Your stay — The Rex
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The Property — The Rex
The Rex is a downtown Toronto fixture: a hotel and jazz club under one roof, with a lobby that smells faintly of coffee and old wood. By night, live music drifts up from the bar, giving the place a low-key, cultured buzz. It's a pragmatic choice for solo travellers or couples who want to be steps from Dundas Square without the chain-hotel corporate sheen. Expect small rooms, thin walls, and a soundtrack that justifies the price.
Chronicles of Toronto
Toronto was founded as the British colonial town of York in 1793, chosen for its sheltered harbour. It grew explosively in the 19th and 20th centuries, absorbing waves of immigrants and steadily demolishing its own Victorian streetscapes for office towers and concrete plazas. The city's architectural identity is a scrum: a few surviving 19th-century brick buildings wedged between glass condos and brutalist monoliths like City Hall. Today, Toronto is Canada's largest city, a multi-ethnic financial and cultural hub that constantly debates how much of its past to keep.
Best Time to Visit
Full Toronto guide →Best months
June and September: warm, sunny days (low 20s°C) with low humidity; fewer tourists than July-August. September also has the Toronto International Film Festival buzz without the worst crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July is hottest and busiest, driven by the Canadian National Exhibition and Caribana (Caribbean carnival) in August. Hotel prices can double; book The Rex three months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and October offer mild temperatures (10-18°C) and 20-30% lower rates. October brings autumn colour in city parks; May has fewer tourists before summer surges.
Weather & packing
Toronto's late June can swing between 15°C and 35°C in a day, thanks to lake-breeze shifts. Pack layers: a light jacket for evenings, plus shorts and a rain shell.
Live City Briefing — Toronto
- The TTC subway's Line 1 (Yonge-University) has weekend closures through summer 2026 for track work; check shuttle buses if heading north of Bloor.
- Ripley's Aquarium and the CN Tower are both open regular hours, but nearby Front Street construction may add 10-minute delays for pedestrians.
- The city's café patio season should be in full swing, with Dundas Square often hosting free outdoor concerts in late June.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Rex, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floor 1 for wheelchair accessibility and proximity to the step-free entrance. If you prefer a quieter room, consider a room on the lower floors (1-3) due to the hotel's proximity to the busy Queen Street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the upper floors (7-10) as they may be noisier due to the proximity to the hotel's service entrance and potential street noise from Queen Street.
Best views
Unfortunately, the hotel's address on Queen Street West does not offer spectacular views, but rooms on the higher floors (7-10) may have a glimpse of the city skyline.
Quietest floors
Floors 1-3
🔊 Noise notes
Be prepared for potential street noise from Queen Street, especially if you're a light sleeper.
Insider tips
If you're driving, consider parking at the Green P Queen & McCaul car park, which is a short 300m walk away and offers overnight parking for $30 CAD. If you're willing to pay for the premium Wi-Fi tier, it's worth it for smoother streaming and faster internet speeds.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Rex
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) for all guests. Premium tier ($12.95 CAD/day) offers up to 50 Mbps and supports streaming.
Two modern passenger lifts serve all 10 guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
Digital newsstand via PressReader with free access on in-room tablets; no physical newspapers delivered. The lobby displays a restored 1920s front desk with original marble.
Standard check-in from 15:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 13:00 for $50 CAD, subject to availability.
Complimentary luggage storage provided by the front desk for same-day drop or post-check-out.
One step-free entrance at the side ramp on Queen Street; wheelchair-accessible rooms on floor 1. Lift buttons are Braille-marked but bathroom grab bars are only in accessible rooms. No hearing-loop system.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Green P Queen & McCaul (300 m walk), $30 CAD overnight. No EV charging at hotel; nearest charger at Toronto City Hall (500 m).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Mandatory 13% HST on room rate; no separate city or tourist tax. No resort fee.
Deposit & card hold: Full first night deposit required at booking via credit card. At check-in, a $100 CAD incidental hold is placed on your card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Saint Stephen's Chapel (987 m · ~12 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Toronto (1.5 km · ~18 min walk)
- Church: Chinese Presbyterian Church (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
- Church: Holy Word Church (1.8 km · ~23 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
MetroCentre — 140 m · ~2 min walk
Simcoe Park — 89 m · ~1 min walk
OCAD Graduate Gallery — 608 m · ~8 min walk
TIFF Lightbox — 412 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BMO — 116 m · ~1 min walk
Rexall — 195 m · ~2 min walk
International News — 89 m · ~1 min walk
St. Andrew — 424 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
Use ATMs from big bank branches (RBC, TD, Scotiabank) for fair rates; avoid currency exchange kiosks at Toronto Pearson and tourist-heavy spots for poor rates.
Credit/debit cards accepted nearly everywhere; tap-to-pay (Interac Flash, Visa, Mastercard) is standard for small purchases too.
