The Drake Hotel: What's the draw
One of Toronto’s most iconic landmarks, The Drake Hotel is often cited as the catalyst for turning West Queen West into the thriving artsy neighbourhood it is today. A boutique hotel, local artist hub and dining destination all rolled into one, The Drake has always been an endlessly cool hotspot, frequented by locals and out-of-towners alike.
Now, The Drake is reinstating its cool kid status with the opening of the new Modern Wing. The long-awaited expansion sees the addition of a new lobby, complete with a lobby bar (natch), and 32 guestrooms — all kitted out with an eclectic mix of custom and vintage furniture and local art pieces galore.
The Drake Hotel: What's on the menu
Anytime is a good time to dine on fresh, made-from-scratch fare in The Drake lounge, café or the beloved year-round rooftop patio, The Sky Yard. Weekends bring on their famous brunch, which you’ll want to jump out of bed to dive right into — unless you’re ordering room service. We always go for the Drake benny, but other smash hits include their challah French toast and the all-out Drake breakfast.
For dinner, start with the melt-in-your-mouth steak tartare or the crispy cauliflower bites. Don’t sleep on the Drake burger — it’s by far one of the best in the city. Afterwards, post up at the intimate lobby bar to sip on beautifully handcrafted cocktails and snack on small bites.
The Drake Hotel: What else
If you’re a lover of art, you owe it to yourself to stay at The Drake. Top to bottom, the hotel is decked out in funky pieces, and in some unlikely places, too (take the stairs or glance into the courtyard and see what you see). In the rooms, you’ll find a few surprises: Each floor of the Modern Wing features different art and wallpaper. Every room has a one-of-a-kind plush Creature, handmade in Toronto, and just begging you to take it home — and you can, for a fee. The art here isn’t all visual, however.
With the lifting of restrictions comes the return of The Drake Underground, one of the city’s top music venues. Dance the night away to DJ beats before slipping into those soft sheets.
Rooms from $234 per night. thedrake.ca
