"Affectionately nicknamed by locals as the “Castle in the City” for its copper-green, fairytale-like roof, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was once a Canadian Pacific Railway hotel—a fact that’s intertwined with the history of the city (and the railroad) itself. Guests can learn some of that story via displays in the vast lobby, where they sit alongside designer outlets like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The lobby—as well as the Notch8 restaurant and bar, function spaces, Heritage Suites, and 507 guest rooms—recently emerged from a $55 million renovation done in advance of the hotel’s 80th anniversary. A revamp of the Fairmont Gold “hotel within a hotel” concept and lounge will launch in 2019. The decor in the spacious rooms is sophisticated and classic, with dark woods, polished brass, and plush velvets accenting the crisp, white linens and muted palettes. Some suites even connect, making the Fairmont a solid choice for family travel. Enjoy Canadian dishes, afternoon tea, and bar bites—plus more railway travel nostalgia—in Notch8 (which is named for a train’s top speed), then work it off in the indoor pool or the well-stocked gym, which features Technogym equipment and a Kinesis wall. The Absolute Spa offers signature services using West Coast ingredients."

"Opened just in time for the 2010VancouverWinter Olympics and conveniently located next to the convention center,CanadaPlace, and Coal Harbour, the ultra-modern Fairmont Pacific Rim is a magnet for visiting CEOs, celebs, and dignitaries, along with anyone who appreciates luxury touches and on-point service. Contemporary, comfortable, and framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, the 367 rooms and suites are among the most tech-friendly around, with the in-room iPad2 allowing guests to book a spa treatment, order the valet car or room service, and control temperature, lighting, and drapes at the touch of screen; even the bathroom mirror transforms into a TV. Check in to one of the cushy Owner’s Suites for upgraded perks like bath amenities personalized with your name, and a customized LP collection to enjoy on your in-suite record player. Considered one of the best spas in town, the sprawling Willow Stream Spa offers targeted treatments (many featuring West Coast ingredients) and an outdoor lounge equipped with day beds and hot tubs. The hotel’s excellent drinking and dining options draw both guests and locals. The Lobby Lounge & RawBar buzzes with live music and diners enjoying light bites, creative sushi, and sustainably-sourced seafood, while Giovane Café is a casual spot for pizza, coffee, and grab-and-go items. Opened in 2017, the airy, garden-inspired Botanist ranks among Canada’s best restaurants for its modern Pacific Northwest-focused cuisine, well-curated wine program, and adjacent Cocktail Bar + Lab, where culinary techniques and appliances are used to craft unique libations. Art is also a big part of the atmosphere, with installations by noted artists wrapping the exterior, and rotating exhibits and fashion-themed installations adorning the interiors."

"Just steps from a Canada Line station to YVR airport (about a 30-minute door-to-door trip) and in the heart of the city’s downtown shopping and financial districts, the Four Seasons is just a short stroll from the fashionable bar and restaurant area of Gastown, and the neon attractions of Granville Street. This popular hotel brand is a smart choice for those who like being at the center of it all. Admire the Ghost Salmon art installation in the lower lobby before taking the elevator up to the airy wood panel and marble floor reception area, where guests will also find the city’s famous YEW seafood restaurant. Opened in 1976, the rooms are still fresh after a renovation in 2010, with most looking out over the glittering skyscrapers and high-rises of the downtown core. Soft gold tones in the spacious rooms and creamy-vanilla walls and carpets are punctuated with warm burnt-orange and cool jade accents. The knowledgeable concierge team offers years of experience, and guests can take advantage of this resource to find some of the city’s lesser-known hot spots and off-the-beaten-track gems."

"Step inside the ornate lobby and prepare to be wowed by L’Hermitage’s dramatic suspended scarlet sculpture and stylish monochrome mosaic marble floor. After check-in, guests can visit the bright fifth-floor L’Orangerie lounge for tea, coffee, or a breakfast buffet and spend time organizing their stay with the concierge. In summer, go outside to relax in the rooftop garden, which features a lap pool and hot tub. The independently owned L’Hermitage is a true boutique hotel with a European flavor and sophisticated urban style in Vancouver ’s downtown entertainment district. Rooms are pleasingly spacious, with the majority boasting fireplaces, Italian marble bathrooms, and a full program of extras including plasma HDTVs, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. Upgrade to enjoy rooms with solariums, full kitchens,and balconies. Away from the glamour of the lobby, the room decor has a calming vibe with dark wooden floors and vanilla and cocoa accents."

"OPUS opened in 2002 in Vancouver ’s funky Yaletown district, just across the street from The Canada Line station to the airport (25 minutes door to door). Although it’s surrounded by some of the city’s best bars, restaurants, and boutiques, the Yaletown seawall—with its joggers, in-line skaters, and strolling couples—is only a block away. Independently owned, OPUS is a genuine boutique hotel, with a modern glass-and-brick exterior and a decidedly sexy interior. The bathrooms—with their perfect-for-voyeurs windows and huge soaker tubs—cheekily face the front of the hotel; the lighting is subtle; and the color palate, from the lobby through to the rooms and even the elevators, shimmers with hot jewel-box shades. All suites and rooms got a full refresh in 2014, with bold color schemes. The hotel is packed with high-tech toys such as in-room iPads andiLuv docks featuring Bluetooth and USB charging cords, along with a raft of freebies, fromMalin Goetz amenities to free Wi-Fi."

