The Fairmont Royal York

My experience here was mediocre.
Check-​in experience went fine. The hotel is located in a good location, and the lobby is beautiful and has good food options. However the rooms just aren’t updated at all, which sometimes makes you feel like things aren’t as clean as they could be. I probably wouldn’t stay her again.

As I said in earlier reviews I love these old grand dame hotels. Slowly but surely the Royal York has be renovating some of the rooms. Well needed and I think successfully implemented. I checked into a newer Jr Suite and loved the décor and amenities. They kept the scale and tone in classic but elegant design and furnishings. It was a very quick one day trip so I only took a few pics and didn’t really have time to indulge any other hotel services.

An older Fairmont hotel but lots of amenities you would expect from a Fairmont. Rooms are cozy but could use updating.

An A-​OK visit and experience…
I just recently returned home from a three day business trip to Toronto — two days and two nights at the Royal York. I chose this hotel because a conference I speaking at chose this hotel to host the event.
Let me be clear — the Royal York is a beautiful hotel — it really is. The service checking in and out was great, helpful, and the environment was rich and luxurious… but for me, I couldn’t help feel that my experience was a little over rated.
Here’s why… for a standard room at $ 259/​night (and that’s a discount due to the block reservations) I just didn’t see the value. The room was clean, full of the usual amenities and such — nothing special, and nothing you wouldn’t find at a Hampton Inn… yes, I just compared the Royal York to a Hampton Inn… does that sadden you? How about a Sheraton then?
When I get charged $ 259 a night, two nights, I don’t understand why they also charge $ 10 for a bottle of water, or getting charged $ 14 for wifi… and it’s the slow wifi. Fast wifi is more… by the way, if you sign up for their email list, wifi is waved… but I don’t wan’t more email. So I sign up for email to save the $ 28 and I’ll unsubscribe when I get the first email.
The Royal Yorks towels weren’t any softer, the iron & ironing board weren’t better (yes, I use them to press my own shirts (some habits I just can’t break) — and yes, I’ve seen better irons in the Hampton Inn… the bed wasn’t any more comfortable, nor were the pillows. And you know what, I’m sorry but the staff weren’t any better than a Hampton Inn or Sheraton… Just saying.
I don’t understand why they charge so much for amenities that are 2/​3rds less or free in a hotel with a comparable sized room (bed and bedding as well).
Dear Royal York — you’re a beautiful hotel, you really are… but the things I’m paying for — bed, bedding, amenities and such… they are not on the same level

In years gone by, The Fairmont Royal York was the jewel of Toronto hospitality. The huge lobby across from Union Station still welcomes tourists with plush blue velvet and sparkling chandeliers. It really is something to behold. Though it still sparkles today, if you’re looking for a fancy place to hang your head, you’re probably more interested in boutique hotels along Queen W than sitting on the cusp of the financial district amidst the sterile high rises.
The rooms themselves aren’t very updated or large, so for me this hotel is all about popping in for events in their ballrooms, a la Grace Kelly.
I’d also like to give this beautiful dame huge props for housing Toronto’s only Benihana. Benihana is just so. Much. Fun.

5 stars for sure.
Finally got to the hotel through Toronto construction. Greeted by valet, he called for guest services. They took our bags to our room. The lady from guest services help with the lift and got me to check in, waited only a minute. Greeted by a gentlemen at the check in, he treated us with great respect. He went over things with us, very understandable. Because we had a accessible suite, they had check with house keeping first. So they had us wait in the Epic lounge. He gave us three $ 25.00 comp tickets. So we waiting in the lounge, he came over in short time and said our suite was ready and gave me the keys. He offered to show us to the room when we were done in the lounge. We stayed in lounge and ordered some beverages and food. The food was amazing. We had a burger that had flavor that you won’t believe. The seafood chowder was excellent, had shrimp, white fish, salmon and a great taste. My daughter had a steak «Out of this World» the service was tops also. The room and service was great. Everyone was there to serve us. Truly friendly. Even the room service pizza at midnight was good. I wish I was able to go to Toronto more often. Fairmont Royal York is the hotel I will stay.
Thank you to all the staff at the ROYAL YORK HOTEL.

