Fairmont Royal York Staycation + The Magic of Toronto Light Fest
Nathalie and I recently had the opportunity to spend a night at the Fairmont Royal York in one of their luxury suites while we attended the Toronto Light Festival in the beautiful historic Distillery District. It was a wonderful evening first spent wandering the old alleyways and sharing in the experience in an otherwise cold and dreary month when most people are reluctant to step outside.
If you are in Toronto or planning to come to Toronto this winter, then put the Light Festival on your list of things to see. And if you’re looking for a place to stay afterward, may we recommend the Fairmont Royal York.
The Toronto Light Festival itself is an event brought to Toronto in collaboration with many artists from around the globe where they put together many amazing sculptures and interactive light displays, inviting you to get outside and experience the magic of winter in Toronto.
Some of the installations are interactive allowing you to swing on them, walk through them, watch them sway in the wind or just be mesmerized by their colours and interactive sounds. My personal favourite was the dangling light display which you could walk right through as it blinked and changed colours all around you.
They are all truly works of art and can be enjoyed at your own pace or on a guided tour if wanted. It was certainly chilly outside, but we were kept warm either inside one of the many shops or by sampling hot cider and hot chocolate at Soma and Cacao 70 or having a fun and casual dinner at the Mill Street Brewery.
Afterward, we headed back to the Fairmont and joined our host at REIGN restaurant for an evening of cocktails and food sampling. REIGN is described as a modern Canadian Brasserie with a traditional French touch. It’s surely worth a stop if you’re looking for drinks, a bite to eat, want to meet up with a friend or are even looking to entertain business associates. Live music was being played while we were there and the environment was fun and lively.
And in case you haven’t heard, the Fairmont Royal York has just undergone a major renovation. Upon entering, you will notice that the spiral staircase has been removed and they’ve added the Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails bar situated right in the middle of the main lobby! It seemed quite a buzz while we were there. The lobby itself is beautifully decorated with a timeless elegance giving it the look and feel of the 5 Star rated luxury hotel that it is.
The Fairmont is centrally located on Front Street right across from Union Station, making it super convenient if you’re taking transit into Toronto from out of town. And if you want to stay specifically for the Light Festival itself, they even offer a package from now until March 1, 2020, which includes accommodation, an exclusive walking and tasting tour, and a buffet breakfast for two.
If you or someone you know is looking for something to do this winter, this may be something for you to consider. We found it to be a fun way to spend some time outdoors and gave us an excuse to find some time for ourselves.
Just bundle up though so that you are comfortable, then let the lights guide you down each alleyway as you find something new to see and explore. When you’re done all that, it’s a quick drive to the hotel where you can retire to the comfort of your suite for the evening, have a nightcap on the main level or go out and explore the city until your heart's content. This turned out to be something that we both enjoyed and hope to have the opportunity to go back and do again soon.
In Collaboration with The Fairmont Royal York & Toronto Light Fest.
Written by Geoff Martin.
Photos by Geoff & Nathalie Martin.