The Drake Hotel

"A cultural hub known for its highly-curated arts programming, featuring art-filled guest rooms, a courtyard lounge and bar area, and the Drake Underground performance and party space." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Chic Financial District outpost which serves up inventive Canadian dishes, delicious cocktails and premium beers. There’s a mini General Store condensed into a vintage cabinet, a photo booth and annually/semi-annually curated art installations from both emerging and established artists. A favourite spot for after work drinks, weekend lunch or late night snack." - Jacknife

"A boutique hotel in Queen West known for its art programs, live music, and community events."

"The Drake Hotel has been a cultural institution on Queen West since 2004, but they added another wing in 2021, with 32 new rooms and a sprawling rooftop suite. Even if you don’t spend the night here, it’s worth stopping by for a cocktail at their Sky Yard rooftop bar, dinner at the Drake Hotel Restaurant, or even to catch a concert at the music venue downstairs. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation

"How did it strike you on arrival?Fitting right into its location in the vibrant Queen Street West neighborhood, this hotel, which opened in 2004, has become a hub of Toronto art, design, and food. You’ll feel the energy the moment you walk into the former apartment building, where original granite floors, exposed brick, and other historical touches live alongside vivid murals, green leather seating, vintage stereos, and pieces from a rotating art collection. Who else is here?Creative types, including working artists here for the hotel's residency program, musicians scheduled for its onsite performance venue, and food obsessives flocking to its top-notch restaurants. A rotating calendar of events, screenings, exhibitions, and concerts keep both locals and out-of-towners engaged. It's been a long travel day. Please tell us we can get up to the room ASAP.With only 19 rooms, the hotel will never have a super-long check-in line, but the small reception desk can get backed up at times. That said, staffers are friendly, courteous, and helpful. Got it. What are the room options here?Room categories range from XS Nooks to XL Suites. All feature high ceilings, hardwood floors, windows that open, custom furniture and millwork, unique artwork, and a cheery, eclectic décor brimming with individual personality; it’s as if you’re staying in the guest room of your most DIY-savvy, HGTV-obsessed friend. There are all the necessary trappings of a hotel stay, too: flat-screen TVs, Bose docking stations, Sealy beds, and showers stocked with Malin + Goetz toiletries. You'll find a handmade doll on the bed—a cute, quirky touch. Any other fun amenities in those rooms?There's nightly turndown, room service, and a mini-bar stocked with local products. We know the food options are going to deliver here, but can you tell us more about them?The Drake owns a cluster of restaurants and bars around Toronto, and the hotel does the brand's gastronomic mission proud with three excellent options: a lounge, a café, and a rooftop terrace. You can eat around-the-clock here: a chia bowl and fresh juice for breakfast, a lobster roll or seasonal pasta for lunch, and a house burger for dinner—it's a favorite among locals. This is vacation, so it might not be a priority, but can we hit the gym? And are there other activities of note?There's always something happening here, from DJs on the rooftop to live bands at Drake Underground, the hotel's lounge and performance space. There's no spa or gym, but guests use a nearby gym for free, and take classes at a neighborhood spin studio. Bottom line: what, and who, is it good for?One of the city's most creative and vibrant hotels is the perfect place to summon your inner artist." - Sandra Ramani