Clarion Hotel & Suites Selby

Clarion Selby: On the Path of Ernest Hemingway

I probably paid too much for this hotel at about $110 a night, but at the time I couldn't be bothered scouring the Net for better deals. The bonuses of the Clarion Selby is that it's in a great old historic Victorian building, it's located right across from the Sherbourne subway station, is close to the intersection of Bloor and Younge streets, and you get free local calls. My room was very nice, clean, had a high ceiling, and a giant sparkly tiled bathroom. I loved the old windows that actually opened up to let a lot of air into the room. The oddity for me in this hotel was definitely the elevator, which looked like it was one of the earliest ones ever invented. It's about the size of a closet and I nicked my finger pretty badly one night (after some heavy drinking) trying to close the metal gate inside it. The downsides include "the breakfast room" (which is in the basement, has low ceilings, no windows, is very hot, two of the slowest bread toasters in the world, and has a whole bomb-shelter feel about it), the ironing board in my room had some stains on it which transferred onto my shirt, it's easy to get lost in some of the mazelike hallways, and you do run the risk of getting an interior room that has doesn't have any windows (that would freak me out).
The staff was very friendly and quick every time I had dealings with them (especially compared to other Toronto hotels). I would stay here again as long as I had a "window room", but next time I'd be more careful using the elevator and inspect the ironing board before using it.

Unique Quality: The building was originally home to Gooderham family (distillers) who lived in the house from 1894 to 1910. It was designed by the same architect who did Toronto's famous "Flatiron building" on Front Street, David Roberts Jr. Over the years the Selby has served as a private girls' school (Branksome Hall), a residence for WWII veterans, a brothel during the 1970s, and a seedy bar. Ernest Hemingway lived at the Selby with his wife Hadley in the 1920s while he wrote for the Toronto Star newspaper. (Ask for the Hemingway suite!)

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Gay and Lesbian, Business Travel, Historical Travel

Clarion Hotel & Suites Selby Photo: Clarion Selby (2005)

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