If you’re looking for a great weekend getaway in Toronto, The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto is your kind of place.
As a 32-year employee of the Toronto Star, which had its offices across the street for half a century, I’d been in the hotel dozens of times. But I’d never spent the night until a recent weekend in March.
We had a great room, with nice, clean lines, plenty of space and a fine view of Lake Ontario. There was a comfy chair in the corner, a coffee maker and a big-screen television. As someone who bring his laptop everywhere he goes (well, not the shower very often), I also enjoyed the big desk.
The bathroom was quite large, with a tub and shower, and we had lots of counter space; always a plus.
The Westin is rolling out renovations set to be complete before the hotel’s 50th anniversary in 2025. Already, guests can enjoy a newly expanded gym that includes a new yoga studio and Lululemon mirror.
A guest room at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto hotel. Photo Courtesy Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
The first set of renovated guestrooms will be available this coming fall. The new concept will bring nature to the city with wood finishings, colours inspired by Lake Ontario and more environmentally friendly touches.
Executive Chef Daniel Craig and his extensive Food and Beverage team are preparing to unveil an entirely new concept and upgrades for the hotel’s hidden restaurant, Savoury, expected to be completed this summer.
Craig was recently inducted into the Academie Culinaire de France (ACF) – one of the oldest organizations of professional chefs based in France. The induction marks the first time a Toronto chef has been named to this prestigious ranking. Chef Craig is also the first Canadian-born chef to be inducted.
The hotel lobby is quite attractive, with a series of small gathering places and several sets of bright lights in primary colours. I was at the hotel for a business function a few nights before our stay, and the bar scene was going strong, with a DJ spinning tunes and what seemed like hundreds of people. When we stayed it was a Saturday, and the business crowds weren’t as evident. But the bar/restaurant, called the Chartroom Bar and Lounge, was pretty full.
The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto lobby. Photo courtesy Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
My wife had a nice French 75 cocktail, and I had a terrific, spicy margarita. Most cocktails are $15, which is pretty good for Toronto.
We enjoyed a nice poke bowl with tuna, avocado, cherry tomatoes, rice and kimchi. The truffle chow mein comes with plump, juicy shrimp, bok choy, carrots, onion, mushroom, truffles, and roasted peanuts. You can substitute chicken or tofu for the shrimp, or go without the protein. We also had an excellent, slightly spicy Korean fried chicken sandwich with kimchi slaw, Gochujang, aged cheddar, pickle and chili bean aioli on a sesame brioche bun, served alongside a small mountain of fries.
The menu offers up chicken stroganoff pasta, roasted sweet potato and corn empanadas, a five-cheese mac and cheese and pizzas, including the “Gout City” with Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, crumbled meatballs, mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes.
The best part of the evening was our waiter, Danilo, a lovely guy who has been at the hotel for more than 30 years. We talked about kids and grandkids and other topics, and somehow got onto the topic of music.
“Sometimes people ask me to sing,” he said. He then proceeded to launch into a very good version of “When I Fall in Love With You.” When he finished, several restaurant patrons burst into applause.
Danilo told us he came to Canada from the Philippines 36 years ago and was sponsored by his now wife. I told him my wife sponsored me when I moved to Toronto from California in 1981. At which point a woman sitting at a table near us jumped in to say she had sponsored her husband, who came to Canada from Italy.
So random!
A healthy and attractive poke dish at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto hotel. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I can’t promise you a free concert, or a conversation about women bringing husbands to Canada, but I expect you’ll have a nice time if you head down for dinner or lunch some time.
The next morning we had a fine breakfast buffet at The Mizzen. The buffet offers made-to-order omelettes, chunky potatoes, bacon, croissants, bagels, muffins, berries, melon, pineapple and more, and they make a good, strong pot of coffee. There’s orange and green juice on the menu, as well.
We didn’t go, but the hotel is home to Don Alfonso 1890, a fine Italian restaurant I was lucky enough to dine at on a couple of occasions when it was on Toronto Street. It was recently named the number two Italian restaurant in the world outside of Italy, and that’s pretty amazing. It also received a star in Toronto’s new Michelin restaurant guide.
The Westin Harbour Castle is fine in winter, but it would be even better in spring, summer or fall, you can walk along the waterfront more comfortably and enjoy the lake views. The Toronto Island ferry dock is just a few meters from the hotel, as is leafy Harbour Square park. The Harbourfront Light Rapid Transit line has a stop just outside the hotel’s front door.
You’re also just two blocks from Scotiabank Arena, which makes the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto great for a Leafs or Raptors game, or a concert.
A downtown classic, and one of the best places to stay in Toronto.
