Luxury lifestyle hotel brand, 1 Hotels is leading the way in showing that there can be a happy marriage between luxury and sustainability. They are a brand inspired by nature and, here, we check out their first outpost in Canada to see why they are causing waves in the hospitality industry.
Hotel
I doubt there is any other hotel brand that has such a strong brand identity as 1 Hotels. The words ‘urban oasis’ could not be more apt in describing this eco-chic hotel. You could be forgiven for thinking you’ve walked into the great Canadian outback as soon as you step inside their lobby.
Fallen oaks, maple and walnut trees are tastefully repurposed as coffee tables, chairs and works of art have been created by Toronto-based craftsman, Just Be Woodsy. There are rumoured to be over 3,000 plants onsite including species native to Ontario and particularly eye-catching is the biophilic living wall, which induces a sense of calm and serenity in the lobby area.
1 Hotel Toronto is situated in King West Village, widely regarded as Canada’s coolest neighbourhood. All the major tourist attractions like CN Tower and the harbourfront are within a short walking distance away. Even for places that are further afield, you can use the hotel’s free bike hire or they even have a Tesla on standby for hotel guests, which is on a first come first served basis.
Sustainability issues are subtly hinted at but never forced upon customers. You’ll discover, they don’t use single-use plastic products, even though the ban in Canada doesn’t come into effect until the end of 2025. They have an on-site organic composter that reduces 12,000 pounds of waste each month to under 1,000 pounds of compost. That in turn, is used to feed the plants on-site and neighbouring parks.
Room
The natural elements extend into the hotel rooms as well – reclaimed wood, local plants and limestone feature prominently in the design. They use 100% organic cotton linen to ensure comfort for their guests but also a healthier environment.
All of your modern comforts are present from a Nespresso machine to 55″+ HDTV along with a plush pillow and top mattress. They have filtered water taps and also yoga mats helping guests to embrace a cleaner way of living.
The hotel has carefully selected a sustainable toiletry brand, Bamford which smells heavenly with the presence of geranium, lavender, peppermint and tonka. They offer luxurious cotton robes and slippers and small touches like a sand timer in the rain shower are noticed, so you refrain from using too much water.
Food and drink
Considering the size of the hotel, it’s very impressive, they offer three dining options as well as a funky lobby cocktail bar in the form of Flora. Harriet’s Rooftop is the light bites/sushi bar that combines perfectly with its stunning rooftop pool, whilst Casa Madera is their fine dining experience that expertly combines Mexican and Mediterranean flavours.
1 Hotel’s flagship restaurant is 1 Kitchen which is particularly popular during the day and so reservations are highly recommended. It is a haven for the health-conscious. The farm-to-table concept is very much in evidence as they get significant produce from their Garden Pavilion. It is a zero-waste restaurant with a hugely impressive list of organic and bio-dynamic wines as well as cold-pressed juices. Their salads are ultra-fresh such as their ‘greenest goddess’ salad with a lengthy list of proteins you can add on.
To do
Talking of sustainability, you should head down to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. You can learn about species native to Canadian waters, such as the giant Pacific octopus and brightly coloured American lobsters. They have a dangerous lagoon where you can see sand tiger sharks as well as green moray eels. Throughout the exhibition, you learn a lot about conservation efforts and also sustainable seafood.
Next door to the aquarium is the iconic CN Tower. It was built in 1973 as the world’s tallest freestanding structure (that lasted until 2007). You get uninterrupted views of the Toronto skyline and you’ll also see how many new condominiums have sprung up on the harbourfront in the last five to 10 years. They also have a rotating 360 restaurant for those who enjoy seafood platters with exceptional views.
In a nutshell
1 Hotel Toronto is a breath of fresh air in the often corporate world of luxury hotels. It does successfully highlight its green credentials without any reduction in luxury five-star comforts. This is one hotel experience that will change your mind once you’ve stayed.
Factbox
1 Hotel Toronto offers rooms from CAD 500 per night.
Address: 550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4, Canada
Phone: +1 416-640-7778
Email: 1to-reservations@1hotels.com
Website: 1hotels.com/toronto
