Unique & Chic: The Best Boutique Hotels in Vancouver

Photo courtesy  Granville Island Hotel

British Columbia offers some of the best small hotel experiences in Canada.
To help you get the most out of your luxury travel experiences, read through Contributor Maureen Littlejohn’s pick of the best boutique hotels in Vancouver.

Updated Dec 26, 2022 / Commissions may be earned from our affiliate partner links

There are a variety of unique and chic boutique hotels in Vancouver to choose from. Fun, upbeat choices include a converted motor lodge, an Indigenous art showplace, and a celebrity hang out built in 1913.  

Sleek, modern waterfront properties offer proximity to cycling and park trails while one heritage accommodation offers DJ dance parties and a bowling alley. If you are keen on history, a hotel you might be interested was built for prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800s. Hot tubs, fireplaces, balconies and terraces are also available at some accommodations.

Locations vary as well. You can opt for a snug getaway on Granville Island, a harbourside stay in North Vancouver or the hustle and bustle of downtown with proximity to great restaurants and shopping.

To help you choose from among the very best boutique hotels in Vancouver, here are a few of our favorites.

The Best Boutique Hotels in Vancouver

The Burrard

A converted motor hotel from 1956, this locally owned accommodation in downtown Vancouver is close to Davie Street’s bars and restaurants, Robson Street’s chic shopping, BC Place and Rogers Arena.

The Burrard’s 72 guest rooms are bright, cheerful and retro-chic with contemporary touches including flat-screen TVs, Nespresso coffeemakers, minifridges with complimentary bottled water, and free Wi-Fi. Kids 12 and under stay free, and some pet friendly rooms are available.

The casual Elysian coffee shop offers fresh-baked snacks and beer and wine inside or on its sidewalk patio. The Burgoo has an outdoor patio and offers comfort food and full bar. The palm tree-filled courtyard has lounge chairs and ping pong table, while bicycles and umbrellas are available to borrow. Parking is also available for a fee.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details on what is undoubtedly one of the best boutique hotels in Vancouver, check The Burrard

Granville Island Hotel

A hidden gem on Granville Island, this urban retreat in the city of Vancouver has a serene waterfront setting and stunning views of False Creek and the Vancouver skyline. It’s also close to Granville Island Market and minutes away from downtown.

Sunny, modern rooms include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. The one-bedroom suites add living rooms with pull-out sofas, as well as small sitting areas. Some rooms have balconies.

Waterfront penthouses have balconies, floor to ceiling windows, and Jacuzzi tubs. Some have fireplaces. Room service is available.

Fine dining experiences can be enjoyed in the Dockside restaurant, which features a great patio with stunning waterfront and city views. Amenities include a fitness centre with a hot tub. Bike rentals and parking available for a fee.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check Granville Island Hotel

Hotel Belmont Vancouver MGallery

An Ascend Hotel Collection property, Hotel Belmont Vancouver MGallery is one of the best boutique hotels in Vancouver in terms of location: it’s bang smack in the middle of the city’s entertainment district and near BC Place.

Housed in a heritage building, the renovated interior features funky, contemporary décor, while its rooms have state-of-the-art sensor climate control, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Other standard features include desks, minifridges, and coffeemakers. Splash out on a upgraded room and you’ll get a sofa bed, hot tub, and fireplace.

The Living Room restaurant has a fun, retro vibe with multi-levels and features comfort food. In The Basement, cocktails and desserts are served surrounded by arcade cabinets, and there’s even a bowling alley. They also have late-night dance parties with a DJ.

The Belmont is pet friendly, and parking is available for a fee.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check Hotel Belmont 

Loden Hotel

A quiet oasis in downtown Vancouver, this boutique hotel is close to shopping, restaurants and the harbourfront. Sleek rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, flat screen TVs, dedicated yoga channel, yoga mat, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms feature soaker tubs and rainfall showers.

