Ace Hotel Toronto, Toronto
Canada’s first Ace Hotel combines bold architecture, creative energy, and unmistakable local character in the heart of Toronto’s historic Garment District.
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A striking purpose-built hotel by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects that redefines Ace’s signature aesthetic through a distinctly Canadian lens.
● One of the city’s most impressive public spaces, featuring the iconic floating lobby beneath monumental concrete arches.
● A genuine creative hub where architecture, art, music, food, and local culture naturally come together.
Canada’s First Ace Hotel
Unlike many Ace Hotels that breathe new life into historic buildings, Ace Hotel Toronto was conceived from the ground up. Located in the city’s former Garment District, the 14-storey building reflects both Toronto’s industrial heritage and its contemporary creative identity. Designed by Toronto-based Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace, the architecture feels simultaneously timeless and forward-looking. The red-brick façade references the Don Valley clay bricks that once shaped Toronto’s historic warehouses, while its sculptural form introduces a fresh architectural landmark that feels completely at home within the evolving neighbourhood. Like the city itself, the building is confident without being showy.
An Extraordinary Floating Lobby
The hotel’s defining architectural moment arrives immediately upon entering. Beneath soaring poured-concrete arches sits one of the most remarkable hotel lobbies in North America. Wrapped in warm red oak and appearing to float above the lower level, the entire lobby platform is suspended from the concrete structure above by slender steel rods, creating an extraordinary sense of lightness beneath the massive architectural framework. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with daylight, while a wood-burning fireplace, handcrafted furniture, white-glazed brick bar, and the three-storey Horizon Line art installation create a public space that feels equally suited for quiet work, casual meetings, evening cocktails, or simply watching Toronto pass by. Like every great Ace Hotel, the lobby belongs as much to locals as to guests.
Cabin-Inspired Rooms with Creative Spirit
The 123 guestrooms reinterpret Ace’s familiar design language through a distinctly Canadian perspective. Douglas fir panelling, copper accents, handcrafted furniture, leather window benches, deep-set windows, and custom quilts by Canadian artist Kyle Parent create interiors that feel more like contemporary woodland cabins than urban hotel rooms. Vintage-inspired furnishings, Tivoli sound systems, acoustic guitars, locally made ceramics, curated minibars, and original artwork reinforce the hotel’s creative personality without ever feeling overly designed. Comfort comes first, while design quietly follows.
Food, Art, and Community
As always with Ace, the public spaces are every bit as important as the guestrooms. Alder, led by celebrated chef Patrick Kriss, revolves around a wood-fired kitchen serving seasonal Canadian ingredients in a dramatic dining room of bush-hammered concrete, copper lanterns, and warm timber detailing. Above the city, Evangeline occupies the fourteenth floor, pairing panoramic skyline views with cocktails, music, and one of Toronto’s liveliest rooftop scenes. Throughout the year, exhibitions, live music, film screenings, artist talks, and cultural programming reinforce the hotel’s role as an active participant in Toronto’s creative community rather than simply a place to stay.
A Hotel That Belongs to Toronto
What makes Ace Hotel Toronto particularly successful is how deeply it embraces its location. The architecture references Toronto’s industrial past, the interiors celebrate Canadian craftsmanship, the art collection showcases nearly forty artists connected to the city, and the public spaces have quickly become gathering places for designers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and locals alike. Rather than importing a global lifestyle concept, Ace has created something that genuinely feels rooted in Toronto.
Why it Works
Ace Hotel Toronto perfectly captures everything that has made the Ace brand so influential while simultaneously establishing its own distinct identity. The remarkable architecture, unforgettable floating lobby, thoughtful guestrooms, and genuine connection to Toronto’s creative community make it far more than simply Canada’s first Ace Hotel. It is one of the country’s most compelling contemporary design hotels—a place where architecture, culture, hospitality, and local identity come together with effortless confidence.
