The Gladstone Hotel

The Gladstone Hotel is a historic hotel dating from 1889 at 1214 Queen Street West, in the West Queen West area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The red-brick Victorian building stands among galleries, vintage shops, cafes and bars, a few blocks from the Drake Hotel and reached from downtown by the 501 and 504 Queen streetcars. After decades as a faded rooming house, it was revived as a boutique hotel with a strong arts identity, and today it combines a gallery, event spaces, a cafe and a bar with guest rooms that have each been designed by different artists and designers. The atmosphere is bohemian, creative and community-minded, aimed at travellers who prefer character over uniformity. Rooms come in standard, king, double queen and suite formats, and because each is individually styled, the look and size vary from one room to the next; guests can often ask for a particular style when booking. Listed amenities include wifi, a restaurant or cafe, a fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. The ground-floor cafe handles breakfast and casual meals, and the hotel's bar and event spaces host readings, music nights, art openings and community events, which means evenings may be lively. The in-house gallery shows contemporary work and is open to the public. Service is relaxed and informal, with staff familiar with the local arts scene and nearby galleries on Queen West and Ossington. Typical nightly rates are around CAD $230, one of the more affordable options for a boutique stay in the city. Visitors interested in art, design and neighbourhood life rather than a conventional hotel experience will find the Gladstone a rewarding place to stay.