Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 100 Front Street West
Date: December 2023
Website: www.fairmont.com
Since 1929, the Royal York Hotel has stood tall as the premier hotel in Toronto. As its name implies, it has seen Queens and Kings amongst its guests. The hotel is a special place all year round, but great to visit at Christmas.
There is always a big Christmas tree in the lobby.
Sometimes the tree is guarded by soldiers.
The hotel has gone through some changes through the years. The photo above still includes the clock and spiral staircase that came up into the lobby. These have been replaced with the Clockwork bar which includes a different clock.
Just like the changes in the hotel, there is always something different in the decorations at Christmas. One year there were many trees both pink and green
We once went to the hotel for a holiday brunch and a table was set up with a gingerbread village. It was not meant for eating.
Gingerbread is also a big part of the Royal York's holiday display. As you enter the hotel from the east side, you can smell what is coming.
It's Gingerbread Lane. This part of the Royal York concourse is covered with gingerbread and icing. It is a feast for the senses.
All of the stores are covered from top to bottom. The smell of gingerbread is everywhere. As lovers of gingerbread cookies this made us quite hungry for a snack.
One wall even has the Royal York logo giving it the stamp of approval.
Is it really real gingerbread you ask? Yes it is. One time we visited we witnessed the staff applying some more icing touches. A lot of work goes into making and maintaining this gingerbread hallway.
In 2024 the hotel did not create a gingerbread lane. Let's hope it returns in future years. The Royal York is still always a magical place, especially around Christmas.
