The Strathcona Hotel

BEDBUGS!!! The service was horrible when we told front desk!!! I had to call multiple times to have someone come to the room!!! Finally after 30 mins of waiting I went down to front desk in my pyjamas with a cup with collected bugs!!! Only then did someone come and «deal» with the issue!!! By dealing with I mean changing the bedding!!! It took an hour to get the problem addressed!!! Not only that, management argued with me saying they we not bed bugs! We found at least 10 bugs!!! THEY WERE DEFINITLY BEDBUGS!!!
We were NOT given a new room and needless to say we did not go back to sleep on those beds!!! customer service was awful and no sincere apologies were made!!! This took place at 645am and we were exhausted, we were hoping for a nice RARE sleep in without the kids!!! our experience was awful!!! I would NEVER recommend or stay here again!!!

This review is late, by one week, but I do think it is necessary. I booked with this hotel through Expedia. On travel search engines it seemed to have a similar price for that location which is important if you want to be close to transit, events and the entertainment district.
I stayed one night midweek. Describing the walls as paper thin is not accurate– rice paper thin is a better description. You will hear everything– doors slamming, elevators dinging, other guests at the other end of the 11^th floor returning drunk, cussing, yelling, and ultimately there was a call to Toronto PD for a domestic assault («I’m going to f-​ing beat you» was the phrase that had me calling it in). In addition, there are no blackout shades (seriously, these are pretty cheap– IKEA comes to mind) and it’s on a busy well-​lit street. Light also seeps in through the one-​inch crack in the door to the hallway.
The WiFi never worked. Ever. They have a goofy way of assigning passwords per device and then it doesn’t work anyways. The food looked horrific, I would not venture to eat it and there are many more places that are cheap and close– spend the $ 5 elsewhere and get something that you will not regret.
Bottom line– for $ 20 more you could go to a hotel that has blackout shades, working WiFi, better noise control, and hopefully, no drunks wandering the halls giving you reason to call 911 after midnight. Run fast and far away from this place, especially if you value sleep and quiet for $ 200/​night.

Ok so the Strathcona is not the most luxurious hotel in the six, but my recent experience there was phenomenal.
I originally booked a queen room for myself and my infant son, for a conference I was attending. When I requested a crib for my son, I was told my room wasn’t big enough, so they UPGRADED me to a king suite.
Room was big, clean, quiet.
I would recommend the Strathcona to anyone travelling to Toronto.

I wish the staff are well trained as a professional. I don’t mind some trouble, not to able to open the key, but they have to apologize or at least show a bit sorry… ?
Please understand having a couple of bugs and going up and down was not pleasant. Putting a single person in a twin …? Why???
The bathroom was clean and decent. Bedroom, clean sheets. It’s old though. Maybe due to the lighting and where the room was located, I felt the room is dark and staying in dungeon.

This hotel was perfect for me and my friend’s one night stay. This is based on my most valued attributes which are 1, location, 2 price, 3 cleanliness.
It rated high in all those categories. We arrived from YYZ on the new train that dumps you off at Union Station, which is literally across the street from the hotel. And the location is right in the middle of walking to the main tourist places like the Hockey Hall of Fame, St Lawrence Market, CN Tower, and the two sports venues. Everything within 10 minutes walk from the front door.
The price was good, especially compared to other hotels for a Saturday night in this area, $ 160.
The room was very clean, a little on the small side, in fact we had two twin beds to help save space.
They have WIFI here, but they charge $ 6 for it. So that sucked and we declined, just didn’t want it that much. However that downer was more than made up for by them letting us check-​in way early at 10am! That was huge because we had taken a red eye from SFO to Toronto and we changed in Pittsburgh, PA. So that was really nice!
Anyway, bottom line, I would not hesitate to stay here again.

Due to the unprofessional nature of the staff at this hotel, I would highly discourage anyone from staying here. They do not treat people well and are very dishonest. I did not actually get to stay at this hotel so can’t review the hotel itself but as far as the service I received, I have never experienced anything like it. I’ve stayed in many hotels and I’ve never had such a bad experience with any staff in a hotel like here.

