This Shangri-La Toronto Review is part of a Toronto trip report on Toronto luxury hotels and dining. For the prior posts, please see:
TAM Business Class Review JFK-Toronto
Beast Restaurant Toronto Review
Review: LiveToronto Walking Tour and Photo Shoot
TravelSort Clients enjoy Virtuoso benefits when reserving the Shangri-La Toronto:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- A $100 CAD Food & Beverage credit per stay (not combinable; not valid towards room rate; no cash value if not redeemed)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto Location and Check-In
The Shangri-La Toronto is located at 188 University Avenue, just a couple minutes' walk from either Osgoode Metro Station or St. Andrew Station, and about a 10 minute walk from Union Station, which is connected to Toronto Airport by the Union Pearson Express.
We took the subway to Osgoode Station and walked from there, entering the lobby, which was seemingly continually busy whenever passed through it. It's modern in design, with a sleek dual sided fireplace in the middle. Here it is in the evening:
Check-in was at one of a couple seated check-in desks, and while I had reserved an entry-level Deluxe Room at a travel professional rate, the friendly associate was kind enough to upgrade us to an Executive King Room.
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto Executive Room
Executive Rooms are the next category up from Deluxe Rooms and are 517 square feet, so similar in size to Four Seasons Toronto Deluxe Rooms. The entrance way to our room had a side table, convenient for putting room keys on, and led straight to the bedroom area, with the bathroom to the right.
We had a king bedded room, although Executive Rooms can also come with 2 queen beds, which would be ideal for a family with young kids if they don't opt for a suite. The bed was more comfortable than the firmer Park Hyatt bed, although not as comfortable as the Four Seasons Toronto's new Four Seasons bed with its custom Signature Plush mattress topper.
There was some welcome fruit, which we appreciated and snacked on after a swim in the pool.
The view from our Executive Room, similar to the Trump Toronto and the Park Hyatt Toronto, was just of other buildings at fairly close range. If you want a view that includes trees and greenery during the summer months or the foliage in autumn, I highly recommend the Four Seasons Toronto instead.
The marble bathroom was nicely done, with double his and hers sinks and an embedded LCD mirror TV:
There was a large soaking tub and separate glass enclosed shower, although it wasn't a rain shower:
Bath products were L'Occitane Jasmin & Bergamote, with the jasmine scent appropriate given Shangri-La's Hong Kong roots, and the bergamote adding a refreshing citrus element.
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto Swimming Pool
The hotel's 9000 square feet health center is on the 5th floor. Interestingly, you have to walk through the fitness center to get to the pool:
The lap pool is 64 feet (20 meters) long, and enjoys good natural light from skylights above it.
At one end is a sauna, and at the other end, a jacuzzi surrounded by cabana alcoves. We were there on a weekday, so for part of the time we were the only ones there.
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto Dining
I'll cover our breakfast and dinner at Bosk Restaurant in a separate post.
The Verdict
We enjoyed our stay at the Shangri-La Toronto, which is very centrally located, although Toronto's downtown is in any case very easy to get around by walking, subway, streetcar and taxi. The hotel opened just 3 years ago, in 2012, and still feels very new and well maintained. I'd say it's not quite as beautiful as the Four Seasons Toronto, with its gorgeous flowers and lovelier views, although I do prefer the Shangri-La Toronto's L'Occitane bath products and also thought the cabana alcoves around the jacuzzi were a nice touch. Service was very good, from our welcome and check-in to turndown service while we were at dinner and complimentary bottled water and cool towels presented to us when we were at the swimming pool.
If you've stayed at the Shangri-La Toronto, what was your experience?
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Disclosure: I reserved a travel professional rate at the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. The views expressed in this post are mine.
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