AreaStays
The red-brick facade of St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, with its gold lettered sign above the entrance

Cropped from "St Lawrence Market Front view" (Wikimedia Commons), CC0 1.0

Toronto

Where to Stay in Old Town & St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

Toronto's original 19th-century downtown, centred on St. Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis Streets, with Victorian commercial buildings, the restored St. Lawrence Hall, and quiet residential streets running east toward the Distillery District's Victorian-era warehouses. It's a short walk or streetcar ride from the Financial District and the Entertainment District, but noticeably calmer and more historic than either.

What it's actually like to stay here

Historic and low-key: red-brick warehouses, a working market, and mostly mid-rise streets rather than glass towers — busiest around the market on weekend mornings.

Stay here if

Best for visitors who want a historic, walkable base near St. Lawrence Market and within a 15–20 minute walk of the Distillery District's car-free streets, without the noise of the Entertainment District.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider another neighborhood if you want to be inside the nightlife strip or right next to the CN Tower and Rogers Centre — this area sits a 15-20 minute walk or a short streetcar ride from both.

Walkability
Flat and easy, with some of downtown's most pedestrian-friendly streets. The Distillery District itself is car-free, though it's a 15-20 minute walk or a short ride from most Old Town hotels.
Noise at night
Quiet by downtown standards, especially on the residential streets east of Jarvis Street. Front Street gets busier with market traffic on Saturday mornings.

Best Hotels in Old Town & St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

The Omni King Edward Hotel

★★★★
  • 🏆 Our overall pick
  • 📍 Best location

Our take Our overall pick for Toronto — a genuinely historic hotel that pairs Edwardian-era architecture with a since-restored, comfortable interior, in a walkable, less hectic pocket of downtown than the Entertainment District.

Good for

  • First-time visitors
  • Couples
  • Architecture lovers

Travelers who want a historic hotel with genuine architectural character, an easy walk from St. Lawrence Market and Old Town's heritage streets.

Why we like it

  • A short walk from St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District's heritage streets
  • Restored Edwardian-era public spaces, including a grand lobby and afternoon tea room, that few other Toronto hotels can match
  • Sits in a quieter, more historic pocket of downtown than the Entertainment District's nightlife strip
  • A spa and well-kept rooms bring the 1903 building up to modern comfort standards

What to know

  • A 15-20 minute walk or short streetcar ride from the CN Tower and Rogers Centre
  • As a heritage building, room shapes and sizes vary more than in a purpose-built modern hotel
  • Some lower or street-facing rooms pick up traffic noise from King Street East
Check availability on Booking.com

One King West Hotel & Residence

★★★★
  • 🧳 Best for longer stays

Our take A practical pick for anyone who wants suite-style space and a kitchenette rather than a standard hotel room, set inside one of downtown's more distinctive heritage buildings.

Good for

  • Couples
  • First-time visitors
  • Architecture lovers

Travelers who want a self-catering suite with a kitchenette, in a historic building right at the corner of King and Yonge Streets.

Why we like it

  • Suites include a kitchenette with a stovetop, microwave, and mini-fridge, useful for longer stays
  • Set inside the restored 1914 Dominion Bank building, a heritage-designated Beaux-Arts landmark
  • A short walk from St. Lawrence Market, the Financial District, and the subway
  • Rooftop fitness centre with downtown skyline views

What to know

  • As a converted bank building with an added tower, room layouts and views vary considerably by floor and suite
  • Sits right at King and Yonge, a busy intersection, so some lower suites pick up street noise
  • The condo-hotel setup means furnishings and finishes can vary slightly between individually owned suites
Check availability on Booking.com

Novotel Toronto Centre

★★★★
  • 💰 Best value

Our take A dependable, moderately priced option in a genuinely good Old Town location, especially useful for families thanks to its indoor pool and larger standard rooms.

Good for

  • Families
  • First-time visitors

Families and value-conscious travelers who want a straightforward, well-located base near St. Lawrence Market without paying boutique-hotel rates.

Why we like it

  • A short walk from St. Lawrence Market, Union Station, and the Distillery District
  • An indoor pool and hot tub, useful for families travelling with kids
  • Standard rooms run larger than many downtown chain hotels in this price range
  • Competitive rates for an Old Town location this close to Union Station

What to know

  • Furnishings and design are functional rather than stylish, in line with the Novotel chain's standard look
  • The Esplanade can get busy with foot traffic during Union Station rush hours
  • Breakfast and other amenities are paid add-ons rather than included in the room rate
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Good — the 504 King and 501 Queen streetcars run along the neighborhood's edges, and Union Station is about a 10-15 minute walk, connecting to the subway, GO Transit, and VIA Rail.

Skip a rental car for a downtown-based trip. Parking downtown is expensive and traffic on the Gardiner Expressway backs up often — the subway, streetcars, and walking cover this guide's neighborhoods faster and cheaper.

Related areas

The CN Tower rising behind the curved roof and red Rogers Centre sign in downtown Toronto

Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Entertainment District

Best for: First-time visitors, Nightlife, Couples

A tree-lined pedestrian walkway through the Village of Yorkville Park, with a steel pergola over the path and shopfronts in the background

Jeff Hitchcock / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Yorkville

Best for: Luxury travelers, Couples, Architecture lovers

The CN Tower lit blue at dusk above the Harbourfront Centre stage and downtown condo towers, seen from Toronto's waterfront

Giorgio Galeotti / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Harbourfront

Best for: Families, Couples, First-time visitors

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