'Condé Nast Traveler' releases 2023 Hot List, Canadian hotels included

Condé Nast's annual 'Hot List' is defined by the publication as "the best new openings in travel, from the fresh hotels we’d plan a trip around to boundary-pushing dining, cruise ships, museums, and more." Just two Canadian properties made the 2023 list:

Ace Hotel Toronto

“Unlike many hotel chains, Ace doesn’t rest on its laurels. Each new property is thoughtfully tailored to its setting, the opposite of cookie-cutter. This 123-room hotel—the Ace chain’s first in the Great White North—sits at the crossroads of three of Toronto’s most happening ’hoods: Queen Street West and Chinatown to the north and northwest, the nightspot-heavy King West strip to the south. To spend a few hours in the space, with its revolving door to the street outside and rows of oversized picture windows, is to recall the bustling ground floor in Grand Hotel, but with toque-wearing hipsters filling the stage instead of Greta Garbo. The variously sized rooms and suites meld the brand’s minimalist aesthetic with distinctly Canadian touches, while the hotel’s subterranean dining room, Alder, is a highlight of any visit: Chef Patrick Kriss’s way with wood-fired grilling is deliciously on display. As you chow down on your suckling pig with charred mustard greens, be sure to admire A. Howard Sutcliffe’s Horizon Line, a large-scale plywood mural that evokes the twinkling waters of nearby Lake Ontario.” - Excerpt, Condé Nast Traveler

The Royal Hotel, Picton Canada

“When former Ontario finance minister Greg Sorbara purchased a family farm in rural Prince Edward County nearly 20 years ago, he never imagined how far his new roots would spread. After learning the crumbling structure that was once The Royal was slated for demolition in 2014, he snapped it up and made restoring the former gem a family endeavor (sic). Now, the hotel is back and better than ever, offering casual luxury that honors (sic) both Prince Edward County’s roots and current status as a wine tourism hot spot. The 33 rooms put a modern spin on Victorian design —all highly touchable textiles and fresh takes on classic details. Meanwhile, the restaurant pulls ingredients from the Sorbara family’s Edwin County Farms, and a guests-only pool deck makes The Royal the place to book during Prince Edward County’s busy summer season.” - Excerpt, Condé Nast Traveler

Click here to read the full list of winners on the 2023 Hot List.