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Gladstone Hotel...
I visited this establishment last week. It was my first time in Toronto. This place is a very fine place to stay at. It is the oldest operating hotel in Toronto, and still maintained the history behind it as well bringing in the unique artsy feel.
Like previous reviewer have noted, they have 3 sections to the hotel. The hotel portion, the cafe to the left which is a room to a live music venue, and to the right of the lobby is the 'Melody Bar' which was hosting karaoke night.
The staff was very nice and accommodating to their guest. We asked for a room switch because during our stay it was CMW (Canadian Music Week) which had live performers playing through 1am. And for a old building like that sound travels pretty well throughout the building. SO they were kind enough to switch our room without any complains and continually asked us if the switch was better suited for us.
The hand cranked elevators is a cool piece of history they maintained.. The art pieces during our stay presented the old industrial Toronto. I loved the uniqueness of their design and layout. Each room has a different theme and design.
It is convenient to get around if you stay here. It has the TTC line that will take you to downtown and there is good amount of taxi driving around this area so it is easy to catch a cab. If you want to travel on foot it takes about 30 mins to get into the financial district.
Cons:
-No parking around the area ( Absolutely hard to find, around the corner you park there, but you must leave by 4pm or else you get towed. Based on experience =(
-They charged us for making local calls or even calls out with calling cards ( Like me calling the tow company to find our car)
Overall : I would recommend this one of a kind hotel just keep in mind of parking is a pain.
I love the idea behind the Gladstone. Part gallery featuring local artists, part hotel, part bar, part cafe... but strangely enough with all these components, I felt like something was missing. Maybe they're trying to do too many things at once, rather than do fewer things, but do them really well?
Some notes about the Gladstone, mostly about the hotel portion:
-The rooms are pretty small, so be prepared to have your buffer zone infiltrated. We were able to stay in two different rooms (418 and 412(?) )during our stay, since the first one was too loud (due to a music festival event in the ballroom directly below). Both rooms are about the same size, maybe one (412) ever so slightly larger than the other (418).
-Clean bathroom, but the shower was tiny and it could have used a tad more counter space.
-Girls (or guys) with long hair, BRING YOUR OWN SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER! In an effort to be unique and green, the Gladstone uses bar shampoo/conditioner (two in one). It was fine after Day 1, but by Day 3 my now bird nest hair was begging me for conditioner.
-Free wifi, but they charge for all phone calls made, even local calls
-Nice karaoke bar downstairs filled with what seemed like a mostly twentysomething hipster crowd
All in all a good experience. Beautiful hotel, cool elevator, clean rooms, good location for those not wanting to stay in the middle of a tourist area, friendly staff... though I probably wouldn't recommend this hotel to my parents or other families, since it seems to get pretty loud in the evenings.
This review is based solely on the food at the Melody Bar at the Gladstone Hotel.
The melody bar is a great little space and I was there on St. Patrick's Day for dinner and a show. The service was okay and the food is somewhere between a 1 and 2 stars. There were 3 of us who ate and we had the following: Poutine (flavorless gravy with a few cheese curds on some okay french fries) a sandwich (my brain just blanked out, cannot recall what kind, but it too was very bland and the third person had dessert (apple crisp with ice cream). The dessert was the best of the 3, but it was nothing to write home about. The beer was good, the show was excellent and I love the location and space. We will go back, but we will eat prior to doing so and just drink while there.
While it's not a set venue, the Gladstone Ballroom is a gorgeous space that's often used for private events including gigs for bands that book their own shows. Art openings, weddings and industry events are also commonplace here, and if it seems too frilly for your tastes, you can always slip next door to the Gladstone's bar and engage in some good ol' karaoke Thursday through Saturday nights.
The Gladstone Hotel is divided into three funhouses - one is the hotel itself, which few Toronto natives will really know about, another is the ballroom café to the left of the lobby, which serves brunch, lunch and dinner and then hosts DJ nights, afterparties and many years ago, the Fake Prom. The third part, the "Melody Bar", is to the right of the lobby and it's the tavern area that people may also know as the home of weeknight karaoke but during the day is frequented with old pals, business people and other random locals.
