The Concierge

The Fairmont Royal York has one of the largest concierge teams in the city; this gives us a very large information tank of city information. Our team is a diverse group with various lifestyles and interests, which is an important reflection of Toronto’s strength. We can provide first-hand experience into Toronto’s landmark, up-and-coming and hottest destinations. With the caliber of hotels such as the Royal York we take pride in going above and beyond for our guests: We have arranged for stores to extend their hours for our guests; we have maneuvered our guests into the booked-solid “in” restaurants; we have eased their travel tension with our contacts and network of friends at the airports. If the show or sporting event you must be at is sold out, come see us and let our concierge teamwork for you. More then any other property in the country, we are in the heart of it and we are here for our guests as ambassadors of Fairmont and Toronto.

What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Toronto is truly an international city for great food. In the last 20 years our city has positioned itself as a rising star in the international dinning experience. To our guests we can offer exquisite suggestions for the palate, such as Epic’s continental menu, with its wonderfully matched wine list; Bymark’s eclectic flair, where Bay Street power ventures out every afternoon to be served in style; Harbour Sixty, for its steak offerings and traditional elegance; and Spuntini’s for some of the best gnocchi in the city. We have great relationships with the newer hot names in the city: Trevor Kitchen and Bar, for the simple quality of its menu; Lucien, for its modern elegance and tastes for everyone; Fuzion, with its relaxed but quality dining experience; and Jamie Kennedy, for its seasonal tapas—the list goes on and on and on.

What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
You will find it all in this city! You can swing with jazz and sing the blues at Opal Jazz Lounge or the Reservoir Lounge; lounge in style and in “the scene” at Mukiz, Century Room or Ultra; or dance the night away at Circa, This is London and many others. Or you can simply relax with at a beautiful martini at the Library Bar.

Are there any quirky places we should check out?
Where to start? How about with the multiculturalism and one-of-a-kind stores at one of Toronto’s oldest neighborhoods, Kensington Market? The Bata Shoe museum—it’s for more then just the ladies. Do you like architecture? If you do, welcome to a city where the modern (Ontario College of Art and Design, ROM, AGO) ventures forward from the traditional (The Fairmont Royal York, Union Station, Castle Loma, Queen’s Park). If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
If you only have an hour or two, I would suggest planning a trip back because your two-hour excursion will leave you wanting more. Take a taxi to the Distillery District and visit some wonderful art galleries there, then have a delicious coffee at Balzac’s or an unforgettable chocolate experience at Soma. Or do some one-of-a-kind shopping as well, all at the Distillery District. Perhaps visit the century-old farmers St. Lawrence [farmers’] Market to sample what fresh truly means, and on the way there stop off at the Hockey Hall of Fame to feel the passion of Canada’s game.

What has been an unusual request from a group?
Nothing really seems unusual anymore. We have made 12 side-by-side seats at the always sold out Toronto Maple Leafs happen. We’ve had a helicopter company in another city fly in for a last-minute request. We’ve dressed up as characters from a fairy tale for a guest. We’ve arranged for hair and makeup to be available 24/7 from an internationally high-end boutique for a group. The concierge team has made ourselves available on call 24/7 for groups just in case we were needed.