The most expensive and exclusive hotel suites for the gilded TIFF-goer
Including self-playing pianos, a menu for pillows and on-call mixologists
This week, downtown becomes one big red carpet for TIFF. That means an army of out-of-town A-listers, nepo babies and pretty people dying to be seen will descend on Toronto’s vast buffet of swanky hotels. The city’s most exclusive rooms offer some main-character accommodations. Here, a roundup of the most gawk-worthy suites.
Related: Untold stories from the Toronto International Film Festival’s first 50 years
Ace Suite at the Ace Hotel
Rate: starts at $1,300 a night Size: 716 square feet
Fans of Nicolas Cage may recognize the Ace Hotel’s stunning lobby from the 2023 film Dream Scenario. Its Ace Suite is an open-concept wonder with charming views of the adjacent Waterworks Building and St. Andrew’s Playground Park. Standout features include Douglas fir panelling, copper accents, custom lighting, deep-set window benches, a wet bar, a wine fridge and a guitar for when inspiration strikes. The Ace’s rooftop cocktail bar, Evangeline, is also inspired by cinema, taking its name from Canada’s first feature-length film, from 1914.
Shangri-La Suite at the Shangri-La
Rate: $7,500 (US) a night Size: 2,200 square feet
Perched atop the 17th floor, this lavish escape features dark-leather furnishings, ornate woodwork and silk-panelled crimson walls. Details include a crystal chandelier above the dining area, lacquered cabinets with chinoiserie and ink-brushed art by Shanghai-based Wang Xuyuan. A show-stopping moon gate leads to the main bedroom, where a four-poster bed comes covered in silk drapery. There’s also a walk-in wardrobe (complete with a Peloton bike) and a marble-clad bathroom with dual vanities and a soaker tub with a skyline view.
Nobu Villa at Nobu
Rate: Starts at $10,000 a night Size: 2,300 square feet
The newest entry on this list is an ultra-luxe penthouse suite on the 45th floor of Nobu, the former site of Second City. Guests can take a private elevator to the space, which has a jumbo lounge and bar as well as a dining area warmed by a fireplace. The opposite side of the unit contains a soundproofed screening room for up to six people. A signature Japanese cypress tub defines the bathroom along with yuzu-and-ginger bath sachets. And if all that wasn’t enough, how about a bespoke self-playing Edelweiss piano and a menu for ordering the establishment’s outstanding variety of pillows?
Birch House at 1 Hotel
Rate: starts at $5,000 a night Size: 2,000 square feet
Formerly the Thompson, 1 Hotel rebranded in 2021 as an environmentally friendly spot with luxury at the fore. The new digs’ crowning suite is Birch House, fashioned with a cozy fireplace, a fully stocked bar, a chef’s kitchen with top-notch appliances and even an on-call mixologist. Interior design fans will fall in love with the room’s striking live-edge dining table, crafted from a fallen Toronto tree.
Royal Suite at the Four Seasons
Rate: starts at $15,000 a night Size: 2,635 square feet
The priciest penthouse of the bunch is the Four Seasons' Royal Suite. And it makes sense: the hotel giant was founded in Toronto, and its glass tower in Yorkville has been a symbol of TIFF since it opened in 2012. The unit overlooks all of downtown through floor-to-ceiling windows, and the expansive living and dining areas are perfect for entertaining festival folk. Guests looking to add more square footage to the party can connect up to two more rooms for a whopping 3,820 square feet.
Helen Jacob is a freelance journalist writing stories about food and real estate. She has a master’s in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University
