Best Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Toronto for Travelers With Furry Companions

Photo by  Brian Jones

12 min read · Toronto, Canada · pet friendly stays ·

Best Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Toronto for Travelers With Furry Companions

ET

Words by

Emma Tremblay

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Looking for the best pet friendly hotels in Toronto requires more than a quick Google search. After years of exploring this city with dogs of every size and temperament, I have learned which hotels genuinely roll out the welcome mat for four-legged guests and which ones merely tolerate them. Toronto has become one of the most dog-conscious cities in North America, and that shift shows up in its accommodation options. Whether you are checking in for a weekend or settling in for a week, this guide will help you find places where your companion will be treated as well as you are.

The Kimpton Saint George Hotel: A Brand That Gets It Right on Bloor Street

The Kimpton Saint George Hotel sits at 102 Bloor Street West, right where the Annex neighborhood bleeds into the Yorkville fringe. I have stayed here twice with my rescue greyhound, Morrison, and both times the staff greeted him by name before we even reached the front desk. The Kimpton brand has built its reputation on genuine pet hospitality, and this location delivers on that promise without reservation.

The hotel has no weight limit, no breed restrictions, and no per-stay caps on the number of pets. That alone puts it ahead of most luxury properties in the city. Morrison sprawled across the bed in our Superior Room while I unpacked, and within twenty minutes a team member appeared with a water bowl and a dog treat bearing the Kimpton logo. The pet amenities here go beyond the standard. There is a lending program for pet beds, bowls, and even leashes if you arrived without your usual gear.

What to Expect: The room we stayed in faced the back, away from Bloor Street traffic, and the reduced noise made a real difference during Morrison's afternoon naps. The hotel sits a short walk from the ROM and the Philosopher's Walk trail that winds through the University of Toronto campus. That trail becomes a legitimate off-leash haven on weekday mornings before 9 AM when foot traffic is minimal.

The Catch: The on-site restaurant, The Carpenter, closes at 10 PM, which means late-night room service options thin out considerably. If you return from an evening out after that hour, you will be relying on whatever snacks you brought with you.

The Drake Hotel: Where Queen West Culture Meets Canine Comfort

The Drake Hotel at 1150 Queen Street West has been a fixture of the Queen West arts scene since 2004, and its pet policy reflects the neighborhood's anything-goes personality. This is not a generic hotel that happens to allow animals. The Drake was built with creative community at its center, and that spirit extends to the furry members of that community.

I arrived here with my elderly beagle mix, Biscuit, on a Thursday afternoon. The check-in agent did not ask about breed or size. She asked about Biscuit's favorite treat. Within minutes, a staff member brought out a small bowl of cubed cheddar cheese from the kitchen, which Biscuit accepted as his due. The Drake offers pet-sitting services through a partnership with a local dog walker who operates out of the neighborhood. Rates run about $25 for a thirty-minute walk, which is reasonable for the area.

What to Order: The Drake's ground-floor café serves a weekend brunch that draws lines out the door. The smoked salmon Benedict is worth the wait, and the patio out front accommodates dogs without question. Locals know to arrive before 10 AM on weekends to secure a table without a reservation.

Local Tip: The Drake Underground hosts live music several nights a week. Check their calendar before your stay. The basement space has surprisingly good acoustics, and you can often catch emerging Canadian acts for a cover charge under $20.

The Hazelton Hotel: Yorkville Luxury Without the Pet Surcharge

Yorkville has long carried Toronto's reputation for affluence, and The Hazelton Hotel at 118 Yorkville Avenue represents that positioning without apology. This boutique property opened in 2007 and has maintained a policy of welcoming pets without the punitive fees that many luxury hotels charge. There is no cleaning deposit, no per-night surcharge, and no restriction on the type of pet you bring.

My friend Caroline stayed here with her French Bulldog, Margot, during TIFF a few years back. She mentioned that the concierge arranged for a local pet supply delivery when Margot's special allergy-friendly kibble ran out mid-trip. The hotel also maintains a relationships with the veterinary clinic two blocks north on Avenue Road, which is information that does not appear on their website.

