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Heading to Vancouver for the first time? Stroll around the Vancouver Art Gallery in Robson Square, before tucking into seriously good street food outside. Meanwhile, Gastown is the place for boutique shopping and sophisticated cocktails before hitting the clubs on Granville Street.

A vibrant, cosmopolitan arts and culture district, ringed by a seawall buzzing with bike riders and joggers, downtown Vancouver pleases nature lovers and sophisticated urbanites alike. Cycle through Stanley Park, lunch on Granville Island and watch the sunset at English Bay Beach. Here are the best hotels close to all the action in downtown Vancouver.

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

Hotel

Guestrooms at Pinnacle direct your eyes to the skies above Coal Harbour. Bold striped carpets point the way and floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the bright city lights, or the north shore mountains. Ask for a fourth-floor room with a balcony where you can sniff the sea breezes or sink into a plush velvet sofa. Need more terrace? Peer through the telescope in the penthouse for a wraparound view of the nearby seawall, Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal, and all of downtown.

Hyatt Regency Vancouver

Hotel

Take things one step at a time at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Friendly staff will get you started in one of 644 rooms and suites, including 45 Regency Club rooms with private lounge, complimentary breakfast, and evening hors d’oeuvres. Get a little higher in the bilevel suite on the 32nd and 33rd floors where a waterfall of navy curtains opens onto a view of the mountains. Take it to the limit with the Nature Hike Challenge, a 34-floor staircase route lined with woodland murals. Elevator shortcuts are optional.

Victorian Hotel

Hotel

Good breeding always shines through. Take the Victorian Hotel, for example. The current owners of this 1898 property kept its “good bones”; the hardwood floors and exposed brick walls, and added sleek, modern baths with soaker tubs and marble tile. The result is a pleasing mix of contemporary and Edwardian style. Value seekers will find several Euro-Rooms with a shared bath but never fear, the hotel’s high standards of cleanliness never falter. Find more Euro flavour at the Italian inspired restaurant, Autostrada Osteria. It’s a guest favourite.

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa - Relais & Chateaux

Hotel

A hotel where wishes come true, the Wedgewood has garnered a Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Award for the past 9 years. The location is ideal, across from the Vancouver Art Gallery and the boutiques of Robson Street. European service informs every aspect of a stay in one of the 83 guestrooms. Cast iron balconies harken back to Provence. Baths, featuring L’Occitane toiletries, are clad in sumptuous marble or oak. An oil painting of the God of Wine and Revelry adorns the piano bar in the Bacchus Lounge where guests can consider the deep wine list or indulge in a French 75. Chauffeur driven Jaguars, BMW’s and Mercedes are on hand to make your touring dreams come true.

Burrard

Boutique Hotel

9 Best Hotels in Downtown Vancouver
© Burrard

Vancouver’s hippest hotel refers to itself as your perfect city basecamp. The Burrard was converted from a 1956 motor hotel, so it oozes with character and retro vibes. Its excellent downtown location is minutes away from the bars and restaurants of Davies Street and Robson Street’s upscale shopping. Perks like in-room Nespresso machines, free bike rentals, Steve Nash gym passes and umbrellas for rainy days, makes it one of the coolest places to stay. The tropical courtyard alone is worth a visit.

Skwachàys Lodge

Boutique Hotel

9 Best Hotels in Downtown Vancouver
© Craig Minielly

Skwachàys Lodge, Canada’s first Aboriginal arts hotel is where culture meets hospitality. The boutique hotel features eighteen one-of-a-kind guest suites, all of them are designed by local Aboriginal artists and Vancouver interior designers. Every detail in this hotel – from the rooms to the public spaces – tells a visual story about First Nations culture. Centrally located in the historic Gastown district, you’ll be close to hip eateries and edge fashion boutiques.

St. Regis Hotel

Independent Hotel

St. Regis Hotel, Vancouver
Courtesy of The St Regis Hotel
When St. Regis first opened in 1913, it was popular among miners and loggers. In recent years, the hotel resurfaced as a New York-style heritage boutique hotel, replete with sleek interiors, and some of the original character. It’s in a great downtown location near Granville Station. Room rates include complimentary breakfast. If you’re a meat-lover, be sure to grab a bite to eat at nearby Gotham, a steakhouse restaurant in Vancouver’s oldest art deco building.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Hotel

© Fairmont Hotels Vancouver

A registered heritage building and architectural landmark, the renaissance-inspired Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is often called the “Castle in the City”. You can’t miss the hotel’s charming, chateau-style green copper roof in their prime downtown location. If you love designer labels and won’t leave your dog at home, then you’ll enjoy staying here, especially with boutiques like Dior, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton on the lobby level and canine pet ambassadors waiting to welcome you.

L’Hermitage

Boutique Hotel

LHermitage Hotel, Vancouver
Courtesy of L’Hermitage Hotel / Expedia

Located on a quiet street in the very heart of Vancouver’s shopping, financial and entertainment district, and steps from Canada Place, L’Hermitage is considered one of the city’s most stylish places to stay. The hotel is part Parisian chic and part West Coast sophistication. You can expect to be greeted by your name as well as complimentary valet car service. After a day of sightseeing, there’s no better way to kick back than by taking a dip in their saltwater pool or enjoying a beer on the outdoor terrace.

Loden Hotel

Hotel

9 Best Hotels in Downtown Vancouver
© Loden Hotel
Loden Hotel offers a luxury experience that checks the boxes for location and ambience, plus it offers special touches like yoga mats and Nintendo in some suites. As far as upgrades go, go the whole nine yards and book the penthouse suite which comes with a rooftop terrace. Nearby attractions include the harbour (which means scenic views) and Stanley Park. Because it’s Vancouver, the hotel offers visitors free bikes if you’re keen to explore town on two wheels.

Opus Hotel Vancouver

Hotel

9 Best Hotels in Downtown Vancouver
© OPUS Hotel

Oput Hotel’s colorful statement rooms are conveniently located in Yaletown, one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. Luxury touches include Frette bathrobes, Malin + Goetz toiletries plus JBL Bluetooth speakers. Cheerful suites aren’t the only thing happening here. This chic property is bang in the middle of Vancouver’s nightlife scene, but before you head out for the night, enjoy a bourbon on the rocks at onsite The Spritz Bar.

Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Hotel

Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
Courtesy of Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Another of one of Vancouver’s luxury hotels, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia is a retreat within the city. Apart from its spot-on location, visible grandeur and elegance, the hotel has everything you could need for a holiday in the city. With its original 1920s décor, six restaurants, a spa, saltwater pool, seasonal garden terrace, and even a prohibition-style speakeasy bar, it has all the makings of an unforgettable stay.

Shangri-La Hotel

Hotel

Seating and a grand piano in the elegant lobby at Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver
© Corey Stovin
The Shangri-La Hotel is a light-filled urban sanctuary in one of the city’s top downtown spots. During your stay here, indulge in everything from fine dining to Ayurvedic spa treatments. While many of the suites offer balconies with views across the city, all of them have marble bathrooms, luxury linens and floor-to-ceiling windows, which bathe the rooms in natural light. With Asian-inspired touches and superb hospitality, it’s one of the best places to stay while visiting Vancouver.

Debra Smith contributed additional reporting to this article.

About the author

A British and Pakistani writer currently living Canada. I'm a wannabe Pathan and a wannabe Italian. My greatest joy in life is uprooting myself and moving to a different country. I have a hunger for stories, adventure, and culture. When I'm not writing or travelling, you can find me flexing my metatarsal in a dance studio. Read about some of my shenanigans on www.saharaman.com.

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