With 1,590 guest rooms and suites across 26 floors, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is Canada’s largest hotel. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
It came as somewhat of a surprise when I learned that Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is actually Canada’s largest.
This is indeed a fact but it still feels strange to say it. Our country has no shortage of iconic hotels – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier, Fairmont Royal York in Toronto and of course Quebec City’s famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac which holds the title of the most photographed hotel in the world.
The Chelsea is iconic in its own right. First opened to the public in 1975, operated by Langham Hospitality Group and owned by Great Eagle Holdings, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is a behemoth with 1,590 guest rooms and suites across 26 floors to suit all tastes and needs. Conveniently located at the busy intersection of Yonge and Gerrard Street, Chelsea offers three restaurants, separate adult and family recreation areas and pools – including the “Corkscrew”, downtown Toronto’s only indoor waterslide.
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is popular with families. Located on the second floor, there is always fun for the whole family, featuring indoor heated family pool, whirlpool, 130-ft indoor Corkscrew waterslide, Kid Centre and Club 33 Teen Lounge. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
I have been a part of countless unforgettable moments at Chelsea and thought I knew this piece of real estate pretty well. There have been several dinners in the Elm Street Bar and Lounge, as well as a few office parties on the patio. I’ve also had the chance to stay overnight on two different occasions, where I was able to take advantage of the weight room and pool.
Yet with all that first-hand experience I was not aware that in all of Canada there is no hotel larger than the Chelsea Hotel.
Canada’s Caring, Friendly Hotel Giant
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is like an NHL all-star who thrills the crowd on the ice without being flashy or fussy off it, scoring with guests with a quality experience while brilliantly supporting the community and other Toronto businesses. In fact, Chelsea was awarded the ‘Tourism Employer of the Year’ at the annual Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence gala event on October 23, 2024. The Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence are presented to organizations, businesses and individuals that represent the quality of outstanding offerings that make Ontario a world-class destination.
“The continued commitment and engagement of the employees at Chelsea does not happen accidentally. The HR Team, with the full support of the hotel’s Executive Committee, expends an intentional and strategic effort to continue to deliver an inspiring employee experience,” says Rob Housez, general manager, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. “We are proud of our admirable reputation.”
For younger guests, parents can take advantage of The Family Fun Zone where children can enjoy the Kid Centre with arts & crafts, costumes, games, books and more. The Family Fun Zone’s Club 33 Teen Lounge features vintage arcade games a pool table and foosball.
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has made several renovations to the property over the years, including improvements to guestrooms, hotel corridors, refurbishment of the Executive Tower elevators and extensive upgrades to all function/meeting/banquet facilities. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
Excellent Amenities and Dining Options
Last but not least, Elm Street Bar & Lounge is anchored by Executive Chef, Gaurav Kapoor and Sous Chef Victoria Cleland. This restaurant features à-la-carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with a wide variety of choice, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. While I was there I enjoyed the Brie and Apple Prime Rib Burger ($26), which was served on a potato bun with double cream brie, apple match sticks, arugula, roasted pecans and fries.
Last year, The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto announced in a press release that after completing a $25 million facelift in 2023, the hotel has launched another multi-million dollar renovation. The 2023 renovations extended to 600 guestrooms in the Executive Tower, hotel corridors throughout the hotel, modernization, and refurbishment of the Executive Tower elevators. They followed that up with a 2024 renovation that included 993 guestrooms in the Chelsea Tower and extensive upgrades to all function/meeting/banquet facilities. With a total investment of close to $60 million, additional refurbishments scheduled for 2025 included a renovated lobby with a new lobby bar.
Additionally, Market Garden Restaurant was refreshed, which included new carpet and furniture, while the full-service restaurant, Elm Street Bar & Lounge, underwent a remarkable enhancement, including an expansion to double the seating capacity and the addition of new furniture and lighting. The hotel also invested in a Wi-Fi upgrade investment of C$2.3 million, offering guests a significant improvement for streaming multiple devices.
The hotel features more than1500 rooms, spanning two towers. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
With so many renovations going on at the same time over so many months it seemed like the hotel was in a never-ending state of flux, but all of that is in the past now. It was refreshing to see the finished result, with guests and the public reacting positively to the upgrades.
“The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is more than just the country’s largest hotel — it’s a living part of the city’s fabric. From welcoming generations of families to proudly supporting our community and local businesses, we’ve built a legacy rooted in care, hospitality, and continuous reinvention. As we invest in our future, our commitment remains the same: to create meaningful experiences for every guest who walks through our doors,” says Shane Downey, Managing Director.
