7 Best Hotels in Vancouver, British Columbia

Name: Barclay House
Address: 1351 Barclay St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 1H6, Canada
Telephone: 604-605–1351
Price range: $$$

Vancouver is a pretty compact city, but each neighborhood has a distinct character and its own style of accommodations options. From hip boutique hotels to historic bed-and-breakfasts to sharp-angled glass-and-mirror towers, there are lodging choices for every style and budget. You can choose to be in the center of the shopping action on Robson Street, among the gracious tree-lined boulevards near Stanley Park, or in close proximity to the pulsing heart of the city's core.

Vancouver is an extremely outdoorsy community, so hotel amenities can sometimes include free bicycles and free ski storage, and many concierges can put you in contact with hiking and running groups that welcome visitors. Some properties even offer complimentary limo service, usually to the theater, or for picking you up after shopping, which comes in especially handy if you have lots of bags.

The city is extremely pet-friendly, especially when it comes to dogs. Not only can you bring your pooch with you to many Vancouver properties, some even let you borrow their dog for a walk (check out the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, for instance).

With its goal to become the greenest city in the world by 2020 (as in eco-wise, not with respect to the already abundant natural greenery), recycling and sustainability are essential parts of life in Vancouver. Many hoteliers have also made eco-friendly practices an integral part of the guest experience. For example, Fairmont Waterfront was among the first in the world to adopt a green roof concept—the garden and apiary supply the hotel with herbs and honey—and it has electric vehicle charging stations. The hotel also initiated groundbreaking water conservation and waste management systems. Supporting the community and protecting the surrounding landscapes have become good business practices, and the Westin Bayshore followed the trend by financially assisting in the creation of Cardero Park, on the east side of the property.

Be forewarned though: environmental awareness and community building are top of mind for most Vancouverites. That means hotels with a water view or exemplary environmental report cards are coveted and book up well in advance. Some of the historic bed-and-breakfasts you'll find in the more homey residential neighborhoods like the West End and near Stanley Park are also extremely popular.

Barclay House

$$$ | 1351 Barclay St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 1H6, Canada Fodor's Choice

If you want to get a feel for living in one of the West End's upscale homes, just a few blocks from Stanley Park, book a room at this comfortable B&B. Stained glass, fine antiques, and art nouveau fixtures decorate the 1904 house (an early Francis Rattenbury design), and the fireplace, leather couch, and extensive DVD library make it a cozy evening or rainy-day hangout. Most rooms have private sitting areas, and several have claw-foot tubs and queen-size brass, mahogany, or canopy beds. The Mountain Room has a private balcony. Peace is assured, as there are no adjoining walls between guest rooms. The staff is exceptionally helpful. The generous breakfasts always include one hot dish. If the weather's warm, ask to enjoy it in the garden gazebo.

Corkscrew Inn

$$$ | 2735 W. 2nd Ave., Vancouver, BC, V6K 1K2, Canada Fodor's Choice

This restored 1912 Craftsman-style house near the beach in Kitsilano combines the comforts of a B&B with a quirky tribute to the humble corkscrew: guests are encouraged to explore the small wine paraphernalia museum. Breakfast is a big part of the allure here: there's always freshly made baked goods with homemade jam, along with a hot main course depending on what's fresh at the market. The innkeepers smoke their own local salmon. There are great restaurants nearby and Downtown is just a seven-minute bus ride away.

Victorian Hotel

$$$ | 514 Homer St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 2V6, Canada Fodor's Choice

This handsome boutique hotel, on the edge of Downtown and historic Gastown, is one of Vancouver's best values—note that some rooms have shared bathrooms. Gleaming hardwood floors, exposed brick, and high ceilings accent the nicely restored 1898 connecting buildings. Guest rooms have luxury sheets and down duvets, period furniture, and flat-screen TVs; a few have bay windows or mountain views. Some of the private bathrooms have marble tiles and granite countertops, though some just have a shower and no tub. Parking is reasonable (C$20) but extremely limited.

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English Bay Inn

$$$$ | 1968 Comox St., Vancouver, BC, V6G 1R4, Canada

Close to Downtown and Stanley Park, this elegantly furnished B&B serves excellent four-course breakfasts around a communal table. European antiques, stained-glass windows, and touches of Asian art furnish the 1930s Tudor-style house and port and sherry are served beside the living-room fire each evening. Rooms come in varying sizes (No. 3 is the smallest, probably better for one traveler or two with limited luggage), and all have en suite bathrooms. One suite winds up two levels and has its own fireplace; the other has a private entrance, an antique four-poster bed, and its own kitchen and dining area. Staff not always there to welcome you so be sure you have the security codes to gain entry. There is a small and lovely Italianate garden out back.

Granville House B&B

$$$ | 5050 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6M 3B4, Canada

With its elegant but austere furnishings and individual breakfast tables, this Tudor-revival house feels more like a small hotel than a B&B. Each of the five king-size rooms has its own sitting area. Comforts include deluxe linens, spa robes, and bath amenities made locally on Salt Spring Island. There's a self-serve refreshment and coffee bar in the inviting modern lounge.

Kingston Hotel

$$ | 757 Richards St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 3A6, Canada

Convenient to shopping and nightlife, the budget-friendly, family-run Kingston occupies a four-story elevator building dating back to 1910—this is the type of lodging you'd expect to find in Europe. Rooms are small but immaculate, and rather old-fashioned, decor-wise. Some rooms have private bathrooms; others have a sink in the room and share a bath down the hall. North-facing rooms overlook the Kingston Taphouse and Grille next door—it's not an issue in winter, but in summer, the bar talk below might disturb early-to-bed types. A sauna and coin-operated laundry are useful to know about.

O Canada House B&B

$$$$ | 1114 Barclay St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 1H1, Canada

This beautifully restored 1897 Victorian is home to an elegant but comfortable B&B with fun historical significance. It's where the first version of O Canada, the country's national anthem, was penned in 1909. Each bedroom has classic and quirky antiques, alongside modern comforts such as bathrobes to help make things homey. The top-floor room is enormous, with two king beds and a private sitting and dining area. A separate one-room coach house in the garden is a romantic option, though it faces onto the back alley and is a bit cramped. Breakfast, served in the dining room, is a lavish affair.

Vancouver

Vancouver

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