As I sit here in the tavern munching on my sandwich, I'm enjoying reliable, open wifi (no password required - it just works!), peoplewatching and listening to Christmas carols (no joke - Frosty The Snowman played first and Silent Night followed shortly afterward). What more could you ask for from a work spot, really?
The menu is wonderfully inventive - there's a "fry bar" that includes over a dozen fry toppings and eight sauces, duck samosas, deep-fried brie cheese, a ploughman's sandwich, pulled Berkshire pork and a veggie burger that's reputed to be one of the best in the city.
I ordered the grilled cheese with cheddar, Jarlsberg and warm sliced apples on Ace's raisin walnut bread, and it was served with a small green salad and tomatoes plus paprika spiced fries.
That's called gettin' 'er done in West Queen West!
Listed in: Reliable Wi-Fi In Toronto, Grill 'Em! Toronto's Best…
It's rather impossible to stay at the Gladstone and not compare it to the Drake. I love the Gladstone's common areas, their beautiful hand-cranked elevator (the only one still in operation in Toronto), and the wide staircases that lead up to the guest rooms. However, based on rooms alone, the Drake handily wins out.
Here's why:
- The "European-style showers" at the Gladstone are too tiny. There's no way you can bend over in one without touching the walls (and I'm not exactly a giant.)
- No iPod docking stations in the rooms at the Gladstone. One of the things I love most about checking into the Drake is entering my room and immediately filling it with music. My music.
- Odd bath products. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 10 years and these offerings - little slivers of nubby soap - were still a bit too crunchy granola. A little liquid shampoo would've gone a long way for me.
Everybody's got their something. Mine are music and showers and nice-smelling bath products. It makes me especially happy when I can have all three at the same time
At the current exchange rate, a standard room at the Gladstone is under $150 USD. Given the hotel's unique charms, free wifi and super soft linens this is a steal.
Listed in: Toronto's West Queen West Art…, Travel Guide to Toronto, Free wifi in Toronto
I don't go to the Gladdy for karaoke, or Friday or Saturday night fun. Instead I host some work events there, or go after work for drinks and dinner. I adore this place. aDORE!
The Gladstone Café is one of my fave places to eat in the whole city. I love the décor, love the staff, always feel well taken care of and happy. The main ballroom is great for our corporate events, and equally great for other fun shows like the Burlesque comedy show I checked out a few months ago. The other side, where karaoke is held, is a little more divey, but the menu is still superb, with an awesome staff. Neither myself nor my friends have ever eaten anything here that wasn't completely delicious. AND they serve a ploughman's meal like I remember from the Old Country, complete with Branston pickle!
Ooh, I love the washrooms too.
Some friends of mine from out of town recently took my advice and stayed in two of the artist-designed rooms, and had a blast. I checked out one of their rooms and it was beautiful. There's such a retro kitsch feel to this place, that you can't help but feel good. Plus the manual operated elevator is super fun.
Sure it gets full of hipsters on the weekend, but what place doesn't? Sometimes it's good to just enjoy a place because it's good and use the hipsters as fun eye-candy and conversation pieces.
And the piece de resistance? My favorite grilled cheese in the city. A few types of cheese, hot, but not soggy apples, and raisin-walnut bread. Can I has now? Mmmmmm.
Just took in brunch today at the café... can't remember what it's called (the other side from the Melody Bar)... anyway... it was great.
The Gladstone kitchen has been serving better-than-average-hotel/bar fare for a while (those french fries, the roasted nuts... all good stuff) but I have to say, my brunch food was spot on.
I had the Huevos Rancheros and this dish is often massacred by kitchens that think mixing salsa with eggs makes it "Rancheros". Not so the Gladstone--they really used the soft corn tortillas, chilli, and fresh salsa to make a great egg dish.