Some upgraded rooms offer garden terraces overlooking a reflection pond, as well as Nintendo Wii gaming systems for the kids. Our favourite, though, is the 1,600 sq ft two-bedroom penthouse suite. This spacious accommodation boasts a full kitchen, separate dining area, and a large wraparound terrace. Room service is available, and some units are pet friendly.

The Loden’s inhouse restaurant, Tableau Bar Bistro, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a French-inspired menu. Other amenities include complimentary Electra Townie bikes, local car service, a luxurious spa with sauna, and a 24/7 fitness centre.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check Loden Hotel

Lonsdale Quay Hotel

Located harbour-side in North Vancouver, this boutique hotel is handy to the Lonsdale Quay Market with more than 90 shops and services, including restaurants and a children’s play area. To get downtown, you can take a 15-minute ride on the Seabus.

Stylish rooms feature sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and elegant bathrooms. Executive guestrooms have desks, microwaves and minifridges, plus city/water views. One suite has a private balcony while the penthouse features an in-room Jacuzzi tub.

Start your day in the breakfast lounge, which is open daily. There’s a fitness facility and parking is available for a fee.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check Lonsdale Quay Hotel

St Regis Hotel

An independent and Canadian-owned property, this is one of the best boutique hotels in Vancouver to be located in the heart of the city. The hotel was built in 1913 and recently underwent a $2 million renovation.

Rooms have Art Deco-inspired décor, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. Suites have separate living spaces and minifridges. A free full breakfast is included.

For dinner or lunch, the Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar can be accessed from the hotel lobby and features live music and a garden patio. For something more casual, there’s a sports pub called The St Regis Bar and Grill. A permanent art collection is on display throughout the hotel and there’s a business centre with small library.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check St Regis Hotel

OPUS Vancouver

Located in the hip, walkable neighbourhood of Yaletown, this sleek and snappy boutique hotel is close to restaurants, galleries, and cafés.

Contemporary, colourful rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and ergonomic chairs. All have spa bathrooms with heated floors, while some have courtyard access and gas fireplaces. Deluxe and Balcony Studios come with Dyson Supersonic hair dryers, while the spacious suites have living rooms and kitchenettes.

When hunger hits, the hotel’s Capo restaurant offers sourdough pizzas, while The Spritz cocktail bar off the lobby specializes in crafted libations and Italian fare and is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. There is a complimentary downtown shuttle and loaner bikes can be reserved through the concierge.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check OPUS Vancouver

Skwachàys Lodge Indigenous Hotel and Gallery 

Canada’s first Indigenous arts hotel, Skwachàys Lodge Indigenous Hotel and Gallery, has 18 one-of-kind guest suites, a street level gallery, and a number of living / work artists’ studios. It is owned and operated by the Vancouver Native Housing Society, a registered non-profit charity.

The unique rooms have Indigenous themes and offer free Wi-Fi, desks, flat-screen TVs, coffee makers, minifridges, and microwaves. Some also have balconies. The hotel is pet friendly (pets must be 20 lbs or less).

The Kayachtn, or Welcome Room, is a cozy space with a fireplace where breakfast, light bites, beer and wine is offered. There’s a small boardroom that seats eight. Parking, for a fee, must be reserved in advance.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check Skwachàys Lodge

The Sylvia Hotel, Restaurant and Lounge

Opened in 1913 as an apartment block called Sylvia Court, this accommodation overlooking English Bay was the tallest building in Vancouver at the time. It was converted into a hotel by the 1950s, and its medieval-themed Tilting Room was the city’s first cocktail lounge. It attracted celebrities such as author Malcolm Lowry and actor Errol Flynn.

Rooms range from the Petite Queen to the 1000 ft English Bay Suite with full kitchen, living area, and separate bedroom. Bright and decorated in warm tones, rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and coffee/tea making stations.  Some have sitting areas.

On-site amenities include a bistro with patio views overlooking the bay, and a casual ocean view lounge with weekday happy hour specials. Parking offered for a fee.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details check The Sylvia

___________________

Contributor Maureen Littlejohn is a Toronto-based travel writer and editor whose curiosity about food, culture and creativity has fueled adventures in four corners of the world.