One of my goals after spending a whole year away from Toronto was to come back and see it with the awe and curiosity I had when I first moved to the city. So the timing couldn’t be more perfect when the opportunity to partner with Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront came up. After all, this hotel is situated in one of the best locations in Toronto.
If you are looking for a hotel that is walking distance to all the wonderful things that Toronto has to offer, then this Radisson Hotel is a great one to consider for your trip.
The ambiance at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
The reception is clean and modern. At first glance, it looked small by North American standards and reminded me a bit of the reception at the Aloft Hotel in Taipei. However, as I walked around the lobby, I realized there is a lot of comfortable seating area for guests to relax.
With just 157 guest rooms and eight floors, the hotel has a cozy feel and felt more like a boutique hotel than a corporate one. I later learned that half the building are condominium units, which explains the more intimate, condominium-like feel.
The room at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
We stayed on the seventh floor at the south end in a premium room with a lake view.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the room was the stunning view. Despite spending so much of my time at the Harbourfront, seeing this view at an elevated level is breathtaking. You can easily see airplanes land and take off at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the right.
I loved the warmth and hues of the hotel décor. The walls are painted in a bright teal colour and the white linens have teal pillows and bed liner to add a pop of colour to the bedding.
What I loved about the hotel room was all the natural lighting that came through the windows.
The light hardwood floors and light-coloured wood furnishings really brightened the room and created a cozy feel.
There’s a TV, a desk, a Keurig machine, and a mini fridge in our room. Our room also included a desk area with a chair as well as a comfy lounge chair with a small table.
There is no kettle in the room but it’s an easy request and housekeeping will bring it to your room. Slippers and bathrobes are also available for guests.
Because there are many lamps in our room, I found the room to be decently lit even at night.
There is turndown service where the housekeeper comes by to turn down your bed, check if you need any more toiletries and leaves some chocolate by your bedside!
A quiet night at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
I did not hear my neighbours at all and found the nights to be very quiet and serene. It’s really great how the hotel is literally just steps away from the Rogers Center and yet, it’s so quiet and peaceful at night.
The service at Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
The service at the hotel was consistently good. The receptionist and I bonded over the Raptors’ championship parade since my stay happened to fall on the official We The North Day (yes, it’s a holiday now…we’re just waiting for the employers to catch on and give us the day off haha).
We later checked out the pool, which is a bit odd at first because you have to walk through the restaurant to access the pool. But not to worry because there’s always someone greeting you at the restaurant to give you an overview of the pool rules.
The breakfast at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
We had the choice of ordering breakfast in our room or going to the restaurant for our meal. The receptionist recommended that we head down to the restaurant for breakfast so that’s what we did.
I liked that the dishes were all made to order, rather than the usual buffet breakfasts that most hotels offered. I was a bit worried about portion sizes because I often get super stuffed and uncomfortable after breakfast. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case here as the portions were just perfect. All the ingredients are locally sourced which made the meal all that more satisfying and delicious.
The location at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
The great thing about this hotel is its close proximity to many neighbourhoods and attractions in Toronto. Staying here means you get to be right next to the beautiful Harbourfront where you can relax and watch the sunset over Lake Ontario. In fact, you’re right next to the Waterfront boardwalk, and the HTO Park and beaches. Located right next to the hotel is a place where you can kayak right in front of the iconic CN Tower!
Walk a few minutes north and you’re by the Roundhouse Park (one of my favourite parks in Toronto!), Ripley’s Aquarium, the Rogers Centre, and of course, the CN Tower. In fact, there are many neighbourhoods that are within walking distance from this hotel, such as the Entertainment District, Financial District, and Queen West.
If you’re here for business, the MTCC, Beanfield Centre and Enercare Center are all very close to the hotel and within a twenty-minute walking distance.
Distance from airports and public transportation
If you are flying into Toronto, you’ll be happy to know that you can easily get to the Radisson from either airport. The Billy Bishop Toronto Airport (YTZ) is just two kilometres away while arriving from the Toronto International Airport is an easy train ride to the Union Station. Walking to the Union Station is about fifteen minutes and this station will take you to most neighbourhoods that are accessible via the subway. Heck, walk right outside the hotel and you’re so close to the Queens Quay streetcar that you really have to be careful about getting hit by one!
Parking at Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
One thing to note if you are driving is that you’ll have to pay for parking if you plan to park at the hotel. Expect to pay downtown Toronto parking prices, because you know, it’s Toronto.
What to eat around the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
There are a few decent places to eat around the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront that’s within a five-minute walk from the hotel.
If you are looking for something casual, try Amsterdam Brewhouse or Shoeless Joes. Walk a bit further along the Harbourfront and grab a drink at Boxcar Social, one of my favourite places to chill during the summer.
If you’re looking for something cheap and affordable, there’s Pizzaiolo across the street (order the Soprano pizza!) and some roti shops as well. There’s also a ton of food apps that allow you to order food if you don’t feel like venturing too far. Of course, you’ll have to try something at Tim Horton’s, which is located in the same building.
If you’re looking for healthier options, you can visit the Rabba grocery store across the street where you can pick up some healthy premade meals.
The Watermark | The Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront Restaurant
If you are not in the mood to venture too far for dinner, the hotel has an onsite restaurant where you can grab a drink or eat a delicious meal. Breakfast starts early at 6:30 AM and ends at 11:00 AM while dinner is available from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The bar serves food and drinks throughout the day.
The Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront pool
One of the biggest highlights of this hotel is the pool because it offers one of the best views you can get of the CN Tower!
There are tons of sun chairs available for guests to lounge on, and good amount of seating area for the outdoor patio.
Not only can you catch views of the CN Tower, but if you sit on the south side of the patio, you’ll get beautiful views of the Harbourfront.
The gym at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
If you are looking for the gym, it’s on the third floor. It is a bit of a detour to get there but there are signs to guide you to the right place. Make sure you bring your pass as you’ll need it to access the gym.
You’ll find basic equipment for a full body workout as there are cardio machines and weight machines for guests to use.
The business centre
You can find the business centre on the fourth floor where there are a few computers and chairs for you to use. The reception also has some large tables that look comfortable enough to work on as long as you have a good pair of headphones.
Conclusion
I had a great stay at the Radisson Hotel and definitely think it’s a great choice for those who want to be in a comfortable hotel that’s in a great location. And of course, what more can you ask for with the beautiful view of the CN Tower by the poolside?
A huge thanks to Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront for hosting us.