TORONTO—The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is coated in sandy yellow shades with the scent of solid hardwood from the ceiling, walls and stair frames lingering in the air.
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This warm, almost lodge-like Canadiana theme is present throughout the soon-to-open luxury hotel located in the heart of Toronto’s business district. It pays tribute to the pioneers who worked in Canada’s burgeoning lumber industry in the early 19th century.
The 260 guest rooms offer views of downtown, Lake Ontario, and the CN Tower. Above the 20^th floor are residence suites. The guest rooms look clean and simple with beige carpets and curtains, burgundy pillows and chairs.
Local Canadian artists will be selected to decorate the hotel with contemporary art. The restaurants are free standing and will be run by local chefs. Canadian contemporary cuisine will be on the menu with many of the ingredients coming from the local markets and farms. This is the Ritz, Canada-style.
Taste of Toronto
When you walk inside the Ritz-Carlton on the left you’ll see a wooden staircase leading to Toca by Tom Brodi. It’s a contemporary, open concept Canadian restaurant with walls and floors made from Rich African Anigre wood. The soft tones and chandelier lights give the restaurant the warm feeling of autumn festivities.
Toca stands for Toronto-Canada. It also means “touch” in Spanish and carries that theme through its service. Toca will provide an interactive experience for the guests that includes customized menus and private dining. There is also a wine-tasting cellar and a separate cheese tasting room.
Warm Your Winter With the Brand
The lounge and patio are past the reception that’s hidden deeper in the main floor’s blend of woody shades. Outside, on the patio, there’ll be a pizza oven and fire pit. When the hotel opens in January, you can come inside for a cup of coffee, sit down on a couch and enjoy the luxurious and relaxing atmosphere.
Of course, walking into the Ritz-Carlton for just a warm drink may feel intimidating. But as the hotel’s motto goes, “We are ladies and gentlemen, serving ladies and gentlemen,” meaning you can rest assured that once you enter through the doors, you’ll be dazzled by the Ritz-Carlton mystique whether staying for the night or a cup of java.
Part of that mystique includes fulfilling the guests’ unexpressed wishes and demands. If you have the fortune to stay there, you might not think much of it when the staff asks how your jog was, but when you find a sports magazine lying on your bed the next morning, you’ll begin understand why the Ritz-Carlton is a world-renowned brand.
