Inside Union Hotel: A Weekend Stay
Steps from Union Station, Toronto’s newest boutique hotel captures the city’s energy while offering spaces to work, gather and unwind
Alive with street festivals, jam-packed patios and late-night wanderers, summer in Toronto is when the city is most itself. It was the perfect time to check into Union Hotel, a new boutique property just steps from Union Station in the heart of downtown.
From Silver Hotel Group, which operates 19 properties across Canada, Union opened in February as a one-off concept that positions itself as Toronto distilled: creative, collaborative proudly independent.
A First Impression of Effortless Cool
The first thing you notice at Union Hotel is the scent. A signature fragrance dubbed Night Audit, created exclusively for the hotel, lingers in the air, later bottled as candles so guests can take a little piece of Union home. Pair that with soft lighting, modern furnishings and eclectic wall art, and the lobby feels stylish without being intimidating—contemporary in a way that feels natural despite the building’s near-century old bones.
Designed by Frank Architecture, with interiors and furniture curated by Habitat Design Lab, the spaces are deliberately warm and non-pretentious. A floating fireplace anchors one corner of the lobby, long communal tables encourage co-working, and plush nooks allow for casual conversations. Even the whimsical, radio-style phone booths—complete with glowing on-air signs—invite guests to take a private call.
Right in our own name, Union really means a gathering, a place to get together and collaborate. Within that open space, there are all these different little zones where people can connect,” says general manager Kevin Slean. “We wanted to make Union Hotel a place that was accessible and enjoyable, where guests could really experience being at the hotel rather than just disappearing into their rooms.”
A Room with a View
My king suite overlooked Toronto’s Financial District. While not palatial in size, the room was more than comfortable for a weekend stay. The furnishings were handsome—modern tile work in the bathroom, thoughtful accents throughout—and small touches rooted the space in what felt quintessentially Toronto.
There was a bottle of Paradise Grapevine wine, made in the city with Niagara grapes, waiting on the desk. The garbage bin, a sleek piece designed by Cyrc, a Montreal company that transforms recycled plastic into functional design objects, spoke to the hotel’s sustainability ethos.
Local Art Everywhere
Art plays an outsized role in Union’s identity. Toronto-based artist Emily May Rose, best known for her mischievous raccoon motifs, has works scattered across the property, including a mural in the courtyard and even a run of custom T-shirts. In the guest rooms, collage pieces by Kat Honey bring bold layers of colour and texture, while Hello Kirsten created an abstract mural inspired by Union Station and the neighbouring Financial District. The lobby also features a striking mural by Victoria Day, who reinterpreted the station’s iconic ceiling in vivid hues.
The design extends to the details: Toronto designer Gino Marocco created the hotel’s uniforms, cutting them from sustainable textiles and repurposing leftover fabric into tote bags. Everywhere you turn, Union’s tagline “Life unscripted” plays out through art and design that feels distinctly tied to the city.
Eating and Drinking Toronto
If Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, Union’s food and beverage program brings them all under one roof. The Humble Donkey Café—named after a mural uncovered during renovations of the building’s former Spanish Donkey Lounge—serves comfort foods sourced from beloved local vendors.
On the menu are Jamaican patties from a family-run Scarborough bakery, alongside burgers, mac and cheese, and Greek-inspired bites. Wine is poured from Paradise Grapevine; gin cocktails are mixed with bottles from Laneway Distillers, the first women-owned gin company in Canada. In the mornings, guests can order coffee from Sam James Coffee, a cult favourite in Toronto, or a frothy bowl of ceremonial-grade matcha.
Books, Culture and Community
Union also aims to play a role in Toronto’s cultural life. The hotel partnered with the Giller Prize, Canada’s most prestigious literary award, to integrate books into the guest experience. Each room features a Giller Prize–winning or nominated title, free for guests to read or take home. Our was equipped with a copy of Eden Robinson’s Son of a Trickster.
“Guests can take those books, read them in the courtyard, even bring them home,” explains Slean. “Once a month, we host ticketed talks where authors come in to share their work and engage with the community. They’ve sold out every time—it’s become this really exciting way to celebrate Canadian literature right here at the hotel.”
In the courtyard—a bright, flexible space off the meeting rooms—Union has begun experimenting with programming like yoga and outdoor gatherings. It’s easy to imagine the property becoming more than a hotel: a hub where both locals and visitors take part in the city’s creative culture.
Who It’s For
Spending a weekend at Union revealed a hotel with balance at its core. It doesn’t try to compete with Toronto’s luxury heavyweights, nor does it reduce itself to a budget “drop your bags and go” option. Instead, it’s the sort of property that makes sense for a range of guests. Business travellers will find the lobby’s communal tables, high-speed internet, and private call booths practical and well considered. Short-stay visitors can absorb Toronto’s culture through the food, art, and books woven into the property. Locals, too, have begun using the lobby as a social space—a place for casual meetings, first dates or simply a morning coffee in a lively setting.
Union Hotel may be new, but it already feels woven into the city’s cultural fabric. A new restaurant is in the works for the basement, and a redesigned front facade will soon connect the lobby more directly to the street. With its hyper-local approach, commitment to Canadian makers, and evolving programming, Union is positioned to become more than a boutique stay: it’s a mirror of the city itself.
