This luxurious Toronto landmark dates back to the 1800s

When I lived in the east end of Toronto, one of my most visited and photographed spots was The Broadview Hotel. This gorgeous structure serves as a restaurant, a hotel, and a venue, and has a history dating back to the 1800s. Sitting right at the corner of Queen Street East and Broadview, the hotel is easy to get to and worth the visit, whether you’re a frequent flyer like me or a newbie.

The history of The Broadview Hotel

“The Broadview Hotel was built in 1891 by wealthy serial entrepreneur Archibald Dingman. Having amassed a considerable fortune in the soap trade, Archibald was searching for a sound investment for his money,” states The Broadview Hotel.

The story continues that as the east end of Toronto continued to grow in popularity, Dingman saw the spot as a golden real estate opportunity, thus building Dingman Hall. The project only took him $25,000 to build.

“Its grand, imposing Romanesque-style architecture and glamorous upper assembly halls made it an instant iconic landmark, and it became a prominent social gathering spot for an astonishing array of Torontonians, from politicians to athletic clubs to the Canadian Order of Odd Fellows among others,” continues The Broadview Hotel.

The building was first sold in 1907, where it became The New Broadview Hotel. And while that name is pretty similar to the one it has today, there were many other renditions as ownership changed over the years.

During the 1930s, the spot was called Lincoln Hotel, then switched back to its original name in the 40s. In the 1970s, the hotel was changed to Jilly’s, serving as “the east end’s most notorious landmark for almost three decades.”

The Broadview Hotel today

Streetcar Developments took over in 2014, making the iconic location what we know it as today.

The Broadview boasts 58 boutique rooms, with some even featuring outdoor terraces to lounge on. You don’t need to book a room to visit the Broadview, though.

There are two restaurants on site, The Rooftop and The Broadview Bistro + Bar. The Rooftop, one of my favourite spots in the city, has one of the best views of Toronto, and is a perfect place to grab a drink and watch the sun go down in the summer.

The bistro has a little of everything, from brunch and coffee to a selection of carefully crafted cocktails.

But don’t take my word for it, Toronto. Go visit this amazing (and historic) place and see for yourself.

Where: 106 Broadview Ave.

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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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