Sure, much of the flash and sass of Toronto hoteliers now comes from a new crop of boutique playpens, but the Hotel Victoria aspires to the values of a different era— namely class, comfort and, always, value. The 99-year-old hotel (the city’s second oldest) has undergone modest renovations of late and added the necessities for the 21st-century traveller. Its sunny lobby and 56 rooms are much improved since the bandages came off

Crafted with an understated elegance in mind, this attitude carries over to the service: friendly and personable, but most of all competent, as if the place were staffed entirely by well-trained English butlers.

The jewel in the crown is unquestionably the location. Union Station, restos galore, the Theatre District, Hockey Hall of Fame, new opera house and even the ferry to the Toronto Islands can all be walked to faster than you can hail a cab in some other parts of town.

The perks, too, are straightforward but practical: complimentary high-speed Internet access, health club privileges at the Tony Plaza Club and a simple, good quality in-house restaurant. Convenience and affordability are the watchwords here, without giving up the style of a higher-end hotel.

Rooms start at $95 per night.

hotelvictoria-toronto.com