By Alison McGill
Consider Canadian winter high self-care season. The days can be endlessly dull, bitterly cold, and not in the least bit motivating. After months of holiday glitz and glitter, things go dark as we kick off a new year and eagerly anticipate longer, light-filled days. Being extra good to yourself is essential at this time of year, and there’s no better way to do it than heading for some deluxe pampering close to home.
I recently did just this, checking into The Ritz-Carlton Toronto for 24 hours of blissful alonement. Nothing to do except relax and recharge while enjoying a wonderfully plush room, incredible food, and some otherworldly spa bliss at the reimagined Spa myBlend by Clarins. It truly was the perfect getaway to help chase my winter blues away—here’s all the beautiful little details of my stay.
The Room
The Ritz-Carlton Toronto was one of the first hotels in the city to offer a premium guest floor and it is so worth the splurge. The Ritz-Carlton Club Level is on the top of the hotel and offers all the intimacies and special little luxuries of a boutique hotel. I stayed in a Club Level Corner Suite with a lakefront view starring the CN Tower right outside my window. The décor is modern and warm, the bed pillowy perfection, the soaker tub and Diptyque toiletries were divine. The suite’s expansive floor to ceiling window brought a natural lightness to the space even with gloomy grey skies looming overhead.
All guests on the Club Level floor have access to the 24-hour guest lounge which offers breakfast, light lunches and afternoon nibbles, and a seriously stacked assortment of sweet and savoury snacks. It is a great place to meet up with friends or do catch up on emails alongside some sweeping lake views which is exactly what I did.
The Food
Toca is the Ritz-Carlton Toronto’s signature restaurant and the place to dine if you love classic Italian cuisine. Partner Chef Oliver Glowig has created a masterful menu brimming with flavour and modern twists on classic recipes. Some must have tastes for dinner include the Burrata Con Zucca Al Forno which stars the iconic cheese accompanied by roasted squash, figs, orange picante greens and pomegranate dressing; the Insalata Romano Con Pesto which is a fresh take on the classic Caesar; and the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara which features the classic dish tossed in a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel which takes the cheesy goodness OTT.
On a cheese note, if you are a lover of unique varieties, Toca has an in-house cheese cave which is epically impressive. A stellar selection of hard-to-come by varieties are line the wooden shelves of the temperature-controlled cave. This is cheese grandeur at its finest!
The Spa
When it comes to expansive and immersive spa experiences in Toronto, Spa myBlend by Clarins is the ultimate. Relaunched last fall, the sprawling 23,000 square foot sanctuary has it all—indulgent spa treatments, an extensive fitness centre and nutrition-based food and wellness offerings. It’s also only one of four locations globally to carry the newly reformulated myBlend products. “The redesign of myBlend brings cutting-edge advancements and a new level of personalization to our spa,” says Maggee Byrd, director of or spa at Ritz-Carlton Toronto. “Our menu offers a suite of new offerings that combine powerful skincare formulas, technological innovation and expert techniques designed to address each individual’s precise needs.”
The vibe inside Spa myBlend is tranquil and airy. After changing up into a plush spa robe I headed to the relaxation lounge which boasts an earthy and soothing colour palette that quiets the mind. I indulged in the Essential Touch 60-minute facial which consisted of a mix of traditional facial techniques combined with innovative tech tools. There were loads of massage and lymphatic drainage, with treatment culminating with a 10-minute session under an LED mask. I left with intensely plumped and radiant skin, and a heightened state of bliss—the benefits stayed with me days.
