I used to hate olives. They were the fruit of pretentiousness, all dolled up and soaking in martinis, taking the fun out of pizzas, and were just, overall… crappy.

Then one day I put one in my mouth and I realized, heck, this ain’t all that bad. And from that point forward, I certainly didn’t mind if a few landed on my pizzas or salads. In fact, I started to really appreciate what it added to a dish.

The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) is like that olive.

The hotel, at first glance, was one of those places that didn’t seem like my kind of hangout. But after a recent stay-cation in one of their crash pads, a foray into the lounge, a snack at the Taco Shack, breakfast at the café, and a few concerts and lectures as part of the CONTACT photography festival, I’m beginning to realize there’s much more to this place than the 905ers often found loitering out front on a Saturday night.

The hotel, specifically, is pretty kick ass. Funky, modern, great services, with a darling sense of humour. Fit for a young thang like me. The staff members were accommodating, friendly, and made me feel right at home. And the café? Nothing beats sitting on the patio on a nice, relaxing summery morning.

Sigh.

Like olives, it took a bit for me to appreciate The Drake Hotel. And though the Lounge and Dining Room still aren’t my scene, I’ve had a taste of the Drake as a brand and certainly like what it’s doing and where it’s going.

Yum.