Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

Rooms and decor

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel is a 43-storey tower of 1,372 rooms that has stood in the middle of Downtown since 1972, directly across from Nathan Phillips Square — the plaza in front of City Hall, with its winter ice rink and the big TORONTO sign everyone photographs. The rooms here lean toward comfortable and practical for families rather than chasing boutique trends. Warm, plain tones, beds firm enough that plenty of reviews call them an easy sleep, and most rooms come in two styles parents will appreciate — two queens for a family of four, or a king with a sofa bed for younger kids. Kids under 17 stay free in the same room at no extra charge. Big windows open up wide views of the Toronto skyline, and some high-floor rooms facing Nathan Phillips Square look down on the rink and the Christmas lights. Wake up to snow on the rooftops and CN Tower in the distance, then take the kids down to the pool.

Food and amenities

If there's one thing that pulls families here, it's the 25-metre pool on the 2nd floor, heated year-round, and the thing reviews agree on most. The clever part of the design is that it splits into two zones — indoor and open-air — joined by an underwater glass wall, so kids can dive under it from the indoor side and pop up outside in one go. Even mid-winter, with sub-zero temperatures and snow outside, the water stays warm and swimmable all year. Plenty of reviews say the same thing: this is the part kids get most excited about — steam rising off the water with snowflakes falling around it, like stepping into a kids' film. Loungers and cabanas ring the pool for parents keeping watch. On the same floor is The Clubhouse, a free kids' playroom with games, activities and its own space to run around, good for a day when you want the kids to take a break from walking around in the cold. One floor up is a 24-hour fitness centre with a spa, for parents who want to work out after the kids are asleep. Down in the lobby there's BnB Restaurant and a Shake Shack.

Location and getting there

The location is the ace that pushes this place up the family rankings. The hotel sits dead-centre in Downtown / the Financial District, directly across from Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall. A few steps gets you to the public ice rink that runs November to March — a dream for any kid who wants to skate in a real snowy city. Queen and Osgoode stations on Line 1 Yonge-University are about a 2-minute walk, so you can jump on the metro to anywhere in town. Eaton Centre, the big downtown mall with shops and a food court for the kids, is a 5-minute walk, and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) — the dinosaur museum kids of all ages love — is one metro stop away. Best of all, the hotel connects to PATH, the underground walkway network that runs more than 30 kilometres beneath the city, taking you to offices, restaurants and malls without stepping out into the snow or the cold wind. Anyone bringing young kids in deep winter will appreciate PATH right away.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the thing reviews flag most often is the sheer size of the building. With more than 1,372 rooms, check-in on a busy day (especially when there's a conference in-house or a summer weekend) can mean a long queue and a longer wait for the lift than usual. If you're travelling as a family with young kids, check in after early afternoon to dodge the peak. The second point reviewers raise is that some rooms still carry their older décor from an earlier renovation, and a few feel they look dated against the newer 4-star hotels around now — if you're expecting a fully modern look, adjust your expectations, though for families who care more about space and facilities than looks, it's not a deal-breaker. Third is the extra costs, which run fairly high by Downtown Toronto standards: pricey valet parking, breakfast not included in most packages, and a destination/resort fee added on some booking platforms — check the details before you hit book. Finally, rooms facing the busier Queen Street side may catch some traffic and city noise in the morning, so if you're a light sleeper, ask for a high floor facing Nathan Phillips Square, which is quieter.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel nails the pitch of an all-rounder family hotel in the city centre — a distinctive indoor-outdoor pool, a free kids' playroom, rooms that sleep four with kids staying free, and a location within a few minutes' walk of the metro and Eaton Centre, plus the PATH link to dodge the snow all day. If the trip in your head is taking the kids skating at Nathan Phillips Square, then back to a warm pool in the evening, followed by an easy dinner at the lobby Shake Shack, this is a strong family pick. But if you're expecting a brand-new boutique design, or you're a couple after a quiet, romantic feel, the big-building scale and practical room style may not be your first choice. Overall we give it 8.1/10 — best for families whose kids are at the age of getting excited about a great pool and who want to stay dead-centre in Toronto within walking distance of everything.