offering a comprehensive menu that includes various egg Benedicts, omelettes, sandwiches, smoothies, and pancakes. Service during breakfast is often described as fast and friendly. Dinner options include classic American favorites and Canadian specialties, with food generally found to be pleasing, of high quality, and good value. However, some guests have found the breakfast options to be a bit "potato-focused" and wished for healthier hot alternatives. One review noted a "terrible" breakfast omelette and bad coffee. The gastropub has a lively atmosphere, often bustling with locals, particularly in the evenings.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Kimpton Saint George consistently receive high praise for their warmth, friendliness, and accommodating nature. Guests frequently highlight the exceptional and helpful attitude of the team, who are known to proactively acknowledge elite status benefits such as room upgrades and late check-out. The unique "secret password" tradition, where guests receive a small treat upon mentioning it at the front desk, adds a delightful and personal touch to the service.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Kimpton Saint George boasts an excellent and highly convenient location in Toronto. Situated at 280 Bloor Street West, it lies between two distinct and desirable neighborhoods, Yorkville and the Annex. This positioning offers guests easy access to both upscale shopping and dining, as well as a more bohemian cultural scene. The hotel is directly across from the St. George subway station, providing effortless access to the wider city via the TTC network. Key attractions within walking distance include the University of Toronto campus, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Bata Shoe Museum, and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

7. Value & Pricing

Regular cash rates for the Kimpton Saint George typically range from CAD $350–$400 per night, with IHG One Rewards points redemptions generally falling between 50,000–60,000 points. However, some guests have reported paying as much as CAD $600 or redeeming 70,000 points during periods of high demand. Kayak indicates rates starting from $142, with an average weeknight price of $207 and an average weekend night price of $183. The hotel receives a "value for money" rating of 7.8 on Booking.com. While some consider the pricing to be on the higher side, many feel the overall experience, especially with the quality of service and location, justifies the cost.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Room Design: Some reviewers found the placement of furniture, such as a sofa, to be impractical or uncomfortable. There were also suggestions for more artwork on the walls to enhance the room's aesthetics and prevent a "barren" feel.
• Bathroom Functionality: Consistent mentions of noisy extractor fans and water pipework in the bathrooms, as well as the lack of a handheld shower attachment, appear in reviews. Some base-level rooms do not include a bathtub, and the sink area in some bathrooms felt small.
• Breakfast Variety: A few guests expressed a desire for less "potato-focused" breakfast options and more diverse hot, healthy choices at The Fortunate Fox.
• In-Room Amenities: The absence of in-room coffee or tea making facilities was noted by some, although complimentary options are available in the lobby.
• Wine Hour Execution: One Michelin Guide reviewer mentioned that the complimentary wine hour, a signature Kimpton offering, was "executed horribly" and felt the staff were unwelcoming towards guests attending.
• Other Minor Issues: Isolated complaints include strong, unchangeable shower pressure, occasional smoky smells in rooms, and perceived low ceilings in some areas.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. booking.com
3. princeoftravel.com
4. michelin.com
5. kimptonsaintgeorge.com
6. hotel-scoop.com
7. callumelsdon.com
8. bespokeblackbook.com
9. turningleftforless.com
10. headforpoints.com
11. kayak.com