37 King St E, Toronto, ON, M5C1E9
Rated this place:
Old School Class and Quiet Dignity : The year is 1964. Lyndon B. Johnson is in the White House, and four mop-topped young hell raisers from the port of Liverpool are paying their first visit to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The streets along King Street East are cordoned off as three thousands hysterical, screaming young fans eagerly await the arrival of the lads at Toronto's finest luxury hotel- The King Edward Hotel. The King Eddy, as is it affectionately known to locals has provided the likes of Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt and Margaret Thatcher with the comforts of home for One-hundred and six years now. If you are too young to recognize any of the names mentioned above then you may be interested to know that Britney and Becks are also reported to have called the hotel home while in Toronto. While the King Eddy is hardly the only game in town these days, the hotel retains the high standards in services that have contributed to its long-standing success. From the impressive multi-story lobby that greets visitors after they pass by the elegantly-dressed doorman, to the tastefully decorated Edwardian style rooms, the hotel won't disappoint the history buff. While rooms often convey a feeling of faded glory rather than ultra luxury, the hotel is a great reprieve in the middle of Toronto's financial district.With the economy in the crapper there are often hotel deals to be had all over the world, including your own backyard. This blogger managed to score a night at the King Eddy for less than half the listed rack rate, and even though I live but a few kilometers away, the experience was a great way to live it up (relatively) on the cheap and learn more about my city and its history. If you are not experienced staying at luxury hotels – which I most certainly am not, please bear in mind that you may be charged for things like local calls, morning newspapers, and have to pay 12 bucks for a martini in the hotel bar. Don’t let these things set you back however. I suggest that you Iron that shirt, shine those shoes and make like you totally fit in. If you are able to do so, hit the net and start searching for bargains. All this doom and gloom has to come with some kind of a silver lining after all