Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel & Spa

Class: Deluxe

Style: Minimalist

Rooms: 97

Hidden away in plain sight in downtown Toronto’s bustling financial district is the kind of hotel experience that it usually takes hours of driving to reach. The Cosmopolitan calls itself an “urban sanctuary,” and while that may sound a bit precious, in the end it’s entirely accurate — once within its walls it’s hard indeed to believe that you’re at the heart of one of North America’s biggest cities.

The Zen concept is instantly familiar; it’s the sort of thing that can be tiresome in small doses, but taken to the limit, as it is here, it’s uniquely calming, just as intended. Earthy tones and clean lines are there to keep guests grounded, and yoga mats and bamboo slippers help you get into character. And even if you’re not quite ready to meditate your way to a higher consciousness, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Cosmopolitan’s suites — Egyptian linens, full kitchens and flat-screen televisions are standard, as are full-length windows and balconies with views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario.

Relaxation isn’t entirely self-directed — those meditation can’t reach may opt for some time in the Shizen spa’s treatment rooms or twelve-person Jacuzzi. The restaurant, Doku 15, serves a pan-Asian selection of small plates, as well as sake martinis — as good a way as any to become one with the universe.