Fairmont Toronto location is probably the most recognizable hotel in the city. There is plenty history and prestige which makes just walking around the hotel and taking some photos pretty enjoyable. The hotel is somewhat connected to Toronto’s underground PATH system so it’s even more fun discovering during the colder months. I always get lost but it is fund nonetheless.
I stayed here for almost a week and the stay was great overall. The room was good size, I was able to peek at the CN tower from the window and location was just perfect since both TTC and GO were right at your door step (and VIA too but I don’t think people take VIA to move within GTA). There were some initial madness due to Pan Am games going on but it settled down sooner than I expected which was nice.
While this could have easily been a 4 – 5 star review I was very disappointed in the way in which noise was handled at the hotel. First was on a weekend night. Some people were having a loud party and when I was about to make a complaint the security showed up to quiet them down. Of course this was just temporary and you can tell people were still going in and out of the rooms and talking loudly all over the place. But since this was on a weekend I somewhat understood, was probably a bachelorette party or something by the sound of it.
What really drove me crazy was the weekday night before my check out. I had to be at the airport by 4 AM next morning for an early flight so I planned on going to bed a bit early. Unfortunately there was some kind of convention going on and they rented out the suite near my room as a hospitality suite for these people. This meant that I had to listen to drunken people talking loudly in the hall ways beside my door till from afternoon to 11 PM when the whole even was supposedly over by. And yes, it didn’t really end at 11 PM, people were still going in and out making noise till 12. They also left the hallway smelling like beer and finger food. Which might have been a plus if I was in a good mood or if they offered me some but just added to my rage at this point.
When I called to complain I was told they would send someone. But after an hour or so nothing changed so I called back. They told me there is nothing they can do and the crowd will be there till 11 PM. The security was supposedly there to control the noise but seeing how absolutely nothing changed I doubt so. I was told to just use ear plugs if I wanted some peace and quiet and they offered me a pair. I don’t know about others but I don’t book higher end hotels so that I can plug my ears for peace and quiet. The message I got from Fairmont was pretty clear, you’re just 1 guest while the other group is a group so I would have to deal with it.
The only reason I gave this review 2 stars instead of 1 was because of how great and considerate the concierge staff was. They should get a raise for their professionalism. But whoever thought it was a good idea to rent out a party suite right beside regular guests on a weekday night till 11 PM should probably rethink some policies.

The good. The lobby is gorgeous. The building is historic, attractive and centrally located. The Queen and Prince have stayed there, so it’s good enough for me.
The bad. There is zero parking, so you forgo the car, walk from a public lot in the area, or pay $ 53/​day for valet. WiFi is not free — $ 16/​day — and I was not aware of this till I got the bill (although I would have used it anyway). The pay-​at-​hotel rate that
quoted me was $ 60 less that the rate the hotel would honor — and I was not given a satisfactory answer as to why. I then asked if they offered AARP and/​or AAA discounts — no AARP, but yes AAA — I had my AAA number on my phone but didn’t have my card with me, so too bad so sad — no discount. The rooms do not have coffee maker, microwave, mini-​fridge or morning newspaper delivery.
The ugly. My daughters only hotel requirement is a pool. Yes, we have a pool; it’s on level H. But we arrived at the pool to find a sign on the door stating closed for maintenance.
In conclusion. We checked in planning to stay the week, but checked out after one night.

Have stayed here many times over the years. Hotel is in a great Location. There is a Mall under the Hotel which has connection to the Rail system. Liquor store, Shoppers Drum Mart and more. The Hotel is an older hotel that is well kept. I always look forward to staying here any chance I can.

Not a bad hotel. You may be confused as to which elevator to take, and the layout of the hotel is overall confusing. Service is great, and if you don’t feel like exploring the area, the hotel offers some restaurant options.

This is a beautiful boutique hotel! We had mostly great encounters.
Pros:
Mike in The Library is a great bartender! He has a lot of interesting stories to share and is very creative with making drinks. Really, almost all of the service we received was four star!
The rooms are adorable boutique rooms and are quiet. (We never really heard anyone in the halls and barely anyone next door.)
They’re in the middle of upgrading several floors and although they told us we may hear it, we never heard any construction.
Our meeting room was great and so was the service! The lunch and snacks were very flavorful and well assorted.
Just a few hick-​ups:
We had a group contract (for our family’s business meeting). As the group planner, I opted for everyone to receive chocolate covered strawberries rather than a room upgrade for me (the planner). Three of our rooms didn’t receive them. One was our CEO who, upon checking in, received a room with no closet and view of a brick wall. She requested a room change and the berries went to the vacated room. She never got her strawberries.
I asked a timid front desk clerk if she could have itineraries delivered to our groups rooms and she just about melted down like I was holding her at gun point. She got on the phone and directed me to the bell captain who claimed there would be a $ 1.25 charge for each delivery. I told him with the amount of money my group was about to drop in his hotel, the least they could do was wave that fee. He refused.
Overall, our experience was fantastic. Our group loved the historical qualities of the hotel and boutique style rooms. Almost all of the service we received was great! I’ll stay here again when in Toronto.

