The Ritz-Carlton Toronto

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto stands as a distinguished luxury hotel, recognized by the Michelin Guide for its exceptional hospitality and overall guest experience. It consistently receives high praise for its prime location, opulent accommodations, and outstanding service.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as a "5-star experience." Review scores are typically very high, with ratings such as 9.1 out of 10 from verified group travelers on Agoda and Booking.com and 19.4 or 19.5 on a 20-point scale by verified MICHELIN Guide guests on Tablet Hotels. It's considered a property that delivers an unparalleled blend of elegance, sophistication, and warm hospitality.

As a Michelin Key Selected property, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is acknowledged for its excellence in architecture, interior design, service quality, unique character, value, and contribution to the local experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several aspects of The Ritz-Carlton Toronto:

• Service: The staff's attentiveness and proactive, personalized service are frequently praised.
• Location: Its central downtown location is deemed excellent, offering easy access to major attractions.
• Design & Amenities: The hotel boasts spacious and beautifully designed rooms, a luxurious spa (Spa MyBlend by Clarins, Toronto's largest luxury spa), a heated indoor pool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, and a well-equipped gym. The unique cheese cave at TOCA restaurant is also a notable feature.
• Club Level: The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge is often cited as a favorite part of the property, offering extensive food and beverage options throughout the day, including alcohol from 11:00 AM.

3. Room Quality

The rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto are described as spacious, comfortable, and exquisitely designed. Many offer breathtaking views of the city skyline, including the iconic CN Tower. Features commonly mentioned include:

• Luxurious Bathrooms: Marble bathrooms with large bathtubs, double vanities, separate showers, and high-quality toiletries (like Diptyque brand lotions).
• Comfort & Style: Handcrafted, Italian, 400-thread-count Frette bed linen, mini-bars, refrigerators, wireless internet access, and often a lounge area with a couch. Some rooms also feature a sizable coffee and tea station with electric kettles and capsule coffee makers.
• Thoughtful Touches: Guests appreciate details like fluffy toweling robes, slippers, and twice-daily turndown service.

While recent renovations have enhanced the rooms, some older reviews noted the decor as possibly "corporate" or "a bit old looking," though this seems to be addressed in newer, more visually appealing renovated suites.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is highly regarded, particularly at its signature Italian restaurant, TOCA.

• TOCA: This Forbes 4-Star restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering contemporary Italian cuisine and local specialties. TOCA is particularly famous for housing Canada's only hotel-based cheese cave, an experience guests are encouraged not to miss.
• Breakfast: Both buffet and à la carte options are available, with guests praising the continental breakfast, made-to-order omelets, and muffins. In-room dining for breakfast is also a well-received option with extensive choices.
• Ritz Bar: Located near the lobby, the Ritz Bar offers beverages, including nitrogen cocktails and rare coffees.
• Club Lounge: For guests with Club Level access, the Club Lounge provides an extensive offering of breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, evening food, and all-day alcohol service, often cited as a highlight.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto are consistently praised as a significant strength of the hotel. Reviews frequently use terms like "extraordinary," "attentive," "professional," "friendly," and "above and beyond."

Specific examples of exceptional service include:

• Staff remembering guests' drink preferences.
• Bell staff offering complimentary rides in the hotel's Porsche SUV instead of a taxi.
• Prompt and efficient response to guest needs, such as sending maintenance quickly to resolve issues.
• Personalized touches like welcome amenities and turn-down service.
• Multilingual staff are available to assist guests.

Employee reviews also indicate a positive work environment with good communication and management that cares about staff and guests.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto boasts an "excellent" and "unbeatable" central location in downtown Toronto.

• Key Attractions: It's within walking distance of major landmarks such as the CN Tower, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Rogers Centre, Toronto-Dominion Centre, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Entertainment & Dining: The hotel is nestled in the vibrant heart of the Entertainment District, providing easy access to King St West (fine dining) and Queen St West (nightlife).
• Transportation: It is easily accessible from Union Station and close to public transportation options like Queens Quay Station. The hotel is also connected to the PATH system, offering convenient indoor access during colder months.
• Waterfront: The hotel is set near Lake Ontario.

7. Value & Pricing

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is positioned as a top-tier luxury hotel, and its pricing reflects this. Room rates can vary significantly, with average nightly prices often ranging from C$444 to C$724, and sometimes exceeding C$900-C$1100 per night. While considered expensive, guests generally feel the cost is justified by the exceptional level of service, amenities, and comfort provided.

It's important to note that breakfast is typically an additional charge (around C$46 for adults if not included in the room rate).

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Breakfast Not Included: A common point of contention is that breakfast is often an additional charge, even for elite loyalty members, unlike some other luxury brands.
• Lack of Microwaves: Some guests have noted the absence of microwaves in rooms, which can be an inconvenience.
• Decor (Older Reviews): While many rooms are renovated and praised, some older reviews hinted at the decor being "corporate" or "a bit old looking" in certain areas.
• Lobby Ambiance: One guest felt the lobby might lack the vibrant "vibes and ambiance" compared to other downtown hotels.
• Occasional Service Glitches: While rare, an isolated review mentioned a "sub-par service attitude" and perceived "old and shabby" hardware, though this contradicts the majority of feedback.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. agoda.com
3. michelin.com
4. tablethotels.com
5. awardtravel.co
6. thecaterer.com
7. kayak.com
8. thehotelguru.com
9. trip.com
10. reddit.com
11. pierreblake.com
12. frugalflyer.ca
13. princeoftravel.com
14. hotels.com
15. distantpoints.com
16. booking.com
17. expedia.com
18. tocarestaurant.com
19. simplyhired.ca
20. reddit.com
21. indeed.com
22. kayak.com
23. hotelscombined.com