The Royalton, 801 Bay St: An 18-Storey Mid-Rise at Bay and College

The Royalton is a smaller, quieter building in a stretch of Bay Street now dominated by 40- and 50-storey towers. It has 137 suites over 18 storeys, a concierge and guest suites, and it sits across from College Park at one of the best-connected corners in the city. The question to answer here is what the monthly fee really covers, because the sources do not agree. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A mid-rise among towers

When The Royalton was finished in 2000, an 18-storey building at Bay and College was a normal height for the corner. Since then the College Park towers, Lumiere and Aura have gone up nearby, and The Royalton now reads as a mid-rise. One rental manager’s profile describes it as a modest building with a concrete and tinted-glass facade facing the intersection.

Being the small building on the block has advantages. With 137 suites, elevators are less crowded than in a 500-suite tower, the lobby is quieter and the concierge knows the residents. The trade-off is that major repairs are shared among fewer owners.

I could not find a reliable source naming the developer or architect, and condos.ca does not list one. If that matters to you, the condominium’s declaration and original documents will say who built it.

Size also shapes resale. A 137-suite building produces only a handful of listings at a time, so buyers have less choice and sellers have fewer direct comparables than in the big towers nearby. That cuts both ways: a well-presented suite can stand out, but an unusual one can take longer to sell.

Layouts with deep balconies and real foyers

Suites run from about 496 to about 1,397 square feet, so the range runs from compact one-bedrooms to good-sized two-bedroom plans. One rental manager’s profile notes deep balconies and full-length windows in many suites, and some kitchens with large marble counters.

An older Globe and Mail listing feature, written when the building was about a decade old, made a point I still hear from buyers: some suites at the end of a corridor have a proper foyer, so you walk into an entrance rather than straight into the living room. The same piece mentioned marble in the front hall and kitchen, granite counters and in-suite laundry. Finishes vary by suite and renovation history, so inspect rather than assume.

I have not been able to confirm ceiling heights. In a building of this age, expect conventional heights rather than the taller ceilings of some newer towers, and measure if it matters to you.

For a renter or an end user working nearby, the one-bedroom plans are the core of this building. If you are buying a two-bedroom, look closely at whether the second bedroom has a window and a closet, and at how the plan separates the two bedrooms, because those details decide whether it works for roommates or a family.

What the fee covers: check hydro

condos.ca lists fee inclusions as common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance, water and parking. A current rental manager’s profile says Toronto Hydro is extra. An older Globe and Mail feature, by contrast, said all utilities were covered by the monthly fee.

The likely explanation is that the arrangement changed at some point, for example through sub-metering, but I have not confirmed that. Ask the property manager directly, and read the status certificate and budget, because whether hydro is in or out changes how you should compare the fee with other buildings.

Parking in the fee is a genuine plus at this corner, where a monthly space in a commercial garage is expensive. Confirm that the suite you are buying comes with a space and whether it is owned or assigned.

Bay and College, day to day

The Globe piece described the building as popular with Bay Street professionals and the medical community, and the reasons are easy to see. The hospitals on University Avenue, the provincial government offices, the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University are all within walking distance, and College Park’s shops are across the street.

This is a busy intersection with heavy traffic and pedestrians at all hours. Suites facing Bay or College will hear more of it than those facing away. Visit at rush hour and on a weekend evening before you decide. The panel on this page covers transit, schools and walkability.

Priced below the newer towers at the same corner

condos.ca puts The Royalton’s average at about $777 per square foot. That sits well below the newer towers next door: College Park’s north tower at about $925 and south tower at about $855, Lumiere at 770 Bay at about $924 and Aura at about $905.

It is in line with the other buildings from the same era on this stretch of Bay: The Penrose at 750 Bay at about $751, Conservatory Tower at 736 Bay at about $774 and The Liberties at about $729. The market is pricing The Royalton as what it is, a well-located 2000 building, and you are not paying a premium for the address.

At the time of writing, one suite was listed for sale and two for rent. A single listing is not a range, so I will not quote it here. With 137 suites, sales are thin in any given month, and I price here using the building’s own history over a longer window alongside The Penrose and Conservatory Tower. For aggregate sold figures, see my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Royalton

For a 137-suite building the amenity package is solid: a 24-hour concierge, a gym, a rooftop terrace, party and meeting rooms, guest suites and visitor parking. Guest suites are useful in a downtown one-bedroom, where visiting family otherwise means a hotel, and the rooftop terrace has been singled out as a highlight.

Jatin’s honest take on The Royalton

The Royalton — frequently asked questions

Looking at St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.