Review: Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville – The New Best Hotel in Town?

As a hotel enthusiast, I’m always eager to explore new accommodations, especially when it’s a brand-new addition to the hospitality scene.

So when I stumbled upon the newly opened Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville back in March 2023, I couldn’t resist the opportunity.

One day, while casually browsing the Hilton app, I came across a remarkably affordable rate for this hotel and spontaneously made the booking.

Booking (February 2024)

I paid $179 for one night in February 2024, taxes included, on the Go Hilton Friends and Family rate, Hilton’s discount for its team members’ friends and family. Back then, Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville typically went for upwards of $350 a night.

Location

The hotel is conveniently located just outside Sherbourne subway station, which makes it easy to explore Toronto. However, the immediate neighbourhood doesn’t offer particularly pleasant scenery.

It’s worth noting that despite being named after Yorkville, the hotel is technically just outside the corner of the Yorkville neighbourhood.

Yorkville itself is renowned for its luxurious 5-star hotels such as the Park Hyatt Toronto, Four Seasons Toronto, and W Toronto, as well as upscale shopping malls. It’s a symbol of wealth and luxury in the city.

Given this, it’s uncertain whether Yorkville residents will readily accept the Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville as part of their neighbourhood.

How to get to Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville from Toronto Pearson International Airport (2024 prices):

• Taxi / Uber / Lyft:
• • About $50
  • A 30-minute ride, depending on traffic
• Public transit:
• • $8.95
  • 17 minutes on the UP Express, from the airport to Bloor GO station
  • 16 minutes on the TTC subway, from Bloor station to Sherbourne station

Lobby & Check-in

Entrance

There are two entrances to the hotel. You’ll most likely enter from Bloor Street, unless you’re driving, in which case you’ll come in through the parking lot at the back of the building on Selby Street.

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Check-in takes place in the lobby on the second floor. While the lobby has a modern and elegant design, there are only two desks for check-ins, which may lead to congestion during peak hours.

Next to the desks, there’s a display of snacks, drinks and thankyou toiletries.

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While the hotel seemed pretty quiet, I didn’t receive any room upgrade as a Hilton Honors Gold member 🥲 (not even to a higher floor). In fact, I thought I’d been assigned the lowest floor when I received my room keys showing 2M06.

Luckily(?) it was one floor above the lobby, a small consolation.

Transfer Lounge

One highlight at Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville was the “Transfer Lounge” in the lobby, with showers and lockers for guests.

Having lockers to store your belongings and the ability to freshen up with a shower is truly invaluable, especially if you arrive early in the morning.

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I sincerely appreciate this, and I really wish more hotels offered it. Seriously, how many times have you found yourself needing to kill time after arriving at your destination on an overnight flight?

Hallway

The patterned carpet in the hallway added to the overall aesthetic and made for a pleasant stroll to the room.

There was also a water station in the hallway, where guests could help themselves to filtered water. It was a nice touch to see one on every floor. (You’d be surprised how many hotels put these only on every other floor to save costs.)

Room (1 King)

I was overall very impressed with the room in terms of style and functionality (except the view). Let’s take a look.

Foyer

Upon entering room 2M06, I was immediately impressed by the spacious foyer. To the right, there is a full touch-screen control panel for the lights, curtains, and housekeeping options.

To the left, there was a closet with a pair of bathrobes, and to the right, an LED-framed full-length mirror.

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Bed

Stepping into the bedroom, there’s a king bed topped by a canopy headboard, a signature feature of the Canopy by Hilton brand. The bed was elegantly dressed in a tasteful grey cover, a refreshing departure from the white bedding typical of hotels.

The mattress had a medium-firm feel to it.

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On the left side of the bed, there was a unique three-layered nightstand, with a phone and an alarm clock with wireless charging on top. On both sides of the bed, there were controls for the lights and curtains, along with an outlet, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port.

View

Facing south-west, I had a “No Frills” view, as if the hotel knew my frugal nature 😂 (I actually grocery shop at No Frills, lol.)

Desk

Opposite the bed was a desk area, with a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall above. Next to the desk, there was a comprehensive set of amenities, including a Nespresso machine, tea, a kettle, an ice bucket, glassware, and disposable cups.

This attention to detail showed the hotel’s commitment to its guests’ every need. Just below the desk, there was also a drawer-style fridge.

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TV

The flat-screen TV was not only large but also offered a feature many other hotels don’t:

SCREEN MIRRORING !!!

Finally, a hotel where I didn’t have to pull out my laptop and an HDMI cable just to watch a show.

Sofa

In the corner of the room, there was a cozy sofa with a side table, the perfect spot to unwind with a good book and a cup of coffee.

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Bathroom

The bathroom was relatively compact, especially compared to the size of the room. However, it had a modern and stylish design, with a round backlit mirror and a rain shower.

It was stocked with thankyou toiletries, which were also available for purchase at the front desk, adding a touch of luxury to the stay.

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Breakfast

Día Restaurant

Breakfast is served at the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Día, on the second floor right beside the check-in lobby. The restaurant shows off a luxurious atmosphere with its elegant décor.

Besides the fancy bar area, it offers a variety of seating, including high-top tables and cozy lounge areas with plush sofas.

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As a Hilton Gold member, I got an $18 credit towards breakfast. The credit would have fully covered the Classic Continental, but it seemed a bit too light for my liking, so I ordered The Canopy instead.

The full menu is here.

The food was presented beautifully, and the taste was exceptional.

One thing I discovered after finishing my breakfast was that coffee was not included in the price, and a drip coffee was $3.50 on my bill. I’d assumed it would be part of the meal, since coffee comes with the Continental Breakfast, the cheaper option.

I know it’s not a significant expense, but I still felt a bit iffy about it, especially since it’s something hotels often provide as a courtesy. The server asking “How would you like your coffee?” only added to the confusion.

Perhaps I’m being overly frugal, but I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Virtu Café

For those who don’t usually eat breakfast, there’s a sophisticated coffee shop called Virtu Café on the ground floor, where you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.

Amenities

Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville has both a gym and a pool on the third floor.

Gym

The gym is open 24 hours and is well equipped with a wide array of modern cardio machines, free weights, yoga mats, and towels. There are also two Peloton bikes and a cable machine, but no squat rack or bench press rack (sorry, gym bros).

The floor-to-ceiling windows bring in plenty of natural light, although the views are limited to the building across the street.

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Pool

Beside the gym is an indoor heated pool, open from 6am to 10pm daily when I stayed. One thing to note: there was no general change room, just a very spacious single shower room, which felt somewhat unusual.

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On the same floor, there was a lounge area to hang out in, with a coffee machine, high-top tables, and a small meeting room.

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Final Thoughts

In my opinion, Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville stands out as a top-notch hotel among those I’ve stayed at in Toronto.

With its modern and stylish rooms, furnishings, and amenities, it certainly makes a strong debut for the Canopy brand in Canada. While the location may not be as bustling as other parts of Toronto, it’s close to Sherbourne station and a 5-minute walk from the Bloor-Yonge hub, which makes it quite convenient.

Overall, I was very satisfied, and I look forward to coming back one day.