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#12 — Bisha Hotel Toronto: A Review

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A note from the staff at Bisha and a box of macarons on a table

I like to call myself a fake rich auntie. I love the rich auntie vibes, but I’m practical; I keep a spreadsheet, stick to my budget, and make sure to spend my money wisely. I work in public service, after all. Still, I have a soft spot for nice things, especially a fancy hotel or an Airbnb with all the comforts. That’s exactly why I enjoyed my recent stay at Bisha in Toronto.

Why Bisha?

I’ve built my credit card stack pretty intentionally, and one of my favourites is my Marriott Bonvoy card, which gives me 2x points in their “other” category, which I love. Additionally, it gives me a free night at one of their Bonvoy hotels each calendar year, which I like to use when I’m travelling internationally. However, I didn’t spend my free night in 2025, as I mostly used Airbnbs and had one night expiring before the end of February 2026.

I redeemed the night on Valentine’s Day weekend, thinking I could use it with my partner, but he got sick, so I got to enjoy the staycation alone.

Arrival

I arrived at Bisha a bit worn down, having worked overtime that week to finish my long to-do list because I had an upcoming surgery. I was worried about how the surgery was going to go and my recovery time. When I dragged my belongings across the threshold (I am an over-packer) into the entryway, I was greeted by Totchie’s most wonderful smile. She was the front office supervisor on duty and was so wonderful and welcoming. Checking in was super easy, and the conversation was kind. I was upgraded and handed a glass of champagne to get me started on my staycation. She also personally walked me up to my room and recommended some great dishes on the room service menu.

The Room

The room was inviting and well-appointed. I especially liked that the bathroom had heated floors and that the hand wash and shower gel were from Byredo. Heavenly. The room felt like the version of my life I’m working toward—calm, soft, and just a little indulgent.

  • Marble shower at Bisha hotel
    Lovely large shower at Bisha
  • Photo of black woman in bathroom at Bisha Hotel Toronto
    Byredo bath products!

I was instantly envious of this large blue armoire, which I wanted to take home.

Blue armoire in Bisha Hotel room
Isn’t this great?!

The bed was glorious and really comfortable, and I had a seating area to myself for reading and journaling.

Large bed in Bisha hotel room with small teddy bear on top
Coco enjoying the large and comfortable bed
Seating area with sofa ,chair, and table at Bisha Hotel, Toronto
Nice place to sit and journal

The Food

My secret ritual when staying in a hotel room with big, comfy beds is ordering room service, drinking wine, and watching HGTV. And I did. The cool thing about Bisha is that it’s home to 2 great restaurants you can order from – Akira Back, which serves creative Japanese cuisine and KŌST,  serving seasonal dishes inspired by Bajan cuisine. Room service is also available 24 hours a day, which I loved.

I knew I would soon be surviving on mashed potatoes and crackers, so I went to town. I had a delicious kale salad from Kōst and some crab fried rice from Akira. You know how I feel about crab, so I’m not even going to pretend. I ordered the fried rice twice. The wait staff member was great, attentive, and got me everything I needed, including another glass of champagne. I also sneaked in a bit of chocolate from the minibar.

Kale salad and crab fried rice at Bisha hotel Toronto
I’m always up for a good kale salad and crab fried rice
Mini bar at Bisha hotel Toronto with drinks and snacks
I had a cheeky chocolate from the minibar

After dinner and a bit of TV, I had the most glorious shower, the shower is huge (cries in small condo bathroom). I fell asleep, and it was so quiet and peaceful that I didn’t get up until 10 am the next day.

Photo of a TV showing HGTV show
Love watching HGTV in bed
Picture of black woman post shower holding a teddy bear
Giddy after having the most wonderful shower

I shuffled around for a bit and then had brunch at Kōst. I enjoyed the incredible views, and I was happy they accommodated my gluten allergy. Y’all, they had gluten-free toast!

Plate of gluten free eggs, sausage, toast and home fries from KOst Toronto
Lovely gluten-free breakfast at KŌST

I spent the rest of my time reading and journaling since I got late checkout.

Before my departure, I received this wonderful note from Totchie and her Team, with macarons, thanking me for staying. I didn’t eat the macarons and saved them for my partner. He said they were absolutely delicious.

