One of my favourite places in Toronto to go for afternoon tea is the King Edward Hotel. A tradition since 1903, the afternoon tea menu changes depending on the season, and the Nutcracker Tea, offered until the end of December, is not to be missed.
From 2:30pm to 5:30pm every day (except December 24, 25 and 26), tea is served at Victoria’s Restaurant in the hotel. The Nutcracker Afternoon tea is CDN $39 per person and offers delicate finger sandwiches, some of which are duck confit and smoked turkey, gorgeous pastries, including the mincemeat crumble tart and finally, my favourite, warm scones served with imported Devonshire cream and homemade strawberry preserves. And of course, there’s the tea. Only in December, you can choose the Nutcracker tea, which is infused with hazelnuts and vanilla or the Gingerbread House tea, a black tea with ginger root, nutmeg, vanilla, licorice, cinnamon and allspice.

Le Royal Méridien King Edward Hotel
37 King Street East
Toronto, Canada
+ 1 416 863 4106

Google map: bit.ly/Sob896
* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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One of Toronto’s most unique bed & breakfasts is Boatel: the city’s only bed & breakfast on a boat.
Open from May 18 to September 30, 2012, Boatel is a 65-foot custom trawler which stays docked in the harbour, allowing guests the experience of living on a boat and the convenience of being able to walk around the city. Located very close to the downtown core, you can book one, two, or all three guestrooms.
Boatel boasts a panoramic view of the Toronto Islands and harbour, giving one the impression of no longer being in the city. The cozy interior has a mahogany finish with Brazilian cherrywood floors and there are three decks to choose from to lounge the afternoon away.
Diane and Captain Greene are your hosts while on the vessel and they will happily accommodate your requests for meals. A gourmet breakfast is served and gluten free, vegan, weight watchers or healthy low-fat breakfasts are available upon request. Special dinners can also be arranged on board or reservations made elsewhere. Boatel does not offer charters or harbour tours, but those arrangements can be made for you as well. Kayak and bike rentals are also available during your stay.

www.boatel.ca
375 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto, Canada
+1 647 403 2764
Google map: bit.ly/NBRly5

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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A friend from Germany visited Toronto this spring for a month-long work program, and she stayed at this hostel and had a magnificent time. It’s centrally located, inexpensive, safe and very clean. And, as an added bonus, she says she’s made lifelong friends here.
Located a few minutes from the Entertainment District and major landmarks, the hostel caters to travelers of all ages, but everyone I saw whenever I visited seemed to be in the 20 to 30- something category.
With a large guest kitchen and dining area, there is ample space to store food in the fridge or pantry. The kitchen is used very often and is a popular place to meet other travelers. There is also a common TV area, a large outdoor patio, a 24-hour access pub, laundry, long-term storage, and great security. The front door is locked at midnight, and an access key is required to enter after hours. Front desk staff is available anytime, day or night.
The front desk also offers travel assistance and can organize local tours within the city as well as regional ones to places like Niagara-on-the-Lake to visit wineries. The airport bus drop off point is also just one block east of the hostel.
Summer rates for dorms range from $27 to $29 CDN, and discounted rates for guests planning to stay in Toronto for an extended period. Check the website for further information.

www.globalbackpackers.com
460 King Street West, M5V 1L7
+ 1 416 703 8540
Google map: bit.ly/KjFAgY

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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Known to locals as “the Gladstone,” this hotel is located in the trendy Queen Street West area, where there is an abundance of arts and design studios and galleries. The hotel attracts both tourists and locals on a daily basis, hosting art exhibits and music gigs every night of the week.
The café also has menus for any time of day or night.
The most original hotel rooms in the city can be found here: there are 37 unique, individually designed rooms by local Toronto artists. The Biker Room features furniture and accessories influenced by motorcycles and biker culture. The Canadiana Room has an antler chandelier with forest wallpaper on one wall and cedar paneling on another.
Built in 1889, the Gladstone is Toronto’s oldest continuously operating hotel, with one of the last hand-operated elevators in the city. A true gem. Prices start at C$165, about £104 or 120 €.

www.gladstonehotel.com/
1214 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M6J 1J6, Canada
+1 (416) 531 4635
Google map: bit.ly/vUC8Tw

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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A great, cheap place to stay right in the centre of Toronto. This budget hostel has a fantastic community feel and is a fun, lively place to meet other travelers. As a girl visiting Canada on my own, I felt right at home here – especially on Saturday nights where the free barbecue attracts a large proportion of the guests for a beer and a burger!

It’s located in Kensington market, about five minutes from the entertainment and shopping districts – and there’s no curfew so you can stay out exploring as late as you please.

This is a friendly place but its real selling point is the combination of the low price of a bed of the night set against their great facilities…

175 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 2L4, Canada

www.theplanettraveler.com

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This is a small bed and breakfast (only two rooms) is in a great location (five minutes from Main Street underground and the Go Train station). One room has an en suite but I stayed in the room with a private bathroom across the hallway. The B&B is extremely clean, good value and the breakfasts are fantastic. The proprietor and her husband are lovely and my boyfriend and I would not have had the same holiday staying anywhere else, as they gave us fantastic advice and information. They have gorgeous pets too, which like to play every now and then. I would definitely stay here again. 10/10.

11 Trent Avenue, Toronto;
tel: 416 691 4077, or tollfree: 1 800 334 9127;
email: citynights@sympatico.ca;
www.citynights.ca

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Excellent hotel in brilliant location in downtown Toronto. Close to CN Tower, Skydome, City Hall and the ferry to Toronto Islands.

60 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 1S8; tel: (416) 363-3321; reservations: (800) 268-8304; www.thestrathconahotel.com

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A comfortable 3 star hotel in an excellent location in Downtown Toronto, on Dundas Street, just by Yonge/Dundas Square and a short walk from the Eaton Centre. The rates are very resonable, consequently it's used by lots of coach tour parties. Staff are friendly and the rooms clean. Great value considering it's location.

www.bondplacehoteltoronto.com/

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