The room was bright and clean (if a little hot), service was fast fast fast and friendly. Good music (don't bring grandma)... and a good looking crowd--shallow? yes, but don't pretend it doesn't matter ;-)
The Gladstone is my second-favorite place to stay in Toronto (after the posh Le Germain downtown, though one can't always spring for the best!). The rooms are individually themed with amazingly artful decor, and the staff is super-nice and helpful. The bar & cafe on the main level are lovely; both great places to visit even if you live in the city. I highly recommend the apple flapjacks, which are available during brunch on the weekends. They serve great coffee, too.
The surrounding neighborhood of West Queen West is up-and-coming, with tons of interesting shops & restaurants. This is a great place to stay if you're young and looking to have fun in one of the most interesting parts of Toronto.
Had a great stay !
My girlfriend and I went to the Gladstone a few weeks ago on a Saturday night for dinner. There are already a lot of reviews regarding the Gladstone, however I noted that there is one thing that not one person has commented on, which is something that is always part of my key decision criteria when selecting a place to dine. Noise level. It is very important to me to be able to have a civilized conversation with whomever is at my table. While it is also key that the food tastes good and is reasonably priced, paramount for me is the setting. As already stated, we were there on a Saturday night, and were seated in the bar area (in the room to the west of the reception desk). In the other room to the east, was a live performance (not sure what are the names of the individual rooms). We expected that the restaurant would be quite busy given the time of day and day of the week, however when we arrived there was barely anyone there. We could literally choose any table we wanted. By the time we ordered, there was maybe a dozen other people in the room. My estimate was that there was seating for maybe 50 people. While the food and the pricing and the room's decor was adequate, what I want to comment on was the noise level in the room. Despite the fact that there was not even a dozen people in the room, it seemed to be rather noisy. I'd attribute this fact to the hardwood floors and the high ceilings and the fact that the tables are placed rather closely to one another. As a result, I found that both my girlfriend and I needed to repeat ourselves on quite a many occassions to hear what we had to say. Thus, if you are looking for an intimate dinner, this is not the place. However, if you are looking for a place that has an interesting atmosphere and don't mind having to raise your voice during discussion, then this could be the place for you.
Great room, and great options- you can go to the bar right next to it that usually has events and a nicer bar area.
I'm a fan, but I'm under the impression that people who liked the "old days" will hate this place. It isn't as gritty as promised and is kind of a faux-hipster scene.
As a standalone venue, the Gladstone is charming, and I certainly wouldn't mind checking out a room here, even as a local. Furthermore, if you're thinking of a place to drink and chill in the late afternoon, the Gladstone is great. Not to get all romantic and all, but sometimes the sun just hits the hotel corner justttttt right, making a wonderful companion to your pint.
However, I've gone to their Goin' Steady dance night, as well as one of their karaoke programs, and I felt like I was on the outside of a college-aged clique. It wasn't horrible, but both times have kind of scarred me from considering the Gladstone as a venue I'd spend another Saturday night.
Listed in: Toronto: Staying connected on…
See the movie, "Last Call at the Gladstone" for the history of this hotel. Artists and open-minded folks renovated. Though sad to see the way people lived in here before the reno's, it has become a centre of interesting culture. The rooms are amazingly interesting and are a good value.
Every night of the week, there are people in the bars, and in the ballroom.
Listed in: A tourist guide to the T-dot
Alright, I know The Gladstone is a Toronto landmark and a totally happening spot for all the hipsters in the city, but I totally don't get it. Every time I go here, it's just terrible drunken college kids belting out karaoke tunes with no sense of pitch or tone. The service is terrible and the bar itself is outdated and bland.
Maybe its just me, but I think there are way better bars in West Queen West in which to get your drink on. I shant be returning here anytime soon, and my ears will certainly thank me for it.
I'm surprised the Gladstone hasn't gotten better reviews because it's a pretty great place to stay (especially when they have room specials during the off-season).
I stayed one night with my BF in one of the mid-sized "give me more" rooms for about $170ish. It was an excellent deal considering what type of generic, chain room you would get at another hotel in this city for the same price. All the rooms have their own unique decor and you get to pick which one you want. The rooms also come with cozy beds and not your usual ammenities like organic handmade soaps and shampoos,
I haven't been to the venue bar but went for a drink in the restaurant which had good food and a nice vibe.