I really enjoyed my stay at Bisha and would definitely consider returning. The hotel is great, but what I really liked was the service and the staff’s attentiveness. If you are considering a place for your time in Toronto, hello World Cup folks, yes…consider them. It was a well-spent heist, and honestly, I think we all deserve one.

Bisha At a Glance

  • Would I stay again? Yes, absolutely.
  • Best for: Solo resets, romantic staycations, or when you need a soft place to land
  • Standout: The service (shoutout to Totchie and team), the food, and the overall calm, indulgent vibe
  • Good to know: 24-hour room service and great gluten-free options

When was the last time you stole time just for yourself?

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In Lifestyle

#6 — En Grève

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Pink and gold bed

I feel good today.

It’s still bitterly cold (–22°C), but the sun is out, and the snowbanks outside are slowly giving up. The Eglinton LRT is finally running. I moved here four years ago, and for most of that time, it’s been a running joke that it would never open. Decades of waiting, endless construction, and suddenly, here we are. The mood in the neighbourhood feels lighter.

After a short, very indulgent afternoon nap, I found myself reflecting on something else I’ve been doing for the last two months.

I’ve been on strike.
Je suis en grève.

How did I end up en grève?

I love Megan, my therapist. I’ve been seeing her on and off for the last six years, ever since I landed on the shores of Vancouver, usually when I’m tired, avoidant, and running (again) from hard truths I don’t want to face.

This is a theme in my life.

I have an elite cut-off game. Stronger than my knees. Stronger than my ability to digest two scoops of chocolate hazelnut gelato from Mizzica without getting the shits. I am always ready to leave — relationships, jobs, apartments, countries, cities, dates. Clean breaks, no looking back. I love wiping the slate clean. Tabula rasa. Heaven. The joy of a brand-new notebook and the hope that comes with it.

But I’m trying to be better.

I’m trying to stick it out.

Last fall, I was ready to bolt. Pack everything up. Move countries. Abandon relationships. Start over. I felt that familiar restlessness creeping in; the discomfort of building something meant to last, of committing to roots. The idea of buying a home or condo and staying put for a decade? In the suburbs? Absolutely not.

I was tired of everything. My job. My routine. Rice and broccoli. Tofu. My curly, perpetually knotted hair. The news. The world.

Megan clocked it immediately: burnout. I’ve been several versions of burned out since we met, but this time, my body and brain were done negotiating. I told her life felt like carrying an absurdly heavy chair up a seventh-floor walk-up. At every landing, the space was too tight to put it down and rest. I was stuck on the third floor, already convinced I wouldn’t make it to the seventh.

Instead of running, her suggestion was simple and deeply annoying:

Go on strike.
En grève.

Not abandon your life. Not blow it up. Not start over somewhere else.
Stay, but refine.

Apparently, I can’t keep running forever. (I remain unconvinced, but I agreed to try.)

What does being en grève look like for me?

  • Kicking the chair down first, and taking a nap. Lots of naps.
  • Being okay with the B version of things rather than insisting on an A+.
  • Saying no more often — especially when I have no capacity.
  • Carving out weekly time for small joys and treating it as sacred.
  • Letting my partner do things his way and not getting my knickers in a knot about it.
  • Less (or no) overtime.
  • No side hustles from January to April.
  • Morning walks.
  • Sauna time.
  • Less screen time (this one is… aspirational).
  • Not trying to save everyone or do other people’s work.
    (We’re calling this “not stealing learning opportunities from others”)
Sheila waking up from a nap
Squishy and I waking up from a nap

What does being en grève feel like?

Hard.

It’s difficult to say no. Even harder to watch someone struggle and not jump in, especially when I know exactly how to fix the thing. It is really uncomfortable becoming a new version of yourself when people are accustomed to the old one.

But I feel better. Lighter. I treat myself more kindly.

I’m discovering a creative, whimsical side of myself that had been buried under work and obligation. I’m enjoying writing again. Doing things with my hands. Baking. Being a learner. Failing. Trying again.

This strike hasn’t been loud or dramatic; it’s weirdly quiet. Ordinary. Ongoing. And somehow, that feels radical in my little world. Megan might have been right about this one, but I’ll hold off on telling her that.

Thank you for being with me on this journey.

Je suis en grève et j’adore ça.

What about you? Would you ever consider going on strike?

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