15-20% at restaurants for dine-in (not on tax), 10-15% for taxis or rideshares, $1-2 per bag for hotel porters, and $2-5 per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Drip coffee from any café or convenience store, around $2.50-3.00 CAD.
A sandwich or bowl from a takeaway counter or food court, roughly $10-14 CAD.
A main course at a casual pub or family-style restaurant, around $18-24 CAD.
Food trucks and stalls around downtown (e.g., Nathan Phillips Square, Yonge-Dundas Square) offer hot dogs, sausages, and tacos for $6-12 CAD.
Loblaws, No Frills, and FreshCo are the common budget chains in Toronto.
For affordable basics, hit H&M, Zara, or Winners on Yonge Street; Kensington Market has vintage shops.
The TTC single-ride token costs $3.35 CAD; a day pass is $13.50 CAD. The budget way from Pearson Airport is the TTC 900 bus to Kipling subway station for $3.35 CAD (no extra fare).
Buy a TTC day pass if making three+ trips in a day; eat lunch at food courts or ethnic restaurants (e.g., Chinatown, Little Italy) for more value; skip the CN Tower ticket and instead go to the top of the Royal Ontario Museum for a city view with general admission.
Good to know — Toronto
Type A/B · 120V
safe
$1 ≈ C$1.41 · CAD
Emergency Contacts
TorontoAll emergency services in Canada use the unified number 911. For non-emergency police matters in Toronto, call 311 or 416-392-2489. For non-emergency services, you can also contact Toronto Police Service at 311.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Toronto, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Rex
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BMO — 116 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Rexall — 195 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) → Union Station, then local transit to Yorkville
💡 Most cost-effective option. Take UP Express to Union Station, then subway Line 1 northbound to Bloor-Yonge (5 min walk to hotel).
Airport Terminals / Greater Toronto Area → The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto
💡 GO Transit 192 Airport Rocket is direct to Union Station. Best for budget travelers but longer journey times. Use real-time TTC app for live tracking.
Bloor Station / Yorkville area → Downtown Toronto & Greater Toronto Area
💡 Buy PRESTO card at subway stations for discounted fares. Yorkville is walkable to Bloor-Yonge and Bay stations. Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) connects to major attractions.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) → The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto
💡 Pre-book through hotel concierge for guaranteed pickup. Uber/Lyft often cheaper than traditional taxis during off-peak hours.
About Toronto
Wikipedia ↗
Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located on a harbour at the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is the fourth-most populous city in North America, behind Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles, with a census po...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Rex?
Request a room on floor 1 for wheelchair accessibility and proximity to the step-free entrance. If you prefer a quieter room, consider a room on the lower floors (1-3) due to the hotel's proximity to the busy Queen Street.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Rex?
Avoid rooms on the upper floors (7-10) as they may be noisier due to the proximity to the hotel's service entrance and potential street noise from Queen Street.
Is The Rex noisy?
Be prepared for potential street noise from Queen Street, especially if you're a light sleeper.
Which rooms have the best views at The Rex?
Unfortunately, the hotel's address on Queen Street West does not offer spectacular views, but rooms on the higher floors (7-10) may have a glimpse of the city skyline.
What are insider tips for staying at The Rex?
If you're driving, consider parking at the Green P Queen & McCaul car park, which is a short 300m walk away and offers overnight parking for $30 CAD. If you're willing to pay for the premium Wi-Fi tier, it's worth it for smoother streaming and faster internet speeds.
What time is check-in at The Rex?
Check-in at The Rex is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Rex have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) for all guests. Premium tier ($12.95 CAD/day) offers up to 50 Mbps and supports streaming.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Rex?
Mandatory 13% HST on room rate; no separate city or tourist tax. No resort fee.
Where can I eat cheaply near The Rex?
A sandwich or bowl from a takeaway counter or food court, roughly $10-14 CAD.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Rex?
The TTC single-ride token costs $3.35 CAD; a day pass is $13.50 CAD. The budget way from Pearson Airport is the TTC 900 bus to Kipling subway station for $3.35 CAD (no extra fare).
When is the best time to visit Toronto?
June and September: warm, sunny days (low 20s°C) with low humidity; fewer tourists than July-August. September also has the Toronto International Film Festival buzz without the worst crowds.
Top Attractions in Toronto
💡 Go on Saturday morning before noon for the farmer's market outside. The peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery is a city institution — costs about $8.
💡 Free Mondays are crowded — arrive 30 minutes before doors open at 10am. If you visit on a paid day, go after 4:30pm on Tuesdays for half-price admission.
💡 Arrive hungry. Grab a patty from Patty King or tacos from Seven Lives. Check the market's social pages for free summer street parties.
💡 Enter from Queen Street West at Spadina — the alley is easy to miss. Go early on a weekday morning for empty photos. The best murals change every few months; there's a self-guided walking tour map online from local artists.
💡 Buy your ferry ticket online in advance on summer weekends — queues can hit 45 minutes. Take the Ward's Island ferry for the quietest walk to the beach. Pack your own lunch; island cafes are overpriced.