"Set the scene for us. What does this place look like? What's its vibe?With its imposing stone exterior and distinctive oxidized green copper roof, the Grand Dame of Vancouver hotels is truly a landmark, and the only local hotel—with the possible exception of the Hotel Georgia, located one block east—that deserves the overused “iconic” label. Now 84 years old, The Fairmont's grandeur remains undimmed by the passing of time. Walk through the front doors of the Georgia Street entrance and prepare to be dazzled by an enduring piece of Vancouver history. What's the story behind the hotel?One of the storied chateaux-style Railway hotels commissioned by Canadian Pacific Railway, this Fairmont is actually the third iteration to bear the Hotel Vancouver name. This version was completed in 1939, just in time for the Royal visit of England’s King George VI and his wife, Elizabeth (the Queen Mother, not the late monarch). Lovely. So it being nearly a century old, how do the accommodations hold up?A recent CDN$55 million facelift spruced up the 507 rooms, and for the well-heeled traveler, the new Fairmont Gold, a luxury-level tier launched in 2019, offers private check-in, dedicated concierge services, afternoon tea, and access to a private lounge. The new Fourteenth Floor Heritage Suite Collection also promises to be spectacular: 900-square-feet per suite, with details like marble baths and, in the Lieutenant Governor’s suite, wood veneer walls cut from a single black walnut tree. How about the bar and restaurant—worth a stop?One of the best things to come from the recent renovation was Notch8, the new lobby-level bar and restaurant, which serves excellent drinks in a dark, loungey atmosphere. Although it's a relatively new addition to the hotel bar scene, it has quickly become an after-work favorite for locals and guests alike. Who else are you likely to see here?Fancy folk who appreciate the glamour of a bygone era. How does it fit into the surrounding neighborhood?Along with the Vancouver Art Gallery (a former court house) and the nearby Hotel Georgia, the Hotel Vancouver is one of the three anchors that determined how downtown Vancouver was built, and how the neighborhood behaves today. Within a two-minute walk of Robson, Alberni, Burrard, and Granville streets, four of the city’s main shopping and strolling areas, the hotel keeps much of what you’ll want to explore within an easy taxi ride away. You’re also within two blocks of the two main downtown Skytrain stations. Is there anything you'd change?We wish the hotel would reopen the legendary Panorama Room to the public. Once a staple of Vancouver’s nightlife scene, the 15th-floor room, dubbed “The Roof,” made a brief reappearance in 2014 when the lobby bar was being transformed into Notch8, but has since closed. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?Vancouver is a young city, its short history often renovated out of existence, and this is one of the few remaining fine hotels with a real pedigree." - Guy Saddy
