like traveling to another world and isn’t
that what a vacation should be?
Fairmont
Royal York Hotel
Aloft Downtown Buffalo, 500
Pearl St., Buffalo, 716-849-7280;
500pearl.com.
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel is
not only a Toronto icon but a Canadian
icon. When it opened in 1929 it was the
largest hotel in the British Common-
wealth and the tallest building in the
city. It was built to complement the new
Union Station across Front Street.
To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the
classic 1,329 room hotel has undergone
a multi-year renovation. All rooms have
been modernized and new dining and
drinking venues have opened including
the chic REIGN Restaurant and the cos-
mopolitan lobby bar, CLOCKWORK.
Fairmont
Royal York Hotel
The redesigned lobby pays homage
to the World War II era when soldiers
departing by train from Union Station
would ask their loved ones to “meet me
at the clock” and would make plans to
meet again at the hotel when they re-
turned home. This phrase has become
synonymous with the hotel ever since.
CLOCKWORK features a new
statement clock that is called the
“90th Anniversary Clock.” It is dedi-
cated to the past, present, and future col-
leagues of the hotel who have welcomed
more than 40 million guests.
The lobby is a bustling, high-energy
space that conveys the feeling of being
in Canada’s largest city and a city very
much on the move.
Although the years have brought
many changes, many signature hotel fea-
tures are still intact, including magnificent
hand-painted ceilings, ornate furnishings,
crystal chandeliers and wall hangings.
Walk where the rich and famous
have walked — many celebrities, heads
of state and three generations of British
royalty including Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II have been guests. The hotel
has been featured in numerous movies. It
was home to writer Arthur Hailey while
researching his book and movie Hotel.
In addition to the new REIGN res-
taurant and CLOCKWORK, there is
Benihana Japanese Steakhouse, Library
Bar, Piper’s Pub and classic Afternoon
Tea served on weekends — a long-
standing tradition at the Royal York.
There is a lovely warm swimming
pool and Health Club with massage ser-
vices, as well as steam and sauna facilities.
View from
the Ritz-Carlton
No matter if the weather outside is
frightful, the Royal York is an integral
part of the city’s underground walkway,
known as PATH. It features 16 miles of
shopping arcades. Guinness World Re-
cords rates it as the world’s largest un-
derground shopping complex.
PATH provides links to some of To-
ronto’s major tourist and entertainment
attractions, as well as six major hotels,
the train and bus stations, and restau-
rants galore.
Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100
Front St. W., Toronto, 416-368-2511 or
866-540-4489; fairmont.com.
The nearby five-star Ritz-Carlton
Hotel is a glamorous modern hotel in
the heart of the city’s theater district. It
definitely lives up to the razzle dazzle of
its name.
continued on page 41
February 2020 WNY Family 29