Dear reader, 

Sometime in the mid-aughts, Toronto’s army of developers realized that pitching the hotel lifestyle was one of the strongest weapons in their marketing war chest. Then new luxury hotel-condo combos started popping up: the Shangri-La, the new Four Seasons and the Trump tower (since mercifully renamed the St. Regis). 

But the Ritz-Carlton, completed in 2011, did it first. Elegant and tall as a bank tower, it brought glam, buzz and even community—thanks to the residences above—to a once sad stretch of Wellington. It’s also the site of Curb Appeal’s top post this week: a 1,900-square-foot two-bedroom unit on the tower’s 25th storey. It comes with a private elevator, housekeeping, a 24-hour concierge and access to a suite of five-star amenities.

Today, there are too many hotel-condo hybrids to count. And condo king Peter Freed has just announced his own 65-storey version at the corner of Adelaide and Duncan. We’ll have to wait to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Also in today’s newsletter: $22.5 million for palace in North York. Plus, a Yorkville house with a three-storey skylight tower. Visit torontolife.com for all our real estate coverage. 

Since opening in 2011, the Ritz-Carlton has hosted Drake, Manuela Testolini, movie stars in town for TIFF, and too many moguls and athletes to list. The current owners landed this condo in 2020 for $2.7 million after it languished for about two months. After taking residence, they upgraded the light fixtures, wall finishings and window coverings. Now it’s back on the market for $3.8 million.

What North York home would be complete without seven fireplaces, 10 bathrooms, a cigar lounge, a pair of golden gates, a rococo dreamscape in the backyard and a $22.5-million price tag?

This $4-million, 3,500-square-foot property in Yorkville comes with a three-storey skylight tower, storage galore, a basement that could be its own suite and a backyard fit for a resto-club. 

In the latest issue: how two faux-Inuit sisters cashed in on a life of deception. Plus, the city’s best cheap eats, a suburban holy war between religion and real estate, a bittersweet memoir about ditching Toronto, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.