A lot of Canadians are choosing local stays this year, and truly, why leave a place like Toronto when some of the country’s best spots are right here? I’ve been dabbling in staycations, and if you, too, want to feel like you’ve travelled far without actually having to, my recommendation is the Drake Hotel.
The hotel opened back in 2004, and now stands as one of Queen West’s most iconic landmarks. The first thing you’ll notice when you walk in is the funky decor, vibrant colours and overall cool vibe. There are 51 carefully curated art-filled rooms for guests, definitely a step up from your typical beige and white hotel room.
Make sure you show up hungry, because The Drake has plenty of dining options, including a new menu and a new chef. According to The Drake, “The menu is built around shareable plates, an expanded sushi program, and reimagined comfort classics, all served in one of Toronto’s most iconic dining destinations.” Executive Chef Daniel Hyam was not messing around when he created this menu, making sure there are options for everyone.
Chef Hyam is a pro when it comes to high-volume kitchens across North America, “having worked for a decade under Chef David Lee at the highly acclaimed Nota Bene and then Planta.”
Some of the new dishes include the Umai Bowl featuring miso-glazed salmon with chickpea crumble, sticky baby back ribs infused with lemongrass and lime, and a sushi lineup featuring snow crab hosomaki, mango salmon maki, crispy rice aburi, and more.
And of course, with great food comes great cocktails. Some of the standouts are the Bubblegum Cosmo with bubblegum, lime, orange, and Absolut Citron vodka, and the Hot Lips, featuring grapefruit, Campari, gochujang, lime, and Altos Plata tequila. Finally, my fave, The Drake Martini with your choice of Beefeater gin or Absolut vodka. You can customize your drink any way: dirty, dry, or wet.
You can enjoy your meal and beverages at the hotel’s Sky Yard or the Patio Café downstairs.
Now moving even more downstairs to the Drake Underground. Tucked beneath the hotel, this space features shows from DJs, indie bands, filmmakers, comedians, poets, you name it. If you’re able to catch something here either during your stay or some other time, I highly recommend it — it’s without a doubt one of the coolest music venues in Toronto.
You can plan your visit around The Drake’s long list of happenings, such as drag brunch, happy hour, jazz nights, or any of the live music shows.
I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t love it myself, and I cannot say enough great things about this spot. Whether it’s a weekend with the girls, a night with a loved one, or a solo stay, you can’t go wrong with a staycation at the Drake Hotel.
The Drake Hotel
Where: 1150 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ont.
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Taylor Lucas
Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.
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