I read the warnings that this hotel is not ideal for business travel, but I was attracted to the price. It was a regret because I probably spent more for workarounds. In particular I could not get onto the wifi. I asked the front desk and they hadn’t seen the issue before. I ended up going to the lobby in the hotel across the street for wifi with no problem. Soap was limited. Half the channels on the tv didn’t work. Room was small. I was on the 3^rd floor but it felt like the basement. The lounge is really in the basement, but it felt like a cellar.

This was the worst booking mistake I’ve made, ever. Went to Toronto for ArtToronto from Chicago, our AirB&B cancelled last minute and I unfortunately found the Strathcona. It was the day we were supposed to leave so I booked it because $ 150 for a room and breakfast included seemed fine and it was close to where we needed it to be. Firstly, we drove there and so when we went in to ask where the best place to park overnight was the concierge said that they would valet park it for $ 36 or we could use the public garage for $ 30 and that it wasn’t secure. We opted for the public garage anyway, it was $ 20. They guy was clearly trying to upsell us on something we didn’t need. Then there are the rooms. Tiny. So tiny. Which is okay because it’s a «European style hotel» and I’ve stayed in smaller. But you’d get a nicer room at a Motel 6 or whatever the Canadian equivalent may be. The Wi-​Fi is non-​existent, which is ridiculous for a hotel that predominately services tourists/​out of towners who do not want to use their cellular data plans to check email or find a restaurant. Then there was the morning when I went down for what was stated on my receipt as complementary breakfast. I asked the concierge and she VERY RUDELY said that breakfast was not included and that it would be $ 17 a person, for what was hotel breakfast. I told her that on my receipt it said breakfast included and she did not care. We had to get moving so we grabbed our stuff and went to check out. I brought up the breakfast issue to a new girl at the desk who was very apologetic and said that she would give us vouchers then but we had to leave to head home. Meanwhile the rude girl who had wasted my time hid behind her hair. She said there was nothing she could do about the rate of the room but that next time we stay there breakfast will be complementary. I laughed because I would never stay here again. Beware, seriously. Just stay anywhere else.

Room was very small. Single beds. Maids, were pleasant & helpful. It’s a bit loud, but it IS in the heart of downtown. The walls are thin, so you can hear your neighbors. But I have stayed in much worse. It’s convenient. We were in town working on a project, & the room was paid for. However, they insist on having your credit card number in case of «incidentals», implying that you will have some kind of extra charge… we had $ 5 in «local calls». Irritating to say the least. Not a bad place if you just need somewhere to sleep at night, but not a room to hang out in.

Without a doubt the loudest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. My room faced York street and when I entered the room I thought my windows were open because the street noise was so loud. But they were not. Honking horns, cars gunning there engines, people on the street laughing and talking all hours and the trashmen coming by at 4 AM. I heard every bit of it each night that I stayed here. Do NOT stay here if you want a good night’s sleep. In addition, no table, no desk, worked on my laptop on the bed the entire time I was here. Ate dinner on my bed one night. NOT good for business traveler at all except location.

Worst place I have stayed at in a long time for a business trip. Thankfully, I was only here one night.
1.)Checked in at around 1am after a long flight. Get there and the guy at the desk literally looks at his screen for 20 minutes in silence before saying he has to run and check to see if my room is ready. Thankfully it was hence the one star.
2.) The beds are as comfortable as laying on the floor, very hard.
3.) No need for a wake-​up call, at 7am they start hammering in the hallways and above your room with no regard for people on that side of the hotel.
4.) wIFI is extra and it does not work in the rooms. It hits a black hole and the only service you will get will be in the lobby.
5.) The restaurant. DO NOT let the pics around the hotel fool you. I went for breakfast and it was disgusting. The service was dreadful as well so i just ordered a coffee. I decided to go across the street to get a bagel and bring it back considering i was working in there all morning and was told i had to leave my table. They have «food» and i cannot sit there if i don’t eat the slop that was made in the kitchen. I asked the woman why if no one was in there anyway and let her know politely that i am still a guest of their hotel. She blew me off and told me to leave so as i write this 20 feet from what was my table i am getting a stink eye that is indicative of the food they serve.
STAY AWAY AT ALL COST!