The hotel is old and my room (12. Club floor 118) is smaller than i expected. The decoration is nice but again old fashion (royal). My room is right next to a furnace or machine room and keeps getting this humming machine sound. I called the front desk after 2 hours of getting crazy and asked for a room change. In 10mins the sounds stopped. I still asked for a room change for the next night and they did accept. The guest service was very helpful and did change my room next day. I got moved to a regular room 16^th floor. This time, although the window was double layers, there was a constant wind blowing sound (a slight opening somewhere that was preventing the isolation).
What did i do to attract this experience at the fairmont! :) i m glad they have several floors under reconstruction i suggest give this hotel a break until it’s all redone.
And please see my other comments in Unilocal,they are mostly very positive. I am not the unhappy customer :)

This is a seriously delayed review … By a few years. But probably still holds value.
I took my mom here for high tea with a groupon deal. This was before I had to go gfree so my eating experience was quite different.
The high tea was in the library and the room was very plush and comfortable. Exactly where you would want to have tea. We started with crumpets with champagne butter (!! Seriously!!), then moved on to scones with homemade jams and honey (honey from the bees on the roof!), then sandwiches — amazing sandwiches! They even had lobster salad sandwich. It was divine! And this is from someone who isn’t too fond of seafood. And we finished with a three tier tray full of desserts — with two of everything! There was even a swan crème puff.
SO good!
The staff was great — solid service, the tea was refilled as needed and there was no pressure to leave at a certain time. After we expressed how much we liked the honey, they gave us two small pots to take with us.
It’s sad that these vouchers don’t come out very often anymore. It’s also sad that they don’t (as far as I know) offer a gluten free menu. That being said. Try it out. You won’t be disappointed!

The first time I had ever heard of this place it was in the 90s, when a classmate told me «that’s where Princess Diana stays when she’s in Toronto» so I guess my expectations were high? I was here for a conference and the staff was rude, the food was bad, but the prices are all still high. The out-​of-​towners were mostly unimpressed with their rooms. It’s gone downhill, I guess.

I am staying here for the 2015 American Roentgen Ray Society Meeting. Our conference is being held at the Convention center. The location is very close to the Subway, and it is convenient to local restaurants and attractions.
My accommodations are typical of a Vintage high end hotel. Very reminiscent of the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, featured in Coming to America by Eddie Murphy.
My room is a King Bed Suite. Decent sized room for one person. It has a desk and chair, as well as a flat screen television with a multitude of cable programming. The bed is extremely comfortable, as are the pillows. I am extremely picky with these, and I felt at home. I am a member of the Fairmont President’s Club which gives me additional advantages, such as complimentary Internet access.
I had to partake in the room service for an omelette. It came with orange juice, coffee, toast, and water. It was awesome but it’s passable as a meal for two, or maybe one person with a huge appetite.
Staff and friendly and helpful. The lobby is gorgeous to see. My room has a great view of the city. There is a signed guest book with the Queen Elizabeth’s and the Duke of Edinborough’s autographs. This was also the site for many movies in its history.
I was very happy with my stay, and I’d be happy to stay here on future visits.

Review for Afternoon Tea (October 2014)
A long overdue review, but I had to share my wonderful experience.
The afternoon tea service was located in the Library Bar which at first seemed stuffy, very manly and like a cigar lounge, but after sitting down it was quite exquisite. It was definitely a relaxed feeling and very casual. I loved the large comfortable chairs and we sat there chatting long after tea service was done.
The staff was friendly, fast and efficient, but very attentive and not overbearing at all. The timing of the tea service was impeccable and staff was always readily available despite it being a busy afternoon for tea service. They definitely know how to serve proper tea service.
Lots of teas available about 12, so the selection was suitable for all preferences. Plus teas were served in lovely floral bone china teapots and cups and everyone had different designs. Wish I had taken a photo of all the teapots.
Selection of assorted sandwiches were served on fine china with the sweets and pastries served on the typical tiered serving platters. Presentation of food was lovely with everything tasty and flavourful. It was definitely divine.
The server kept refilling our teapots throughout the afternoon tea service and even long after we were done our food. We lost track of time as we were busy catching up in conversations well after tea service ended, but server didn’t mind or rush us out at all.
Afternoon tea at the Royal York is definitely a fine royal experience. Priced at $ 48 per person which was a little more than the average afternoon tea, but definitely worth the cost.
If you’re looking for a traditional afternoon tea service, then come to the Royal York, you won’t be disappointed.

