Planning a fabulous wedding night away from home before you jet off to a honeymoon or head back to work? Consider these three things before you book your room: the hotel’s location, services and style. The first is obvious, don’t pick a spot that’s a long way from your wedding site especially when that night isn’t the start of the honeymoon, but a bridge between the two. The other two criteria, however, need a little more attention:

The Drake's Sky Yard: movies & cocktails under the stars

Last week, we toured The Drake, a boutique hotel that takes its tagline: “Hot bed for culture”, seriously but with tongue in cheek. Previous experiences at the hot spot’s lively lounge had promised unexpected delights and a hotel with a mandate to serve every patron a side of uptown and downtown culture with their stay. However, the tour made it very clear that to appreciate the full experience of any specialty hotel, one needs to already somewhat appreciate what it has to offer. This is especially true on a wedding night when you likely aren’t staying long but want a memorable and very positive experience. Luckily, in a city like ours, with so many luxury and boutique hotels to choose from, a little research will get you exactly what you’re looking for.

The Drake's Suite complete with Hairy Chest Man doll

The Drake, which has been awarded the prestigious Top 500 Hotels nod from World Traveller Magazine, is definitely unique and highly specialized. It boasts an in-house design team; a rooftop Sky Yard, complete with marshmallow roasting fire pit or juice stand, depending on the season; and the infamous, and very popular black book of pleasure from which hotel patrons can select any number of naughty delights – some of which are on casual display at the concierge’s desk. Curator and Cultural Programmer, Mia Nielson who maintains the hotel’s collections and who has contributed to the distinctive flavour of each of the 19 rooms’ with carefully selected pieces from current, highly sought-after artists to yard sale finds (like the portrait of a woman whose eyes have been drilled out for a slightly disconcerting effect in the hotel’s only suite) says with regards to the black book: “we’re not shy.”

Inside The Drake's lively cafe

One of Mia’s favourite additions in each of the rooms is artist, FabricaWakuWaku’s Hairy Chest Man dolls, which await guests propped on their bed. The whimsical dolls, all of which are decidedly hairy, and definitely male, epitomize the overall experience The Drake’s staff fastidiously work to create – they’ve each got a cheeky surprise for someone willing to take the time to investigate and looking for a good laugh, they are completely original and they can be taken home for $60 apiece (many of the decor items in the rooms can be scooped as mementos of a visit). So, if you’d love finding a hunky little doll hanging out on your bed when you check in, then perhaps this hot bed’s for you!