for the truly downtown core, this is the best bang for your buck
very clean, very friendly, doesn’t jack up the price for holidays or «normal jack up» periods.
very close to everything, tim hortons across the street, union station within two minute walk.
because of where this hotel is located and situated, your room will not have a very good view… but your not in downtown Toronto to just see the view from outside your window… lets be honest with that.
highly recommend… don’t go anywhere else!

If you’re looking for a central spot to stay in Toronto this place is a great option in the area. For what you get in a room, the price is on point. The proximity to the sights is a bonus too — very close to the CN Tower, right downtown, walkable, lots of taxis nearby, and the train station is down the block.
It’s a no frills experience. If you just want a place to sleep this place is clean, the bed
is cozy and they make use of the space well despite the rooms being on the smaller side. Although I expect smaller rooms in a big city high rise hotel. The staff were kind and attentive and made for an easy check in and out. In the room, the bathroom is a tight squeeze to get ready in, but there’s a full length mirror in the room so I touched up my makeup and hair in front of that instead. The rooms look like they’ve recently been remodeled with updated furniture, etc. and the king bed was comfortable. There are flat screens too. Plus an ironing board if you need to press your shirt/​dress before you head out on the town. I’d stay again on our next visit.

Even it is small hotel without parking, the rooms are renovated, great staff and atmosphere. It is located on the heart of Toronto, 2 minutes walk far from the subway. Just a tip, don’t eat the breakfast buffet it’s not worth it. Tim Hortons across the street is much better! Every time I’m back in Toronto, I will stay at the Strathcona Hotel!

My boyfriend and I decided to take a couple days in Toronto before I headed back to the states. We looked up a few hotels and decided to go with the Strathcona. I don’t at all regret it. Its in a great location, with plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance, and a lot of shopping too! Another big plus for me was that the rooms stay very dark in the mornings, so sleeping in on vacation was no issue at all. The staff seemed friendly enough and overall, my two night stay was very enjoyable.
The only two negatives I have are that the room was pretty small, and WiFi costs $ 6. Not a terribly unreasonable price, but free is always better, of course.
Hint: if you’re looking to get some eats in while at their downstairs pub, keep in mind their enormous portion sizes. My boyfriend and I ordered nachos expecting a plate full and instead got an enormous platter– probably a full bag of chips. Their food is definitely meant for large groups.

Might have gone to 3 ½ stars, if but for the construction outside. BLECH! Canada has two seasons: Winter, and Construction!
On the upside, this room was was very clean, although it was positively tiny. This hotel is so much better than the Rex because the room is bigger and cleaner, but also because of the environment. The whole hotel is so much cleaner than the Rex was, and there is security at the front desk. Great location, within easy walking distance of way too much! You’ll never get bored around here. We had a quiet room as it did not face the street. Unfortunately, the windows overlooked a square, facing other parts of the hotel (I could see into other rooms). In between us were vents for the heating or some such. But it was quiet… Another upside: easy walking distance to earl’s! Also on the upside: the staff were very helpful and pleasant. They opened the doors for us, and I did see at least one giving directions to someone, when asked.
However, on the downside which took points off (some of which is not in their control), the construction outside was positively horrendous! You cannot currently drive straight up York street to get here because of the construction, but of course, Google Maps and MapQuest don’t tell you this. (*SIGH!*) Also on the downside in my opinion is the overnight parking situation, partly because it was $ 30.00 to park overnight, but also it was very stressful: you can’t walk into the underground from York Street — oh no! You have to walk all the way around the building to get in! And the nightmare was finding the way out of the underground — as you probably know, Toronto is a maze of underground pathways; this parking lot was no different — the exit when it was finally found issued out onto King Street (I think?!), seeming to be about 3 blocks away, and surrounded by 1 way streets going the wrong way. (ANOTHER *SIGH!*) Ok, so hubby and me talked about this as we were leaving, and you can benefit from our analysis. Had we known about the cost of parking, we might have taken advantage of the Valet parking offered by the hotel, which was $ 24 for 4 hours, or $ 39.00 for overnight. Let THEM handle the stress! They know the ins and outs and all about the construction, so they can have the headache!
The hotel does not have a pool. Nor do they offer free breakfast, although in this city of restaurants and a Tim Horton’s an easy jaunt across the street, they do have a breakfast room where you can buy your breakfast, and they serve Starbucks coffee here. Oh the quandary of contradictions!

