Yes, live tourism is “Alive and Kicking” with summer concerts in full swing worldwide right now!
And, there’s no better place to explore this concert travel phenomenon than smack in the heart of one of Canada’s fabled waterfront hotels: the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto. The two-tower overnighter is just steps or a short streetcar ride away from the biggest stadium venues, providing concertgoers with a big-time show experience to rock out with the greatest stars.
So, when I heard that ’80s New Wave band Simple Minds was hitting the concert circuit for their first North American tour in 40 years, called “Alive and Kicking,” I had to go!
While it ain’t a castle, this downtown property, ever since opening in 1975, continues to give its guests royal treatment. There’s valet service, premium wellness offerings that you can sync to your phone, and if you add special reservation notes when booking your stay for a particular suite style and view, you might get the request fulfilled.
I did.
Driving up the enclosed curly-cue ramp, we stopped at the main glass door entrance and were immediately offered valet service. Here are the keys, please, and thanks!
And what lay ahead was a seventies reboot, perfect for our ’80s musical time travel.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Westin Harbour Castle is near venues like Scotiabank Centre, which morphed into Swiftie central for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. There’s the baseball-loving Rogers Centre that boasts the world’s first retractable roof technology, and the hotel is a close streetcar ride to the popular Budweiser Stage. This alfresco amphitheatre, giving you ‘rain or shine’ music all night in summer, turned into our concert center stage for the Simple Minds “Alive and Kicking Tour”!
Lights, camera, action!
SUITE HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome to Room 3025 South Tower. The lakeview facing double queen bed suite overlooks Lake Ontario, giving you a bird’s eye view of Toronto’s ferry dock. To boot, you have a unique view of the CN Tower. And no, it’s not CNN Tower as one editor once incorrectly changed in my travel story years ago.
For someone to witness the construction of the CN Tower, which was completed in 1975 and officially opened in 1976, this landmark still spellbinds.
As the hotel is undergoing room renovations, our suite was newly updated. The wood floor has a clean tone of greige (a blend of grey and beige) that offers a modern look, complementing the light walls and interior furnishings. The full-size burnished gold-trimmed mirror gave this concert-goer a mod vintage vibe that is oh-so entrend. There’s a desk and chair by the window, a bar fridge to store après-concert munchies (we had a lovely welcome cheese charcuterie board and two bottles of healthy alcohol-free drinks at the ready).
PILLOW POWER
The beds are some of the best in the industry. We crashed on the Westin Heavenly Bed, a company-wide specialty bed engineered product that combines the latest sleep science research with guest feedback to give you this… oh so heavenly bed. We loved the plush, deeply tufted top layer and the breathable materials that have advanced cooling features. There’s even motion isolation that helps promote undisturbed, uninterrupted sleep!
As for pillows and linens, thumbs up big-time! These pillows have a magical state of relaxation built into them. It’s something about the contouring foam and the breathable fiber where the heat is pulled away from your head. The duvet and hotel blankets are super inviting.
And for a pair of concert goers who were imbibing in the supersonic ‘80s world of Simple Minds and their two accompanying guest bands: Modern English and Soft Cell, well, you can’t go wrong with the suite pluses!!
The toiletries, too, were a blessing. Love the white tea fragrances in the bathroom. The scented products do help to give you everything you need for daily relaxation.
One of the best experiences was in a teeny bottle strategically left pillowside. It’s Westin’s version of “Good night, sleep tight.” The “Sleep Well” is a lavender balm devoted to good sleeps. Well, we each rolled the balm on the temples, smelled the soothing fragrance, and once the lights were out, the ZZZZs easily kicked in.
HOTEL PERKS
So many fabulous discoveries! Your morning routine gets easier with the Westin Gear Lending program. Choose one of two fitness kits offering the latest workout equipment and recovery to stay active (additional charges).
In a post-concert haze, we trudged to the fitness center, hit the cross trainer overlooking a massive indoor lap pool, did some arm curls, and voila—floated like two blissful teenagers in a pool size you once coveted in your teens, and now were enjoying solo. It was our very own private pool (party)!
