During a recent visit to Toronto, I paid a visit to The Anndore House, a JdV by Hyatt property that opened its doors only a few years ago.
This would be my second stay with Hyatt’s boutique JdV brand, after my first encounter at Hotel 50 Bowery in New York.
The Anndore House’s building has seen many transformations, having changed hands a few times throughout the decades. Most recently, it was refurbished from a rather rundown Comfort Inn, so I didn’t necessarily have the loftiest expectations coming into this stay.
The Anndore House Toronto – Booking
As a boutique hotel not far from Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood, The Anndore House comes with a price to match. Nightly cash rates for a standard room range from $300–450 (CAD).
In terms of booking on points, The Anndore House is relatively reasonable as a Category 3 property under the World of Hyatt loyalty program. I was able to book a one-night stay using 9,000 World of Hyatt points at the off-peak rate.
Standard and peak pricing will cost you 12,000 and 15,000 Hyatt points, respectively.
We value Hyatt points at 1.9 cents/point (CAD), and this points redemption handily surpassed our target valuations, offering me a far superior value in comparison to the cash rate.
If you have World of Hyatt points at your disposal, you’ll very likely get good value using them for a redemption at this property.
After all, World of Hyatt is one of the few remaining programs to have not switched to a dynamic pricing model, and there are plenty of opportunities to redeem for high value even outside of aspirational properties.
The Anndore House Toronto – Location
The Anndore House is situated at the intersection of Yonge and Charles, just a few blocks away from the intersection of Yonge and Bloor. As it so happens, the hotel is located right in my old neighbourhood, where I used to live until a few years ago.
The hotel is within easy access to many of Toronto’s prominent sights and sounds: it’s a quick five-minute walk to a wealth of luxury shopping on Bloor Street and in Yorkville, while the University of Toronto is just a 10-minute leisurely stroll away.
In terms of the city’s most iconic attractions, the Royal Ontario Museum is within a 10-minute walk from The Anndore House, while the Art Gallery of Ontario is further afield at around 30 minutes on foot. Getting to the CN Tower will take around 15 minutes by car from the hotel, or a 20-minute ride from the Bloor/Yonge TTC station.
Indeed, one of the Anndore House’s best advantages is that it’s conveniently positioned just steps away from the Bloor/Yonge TTC station. From here, you can travel to the downtown core, Union Station, or anywhere else on the subway line with relative ease.
For those arriving from Toronto Pearson International Airport, you can reach the hotel by vehicle, Uber, or the UP Express followed by a handful of stops on the TTC to the Bloor/Yonge station.
Conversely, those arriving at Billy Bishop Airport can reach the hotel in around half an hour by transit or 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
The Anndore House Toronto – Check-in
I arrived fairly late on the night of my check-in date at around 11pm.
During the day, the hotel is easily recognizable thanks to its dark brick façade and large glass windows.
Parking in the hotel’s garage is complimentary for Hyatt Globalist members, but there’s public parking available directly next door as well.
The entrance sits on Charles Street East, adorned with potted pines and a rustic wooden door and portico.
I stepped inside into a narrow wooden foyer that led to the front desk area. The lobby was dim with an industrial-chic atmosphere, and the check-in area was compact, featuring only a single desk.
Ordinarily, Hyatt Globalist members are entitled to a “standard suite” upgrade as is available at check-in. When I arrived, I was informed that the Master Suites were sold out, and instead, I was given an upgrade to a Loft King Room on a higher floor.
While it’s always better to be in a suite, I was still satisfied with the effortless complimentary upgrade, and took my keys before heading to Room 707 on the seventh floor of the hotel.
The Anndore House Toronto – Loft King Room
Stepping out of the elevator, I was initially met by pleasant tilework, with floor numbers etched directly into the surface beneath my feet.
However, as I made my way down the guest room hallways, the décor became notably less appealing, with lacklustre carpets and rather drab walls.
I found my assigned room positioned at the very end of the hallway.
The Loft King Room is somewhat compact, but sufficient for a quick one-night stay. The space features predominantly grey hues, accented by a mix of untreated wood furnishings and eclectic industrial-style décor.
The king bed, situated on a platform frame, is positioned to the left of the foyer, while a cozy seating area with two armchairs and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV is off to the right.
In the seating area, there is a desk adjoined to a cabinet equipped with a retro phone and record player, set against an exposed brick wall.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a coffee maker in the room. Instead, there was only a Smeg kettle with instant coffee, tea, and water provided to guests, as well as wine for purchase.
While it’s nice to have an expensive kettle, the meagre packets of instant coffee instead of a coffee maker leaves a lot to be desired.
A spacious walk-in closet, which came equipped with two plush robes, leads to the bathroom. There’s plenty of space here to store luggage and garments.
The bathroom décor was aesthetically pleasing, reflective of what’s trendy these days: gold faucets, hexagonal floor tiles, and subway tiles on the walls.
The bathroom setup is quite simple, with a single vanity, a neighbouring toilet, and an adjacent walk-in shower.
The views from the Loft King Room aren’t particularly remarkable, as the hotel faces a residential building across the street.
Despite some minor gripes, most notably the absence of a good coffee solution in the mornings, the Loft King Room served me well for a comfortable one-night stay.
In terms of design, I thought the bathroom looked quite attractive, while the rest of the room falls somewhat short in comparison.
The Anndore House Toronto – Dining
There are two dining options at The Anndore House Toronto. Constantine is located on the first floor, adjoined by HotBlack Coffee.
I popped by HotBlack Coffee the next morning to scope out the breakfast options.
Hyatt Globalists are entitled to a drink and two food items from HotBlack Coffee for breakfast.
While it’s certainly not quite the same as a fulsome breakfast buffet, my understanding is that it’s an improvement from the previous state of affairs, which offered nothing at all in terms of breakfast for guests with top-tier Globalist status.
I picked up some egg toast, one of the café’s better dishes, which hit the spot.
I also popped by Constantine briefly to get a glimpse of the restaurant, which serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The restaurant is a well-known eatery in the city, open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and also features a happy hour.
Embellishing the exterior of the restaurant is a captivating winter scene.
The interiors are sophisticated, and feature a nice contrast of white pottery that lights up the space. There’s also outdoor seating on the terrace during the warmer months of the year.
The Anndore House Toronto – Other Facilities
In terms of additional facilities, the hotel is unfortunately rather limited.
The lobby lounge serves as a communal co-working space, which is connected to the check-in area and elevators through a series of narrow hallways. There was a central bar and ample seating that varied from bar-style to high-top tables and benches.
Interestingly, Crow’s Nest Barber Shop attached to the café, should you need to treat yourself to a new hairdo while you’re here.
Otherwise, noticeably absent from the hotel is a fitness centre, a spa, or a pool, although the hotel does offer for guests to use the excellent Hone Fitness facility nearby (as I can attest to, having frequented this gym when I lived in the area).
Conclusion
My stay at The Anndore House was adequate for a one-night stop, but I wasn’t blown away by any means. This boutique hotel stands out in some ways, but on balance falls a bit short of what you’d typically expect at a Hyatt property.
While I always appreciate a hotel pushing the boundaries in terms of design, I found the guest rooms were lacking in cohesion beyond the bathroom. Furthermore, limited in-room amenities and meagre Globalist breakfast benefits are also a bit of a drawback.
On the other hand, the Anndore House is conveniently situated at Bloor/Yonge, offering access to many of Toronto’s attractions and transit
As a result, I’d still recommend the hotel as a decent boutique hotel option if you’re looking to be close to Yorkville or if you’re a Hyatt loyalist looking for a simple stay, especially as a relatively lower-priced Category 3 World of Hyatt property.
