W Toronto Resort evaluation – The Factors Man

Quick take

Housed in a brutalist-style building that was previously the exact type of Marriott property the W brand promises not to be, the 254-room W Toronto opened in 2022, following a two-year delay and a $30-million makeover.

The unusual layout and design focus guests’ attention on the Living Room lobby and bar; it’s an opulent yet informal meeting space that immediately inspires relaxation.

Rooms were spacious and comfortable, and I appreciated the hallways were sufficiently lit so I did not feel like I was stumbling down a nightclub.

Beyond the Living Room, moving from space to space was sometimes awkward, and the views from the internal facing rooms were not ideal.

Getting there

The W is in Yorkville, on the northeast edge of downtown Toronto. Guests can reach the hotel by car from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in around 40 minutes, subject to traffic; it’ll cost about 50 Canadian dollars ($37) to take an Uber or Lyft.

If you prefer to take public transport, the Union Pearson Express train reaches Union Station in downtown Toronto in 25 minutes for 12.35 CAD ($9). You can then transfer to the subway Line 1 to ride six stops to Bloor-Yonge station. Expect this total journey to take just more than an hour, depending on the time of day.

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Booking details

A base-level Wonderful Room at the W Toronto can be booked for $324 to $518 per night, or 42,000 to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

It’s easy to earn Marriott Bonvoy points with some of our favorite cards:

Standout features

• The property gets most of the basics right, with spacious and comfortable rooms, luxurious showers, great staff, and plenty of decent food and beverage options. There was especially faultless room service.
• W branding is taken just far enough with playful and sophisticated touches without feeling like you are in a nightclub that never closes.
• The Living Room is a well-designed social space that draws in guests and the public alike.

Drawbacks

• Taking up just a handful of floors in a dated, high-rise (now residential) building, the hotel lacks a true sense of place; it feels temporary and even a little confusing to navigate. It’s a bit of an awkward route from the street to reception.
• The Yorkville location is close to upmarket retail outlets and charming Church Street but not walking distance to some of Toronto’s most famous attractions like the CN Tower.
• Some of the bar food options are style over substance.
• While the gym is well-equipped, the hotel does not have a swimming pool.

The vibe

Marriott’s W brand has never shied away from adopting a cheeky sense of fun to attract guests. I spied plenty of young couples, arm-in-arm, whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears, sneaking in and out of the building at all hours.

An American couple seated next to me for dinner in the Living Room seemed perplexed at their surroundings and the Instagrammable meals served to them (perhaps they were expecting a corporate Marriott property). Still, they seemed to enjoy their experience.

The room

Food and drinks

Guests can start the day at the ground floor Public School coffee house, kitchen and bar. There, a respectable smashed avocado toast with almond hummus on black charcoal sourdough with two poached eggs costs 24 CAD ($17), and the barista-made coffee is excellent. A great selection of pastries and breakfast sandwiches are also available for guests looking to grab something on the go.

During the day, lighter options at the venue include (excellent) poke bowls, Caesar salads, jerk shrimp rolls, baked pasta and fried veal cutlets.

The Skylight rooftop bar, with its Mediterranean mezze restaurant, was closed during my mid-week stay. However, the Living Room bar sufficed with light bites and inventive cocktails. The grapefruit gin and prosecco-led “Flower Power” served with dry ice in a huge glass sphere was terrific theater and attracted the attention of surrounding guests.

The food options were decent, though the jerk chicken skewers for 18 CAD ($13) only contained a few scraps of meat. The watermelon and tomato salad (also $13) was pretty but far more complicated than needed.

Room service was available 24 hours a day. Within 20 minutes of ordering, I received a perfect turkey club sandwich with fresh, crispy fries and condiments for a late-night snack. It cost 25 CAD ($18).

Amenities and service

While the W Toronto does not have a pool, the FIT gym on the eighth floor is well equipped, and there was never a wait to use the equipment.

The service impressed across the property. When I tried to check in around 4 p.m., the front desk agent explained that the room had been cleaned but would need a final inspection. She said she would let me know when it was ready. Twenty-five minutes later, she still had not given me my room key. I approached the desk to follow up, and she apologized profusely, admitting she had forgotten about me due to a large group arriving to check in immediately after me. She quickly gave me my room key and two drink vouchers to compensate for the oversight.

This quick service recovery made up for the slight delay. It was indicative of the staff at W Toronto’s ability to deliver efficiently and solve problems quickly.

Out and about

Accessibility

With no elevators on the ground floor, guests with mobility restrictions face a fairly steep ramp in an unglamorous parking garage to enter the property step-free. Once reaching reception on the sixth floor, there are wide hallways with elevator access to all guest rooms.

However, given the complex layout of this property, it is not ideal for accessibility.

Checking out

The W Toronto had more whimsy than I was seeking for a mid-week business stay, but the hotel got most of the basics right.

Spacious rooms, great staff, decent food and beverage options, and the communal Living Room space made for a comfortable stay. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the thinly frosted toilet and exposed vanity.

For a first-time visitor, the location is a bit far north of the main attractions, closer to Lake Ontario. However, if I were returning to Toronto on the weekend — especially with a loved one — the W would be a fun way to unwind and explore the sights and sounds of nearby Church Street until the early hours.

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