The Annex Hotel has genuinely mastered elegant minimalism — every detail is designed to make things easy and efficient, without ever feeling cold or impersonal. From check-in to check-out over my four-night stay, nothing was hard. What stood out even more was the human touch backing it all up, vis a vis a real staff member I met in person sent me messages, which made the whole experience feel uniquely attentive rather than automated. The front desk, café, and bar staff were so charming and welcoming that within a day it felt like I’d known them for years — maybe that’s Toronto people in general, but this team took it to another level.
The shower in the room was such an exquisite experience I could have stayed in for hours. And the lobby bar deserves its own mention: the custom whiskey sour was a work of art, as good to look at as it was to drink. Special shoutout to Lily and Emma, who exemplified personality and sincerely welcoming customer service throughout my stay. This isn’t a place that settles for the avg is good enough bar of travel expectations — everything here felt intentional. My only note, and a minor one, is that I’d love non-feather pillows/comforters — which was so minor I never even checked but likely they have them available. My compliments to the staff and ownership for creating a stay that felt peaceful and genuinely like home. Mega recommend, and I’d love to see more Annexes around the world — I’d be a very loyal guest. Kudos!