Review: 1 Hotel Toronto

Why book?

The hotels in Canada’s biggest city tend to skew either unremittingly corporate or standard bohemian-chic. This lush new exception—a literal urban oasis that takes sustainability seriously—is distinguished by its biophilic design, impressive conservation programs, and real community mindedness. Rest assured, though, that the luxury factor hasn’t been compromised. While the in-room tumblers and carafes may be made from reclaimed wine bottles, that’s still Veuve Clicquot Champagne and small-batch Dillon’s gin in the impeccably stocked minibars. And did we mention the rooftop swimming pool boasting waterside service and breathtaking views of the downtown skyline?

Set the scene

Located where a Thompson Hotel once operated, 1 Hotel Toronto couldn’t be more distinct aesthetically from its retro-modern forebear. Although the basic footprint remains the same, an elaborate rock garden dotted with indigenous trees and shrubs now lines the Wellington Street West exterior, while a formerly underused pavilion in the courtyard just to the east of the building houses a seasonal herb and vegetable garden and a buzzing bee hotel. Inside, the cavernous reception area has been outfitted with floorboards and shelving made of elm salvaged from a dismantled barn in rural Ontario; the space is punctuated at one end by a massive “living” wall installation overlooking the welcoming lobby bar (the vegetal piece’s creator, floral designer Lauren Wilson of local studio Timberlost, replenishes the greenery as needed). And though 1 Hotel sits mere steps from Toronto’s often boisterous King Street West nightlife, it seems to be attracting more than just the district’s cool kids. During a recent Tuesday-morning visit, two sunbathers dangled their legs in the outdoor roof pool, while a staycationing couple and their little son splashed in the water nearby.

The backstory

Having launched in 2015 with the goal of melding luxury hospitality with minimal environmental impact, 1 Hotels currently operates eco-chic escapes from South Beach to West Hollywood. For its inaugural property north of the U.S. border, the brand settled on Toronto, a city rife with parks and forests, for its obvious cultural fit. And indeed, the company, which enlisted New York’s Rockwell Group to spearhead the design, found a wealth of like-minded local collaborators ideal for realizing its vision. Just Be Woodsy, a studio that specializes in turning Toronto’s felled trees into usable objects of beauty, crafted many of the furnishings that dot the property, from the monolithic signpost outside the front entrance to the end tables in the rooms. Complementing Timberlost’s wall art in the lobby bar is a giant paper installation that hangs behind the reception desk; mimicking loon feathers, it was created by the internationally acclaimed Toronto studio Moss & Lam. And the stylish staff uniforms, which were designed by sustainable-fashion star Misha Nonoo? They’re manufactured by locally based Kloth Studio, a bespoke-uniform maker that embraces zero-waste production.

The rooms

As befits a nature-inspired retreat, the hotel’s 91 guest rooms and 21 suites are oases of calm and well-being. The noisy city outside is barely discernible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow natural light to flood in when the drapes are drawn. A soothing color palette of milky whites, oaty beiges, soft pinks, and pearly blue-grays informs an array of textiles, including organic-cotton bed linens, nubby throw pillows, and fluidly shaped rugs. In entryways, hooks sprouting from wall-mounted pieces of driftwood prove handy for hanging hats and face masks, while cubbies and closets contain slippers tied with raffia, natural-cotton bathrobes, and rolled up yoga mats (a more strenuous workout can be had in the well-equipped basement-level gym, called the Field House). The hotel’s brand of eco-opulence is perhaps best embodied in the bathrooms, where filtered water flows through the chunky black-metal taps and shower heads, biodegradable facial tissues share counter space with Bamford bath products, and deep soaker tubs (some of which look into bedrooms through shuttered openings) feature rustic reclaimed-wood planks across their tops for resting your elbows while reading.

Food and drink

The hotel recently unveiled Casa Madera, an “immersive” restaurant and live-music venue offering coastal Mexican and Mediterranean fare; it’s California-based Madera Group’s first location in Canada. Also new is Harriet’s Toronto, located next to the pool area on the hotel’s roof; it serves small plates and cocktails against that dramatic sky-high backdrop. Elsewhere, hungry visitors can chow down at the hotel’s signature eatery, 1 Kitchen, which boasts a produce-led menu fueled by its direct relationships with Canadian food purveyors. Of course, all of these venues have access to the organic crops grown on-site in the garden pavilion, from onions and peppers to herbs and edible flowers; those hardworking pollinators in the bee hotel also supply fresh honey.

Eco effort

As you’d expect from the Canadian flagship of such an eco-focused brand, 1 Hotel Toronto’s sustainability efforts extend well beyond its materials palette and exuberant use of greenery. Many of its more substantive features are invisible to guests. On-site composting, for instance, turns all organic wet waste into reusable soil for the more than 3,300 plants in the hotel and garden. A partnership with Toronto-based Green For Life, meanwhile, ensures the recycling of all paper, plastic, glass, and hazardous waste on the property, while an alliance with GreenPlanet converts 100 percent of kitchen oil and grease into biofuel.

The neighborhood/area

The hotel’s proximity to King Street West makes it ideal for those seeking access to (as well as respite from) that bustling entertainment strip’s wine bars and nightclubs. Its location on the downtown core’s west side, however, also places it within walking distance of less riotous attractions, including the independent boutiques and restaurants of trendy Queen Street West to the north and the bike trails, parks and cultural venues of the Lake Ontario waterfront to the south.

The service

Service in Toronto can be hit or miss, but 1 Hotel’s staff is delightfully solicitous when needed, unobtrusive when not. Think wait people who appear at your side almost as soon as you sit down in the busy lobby lounge, then retreat until desired again. The pool attendant during a recent visit was especially intuitive, offering towels and drinks on cue. And the mixologists throughout the site are as friendly as they are creative.

Accessibility

All public and private spaces are fully accessible, although features do vary by guest room, so those with special needs or requests should make them known at time of booking.