Story | Connie Li Photos | From wtorontoevents.com
W Toronto, long regarded as a modern landmark in the city’s downtown core, has unveiled the first chapter of its multi-level transformation, aptly titled Volume II. Leading the debut is the Living Room, the brand’s signature lobby lounge, now reimagined as the heart of the hotel and an all-day social stage.
Designed by Chapi Chapo Design, the room nods to Yorkville’s 1960s bohemian spirit and the polish of the Mink Mile: natural materials, ambient tones, intimate nooks, communal zones, and a dedicated live-music area that feels both fresh and familiar. It’s less a pass-through than a place to linger—a downtown living room where connection, creativity, and comfort converge.
The beverage story leads with Perrier-Jouët and a lineup of spirited and spirit-free cocktails, many riffing on in-house art and local landscape. Try Inner Bloom, a gin-based pour inspired by Self Care by Sage Barnes, or Bluffs View, a rosemary-kissed vodka creation that tips its hat to Toronto’s bluffs. Small plates keep the pace: gochujang fried cauliflower, mushroom arancini, charcuterie, flatbreads—shareable, locally inflected, and easy to build an evening around.
Programming hits a day-to-night cadence. By day, think High Tea and seasonal coffees on rotation from local roaster Barocco; late-day Warm-Up Sessions ease into Live in Living Room performances by local and global artists. Weekends amplify with DJ sets, vinyl sessions, workshops, and spontaneous pop-ups—moments designed to slow you down and make you listen with intention.
And there’s more on the horizon: this October, the rooftop welcomes TONO by Akira Back, introducing Yorkville to Nikkei cuisine—a meeting of Japanese precision and Peruvian passion—under the vision of the Michelin-starred chef. Consider it the next track in W Toronto’s Volume II playlist.
For more information, visit the W Toronto Instagram page here and the website here.
