The Thompson Hotel in Toronto is a carefully curated chic haven in the middle of downtown Toronto. The sweeping views of the city’s skyline astound in all directions. To the East is downtown Toronto, punctuated by the CN Tower (Canada’s attempt at the Space Needle). To the South and West, you overlook the Inner Harbor and bays that make up the Lake Ontario waterfront.
The best Toronto nightlife is just a short walk or cab ride away, but truthfully, if you’re staying at the Thompson, the nightlife will come to you. The boutique hotel undergoes a metamorphosis at night, becoming a premiere, fully functioning party spot. Something that was amazing to us was that the Thompson manages to maintain the small boutique feel, yet have seemingly as many varied and functional spaces as a resort hotel (and each space has its own fully fleshed out design elements with clear thought having been put into choices of flooring, wall art, light bulbs etc., everything is purposefully and carefully appointed).
There’s the “club,” Wildflower, a nightlife lounge that occupies the Thompson’s lower-level and attracts some of “The 6ix’s” hottest DJs…but, the real jewel in the Thompson’s crown is its rooftop lounge, and it’s where you should go if you’re only picking one spot in the hotel to party at. It can be difficult to get in, as it has become one of the hottest destinations in the city for a night out. The rooftop boasts a full indoor bar, with 360 degrees of over-sized floor-to-ceiling windows. The lounge opens up outside as well, with it’s comfy sofas and chairs surrounded by powerful heaters for outdoor fun even on colder nights.
While you can only swim during the day (if you’re somewhere to “see and be seen,” would you want to swim during the day anyway? I’m not ruining my hair and makeup (cough cough SoHo House NY)), the gorgeous aqua water of the outdoor infinity pool really makes you feel like you’re somewhere chic and exclusive (well, because you are).
Don’t overlook Wildflower though, the art and vibe is incredibly cool. Even the Lobby Bar becomes a destination on busy Toronto nights (yes, there is a turntable in the lobby. Just in case things start to get crazy, the Thompson will have someone spinning in a heartbeat).
One of our favorite parts of all of this extravagance is the fact that after a crazy fun night on the roof, you can have late-night (early morning) pancakes at the hotel’s 24 hour restaurant (not to be confused with the 2 other stand-alone restaurants within the hotel) called simply “The Thompson Diner.”
Perhaps the best thing about the Thompson is being able to go straight from the party to your room for some R&R. No calling a cab or an Uber at 2:00 am, just saying hi to the beyond friendly staff (who will know you by name after meeting you the first time), and taking the elevator straight to your room.
If you’re going to be in Toronto, the Thompson is a stop you have to make, but we recommend staying there and making it your home base for an unforgettable experience in “The 6ix.”
#hotel #boutique #toronto #thompson