Of all the upgrades, I think the one I appreciate most are the changes to the lobby, which is always thriving, busy and pulsating with activity. As I checked in with my wife, the lobby was loaded with families, business travelers, tourists fumbling with maps, a couple dressed in the colours of a visiting hockey team and a group of young female athletes arriving from a university in Alberta. There was also a flight crew checking in for the evening from ITA Airways. I’ve never known this lobby to be slow or relaxed.
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto offers separate adult and family recreation areas, private balcony in most rooms, downtown Toronto’s only 130-ft indoor “Corkscrew” waterslide. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
Show Your Key And Save
Another wonderful feature is the Show Your Key and Save program, which allows guests staying at Chelsea discounts at several local attractions including Medieval Times, The Second City, The Royal Conservatory and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
During our stay we were able to take advantage of two program partners: Little Canada and Elmwood Spa. Located at 10 Dundas East just steps from the Chelsea, Little Canada is a wonderful attraction that all ages can enjoy.
Little Canada is a unique and immersive attraction located in downtown Toronto that showcases highly detailed miniature replicas of iconic Canadian landmarks, cities, and landscapes. They have done an outstanding job showcasing most of the country to intricate details. Little Toronto featured a Rogers Centre with a working retracting roof. Little Niagara had a tiny cable car that worked. The famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac was visible in all its glory in Quebec City.
Another wonderful thing about Little Canada is the outstanding job is still continuing. The exhibition is still expanding as artists continue to add more locations to the attraction, including Canada’s Arctic region. Visitors will be blown away by the size of this place and the painstaking details that are in the attractions. Visitors who are feeling brave enough can even get “Littlized” — a process where a 3D scan of you is turned into a tiny figurine placed somewhere in the exhibit.
Following our visit to Little Canada, we visited Elmwood Spa, a renowned urban retreat that is housed in a historic 1889 building designed by the same architects behind Casa Loma and Old City Hall. We enjoyed a couples massage and then soaked in the pool and hot tub. The spa spans five floors and combines architectural charm with modern wellness amenities including a swimming pool called Deck 27, whirlpool, steam rooms, and a poolside lounge.
With over 40,000 square feet, four floors of services, two restaurants, a juice bar, 24 treatment rooms, and Water Therapies, Elmwood Spa is the largest, most complete day spa in the greater Toronto area. There is a retail boutique in the spa that offers a wide array of products for skin and body care, including their own locally produced skincare line, ElmLine and several Canadian and women-owned products.
Following our time at the spa we went next door to Bangkok Garden, a Thai restaurant that is owned by the spa.
Banana fritters dessert at Bangkok Garden. The fritters are made with sesame, coconut flour and ice cream. (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
Housed in a landmark historic building, Bangkok Garden introduced authentic Thai food to Toronto over 40 years ago and is the city’s first Thai restaurant. Acclaimed as one of North America’s premier Thai restaurants, Bangkok Garden is one of only four Thai restaurants in Toronto to be awarded the Thai Select Premium designation from the Thai Consulate recognizing the authenticity of the food and outstanding service.
I enjoyed the Tamarind Curry, a tangy piquant curry with potato, roasted peanut, and fried shallot. My wife had the Grilled Seafood Satay, featuring shrimp, squid and mussels marinated in a curried coconut milk. The spa was quite relaxing but enjoying an authentic Thai dinner in the relaxing atmosphere of Bangkok Garden right next to the Chelsea was a perfect – and relaxing – way to end the evening.
A Commitment to the Community
Another thing that I love about Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is how deeply the organization is involved in community initiatives. A generous and long-time partner of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Chelsea has donated close to $1.5 million in support of AboutKidsHealth (AKH) since 2013. SickKids is a leader in paediatric health, yet buildings across the hospital campus do not reflect the quality of care provided for the more than 320,000 patients seen from across Canada each year.
A special “Kids Check-In” process designed to make the check-in experience fun and engaging for children. Upon arrival, children are often given a small toy as a welcome gift. The hotel also has a dedicated Kids Centre (Photo Courtesy Chelsea Hotel, Toronto)
“The ability to “give back” to the community is not only an important philosophy of the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto but it is something the hotel practices every day,” said Rob Housez, general manager, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto.
Chelsea Hotel has helped create a library of more than 3,000 articles and 97 learning hubs, covering everything from teen mental health to allergy management. AKH continues to be a trusted resource for children, teens, parents, caregivers, and health-care providers across Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the globe.
They are also a part of several environmental initiatives, including EarthCheckTM, an internationally recognized name program widely used by travel and tourism industry for the benchmarking and certification of operational practices.
Their commitment to quality, unforgettable guest experiences and the community will mean a bright and successful future for Chelsea Hotel, Toronto.
And that will certainly come as no surprise.
MORE ABOUT CHELSEA HOTEL, TORONTO
Website: www.chelseatoronto.com
Address: 33 Gerrard St W
