Story & Photography | Renée S. Suen
Surrounded by renowned museums, high-end boutiques along the Mink Mile and some of the country’s finest restaurants, the Park Hyatt brand’s iconic Toronto outpost in the fashionable Bloor-Yorkville district has been a mainstay amongst the city’s five-star properties.
Park Hyatt Toronto recently reopened after an extensive four-year renovation.
Emerging from an extensive four-year renovation, the recently reopened and revamped hotel offers guests a dramatically updated environment that’s elegant, timeless and sophisticated. The new Studio Munge-designed interiors, inspired by Canada’s seasons and landscapes, boasts of understated luxury through modern materials
and a natural colour palette.
Dedicated to art, the hotel’s carefully selected permanent narrative-driven collection features notable Canadian and Indigenous artists. A celebration of local culture and history, the experience begins at the entrance with An Te Liu’s captivating ‘Rendezvous’ sculpture and continues into the large-scale lobby with the ‘Dead Ringers’ tapestry by Shannon Bool.
THE STAY
Offering more than 200 smoke-free rooms, including 40 suites, the Park Hyatt Toronto pays homage to Canadian heritage, including art and literature, through its thoughtfully outfitted guestrooms.
The 525-square-foot One Bedroom Suite, for example, exudes a welcoming, residential feel. Furnished with a king bed, it has a separate living room with sofa, a walk-in rain shower, private in-room bar and tree-lined views of Yorkville.
The 14th floor Presidential Suite is an impressive home away from home that has a welcoming foyer, a chef’s pantry and dining room, a study and a living room with a stone-clad fireplace. Its highlights include a stone-tiled bathroom with glass-enclosed double rain shower and a free-standing soaker tub overlooking Yorkville.
The living room in the Presidential Suite.
Looking for a permanent stay at a pet-friendly luxury accommodation? As a mixed-use complex, the redevelopment is one of the country’s largest heritage restoration projects and includes 65 luxury rental apartments in its South Tower. The property’s 24-hour fitness centre is located on the fifth floor of the heritage-designated building.
Park Hyatt Toronto has 14,000 square feet of versatile event space, catering to everything from meetings to conferences to wedding receptions. The upscale venues include a grand ballroom, a rooftop terrace and a host of rooms equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.
HOSPITALITY
Even if you’re not staying overnight, experience the hotel’s engaging personalized service through its refined dining options.
Joni, the hotel’s 90-seat signature restaurant, leads the city’s return to grand hotel-based restaurants. Led by executive chef Antonio Soriano and executive sous chef Jonathan Williams, it serves globally influenced fare. Less stuffy and more bistronomy, the team applies contemporary cooking methods to local ingredients that are showcased on the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Joni is the hotel’s 90-seat signature restaurant.
Details include the many made-from-scratch seasonal elements that appear on the meticulously plated yet recognizable elevated fare, and the dramatic installations bookending the open-concept dining room. Besides a sculptural staircase, there’s the captivating A Dish with One Spoon ceramic bead creation by Algonquin artist Nadia Myre over the room’s fireplace.
There’s the ‘A Dish with One Spoon’ ceramic bead creation by Algonquin artist Nadia Myre over the dining room’s fireplace.
For a gastronomic experience, place your trust in the kitchen’s hands and partake in the thoughtfully prepared tasting menu. Available daily, expect a parade of dishes that explores Canadian cuisine and is complemented by a thoughtfully curated selection of wines.
The seven-plus course tasting journey begins with a trio of snacks that may feature a bright and refreshing amberjack crudo in apple dash, a delightful tartlet and a selection of house-cured charcuterie. Foie gras torchon is encapsulated in a crisp white chocolate shell that’s served with Ontario strawberries and golden house-made brioche, while luxurious sabayon blankets beef tartare on an airy einkorn waffle.
Luxurious sabayon blankets beef tartare on an airy einkorn waffle.