A hot tub helped ease out the legs from the previous night’s ‘80s dance moves (there better not be any of that video floating around-hee-hee).
And to continue the mellowing-out theme, the change rooms each have a hot and dry sauna, along with a line of shower stalls. So, guess what I did? Of course, it was sauna time. 🙂
BEFORE CONCERT AND AFTER CONCERT HOTEL TREATS
For convenience, the verdict was to grab food at the hotel. So off we went to the Chartroom Bar and Lounge. Located next to the main lobby, local brews and a seasonal menu made easy choices for a late lunch.
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I ordered the Baja Fish Tacos. Picture two pieces of crispy Pacific cod over a bed of cabbage slaw from Ontario, and a layer of guacamole and fresh Cholula cream with fresh lime. It was oh so divine! My concert-going family member decided the castle clubhouse was the way to go. There was basil plucked from the rooftop garden and garlic aioli that dressed up their organic smoked turkey breast loaded with bacon strips, vine-ripened tomatoes, the all-mighty jalapeno Havarti—all sandwiched between Fred’s sourdough bread. More yum!
We didn’t know what all the fuss is about these days on Dubai chocolate, so couldn’t resist sharing a Dubai Chocolate Mousse—it was very creamy and yes, more yum sounds here!
So, can you guess what was on the order as a post-concert snack? Chartroom Bar and Lounge nearly closes its kitchen around 11 pm, so we were one of the lucky last guests to order, and we are glad we did. The pizza was a hit, as were the concert nightcaps—nice offerings of US, European, and local beverage choices. I selected a Niagara favorite: Henry of Pelham’s Sauvignon blanc fume, and my concert-going other-half selected the Muskoka Tread Lightly.
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
If you’re a fan of the ‘80s classic The Breakfast Club, you’ll be booking a room here tomorrow! Guaranteed.
Many know the movie’s anthem theme song, Don’t You (Forget About Me) is by Simple Minds. Like the band celebrating a 40-year milestone, The Breakfast Club (1985) movie also celebrates its 40th anniversary of celluloid-dom.
We hummed and sang that banner song the following morning. We hit the hotel’s breakfast restaurant, The Mizzen, and ordered the breakfast buffet. Saw the restaurant devoted a wall of fame (the pre-selfie era) with the chef there.
And as we talked about how the entire audience, stood and sang the “Laaah-La-La-La-LahLahs” with the band for nearly a half hour (it was wild!!), we giggled about the JIF peanut butter we slathered on our toast that was never a brand available to us as kids growing up in the 70s. It was always the Canadian classic Kraft smooth peanut butter.
But the giggles and La-La-Las didn’t end there. The true ‘ah-ha’ I have-arrived moment happened on our way out. There, alone, on the restaurant wall was a film poster that made my Westin Harbour Castle stay experience come full circle.
The faces of those dynamic five lead stars were leaping out at me as their lingering gazes solidified my Simple Minds fandom odyssey.
The movie poster from The Breakfast Club lives forever (for now) at this Toronto Westin.
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
Cue the drum roll and synths. For fans of live music, classic films, or good old-fashioned waterfront nostalgia, the Westin Harbour Castle Toronto delivers a double encore. Built in 1975, this two-tower architectural throwback juts proudly into Lake Ontario like a backstage pass to the city’s biggest stages—and for this concert-chasing travel writer, it felt like a curated slice of time travel.
Whether you’re here for the glam of a stadium show, a lakeside morning stroll, or a Molly Ringwald déjà vu moment over breakfast, the Westin Harbour Castle doesn’t miss a beat.
Guests get not only panoramic views and pillow-side lavender balm, but front-row access to the very best of Toronto’s entertainment core.
From sleep to stage and back again, live tourism is—without a doubt—totally alive and kicking right here.
For the latest hotel rates, check Booking.com, Expedia, or Hotels.com.
Photo credits: Ilona Kauremszky
This stay was provided by Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto. All recommendations are the writer’s own.
For an earlier review, read this story written by Jodi Grundig.
