The Toronto hotel scene is red hot, with the arrival of four major luxury brands- Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Trump, and Ritz-Carlton- within the last 12 months. As The Globe and Mail puts it, “If there were such a thing as a bull market in the luxury hotel sector, Toronto would be smack in the middle of the mother of all rallies.” Prior to this recent boom, there was really a dearth in five-star accommodations and spas. The newest among these hotels—the Shangri-La—has been getting rave reviews for its spa, which The Globe and Mail calls “a shrine to submissive relaxation” on the hotel’s fifth floor.
Treatments utilize Caudalie, the French beauty brand that was the first to champion the antioxidant power of grapes in vinothérapie products. (We’re fans of the crushed cabernet scrub.) The Globe and Mail raves about the service: “Prim attendants in smart Merlot-hued waistcoats and ever higher hair buns run the venue like a well-oiled machine. Ever mindful ladies magically appear with platters of mint tea and pistachio honey cakes…” Recommended tip: The Shangri-La’s spa offers the best couple’s treatment in town (try “Destination Casablanca”) in a beautifully designed couple’s suite. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/toronto