A 12-room boutique hotel in a converted 19th-century brewery building on Queen West \u2014 The Templar delivers industrial-chic design, original brick and beam architecture, and a location in one of Toronto's most creative neighbourhoods. Ideal for design lovers and Queen West explorers.
Neighbourhood: Queen West · Address: 348 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A4 · Hours: 24 hours | Check-in 3pm | Check-out 11am · Price: Prix-fixe from $23 · Phone: (416) 479-9842 · Website: https://www.thetemplarhotel.com/ · Rating: 3/5
Why Visit
For travellers who value industrial heritage and creative neighbourhood energy, The Templar's converted brewery setting and Queen West location offer a characterful stay that chain hotels cannot replicate.
What Makes It Unique
The 19th-century brewery conversion with original brick, timber beams, and pressed-tin ceilings makes this one of Toronto's most architecturally distinctive small hotels. The 12-room scale and Queen West creative energy complete the experience.
The Templar Hotel occupies a converted 19th-century brewery building on Queen Street West, in the heart of one of Toronto's most culturally significant neighbourhoods. The 12-room property, opened in 2015, preserves the industrial architecture of the original structure \u2014 exposed brick walls, timber beams, high ceilings, and original factory windows \u2014 while adding contemporary furnishings and modern amenities that make the historic setting genuinely comfortable. For travellers who value industrial heritage, creative neighbourhood energy, and intimate scale over brand consistency, The Templar is one of Toronto's most characterful options.
The building's history is immediately apparent. The exterior maintains the brewery's original facade, with the name still visible in faded paint above the entrance. Inside, the lobby opens into a double-height space with the original timber posts, brick walls, and a pressed-tin ceiling that dates to the 1880s. The reception desk is built from reclaimed wood from the brewery's original vats. The overall effect is a hotel that feels like it grew out of the building rather than being imposed on it.
The 12 rooms are individually configured to work with the building's irregular floor plan. Some have sleeping lofts under the original beams. Others have the bed at ground level with a seating area in the loft space above. All feature exposed brick, hardwood floors, and windows that are tall enough to let in genuine natural light \u2014 a rarity in converted industrial buildings where windows are often small and high. The bathrooms are modern and clean, with rainfall showers and heated floors that contrast pleasantly with the historic roughness of the bedroom spaces.
There's no on-site restaurant, but Queen West's dining scene is one of Toronto's best and it's on your doorstep. Within a five-minute walk, you have options ranging from casual cafes to acclaimed restaurants \u2014 the area's density of independent eateries means you could eat three meals a day for a week without repetition. The hotel provides a curated neighbourhood guide with staff recommendations that go beyond the usual tourist lists.
The Queen West location is the primary attraction. The street's galleries, vintage shops, independent boutiques, and music venues are immediately outside. Trinity Bellwoods Park, one of Toronto's best people-watching spaces, is five minutes west. The AGO and OCAD are ten minutes east. The 501 Queen streetcar runs past the door and connects you to the entire city. And the neighbourhood's creative energy \u2014 street art, independent fashion, live music, and a general sense that interesting things are happening \u2014 makes it one of Toronto's most stimulating areas to stay in.
For design enthusiasts, heritage architecture lovers, and travellers who want their accommodation to reflect the neighbourhood they're staying in, The Templar offers an experience that chain hotels simply cannot provide. The 12-room scale means personal service, the industrial architecture has genuine history, and the Queen West location puts Toronto's creative heart at your doorstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Templar in a real historic building?
Yes \u2014 The Templar occupies a converted 19th-century brewery building on Queen Street West. The original brick walls, timber beams, pressed-tin ceilings, and factory windows have been preserved and integrated into the hotel design.
How many rooms does The Templar have?
The Templar has only 12 rooms, each individually configured to work with the building's irregular industrial floor plan. The intimate scale means personalized service but also limited availability \u2014 book well in advance.
Does The Templar have a restaurant?
No on-site restaurant, but Queen West's dining scene is one of Toronto's best and is immediately outside the hotel. The staff provide a curated neighbourhood guide with recommendations from casual cafes to acclaimed restaurants.
Is The Templar close to Trinity Bellwoods Park?
Trinity Bellwoods Park is about a 5-minute walk west on Queen Street. The AGO and OCAD are 10 minutes east, and the 501 Queen streetcar at the door connects you to the entire city.