There’s also beeswax-poached lobster tail, paired with beekeeping Rosewood Winery and Meadery’s Geucci 2020, and a stunning piece of turbot that’s partnered with a sea urchin sauce with sweet corn and chanterelles. Duck comes two ways: first as blueberry mustard-dressed croquettes, then as a handsome fillet of duck breast with Ontario berries. Maple mille feuille is a glorious finish that’s served with a black koji ice cream.
A piece of turbot is partnered with a sea urchin sauce with sweet corn and chanterelles.
As a big fan of Afternoon Tea service, Joni has broken the mold and offers the city’s most sophisticated version. Available Thursday to Sunday, guests can choose the sweets-only Pastry at the Park, the elaborate Tea at the Park, which features an assortment of savoury and sweet bites, or the Indulgence at the Park that christens the latter with a glass of Dom Perignon.
Maple mille feuille is served with a black koji ice cream.
From finger sandwiches that have been reincarnated to become delicate cucumber rosettes filled with cooling crème fraiche and lemon thyme, to lush smoked salmon in tartlet form, to foie gras parfait that’s been lovingly piped with haskap berry drizzle into a crisp honey tuile, the parade of composed canapés are as visually captivating as they are delightful to the palate.
Foie gras torchon is encapsulated in a crisp white chocolate shell.
There’s a flood of excellent mignardise-sized sweets by pastry chef Louis Lim, including two-bite baba au rhum delights and a blood orange gelée that is a subtle palate-refreshing number. Instead of heavy scones, the team prepares dollar-sized versions using nutty Einkorn wheat and tops them with a quenelle of crème fraiche and
strawberry preserve.
Beeswax-poached lobster tail.
Despite how satiated you might feel, do not pass up on the sweet corn custard-filled tartlet that hides crisp white chocolate pearls under the cap of smooth Mascarpone and blueberry compote, nor the stunning Peach Melba—a deceptive bonbon that packs summer sunshine in a fruit-filled centre under a thin layer of vanilla ganache.
The stunning Peach Melba.
Feel like upgrading the already exceptional tea set? Consider a supplemental order of caviar or the truffled egg custard with toast soldiers. The tea sets are served with Toronto’s own Sloane, with an option for two different teas to pair in larger commitments.
Another must-visit, whether starting or ending the evening, is the iconic Writers Room Bar. With unparalleled views overlooking Queen’s Park and the city skyline, the hotel’s revered rooftop cocktail bar pays homage to the Canadian literati who used to frequent the space.
Writers Room Bar.
Filled with commissioned artwork from high-profile artists, including Kristiina Lahde, Madison Van Rijn and Douglas Coupland, the 17th-floor lounge offers premium handcrafted modern libations that are approachable and spirit-forward. There’s the smoky and spicy Plot Twist that combines tequila, mezcal and sour cherry, whereas vodka-based Foreword is light with watermelon, cucumber and prosecco.
The view from the Writers Room Bar.
Feeling peckish? There are share-plates that can be enjoyed while seated along the oxblood banquettes, at a black-stone table next to the double-sided fireplace in the floor-to-ceiling encased space, or while at one of the coveted seats on the expanded terrace.
STILLWATER SPA
Experience the art of wellness by retreating to the revered and reimagined Stillwater Spa Toronto, a soothing oasis and the ultimate urban escape.
Stillwater Spa.
It starts at the basement entrance with the tranquil ‘Stillwater’ handcrafted ceramic wall installation by Canadian artist Alissa Coe and continues with personalized restorative treatments, Both intimate and luxurious, this 8,000 square-foot sanctuary hosts 13 treatment rooms and a shared lounge where guests can unwind and enjoy the calming environment of the serene haven. Nurture your body with a customized aromatherapy body ritual or personalized massage.
Beauty treatments include facial enhancements or hand and foot care. There are bespoke facials addressing individual skincare needs that employ organic plant essences to cleanse, tone, exfoliate and recondition, leaving the complexion luminous and refreshed. Whichever restorative offering chosen, you’ll be rejuvenated in both body and mind.
4 Avenue Rd.
hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/canada/park-hyatt-toronto/torph
