New York, New York – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
Proudly soaring in its hometown over the chic Yorkville neighborhood, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto takes a bold stand as the new beacon of style and excitement in the city.
More than 50 years ago, a modest hotel was built in Toronto with hopes for a grand future. Decades later, with an expansion to 86 hotels in 35 countries, Four Seasons continues to soar high above the city’s skyline at the company’s flagship and hometown property at a new location at 60 Yorkville Avenue. The landmark Hotel will offer an immaculately designed two-story spa, Café Boulud and dbar by international restaurateur and Chef Daniel Boulud, glass-enclosed event spaces, and, of course, Four Seasons guest rooms: 259 personalized accommodations including 42 suites that feature interactive tablets, lightning-speed Wi-Fi, easy climate control, digital signage and marble bathrooms with discreetly hidden televisions inside mirrors.
“We are quite literally at the intersection where business and pleasure come together in Toronto,” says Regional Vice President and General Manager Dimitrios Zarikos, referring to the Hotel’s coveted address at the corner of Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue. “Four Seasons has not only been connected to the Toronto community but we have also welcomed visitors to this dynamic city for half a century, and we are taking that tradition and those relationships with us into our new home.”
There is a reason behind this insatiable “need for spa.” The pressures and demands placed on us in today’s world require that we give our bodies time to unwind and rejuvenate. Flooding with natural light, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto will span 2,700 square meters (30,000 square feet) across two floors and is fully equipped to help guests de-stress in one of the 17 customized treatment rooms, a full service salon, relaxation pool with adjacent whirlpool, fitness centre and yoga studio.
“We are bringing a completely new spa experience to Toronto,” explains Senior Spa Director Todd Hewitt, an Ontario native who most recently managed the award-winning spa at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. “It’s not only a selection of spa experiences tailor-made to each person, but we have the most advanced fitness equipment, interactive workout classes, and special surprises along the way as we introduce the newest spa trends, skincare lines and innovations from around the world.”
International restaurateur and Chef Daniel Boulud brings his innovative culinary expertise to Four Seasons with Café Boulud and dbar, destined to take their place amongst the city’s most lively establishments. The loft-like restaurant floats above the bar located next to the lobby area and will offer a Mediterranean menu rooted in French culinary traditions in a more playful setting. Available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests can expect a delicious blend of contemporary cuisine, seasonal selections, fresh vegetable dishes and explorations of international flavors.
Capturing the essence of the city and the glamour of Yorkville, dbar’s contemporary design features spectacular 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious seasonal terrace. With its own menu, chic cocktails by master mixologists and craft beers on tap, dbar will soon become a favored hangout, whether it’s for a drink after a long day at work, a lunch break from a day of shopping and gallery hopping in the neighborhood, or a memorable night out.
“There are few people in the city who don’t have memories of times spent with us,” says Director of Food & Beverage and Catering Marc Dorfman, who grew up in the city. “It might be a milestone occasion such as the first dance at their wedding, spotting celebrities at the bar during the Toronto International Film Festival, or nailing a particularly tricky business deal over a meal at the restaurant. Now, at the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, a stunning stage is set for more memorable moments to come.”
Two main event rooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in natural light and offering panoramic views of the city, anchor the function spaces at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. The larger room offers a divisible 629 square meters (6,776 square feet) and 6.5 meter (21 foot) ceiling for up to 565 reception guests, while the smaller room, at 306 square meters (3,249 square foot), will accommodate up to 250 for a banquet.
In addition, nine smaller meeting rooms, several of which are combinable, will be ideal for breakout sessions and board meetings, and a private dining room at Café Boulud will offer an additional opportunity for groups of up to ten to gather in style.
Hotel guests are welcomed to the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto via a driveway resembling a Victorian carpet that sweeps around a courtyard fountain that towers a staggering four stories tall. Another entrance on Bay Street offers easy access to Café Boulud, the Spa and meeting rooms, and a third on Yorkville Avenue opens directly into dbar.
Inside, Toronto-based and internationally acclaimed designers Yabu Pushelberg have created an environment of playful elegance and stylish luxury. Canadian art-filled public spaces present a palette of materials and textures that beautifully blend together, though strikingly different. Woods and stone are carefully book-matched to create harmonious surfaces, while an innovative lighting system featuring Czech glass fixtures transitions from day to night. In the sunny guest rooms, the mood is lively featuring gold or silver undertones with modern considerations. Barrier-free rooms are also available.
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, comprising two towers connected by a skyway bridge and a third building for events designed by architectsAlliance and Page + Steele IBI Group Architects, rises above landscaping by Claude Cormier + Associés Inc. and NAK Design Group. Interior design is by Yabu Pushelberg (hotel including dbar), and Rosalie Wise Designs (Café Boulud).
For the lucky few who own one of 210 Four Seasons Private Residences, 60 Yorkville Avenue will also be their personal address. Housed in two towers connected by a skyway bridge with full access to all the services and amenities of Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and interiors by Brian Gluckstein Design Planning, Four Seasons Private Residences are modern urban living at its very best.