A Raving Review of The Drake Hotel . Toronto

Full disclosure: I need to start this review by telling you I am completely and unabashedly smitten with The Drake Hotel in Toronto. On paper it seems so wrong: really small rooms at more than a budget price. But, I saw the pics and read the reviews and they had me double-knotted around their cleverly packaged little pinkie. As I write this entry I have Whitesnake's Is This Love? song running through my head - fitting for both my affection of the hotel and inserting a bit of tongue-in-cheek trendy vibe the hotel exuded. How could a hotel conjure such emotion, you ask? Let me elaborate:

The upgrade. For reasons unknown, we were upgraded from the smallest room (dubbed the 'Crashpad') to the next largest size ('Den') free of charge. Already a step in the right direction.

Fantastically chic decor. The hotel was a mix of modern and camp with a twist of eclectic. As soon as we got to our room the look of idiotic giddiness must have been written all over my face as Daniel remarked, "Oh God, you are going to want to take tons of photos, aren't you?" Beyond just the wallpaper and furniture choices, the utilization of space was a thing of beauty. Rooms, a rooftop garden bar, cafe, restaurant, meeting room and performance venue all resided in the old hotel. Rethinking traditional layouts was a must and our room was about the size of a bedroom with the sink, toilet and shower fitting at the short end of the room - allowing for all the necessary components in a cozy environment.

The amenities. A hip location and forward-thinking designs deserve cutting-edge amenities, no? Available for fees were yoga classes in the Yoga Den, in-room spa services and the Pleasure Menu. What is a Pleasure Menu? I would just say "I think you know" with a raised eyebrow and leave it at that, but I had no idea what one was so I will spell it out. The Pleasure menu is a list of packages and a-la-carte items you can order up to...ummm...provide pleasure for those in the room. And, no, not escort services, but adult toys and movies for your viewing pleasure. I will add that taking the actual Pleasure menu from the room incurred a $100 charge on your bill - so I didn't take it and will not be able to discuss options verbatim.

The service. Though it may seem trivial, the staff was friendly and inviting. I feel if The Drake was dropped into L.A. the same could not be said (shame, shame). For example, upon checking in the concierge asked if we had a nice outing and seemed genuinely interested. Not enough? Also, we dropped off our bags before check-in and returned to find they were delivered to our (upgraded) room...it is the little things that count.

Did this place of goodness have its faults? Yes, 2.5 faults by my calculation:

1) The public bathrooms outside the hotel bar smelled like urine - though this was a common issue in Toronto.

2) The shower in our room was just a degree or two too cold for comfort.

2.5) Everything in the room marketed The Drake hotel in some way - labels, brochures, books. I studied all the materials like I had an upcoming quiz, but Daniel thought it was overkill (hence the only half point ding.)