W Toronto

W Toronto, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive and vibrant luxury experience in the heart of Toronto's upscale Yorkville neighborhood. It's known for its playful design, energetic social spaces, and attentive service, though some aspects of room functionality and navigation have drawn mixed opinions from guests.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The W Toronto generally garners positive feedback, with an average customer rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Marriott and 7.8 out of 10 on Booking.com. The sentiment is largely appreciative of its modern, stylish ambiance, and its ability to deliver a high-energy stay that aligns with the W brand. However, some guests feel it leans heavily into style, which occasionally compromises practicality, especially in room design.

2. Key Highlights

Guests frequently praise the hotel's:

• Design & Vibe: The hotel is celebrated for its dazzling architecture, stylish, colorful interior design, and a vibrant atmosphere that mixes music, fashion, and social spaces. The Living Room lobby and bar, in particular, serve as an opulent yet informal communal hub.
• Social Spaces: The Living Room, with its DJ booth and broadcast-ready recording studio, and the rooftop restaurant and bar, Skylight, are standout features that attract both guests and locals.
• Service & Staff: Consistently warm, attentive, and proactive staff are frequently highlighted as a major positive, with special mention of the highly responsive "Whatever/Whenever" phone line.
• Location: Its prime location in Yorkville is a significant draw for upscale shopping, trendy dining, and exploring the charming Church Street.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at W Toronto are described as spacious, comfortable, and stylish, with a pleasing mix of cream, gray, and royal blue in their design. Guests appreciate the luxurious showers, comfortable king-size beds with high thread count sheets, and tech-forward features like digital blackout shades. However, some design choices, such as thinly frosted glass for the toilet and exposed vanity areas in some rooms, have been noted for lacking privacy. There have also been comments on limited storage space and an awkward layout in some "Studio Suite" configurations, where the room opens directly into the sink and bed area.

4. Dining Experience

The W Toronto offers a variety of distinct dining and beverage options:

• Public School Coffee House, Kitchen & Bar: Located on the ground floor, it serves as the breakfast venue with options like smashed avocado toast and excellent barista-made coffee, along with pastries and breakfast sandwiches for grab-and-go.
• Living Room: This lobby bar offers a neighborhood-inspired menu and specialty cocktails, often accompanied by DJ music, making it a vibrant social space.
• Skylight: A luxury rooftop bar on the ninth floor with a 60s vibe, it features mezze options, elevated cocktails, and stunning city views. Dining here has been described as a highlight, with positive notes on dishes like grilled octopus and lamb skewers.
• TONO by Akira Back: This rooftop venue offers Nikkei cuisine (Japanese and international cuisines) and skyline views.

Overall, the food and beverage options are varied and generally well-regarded, with an emphasis on social dining experiences.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at W Toronto consistently receive high praise. Guests report warm, attentive, and proactive interactions. The "Whatever/Whenever" service is particularly commended for its responsiveness, with staff efficiently resolving issues and going "above and beyond" to ensure guest satisfaction. Even during high-occupancy periods, room service has been noted as punctual and seamless.

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated in Yorkville, on the northeast edge of downtown Toronto, the W Toronto boasts a highly desirable location. It's ideal for those interested in upscale retail, dining, and the charming atmosphere of Church Street (Toronto's LGBT+ village). The hotel is conveniently connected to a subway station (Bloor-Yonge), providing easy access to other parts of the city and attractions like the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto – St. George Campus. However, it's worth noting that it's not within walking distance of all of Toronto's main tourist attractions like the CN Tower. Getting to the hotel from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) by car takes around 40 minutes, or about an hour by public transport.

7. Value & Pricing

A base-level "Wonderful Room" at the W Toronto can range from $324 to $518 per night, or 42,000 to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Other sources indicate average nightly rates around $291, with deals starting from $189/night. While some guests find the hotel "very pricey for what you get," particularly if focusing solely on the room, others believe the vibrant social spaces, unique amenities, and overall experience justify the cost. The hotel's "Value for the Money" has an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 on Marriott.

8. Common Complaints

Several recurring issues and criticisms have been observed:

• Room Design & Privacy: The frosted-glass bathrooms and open vanity areas are a frequent point of contention due to perceived lack of privacy.
• Functionality: Some guests have reported issues with air conditioning not working effectively throughout the day and finicky touchscreen controls for lights and AC.
• Storage: Limited storage space in rooms, especially for clothes, has been mentioned as a functional drawback.
• Layout & Navigation: The hotel's layout, housed in a renovated brutalist building, can feel confusing or awkward to navigate, especially the route from the street to reception, and long walks from elevators to rooms.
• Lack of Pool: The W Toronto does not have a swimming pool, which some guests expect from a luxury property.
• Views: Internal-facing rooms may offer limited views.

While initial reviews shortly after its 2022 opening mentioned ongoing renovations and staff shortages, these appear to have largely been addressed, with more recent reviews focusing on design and functionality aspects.

Sources

1. marriott.com
2. booking.com
3. thepointsguy.com
4. pointsmilesandbling.com
5. michelin.com
6. fivestaralliance.com
7. privateupgrades.com
8. princeoftravel.com
9. marriott.com
10. hotels.com
11. youtube.com
12. kayak.com
13. booking.com
14. hotelscombined.com
15. reddit.com