"Vancouver's Rosewood Hotel Georgia Originally opened in 1927, Vancouver 's Hotel Georgia was the celebrity haunt of everyone from Elvis and the Rat Pack to Errol Flynn and Katharine Hepburn. The hotel closed in 2006 for a multimillion-dollar restoration project, and reopened as the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in 2011. Elvis may have left the building, but the old-school glamour remains—with a modern twist. The spacious rooms glow with a soft palette of warm gold, vanilla, and cocoa. Rain showers, heated marble floors in the bathrooms, and linens with high thread counts add to the hotel's luxury appeal. The wood-paneled lobby buzzes with guests and locals en route to the acclaimed Hawksworth restaurant. The hotel has a large private art collection and there are stunning pieces on display from founders of Canada ’s modern art movement as well as by famous international artists; the reverse-perspective Patrick Hughes piece opposite the reception desk is fantastic—walk back and forth to see the painting "move." The gleaming bar has a Damien Hirst on the wall, which guests can admire while sipping the Hotel Georgia cocktail—a modern take on the original prohibition-era recipe."

"Canada’s first aboriginal arts hotel opened in 2014. Part luxury hotel and part social enterprise, Skwachays Lodge ticks all the right boxes. On the luxe side: plush linens, Hypnos beds (the same as the British royal family sleep on), spacious rooms, and abundant on-theme extras including Spirit Bear coffee (the company works with the Tsimshian Nation) and aboriginal-owned Mother Earth toiletries. The social enterprise part: all profits from the hotel and its gallery, which doubles as the check-in and lobby, go into subsidizing 24 live-work art studios on the lower floors of the lodge. Each room is unique, decorated with custom-made reclaimed wood furniture and designed as a partnership between local Vancouver artists and First Nations artists, including Corrine Hunt (a member of the Raven Gwa’wina clan from Ts’akis, who codesigned the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympics medals). BC First Nations themes of eagles, ravens, bears, whales, and the sun and the moon all feature strongly in the design."

"This retro 1950s motor hotel sits on a busy street in Vancouver’s downtown core, just steps from the financial district and bustling shopping areas of Robson and West Georgia streets. With its eye-catching neon sign and pastel paint, it stands out from the crowd. After a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Burrard was lovingly restored to its original mid-'50s glory and reopened in July 2011. The vibe is mid-20th-century L.A. (think Melrose Place , but without the pool and the drama). The compact rooms all have gleaming white bathrooms with mosaic-tiled floors, and most are accessible from the central courtyard, which has a fire pit, ping-pong table, and lush, junglelike tropical garden with plenty of space to lounge during summer months. Amid the kitschy period detail, a pleasing raft of modern-day extras come included with each stay—Wi-Fi, HDTV, free calls in North America, a Nespresso machine in each room, bottled water, and a complimentary fleet of cruiser bikes for guests to use at their leisure."

"The Listel Conveniently set on a quiet stretch of Robson Street in Vancouver ’s West End, the Listel lieswithin walking distance ofthe city’s famous Stanley Park, a lively shopping and dining scene, and the seawall that wraps around the downtown waterfront. The independently owned hotel opened in 1986 as a dedicated art hotel showcasing work from UBC’s Museum of Anthropology, the Buschlen Mowatt Fine Arts Gallery, and the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale. Two floors have been curated by Biennale founder Barrie Mowatt, with each room exhibiting work from different artists. These rooms feature traditional Regency wallpaper, darker wood, and crown mouldings to better display the art. The Museum Room floors feature artwork from local First Nations artists, with the walls and furnishings echoing the colors of the forest floor and furniture made from traditional hemlock and cedar wood. The Listel regularly wins awards for its sustainable practices, with solar panels on the roof, a state-of-the-art heat-capture program, and an impressive zero waste to landfill record since 2011."

"Opened in 2009, The Loden features floor-to-ceiling windows designed to echo the waves in nearby Coal Harbour, with the timber-and-patinated-copper exterior reflecting the Pacific Northwest forest. The hotel also makes it easy for guests to dip into the famously laid-back West Coast lifestyle, offering complimentary cruiser bikes, rooms with yoga mats and props, and even a turndown service with special Loden chocolates and a take-home Buddha. Additional amenities include Nespresso machines and a dedicated yoga channel on the flat-screen TVs in each room, a London-style cab to drop guests off anywhere downtown, a special pillow selection, an infrared sauna in the spa room, and a hypo-allergenic floor for guests with sensitivities.Rooms glow with earthy coral, chocolate, and caramel shades, and up on the second floor is a green space sanctuary where guests can further relax."

"Opened in 2009, the Asian influence on the architecture and interior design of Shangri-La Vancouver is clear to see. The rooms are tranquil, with warm rosewood panels and tapestries, walls, and furnishings that softly glow with gold, cream, and earth tones. All rooms have pleasingly large bathrooms with deep soaker tubs and separate glass-enclosed showers, as well as a Nespresso machine and free Wi-Fi. Suites come with complimentary breakfast for two. At 197 meters, the hotel is one of the tallest buildings in the province and offers sweeping views of the city. Life at ground level is more personal: The lively bar and restaurant scene of Gastown is just a five-minute walk away, and the Holt Renfrew department store—paradise for designer shoppers—is even closer. The hotel is minutes away from the Canada Line station, making access to the airport a breeze."

"Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver , the Wedgewood is a distinctly different boutique hotel. The only Relais & Châteaux property in the city, the Wedgewood stands out with its top hat–wearing doorman, jewel box–like lobby with fireplace, and mirrored ceilings. Independently owned and family-run, the character of its owners shines through with hand-picked scenes of rural English idylls and hunting prints hanging onthe walls.Withfull balconies for nearly every guest room (thanks to its previous life as an apartment building), the Wedgewood also boasts larger-than-average rooms, each decorated slightly differently. Warm, peppery-red and rust shades contrast with delicate eggshell-blue and jade accents. Guestshave access to valet parking and babysitting services, as well as complimentary amenities, including a daily newspaper, fresh cookies at turndown, free Wi-Fi, bathrobes, and an in-room Nespresso machine."