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Whist staying in Toronto recently for business, I had what I thought would be the privilege of staying at the exclusive Thompson Toronto. I was positively thrilled at the prospect of staying at the Thompson — having heard rave reviews from some admired colleagues in the industry — so I was positively flushed with excitement as I pulled up to valet. Located in one of Toronto's most multifaceted neighbourhoods (King West Village, hellooo), the Thompson is a vision in architecture. Dreamed into design by Studio Gaia, the architects behind Tao Las Vegas, the BondSt Restaurant, and Donovan House, the Thompson Toronto features a clean, glassy exterior (all 102 guest rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows) and a brooding, mod-inspired interior.

Valet parking was reasonable; the attendants were extremely attentive, and check-in was smooth (although the maître d' was abrasive and arrogant at best). The first thing I noticed when the valet opened the door to my room (I stayed in the King Superior) was the dirty floor. Perhaps the dark engineered hardwood had something to do with it, or perhaps it was just dirty, but this was the first suggestion about how the rest of my stay should unravel. Admittedly, I was pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the bathroom, but let's face it, dirt is easily disguised on a white marble floor.

Besides the floor, the general layout of the room was appealing. A contemporary design, the King Superior room was streamlined and featured dark paneling juxtaposed with crisp white walls and mirrors. The marble bathroom with heated floors had pocket doors and was surprisingly spacious for the small, shoebox-sized room. Despite my disappointment with the unclean floor, all was well as I headed down to dinner.

Thompson Toronto is definitely a social hot-spot, and as such, it offers three distinctly different dining facilities to appeal to all tastes. There is The Counter (for those wishing to transport themselves to a classic diner and consume some serious comfort food), Scarpetta (which boasts Chef Scott Conant serving up some of Toronto's best Italian food) and Wabora (known mostly for its sushi, and for being one of the only restaurants in the city boasting a Robata grill). Given my love for comfort food, I ate at The Counter and indulged in their speciality deluxe mac and cheese and turkey burger with fries. Both dishes were delicious and did not disappoint. Later in the evening, after some exploring of the rooftop bar and pool, it was time to enjoy some conversation and a cocktail at the Lobby Bar. Mark my words, this was one of the only aspects of the Thompson that did not disappoint. Out of the entire hotel, the Lobby Bar of the Thompson is a hopping place. The living room where hotel guests and locals come to imbibe in style, Thompson's Lobby Bar has an ambiance that's unmatched. If only I could've spent the entire evening in the lobby, rather than heading back up to my room.

After a piping hot shower, I turned back the Sferra sheets on the bed, and was absolutely appalled to discover a hair. Disgusting, but possibly excused by the fact that the housekeepers who make the bed probably have hair and it was probably from one of them. Even more disgusting, though, were the holes in the linens. I don't care if a hotel has Italian sheets with a 1000 thread count; if the sheets have holes that's entirely unacceptable. Given my non-confrontational manner, I excused this in my mind, given the late hour and my exhaustion, and making a mental note that this would be only a one-time issue that I would mention upon check-out. And so my restless night began. Hearing every possible noise — both from inside and outside the hotel — and tossing and turning on Sferra sheets with holes, I woke up the next morning more exhausted than when I had first went to bed, and with a headache to boot.

The rooms leave much to be desired, but my stay at the Thompson Toronto was not a total loss. I did learn that the smart people limit their stay to the Lobby Bar and Scarpetta, which is precisely what I plan to do next visit.

For more information on the Thompson Toronto, or to book a stay of your own, visit Thompson Hotels