Windsor Arms Hotel

The Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, Canada, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, offers a blend of historic charm and modern luxury, making it a popular choice for discerning travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for the Windsor Arms Hotel is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently praising its luxurious atmosphere, exceptional service, and prime location. It is consistently rated as a 5-star boutique hotel. Online platforms reflect this, with Booking.com showing an "Excellent" rating of 8.8 out of 10 based on 121 reviews, highlighting high scores for location (9.5), cleanliness (9.2), comfort (9.3), and staff (9.4). While Agoda gives it a 7.8 overall, KAYAK provides more granular scores: 9.5 for location, 9.0 for service, 8.5 for cleanliness, and 8.0 for amenities.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several aspects that define the Windsor Arms experience:

• Service & Hospitality: The hotel is renowned for its impeccable, outstanding, and professional service, including a personalized 24-hour butler service and even a Bentley car service for guests. The staff are frequently described as helpful, friendly, and courteous.
• Location: Its excellent location in the upscale Yorkville district is a major draw. It sits on a quiet street yet is just a short walk from major attractions like the University of Toronto – St. George Campus, the Royal Ontario Museum, and extensive shopping.
• Design & Ambiance: Behind its 1927 neo-Gothic facade, the hotel features a "delightfully modern" and "luxe-minimalist" interior design, carefully curated decor, and a charming, quiet elegance.
• Amenities: Highlights include an indoor saltwater pool, a full-service spa offering massages, facials, aromatherapy, and Ayurvedic treatments, and a 24-hour health club with a sauna and steam room. Other appreciated touches include complimentary bubbly and cookies, a selection of free tea and coffee in rooms, and free WiFi. The "butler's cupboard" allows for discreet room service delivery.

3. Room Quality

The Windsor Arms Hotel features an intimate collection of 28 suites, designed as a "home away from home." These spacious accommodations range from 500 square feet to over 2000 square feet, decorated in a warm, spare modern style with creams and beiges. Each suite boasts sumptuous Frette-sheeted beds, handmade furnishings, plush King Beds, and often sofa beds. Bathrooms are luxurious, typically featuring limestone, Jacuzzi tubs, and separate showers, along with L'Occitane or Molton Brown amenities. In-room technology includes state-of-the-art sound systems, DVD players, flat-screen cable TVs, mini-bars, and Nespresso makers. Many suites also include musical instruments like acoustic guitars or even baby grand pianos. While guests generally find the rooms very spacious, clean, and comfortable, some reviews suggest that the decor, despite its charm, may be perceived as "a bit dated" and that rooms could benefit from renovation given the price point.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a diverse and acclaimed dining experience:

• Restaurants: The Gatsby restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, complemented by a 500-label wine list and live entertainment on Thursdays and Fridays. The Living Room offers a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of an English drawing room, with a deep wine list and craft beers. Chagall is a refined, dairy-free kosher restaurant.
• Afternoon Tea: The Windsor Arms is particularly famous for its afternoon tea in its beautifully appointed tea rooms, often described as one of Toronto's best-kept secrets, known for exceptional service. In the evenings, the Tea Room transforms into a champagne and caviar bar.
• Breakfast: A buffet breakfast is available in the restaurant (with surcharge), and cooked-to-order options are offered. While many appreciate the "great breakfast" and "peaceful dining area," some guests have noted it can be pricey and service can be slow, sometimes taking up to 30 minutes.
• Brunch: The Sunday brunch buffet in the Courtyard Cafe is highly praised, described as "amazing" and an "All-You-Can-Eat" experience that includes unlimited mimosas, a wide array of hot and cold dishes, a carving station, and a large dessert selection. At approximately $65 per person, it's considered a "splurge" but worth the cost.
• Room Service: Available 24 hours a day, providing a wide selection of dishes with attentive staff.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at the Windsor Arms Hotel receive consistent accolades. Guests frequently highlight the "impeccable," "outstanding," and "very friendly" nature of the staff, noting their helpfulness and professionalism from check-in to specific requests. The personalized 24-hour butler service is a unique luxury that guests appreciate. However, it's worth noting that some anonymous employee reviews (not guest reviews) paint a different picture internally, with criticisms regarding management, low pay, lack of breaks, and an "unhappy work environment," with some even alleging racist or verbally abusive behavior from the owner. This suggests a potential disparity between guest-facing service and internal employee satisfaction.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Windsor Arms Hotel boasts an "excellent" and "fantastic" location in the heart of Toronto's upscale Yorkville district. It's situated on a quiet street, yet provides immediate access to high-end fashion, dining, and entertainment.

• Nearby Attractions: Within a short walk, guests can reach the University of Toronto - St. George Campus (10-minute walk) and the Royal Ontario Museum (3-minute walk). Other nearby points of interest include Downtown Yonge, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre (a short drive away).
• Public Transportation: Accessibility is a strong point, with several subway stations within easy walking distance, including Bay Station (3 minutes), Museum Station (6 minutes), and Bloor-Yonge Station (6 minutes).
• Airport Access: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is approximately a 30-minute drive (25km).

7. Value & Pricing

As a five-star luxury property, the Windsor Arms Hotel operates at a premium price point. The average price per room is around $534, notably higher than Toronto's city average of $322. Room rates can vary significantly, starting from approximately $363 to over $600 per night depending on the suite type and booking platform. While many guests feel the experience is "at par with any luxury property" and offers "unparalleled value for money" for those seeking opulence, some reviews indicate that the "value for money" score is lower (8.3 on Booking.com, 3.5 on KAYAK). This sentiment is sometimes tied to the feeling that rooms, despite being luxurious, might need updating given the high cost. The renowned brunch, while comprehensive, is also noted as being pricey at $65 per person.

8. Common Complaints

Despite its many strengths, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted:

• Room Modernization: A frequent comment suggests that while the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, some aspects of the decor or fixtures could use updating or renovation, especially considering the high price point and the hotel's 5-star rating.
• Dining Cost & Pace: While the food quality is generally good, some guests find dining options within the hotel, particularly breakfast, to be expensive, and service for breakfast can sometimes be slow.
• Noise Levels: A few reviews mention concerns about noise levels. One specific guest noted hearing a wedding celebration in their room, although it wasn't disruptive within their room.
• Group Reservations: One guest experienced significant difficulties with group reservations for afternoon tea, citing confusing policies, demands for full prepayment for individuals, and a lack of guaranteed seating together, leading to a frustrating administrative process.
• Internal Staff Complaints: While not directly guest-facing, internal employee reviews highlight serious concerns regarding management, low pay, lack of benefits, and an "unhappy work environment," with allegations of racism and verbal abuse by the owner. One specific and concerning claim mentioned kitchen staff using food coloring instead of squid ink for dishes. This suggests potential internal issues that, if unaddressed, could eventually impact guest experience.

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