T.O., as it is affectionately known, may not immediately spring to mind as a hit-list honeymoon destination. But if you love thriving, yet laid back cities and you’re spoilt for choice on which to pick, we highly recommend Toronto. Why? Because it’s the best of all possible worlds in one city. In fact, it’s the most diverse urbanity on the planet. and you know what they say: there’s nothing like variety to spice up your married life.
From our taxi, the Bisha at first seemed like the city’s most happening nightclub, with its bedazzling lobby teeming with fashionistas and it-boys alike enjoying the property’s be-seen bar. however, as the leather biker-jacket clad staff ushered us beyond the hoi polloi to our discreet suite – one of nine themed designer digs – the din quickly melted away. We were glad to find that our suite was spacious and came complete with an equally large, luxurious bathroom. design notes: seductively monochrome and masculine, with occasional pops of velvety, bold colour.
The Bisha is also unabashedly proud of its fashion meets art (or vice versa) theme. Andy Warhol’s The Factory-style imagery is abundant and the cult of celebrity present in all the common areas and rooms, with photos of famous faces of today and yesteryear hanging from the walls. We thought it was a little odd to have a supersized portrait of Naomi Campbell looking down on us as we stumbled in from a night out in the Village, just a 10-minute drive away. But then, she’s hardly one to judge.
The room didn’t afford great views, but the rooftop terrace restaurant, Kost, made up for that, offering a stunning vista of the lake and the CN tower. Lunch was a delicious, albeit busy affair on the lovely, sunny day we dined. We noticed a small posing pool that would have been a fabulous facility, but at time of visit, it was closed for maintenance. The other dining option was a hip coffee-shop, French Made, with to-go options.
The hotel’s location is quite enviable, just a short stroll away from the CN Tower and other famed Torontonian attractions, but while we enjoyed being out and about in the Canadian sunshine, we also loved spending time in this hip hotel.
A special mention goes to the property’s team. Whilst hotels with staff that look like models sometimes suffer from service with an attitude, the Bisha’s team certainly didn’t conform. Looking like they’d just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine, they were also friendly, attentive and always managed to pick us out from the crowd in the lobby to welcome us home and ask if there was anything they could do to make our stay better.
80 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 2G3, Canada
