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At the far end of Toronto’s Queen Street West, at the frontier where the newly hip Parkdale district meets the unkempt edge of the grittier neighborhoods beyond, the Drake is not in the ideal location for visitors looking to “do” the city in the traditional touristy sense. It is, however, perfectly located for anyone interested in Toronto’s art scene, and everything that goes along with it — at the risk of straining the point, Queen West isn’t worlds apart from London neighborhoods like Clerkenwell or Hoxton, or Brooklyn’s flourishing arts districts.
Despite its classic-sounding name, the Drake is not at all a traditional hotel. The rooms take second billing, sold as “crash pads” for visitors to the Drake’s exhibition and performance spaces. That’s selling the rooms a bit short, to be honest: though smallish, they’re exquisitely stylish, leaving shopworn boutique minimalism decades behind. Here the interiors are more a sort of reclaimed retro, with references that effortlessly span decades without ever bordering on kitsch.
It’s not all style over comfort, happily — all rooms feature hardwood floors, plush queen beds, exquisite glass-walled bathrooms and smart yet modestly-sized LCD televisions with DVD and CD players. Downstairs the Dining Room, the Raw Bar and the Lounge serve cocktails and eclectic dishes in a fashionably lived-in atmosphere, and the Corner Cafe is a neighborhood institution, serving brunch, juices and traditional café fare. The Underground is the performance space, playing host to all manner of acts, musical and otherwise. And Queen Street is a worthy alternative to the city center, the galleries and funky boutiques giving way to big-brand shops and swanky restaurants as you travel farther east.
- 19 Rooms
- Style: Cutting-Edge
- Atmosphere: Happening
- 12 Guest Reviews
- Drake Hotel
- 1150 Queen Street West
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hotel amenities and services
- 100% non-smoking hotel
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- Bar
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Boardroom
- Central air conditioning
- Free wi-fi
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- No pets allowed
- Offsite gym facilities
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Shopping area nearby
- Wake-up service
- Yoga
Other Toronto hotels
12 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Hoaan
- Stayed February 2012
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
Very stylish decor and interesting rooms, including a covetable minibar full of interesting, often retro-looking items.
As I was travelling alone, I unfortunately did not check out the various bars and restaurants, but it sounds like the Drake Hotel is full of amazing spaces worth exploring.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Mark
- Stayed September 2011
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The hotel is nicely renovated. Many old details remain (the terrazzo, in particular) and many new additions (the art, for instance) give the Drake a great look. It's not over-designed, by any means, and it comes off as interesting and real rather than mindlessly sleek. But it's the service that makes the Drake worth the stay. I arrived days before the film festival and the hotel was already packed. The sight of stacks of luggage behind the front desk was enough to tell me my room wasn't ready, but I was a few hours early, anyway. That was all right, I wanted a drink, really, and I told the woman behind the desk, Kayla, exactly that. She stepped from behind the desk and took me to the bar, introduced me to the bartender, Stephen, and asked me what I needed (a drink, a room), what I wanted to do during my four-day stay (bike, eat, art, drink), and moments later I was drinking a Creemore (a Canadian amber lager) Stephen recommended, and talking to Kiki, a Drake manager, about bike, eat, art, drink in Toronto . . .
Within five minutes of my arrival, I had three positive contacts with the hotel’s staff. And it was busy. Very busy. I was impressed. And I had three days, twenty-three hours and fifty-five more minutes of my stay remaining . . .
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- simon
- Stayed November 2009
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
superb service, very cool and different rooms. the drake has its own unique identity and understandably a real sense of community. bars, restaurants, cafe all very good. modern with soul and character.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing; Had a wonderful stay!