One of the great joys of traveling is seeking out and experiencing hotels. Almost every city has a hotel with a grand history from which you can in a short time absorb some of the culture the area has been home to over many years.
Fairmont’s Royal York hotel gives you a sense of the grandeur possible during the late 1920’s and 1930’s in Toronto and in the British Empire. The large château type architecture lets you know you’re entering a special place, and you aren’t disappointed as you walk through a lobby echoing a bygone era. That era rings of elegance and sophistication which holds true in the friendly service the staff provides.
I was told that this building was once the tallest building in the British Empire, and that among all the notable guests, the Queen herself has stayed here.
If you appreciate history and being a small part of it, this hotel is a good stop on a trip to Toronto for a visit, a drink, a meal, and even a stay.

My most recent stay here was a bit of a gong show. I arrived at 4pm (check in is at 3) and was told they didn’t have a room ready yet for me, and that it would be at least an hour. I went and waited in the lounge. Two hours later, still no room. I went back to the front desk and was cheerfully told that I was number two in line and that it would «only» be 30 – 45 more minutes.
Finally at 6:30 they had a room. Another person checked me in. I went up to my room only to discover it was someone else’s (thankfully they other guest wasn’t in their room at the time). Back downstairs I went, this time with a hotel employee who had been in the hallway who wanted to help make things right.
They gave me another room and some meal vouchers. Another front desk girl berated the «in training» guy who had given me the occupied room. I pointed out he was new, and while he made a mistake, he wasn’t responsible for the three hour room delay. I felt bad for him.
I then got my room. It was large, with an odd layout. The TV is really far from the bed but that’s fine. Things were clean. Rudy, who had helped me earlier had wine sent up to my room, which was a lovely gesture. The manager sent more food vouchers (although I later learned half the hotel staff didn’t know how to process the vouchers).
On the second day I was there, a local friend dropped off a special, time sensitive, good luck gift at the front desk and they promised to deliver it. Except they didn’t. Wen he found out the next day I never got it, he called the hotel. They brought it up then.
The last morning I was there I ordered breakfast (expensive but I had vouchers). While the meal was fantastic, it arrived 20 minutes early so I was still in the shower. Awkward.
For a luxury hotel there seemed to be a lot of bumbling around. They have some wonderful employees, but something in their processes must be broken. It’s great they tried to make things right, but at their rates, they probably shouldn’t have made so many errors to start with.
Oh and stop charging for wifi. $ 16 a day? It’s 2014. Just stop.

It’s a very beautiful landmark hotel and the staff pleasant & helpful.
The room was okay — a bit worn, but I think it’s due to being an old building, with not much upgrading. THe rooms seemed clean, but the bathrooms very small.
Wifi is not complimentary, and since this is an upscale hotel, that seemed odd.
The two bars in the hotel are outstanding, with very friendly staff. One is called the library and you feel you are in an old castle’s library. Very warm and inviting.
I would probably not stay here again, but it was fun to stay once.

Luxurious Toronto hotel, near the waterfront and two blocks from the Hockey Hall of Fame and Union Station.
Be careful when you book — partly renovated rooms — there is a big difference between pre and post-​renovation rooms.
Big main lobby with a Pipe Shop, high-​end Gift Store and the main restaurant EPIC.
Rooms were extremely clean and neat, with a big comfy king size bed. TV was big enough to meet our needs and the desk and seating area in the room made it feel spacious.
The EPIC restaurant is the go-​to for breakfast and lunch and the Library Bar serves high end cocktails in an old-​world setting. Food at EPIC, especially the Sunday brunch was very good, and a reasonable value at #22.95 for the «all-​you can eat» and «boy do they have everything» buffet, including omelettes, pancakes and waffles made to order in the big open kitchen.
The concierge desk was most helpful during our visit, as we had planned nothing ahead of time, and they took care of our agenda and dinner plans based on our time preferences.
Very nice, upscale and worth the money.