We’ve just spent a great weekend in Toronto, and are delighted that we tried a property new to us: Hôtel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square.

Readers will know I was highly impressed with my first stay with Hôtel Le Germain, in Québec City late this Spring. It was that experience that had us weighing two Hôtel Le Germain options in Toronto for this weekend visit.

It was a tough choice but, in the end, we went with the newer of the two properties for this visit. This 167-room luxury hotel is part of the Maple Leaf Square, which is home to the Air Canada Centre. While Sia performed there last night, the venue is also home to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Raptors, the city’s pro hockey and basketball teams. Now you’ll understand the prints over the headboards.

This city loves its hockey, and we were also a short stroll from Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame.

Speaking of our national sport, I was delighted to spot our own Don Cherry just seconds after we stepping off our plane in Toronto. While known for his colourful attire on television, Mr. Cherry was likely the most elegantly dressed man in the airport.

Our room also offered us an unobstructed view of the landmark CN Tower, seen here from one of our walks, just behind the Roy Thomson Hall.

Hotel Concierge Tatiana was helpful with directions, and we also joined family to make our way to more than a few great locales, including High Park, above and below.

Fall colours were on great display, as you can see.

We were literally across the square from the entrance to the massive Union Station, home to trains and subway lines.

The hotel is also in walking distance of Bay Street and the business district, as well as fine examples of older architecture.

Between subway lines, street cars and hoofing it, we saw many other great sights.

Most will wait for another post, but here’s a preview at some particularly striking properties – in the Annex, on our way to the St. Lawrence Market, and at the University of Toronto.

 Pampering

Be prepared to be impressed with this property’s showers. As was the case when I stayed with this brand in Québec City, the oversized rain shower is exposed to the general living area – but you have the option of capturing privacy with wooden blinds on the shower’s outer walls.

I love Molton Brown toiletries, and we both appreciated the his-and-hers closets and ample storage.

Style and Great Little Touches

The brand also offers some of the healthier Continental breakfasts you might find on offer and, yes, those are three rows of apples adjacent to our elevator.  We appreciated stellar service from Karyl for breakfasts over the weekend, and Concierge Tatiana was very helpful with directions and suggestions.

I find Le Germain to be big on little touches.  Turndown service includes water and boxed chocolates, and there are urns in the hallways for those who would like to top up their carafes. We’re off to the Big Apple next, but are already looking forward to returning to this property on our next visit to Toronto.