STAYCATION AT THE THOMPSON HOTEL | TORONTO

The Thompson Hotel in Toronto is a super cool trendy boutique hotel located in the King West area of the city. Known for its one of a kind rooftop bar and pool in the summer, the Thompson offers stunning panoramic views of the cityscape. The rooms are modern, the staff are attentive and if you want to experience a next level Sunday brunch then all you have to do is head downstairs to the adorable Collette Grand Cafe.

Besides being trendy and modern, I like the Thompson Hotel because of its perfect location. It's close enough to the downtown core but it's in the heart of one of my favorite intersections in Toronto, King St. West & Portland.  You'll find some of the best brunch spots, cafes, restaurants and bars in Toronto located in this one little area. This is definitely where locals live, work and play. You won't find anything touristy, instead you'll get to experience Toronto's authentic culture + food scene.

So know you know where to sleep, now let's talk about where to eat? I'm all about easy everything, so the following are within a 5 minute walk from the hotel. I regularly brunch at Portland Variety (they also have the best cookies), grab coffee at Bar Buca (best Americanos), eat a quick lunch at Wilbur Mexicana, have dinner and drinks on Valdez's rooftop patio. For more of a romantic dinner vibe, I'll go to Buca in the summer and sit on their secluded patio tucked away in an alleyway. If you're looking to do some shopping, you can walk along the cool Queen Street West strip or you can walk a bit further east (30 minutes) towards the Toronto Eaton Centre and the new Saks Fifth Avenue for the full shopping experience.