This place really made me feel like I was on vacation when I stayed even though my apartment was a 15 minute drive away.
Staying at the Gladstone was such a wonderfully unique experience. The hotel was very accommodating when we experience delays getting there due to winter weather conditions. The room was warm and cozy, the homemade soaps where a special touch. We had breakfast in the morning at the cafe... the food was fresh, local, and amazing. We're planning on coming back in the summer!
I really like the cafe...I can sit at the bar and read the NY Times with a tasty beer at basically any hour of the day surrounded by big windows and exposed brick (it's a little 70s NYC, but whatever)...it's terribly civilized.
...and while everyone compares it to the Drake, it reminds of the Ace Hotels in Portland, OR and elsewhere.
Is it possible to do a review on the Gladstone and not draw some comparison to The Drake (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) that also got itself all cleaned up and ready for the impending gentrification of Parkdale? Oops. Too late. Yes, both of these places have been worked on from the ground up and provide fully functional hotel facilities, dining, performance venues and décor that is a complete throwback to the Art-Deco times of old.
The main difference between the Gladstone and the Drake probably boils down to a point of artistry. Whereas the Drake appears poised to provide one of the great performance venues in the city, the Gladstone provides another option. This is not to say that the Gladstone is ill-equipped for a show. It is more than able to put on a great live performance for music, comedy, what have you. The Gladstone's differential is that it steers more towards art than performance art. On the Gladstone website (http://www.gladstoneho...), you find links to not only its event venues, but also a schedule of the art exhibitions and events that are being performed. Add to this that many if not all of the rooms are designed by local artists, and you can see the tack they have wised to take.
The Drake and the Gladstone: The same but different. But in either case, definitely worth checking out.
The Gladstone certainly promotes a diverse scene, attracting everyone from cringe-worthy karaoke kooks to convening curators, depending on the day and the venue within the Gladstone itself. That may account for the rather mixed reviews here: if you're coming here for a night out, make sure you're going with (and to) the right crowd.
The Gladstone's café is intimate and quite classy-looking, but the Melody bar has more of a rockabilly-meets-the-jazz-age feel to the decor. The musical acts tend to be a bit loud, and people have complained about the music drowning out dinner.
They have monthly cocktail specials on a unified theme. Currently, it's elections/politicians, named after American and Canadian politicians whose political futures have been getting decided lately. I hear next month it'll be Star Trek-themed. Bring on the Blood Wine and Romulan Ale!
The Gladstone is so big that it's possible to go there a number of different times and not repeat an event or room in which it is held. While I have never stayed in the famed "artists quarters" hotel part of the Gladstone, I have been to plenty of events which have included: bands, comedy shows, festival openings, dance parties, karaoke, art shows, clothing sales and many more than I can think of right now.
Overall though, that diversity of choice means that the Gladstone isn't necessarily my first choice of places to go on a generic weekend night, because every weekend is something different. Obviously there are going to be times when nothing going on there strikes one's fancy, and that's fine, too.
I like that the Gladstone is so mutable without losing its arty vibe. I also like that it really is down to earth in comparison to the trendy hipsterati that clown around places like the Drake just a short hop away.
The Gladstone Hotel is a hotel and cafe by day and a bar and private event space by night.
I have thrown many parties with the Gladstone, in fact, I started Pink Mafia's flagship party, Sport Pig in their 250 person ballroom. The Melody bar has karaoke on the weekend and it gets pretty packed.
The story goes like this: It was a grungy hotel and halfway house that got revamped into an artist-designed boutique hotel shortly after The Drake Hotel broke the redesign cherry on West Queen West.
It's a lot more local feeling and down tempo. The bartenders who were there when it was a hole are still at the Melody bar and they host a plethora of art exhibits, community/art based events and they do Rockstar Hotel MMVAs every year as well.
It's a great stop for a drink and the rooms are cute and cheap.
Plus, they have a real cowboy who works the elevator. Cute for a quirky getaway anytime.
