Zen-Inspired Boutique Hotel with Spacious Suites and Modern Amenities

Rose petals and illuminated Buddha statues trim the steps of a Brazilian-walnut staircase, which ascends dramatically toward the waiting area in the Shizen Spa. Stationed at the foot of a pair of white leather chairs, a 12-person jacuzzi lined with glowing white candles bubbles alongside a red oriental rug, and translucent japanese shoji windows let in warm, natural lighting. It’s here that professionals administer Dead Sea–salt scrubs and antioxidant facials, heightening the tranquil experience of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

A feeling of “urban Zen” permeates the 560-square-foot Lotus suites, decked in modern furniture and abstract art. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out to the skyline, and a pair of handsome leather armchairs stationed beneath a flat-screen TV. Sojourners retire to a queen-size bed topped with Egyptian linens and a cobalt-blue lumbar pillow, and an unframed oil painting embellishes white-splashed walls. The European-style kitchenette houses a floating eating bar and botanical décor.

Parked next to the lobby on the first floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Eight Wine Bar complements its rotating wine list with handmade pizzas and savory sharing plates. Within a paneled glass wall rests the eatery’s rare varietals and exotic blends; upstairs, a private seating area makes a great spot for intimate candlelit dinners and exclusive games of musical chairs.

Toronto: Multicultural City with World-Class Art Venues and Big-Ticket Sports

With a sprawling network of eclectic neighborhoods and miles of waterside parklands, Toronto is a wonderful walking city that overflows with cultural treasures. Biking and walking trails unwind along the harbor front just southwest of the hotel. A northerly stroll through the Fashion District and Chinatown leads to Kensington Market, a bohemian village rife with vintage shops and organic food markets. For haute couture shopping and fine dining, visitors flock to Bloor-Yorkville, where colorful flower gardens, modern-art installations, and crosswalks lined with memory foam soften the industrial streetscape.

The Art Gallery of Ontario showcases rare Quebecois religious statuary and a restored Georgian house near to the Cosmopolitan. In addition to hosting the largest African and Oceanic art collection in the country, the massive space curates Italian Baroque sculptures, Pablo Picasso paintings, and historical Canadian art including contemporary Intuit masterpieces.