Drake Hotel

It has been 17 years since the historic Toronto hotel re-opened its doors, contributing to the transformation of West Queen St West. Today, The Drake is building on its legacy as a neighbourhood hub rooted in contemporary art, culture and hospitality and celebrating its local surroundings. The opening of the 5-storey Modern Wing marks an exciting chapter in The Drake’s story, unveiling a vibrant, expanded collection of 32 meticulously designed additional guest rooms, bringing the total offering to 51.

Composing layers of history and modernity as it stretches east of the original building, the Modern Wing captures the dynamic evolution of the legendary property. Told through new layers of architecture, interior design, furnishings, objects and art, the expansion reveals a design that provides relaxed comfort, encourages curiosity, and holds many surprises.

Set in a brand-new building adjoining the original hotel on multiple floors, the Modern Wing offers imaginative public spaces and cultural amenities and is capped with a polished steel boxcar-inspired, cantilevered rooftop level suite. The façade of the handcrafted brick building features apertures intersected by oversized contemporary windows, a considered reference to historic, ghosted windows that pay homage to the street’s traditional streetscape.

The Modern Wing is the result of the impassioned creativity and collaboration of The Drake’s in-house design and art curation teams alongside Diamond Schmitt Architects and DesignAgency, in association with John Tong and Michael Awad. Re-imagination of The Sky Yard and original Classic Wing lobby is by CompanyCompany.

Guests are invited to experience The Drake’s signature referential and playful style in a re-envisioned lobby, meeting and event spaces, and an intimate street-front bar — all of which are curated with a collection of exceptional artworks by a diverse group of artists. The original hotel ‘Classic Wing’ will retain the Drake Lounge, Dining Room, Sky Yard rooftop patio, Drake Underground performance venue, and neighbourhood Drake Café.

According to Joyce Lo, Creative Director, Drake Hotel Properties, “We are excited to open our doors and invite everyone to experience a tactile treat — a localized and immersive experience for the senses. We believe that the Modern Wing will be a canvas for diverse expressions of local and international art and design.”

Built in 1890 as Small’s Hotel, the property was frequented by passengers of the nearby Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1949 it was expanded and renamed the Drake, but the hotel eventually waned with the closure of the local railway station. In the 1970s it became a flophouse, and through the 1980s and 1990s served as a punk bar and a rave venue. In 2004 the property was reinvented as one of Toronto’s first, stylish boutique hotels, and an internationally recognized bastion of art, culture and design.