The Experience: The Hazelton sits steps from the Yorkville Park stretch of Cumberland Street, where the paving stones are uneven in places but the foot traffic is manageable on weekday mornings. The hotel's valet team will walk your dog if you need twenty minutes to settle in before heading out. Rooms on the upper floors command views over the treetops of the Annex, and those rooms are quieter at night.

One Honest Observation: The Hazelton's proximity to high-end boutiques means you will be passing countless pet-stroller-pushing residents during weekend afternoons. If your dog reacts to that kind of stimulation, request a room on the interior side of the building facing away from Yorkville Avenue.

Fairmont Royal York: Historic Grandeur with Room for Your Dog

The Fairmont Royal York at 100 Front Street West has anchored Toronto's downtown core since 1929. The property sits directly across from Union Station, which means you will be navigating heavy pedestrian and tourist traffic if you arrive by train. But the hotel itself remains one of the most genuinely accommodating properties in the city for travelers with dogs.

The Fairmont's pet program here allows dogs up to 25 kilograms, and the nightly pet fee of $35 goes toward supporting local animal welfare organizations. During my single overnight here with my sister and her golden retriever, the bellhops offered to walk Duke while we freshened up from our drive. The hotel keeps a small selection of pet beds and bowls at the front desk for guests who did not bring their own.

The Perks: The hotel's proximity to the waterfront trail along Harbour Street makes morning walks straightforward. The path runs east toward the Sugar Beach and Red Sugar zones, both of which have designated off-leash hours in the early morning. The front desk will provide a map of the route upon request.

Know Before You Go: The Fairmont Royal York hosts massive conference groups that can monopolize the elevator banks, especially midweek. If you have an anxious dog, avoid check-in on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons when the corporate crowds are thickest.

The Broadview Hotel: Leslieville Character in a Converted Building

The Broadview Hotel at 106 Broadview Avenue occupies a converted 1892 building in Leslieville, Toronto's most rapidly evolving neighborhood. The conversion preserved the building's original façade, including the ornate cornices that make it stand out along the otherwise modest Broadview Avenue streetscape. I have walked past this building hundreds of times over the years, and each visit reveals a new detail in the architectural detailing.

The hotel allows pets with a $30 per-stay fee. The rooms are smaller than what you would find in a downtown tower property, but the exposed brick, high ceilings, and oversized windows give the space a character that chain hotels simply cannot match. My friend James brought his rescue mutt, Chief, here for a staycation last summer. He said the staff left a dog toy on the bed during turndown service, which is the kind of attention that makes repeat guests feel recognized.

Why Leslieville Works for Dog Owners: The neighborhood contains two off-leash parks within a ten-minute walk. The Jimmie Simpson Park on Queen Street East has a fenced run area, and the quieter path along the Don River Valley trailhead starts just south of the hotel on Broadview. The local coffee shops along Queen East, including Mercury Coffee, welcome dogs at their sidewalk tables.

Local Tip: The Broadview's rooftop bar, The Garden, has restricted hours and is often booked for private events. Call ahead to confirm it will be open during your stay if you plan to use the space. The views from up there over the Don Valley are genuinely impressive on clear evenings.

The Anndore House: Boutique Personality on Charles Street East

The Anndore House at 15 Charles Street East sits in the Yonge and Charles corridor, a quieter stretch that feels removed from the intensity of the Yonge-Dundas tourist zone despite being only blocks away. This property reopened in 2018 after a full renovation that stripped a 1950s building down to its bones and rebuilt it as a boutique hotel with serious design credentials.

Pets are welcome here with no size restrictions and no additional fees, which puts it in rare company among Toronto hotels. The rooms feature modern furnishings with mid-century touches, and the suites include kitchenettes that make longer stays practical. I stayed here for five nights with my two small dogs when my apartment was being treated for bedbugs, and the staff never made me feel like having two pets was an imposition.

The Practical Advantage: The Anndore House is walking distance from the Oriole Park area of the Beltline Trail, which is one of the best off-leash corridors in the midtown core. The trail runs from Erinbrook Drive down through the ravine system to Moore Park, and you can easily spend an hour exploring without retracing your steps.