Stayed here for a conference in January. The rooms are quite small but very clean. Great location if you’re coming into town by way of Union Stn or Island Airport.
Don’t plan on eating and dinners here, though. Go elsewhere. The downstairs pub is a major disappointment.

I’m fortunate enough to usually stay at the shangri la or intercontinental while in toronto on business but they were both sold out.
Pros:
Price
Location (in financial district close to union station)
Cons
Room is TINY
Not very clean. I walked around the room bare foot, and everyday there seems to be quite a lot of dust on the ground. I don’t think the cleaners do much
Very thin walls. I was woken in the mornings by at least 2 different alarms from neighboring rooms, as well as the sound of doors closing
Need to pay $ 10 to access gym next door
No umbrella. How can you know provide an umbrella in Toronto of all places. This is not LA
No proper seat in my room. Made life difficult because I ate a few meals in room and also worked. Had to do both on bed
No in room safe
No view (room faced a window maybe a few feet away)
Did I mention that the room was tiny?

I’m writing this as a warning to anyone who thinks they are going to some upscale historical place. It’s gross.
The hotel does NOT offer shuttle services to-​from the airport. However, the hotel features rooms designed like the popular «pod rooms» in Asia, equally tiny bathrooms, poor ventilation, weak wifi and mediocre customer service.
The worst part is that when you think you’re getting a good deal online, by the time you get to the hotel, they tack on another one or two… hundred!!!
Find another hotel.

This review is focused on the pub in the basement — 3.5 stars
I have been coming here for over 14 years. The pub was completely renovated a few years ago and the menu fully updated. Over the years, the crowd has really changed — now slanted towards the office crowd (many office events), folks stopping in before ACC & Roger’s centre events and a constant group of regulars (I fit into all three groups).
Although modernized recently, it’s still an old school pub as far as atmosphere goes. This is not a bar for picking up the opposite sex, wearing the latest fashions or having a gourmet meal — it’s simply about drinking beer and watching sports in a friendly setting. There is nothing trendy about this bar.
Beer selection is limited to the big name basics. You can can get beer by the pint, in a chilled tube or 5 glass pitcher. They have a full selection of hard liquor but don’t expect too many high-​end brands. If only they had a few craft beer selections on tap, I would push my rating to 4 stars.
Food is basic pub grub. Prior to the menu update, the food was really poor but now greatly improved. They make a good Pulled Pork poutine, fries, chicken balls in a honey sauce and average Pizza & Nacho’s. I don’t come for a meal, just snacks while drinking.
The servers are excellent here. Long time servers Paul & Sean are amazing — and a main reason I keep returning. This place reminds me a bit of the Cheers show — lot’s of people know your name if you return frequently. Needless to say, I have been here many times.
Although it’s gotten a lot busier since the renovations, many people don’t even know this place exists — so you can usually get a table without waiting. Service is fast and efficient and your in the heart of downtown. They have about 6 – 7 TV’s and a large projector TV.
They run frequent promotions for sporting events and I won lot’s of cool stuff here over the years — everything from a Muskoka chairs to hockey tickets.
Bottom line — people tend to either love it or hate it. Give it a try… see what side you fall on.
BK