We all need a good escape from time to time. Maybe you get your kicks through drinking bubble tea, or warming up with a bowl of Toronto's most slurp-worthy ramen. Or maybe you book yourself in for a sweet-as stay at one of the city's superlative hotels.
One such hotel is the Anndore House, which restores the former glamour of the luxury hotel and residence that once occupied the space. Originally opened as the Anndore Hotel and Apartments in the 1950s, the revamped property looks to the hotel's heyday for design inspiration.
Combining vintage vibes with hip, modern amenities, the Anndore House is one cool boutique hotel, ideal for your next Toronto staycation. Plus, newly reopened Constantine, the restaurant and bar located on the ground floor, is an exciting getaway in itself.
The Anndore House: What's the draw
Do you ever walk into a place and just want to change your life's entire design aesthetic? Well, the Anndore House has that kind of effect. The moment you enter the moody, Art Deco-ish lobby adorned with dark wood, gold accents and purples, you're greeted with a friendly "welcome to our house!" from the concierge — although, we'd like to pretend they say "your house." Why can't my apartment look this cool?
The 10-story boutique hotel is inspired by the building's storied (and once kind of shady) past. It first opened in the 1950s as a residence and hotel where some of the city's most famous and infamous slept… Or didn't. The rooms are designed to look like an industrial loft with a retro style that stays true to its creative and quirky history.
Techie features, however, are firmly rooted in present-day, with the hotel's app giving guests the option to check-in on their mobile devices, as well as order room service and control in-room lighting and temperature. Exposed brick walls and brass-accented bathrooms add a modern element for a hipster home-away-from-home feel.
The Anndore House: What to eat
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The Anndore House is steps from Toronto's happening Yorkville neighbourhood, but why would you leave when you have Constantine right downstairs? Constantine continues the hotel's sophisticated yet homey aesthetic with its richly-coloured accent walls and open-kitchen ringed by a chef's bar. From the team behind La Palma, this downtown haven celebrates the diversity of Mediterranean cuisine with inventive, thoughtful and lick-your-plate worthy dishes paired expertly with a curated wine programme. And with a heated outdoor patio, you'll sure feel like you're dinning al fresco somewhere in the Mediterranean.
Start with the house-made mezze, a trio of creamy dips, like muhammarah, a vibrant Middle Eastern roasted red pepper dip with feta, and fresh baked pita. The vegetable dishes like the roasted eggplant with tahini and the fattoush with garlic-sumac dressing are so hearty and satisfying you could order them as mains. As for the actual entrées, the savoury shrimp chitarrine and the delectable cod, both dishes from Fogo Island, are a seafood lover's dream.
The Anndore House: What else
There's a little bit of soul in each room with its own vinyl record player and small selection of LPs — Barbara Streisand Greatest Hits, anyone? — for those slow mornings after you've sipped one too many Constantine signature cocktails. Thankfully, there's brunch for that with hangover-curing shakshuka or eggs benny on Constantine's heated patio. For a cut and a croissant, the Crows Nest Barbershop is right next to the Scarlet Door Café on the ground floor where you can get your caffeine fix and hipster beard trimmed at the same time — talk about efficiency.
Rooms from $169. 15 Charles St. E.; Toronto, ON, 416 924 1222, theanndorehouse.com