One Drawback: The hotel's parking situation is genuinely inadequate. There is a small lot behind the building with six spaces, and they fill by early afternoon on weekdays. Street parking in the area requires feeding meters seven days a week until 9 PM. If you are driving, factor in the time and stress of finding a spot.

alt Hotel Pearson: Airport-Area Convenience Without Compromise

Travelers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport often struggle to find pet-friendly options in the immediate vicinity. The alt Hotel at 50 E Pearson Drive in Mississauga sits close enough to the terminals to be practical, and it operates a straightforward pet policy that allows two pets per room without breed or size restrictions.

This is not a destination hotel for sightseeing. You come here because your flight landed late, because you have an early morning departure, or because you are road-tripping and need a clean, affordable stopover near the airport. The rooms are compact but functional, the lobby has a decent grab-and-go food selection, and the complimentary Wi-Fi actually works at reasonable speeds.

What Makes It Worth Considering: The hotel runs a shuttle to Terminals 1 and 3 on a continuous loop from 5 AM to midnight. You can load your dog into a carrier, ride to the airport, walk your pet in the outdoor relief areas near the terminals, and return without needing a car. The outdoor areas around the hotel have plenty of space for late-night or early-morning walks without venturing into unfamiliar territory.

Local Insight: The surrounding area near the airport has limited dining options. The hotel's partnership with nearby restaurants for delivery is your best bet after 9 PM. The Tim Hortons at the corner of Carlingview Drive is open 24 hours if you need something simple and fast.

Extended Stay Options: Residence Inn Toronto Downtown

For travelers planning longer visits, the Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown at 255 Wellington Street West offers kitchen-equipped suites and a policy that welcomes pets for stays of any length. The extended-stay format means you have actual cooking facilities, which dramatically cuts down on the cost and hassle of feeding a larger dog during a week-long visit.

The pet fee here runs $75 plus tax per stay, which is reasonable when you consider that you are not paying restaurant prices for every meal. The suites include separate living areas where I have successfully contained my dogs while working from the desk space. The hotel sits in the Entertainment District, which means you are surrounded by theaters, sports venues, and restaurants, but the immediate blocks around Wellington Street are surprisingly quiet on weekday mornings.

The Walking Advantage: The Fort York grounds open up just south of the hotel, and the public pathways there become a legitimate green space for morning walks. The area around the Billy Bishop airport runway to the west sees less foot traffic than the main tourist zones, making it workable for dogs that need space.

The Honest Take: This property shows its age in places. The gym equipment is functional but dated, and the complimentary breakfast, while generous in variety, gets picked over by 9 AM during busy conventions. If you are sensitive to crowd energy, request a room on the upper floors facing the interior courtyard.

When to Go / What to Know

Toronto's peak tourism seasons fall during the summer months and the December holiday period. If you are traveling with a pet, consider shoulder-season visits in late April through early June or September through mid-October. The weather remains manageable for outdoor walks, the parks are less crowded, and hotel rates tend to drop by fifteen to twenty percent compared to peak season pricing.

Dog-friendly restaurants and cafés exist throughout the city, but they cluster heavily in specific neighborhoods. The Annex, Queen West, Leslieville, Roncesvalles, and Liberty Village have the highest concentration of patio-friendly establishments that welcome pets. Carry a collapsible water bowl at all times. Many Toronto businesses do not provide water for dogs, even at outdoor tables.

The Toronto Transit Commission allows small pets in carriers on buses, streetcars, and subway cars during off-peak hours, which are defined as before 6:30 AM and after 6:30 PM on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays. Larger dogs are prohibited on transit entirely, so plan your sightseeing around walking distances or rideshare services if you have a bigger animal.

Off-leash parks operate on a time-of-day system in most neighborhoods. Morning hours before 9 AM and evening hours after 6 PM tend to have the most lenient enforcement and the most predictable crowds of regular dog owners. The off-leash area at Trinity Bellwoods

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