The Gladstone Hotel
In Toronto's recently gentrified West End District artists, scenesters, and the in-the-knows gather at the once downtrodden and now happily happening Gladstone Hotel. But thankfully the Gladstone hotel does not adopt its new-fangled success by cutting off its past entirely. The décor of the bar, lobby, and restaurant is a mélange of antique brick, wood and chandeliers, sparking a perfect marriage between the hotel's slummy history and sassy present.
The bar and café are always action-packed, especially notable is the hilarious karaoke on weekends and the fresh peach Bellini's for the morning after. If you are too drunk to drive home, your voice is too hoarse from belting out "Sweet Caroline" repeatedly, and you have PLENTY of cash in your wallet, then stay the night in one of the rooms, each room is unique and designed by a different Toronto designer. My favorites are the Red Room and the Sky Gazer but you can take your pick, there is a photo album conveniently placed on the lobby desk for you to peruse.
A hip little hotel near the end of Queen West's main drag. Can't really say much in regards to the bar in terms of atmosphere. Their cocktails are nice and strong (always a good sign) but other than two other girls, we were the only ones patronizing the place on that particular night (granted, it was a Sunday night).
Yes, that sounds a bit lackluster but this place is worth the extended trek for the old elevator alone! Fully restored, it's the kind that requires a full-time bellhop to get it operational. Rooms here are on the pricey side ($300 or so during the off-season, more during peak) but the ambiance is cool (though maybe not worth more than a cocktail or two).
What a transformation! In '99 I remember this place being a run-down SRO hotel--how times have changed! The unique, artist-designed rooms are all spendid, if mostly tiny. (I had the chance to tour almost all of them before I settled on 314, the Billio Room.) The café downstairs plays good music, serves good coffee, and has a nice menu. Staff were courteous and helpful. The century-old elevator was the icing on the cake!
I know it is one of the most over used phrases on yelp but it just seems like it calls for it. "I really wanted to like this place."
I really dig the overall look of this place. I am not someone who only stays at chain hotels and needs everything they offer. Every room at the Gladstone is designed by a different designer so no room looks the same - cool idea. The Ace hotel in Seattle and Portland also have a similar idea, but different vibe. So my biggest issue with the gladstone was that I chose to stay there when it was my first time visiting Toronto and the hotel was rather far from downtown and all the stuff I wanted to see. I know this is something the Gladstone cant change but I think its something other people need to realize if they are visiting Toronto for the first time. To make the most of your time in Toronto stay someplace closer to the downtown center. Also about the location of the Gladstone, it is at the end of a new, up and coming "hip" area. When I first got to the hotel it was Saturday and Queen street was packed with slutty dressed girls and wanna be too cool guys waiting in line to get into bars and clubs or just standing on the sidewalks smoking and blocking foot traffic. And by the way, the area is much better during the day - cool little restaurants/coffee shops/art galleries that were obscured during the evening by the hipsters out front. Ok enough about the area - it is what it is.
The room at the Gladstone was small. I thought the Hotel Max in Seattle had small rooms but the Gladstone wins the honors now. Small rooms are fine, you don't need to do much else in the rooms but sleep and shower. But here showering is difficult if you have even been in a RV and used the shower in there - this is about the size of the Gladstone shower... you can hardly turn around.
One fun but odd thing at the Gladstone is the old elevator. You have to get someone to operate the elevator for you so that is sort of a pain if you are on the 4th floor and can't handle the stairs too well. Everyone was very friendly at the hotel, and they even offer free Wi-Fi. But for the price I just am not sure if the Gladstone is worth it. If you're looking for something different and have the cash to burn, then by all means Gladstone is a good time.
Listed in: Chicago Coffee
ive been to all parts of the gladstone except for staying in rooms. though i have been in the rooms when there were craft shows there. and ive seen bands in the ballroom, karaoke in the melody bar and talked with the bartenders.
theres no pretention here, theres history, theres the culture of visual, performance and musical art in the city. and theres patrons who perhaps cant sing doing karaoke. thats what karaokes for. for those people.
and theyve stepped up to the plate in their own way...reinventing themselves many times over. 143 years is along time.
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
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