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Shangri-La Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada · Shangri-La · Grand Luxury
James K. M. Cheng's 214-metre tower at 188 University Avenue opened in 2012 for Ian Gillespie's Westbank, putting 202 Shangri-La rooms under 393 condominiums. Digging the eight-level garage required a 102-foot excavation, Canada's second-deepest after Scotia Plaza. Heritage pieces of the 1830s Bishop's Block and the Pretzel Bell Tavern, once a Maple Leafs hangout, were disassembled and rebuilt into the project.
- 202 rooms
- Opened 2012
- Neighborhood: Entertainment District
- Rooms from 484 sq ft (45 m²)
- Architect: James K.M. Cheng
About Shangri-La Toronto
- Excavation reached about 102 feet (31 m), the second-deepest building dig in Canadian history after Scotia Plaza.
- Designed by James K. M. Cheng and built by Westbank's Ian Gillespie, the same pair behind Vancouver's Living Shangri-La.
- The 202-room hotel fills the lower floors; 393 condominiums occupy the tower above.
- Archaeology preceded construction on the Bishop's Block site; the Pretzel Bell Tavern fabric was rebuilt as a heritage pledge.
- Forbes Travel Guide rates the hotel Five-Star; AAA Four Diamond and Michelin One Key also apply.
History
Shangri-La Toronto occupies a 214-metre tower at 188 University Avenue in downtown Toronto, completed in 2012 and designed by Vancouver architect James K. M. Cheng for developer Ian Gillespie's Westbank Projects. The 202-room hotel occupies the lower floors beneath 393 residential condominiums.
Its construction involved one of the deepest excavations in Canadian history — about 102 feet, second only to Scotia Plaza — and the site's heritage was carefully handled, with the historic Bishop's Block and the Pretzel Bell Tavern structure preserved or rebuilt as part of the project.
The setting
Shangri-La Toronto stands on 188 University Avenue in Entertainment District, Toronto. Nathan Phillips Square is roughly 5 minutes' walk, Art Gallery of Ontario is roughly 8 minutes' walk, and Hockey Hall of Fame is roughly 9 minutes' walk. Toronto's Entertainment District is the warehouse grid that learned to stay up: King Street West theatres, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, and mixed-use towers over the same blocks. 15-minute walk to CN Tower.
Restaurants and bars
- Shangri-La Lobby Lounge and Bar — Bar · Lounge bar
- bosk — Restaurant · Italian
Experiences
- Explore Toronto — Hotel-presented guidance to the city's markets, cycling routes, off-the-beaten-path dining spots and cultural life.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
- Butler service
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- AAA Four Diamond (2025)
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More Shangri-La hotels
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- Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · Grand Luxury
- Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · Grand Luxury
- Shangri-La Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand · Grand Luxury
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More hotels in Toronto
- Four Seasons Hotel Toronto — Four Seasons · Grand Luxury
- The Hazelton Hotel — Independent · Grand Luxury
- The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto — Ritz-Carlton · Grand Luxury
- The St. Regis Toronto — St. Regis · Grand Luxury
- 1 Hotel Toronto — 1 Hotels · High Luxury
- Park Hyatt Toronto — Park Hyatt · High Luxury
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