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The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
900 W Georgia StVancouver, BC V6C 2W6
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 684-3131
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
58 reviews for The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Review Highlights
"The scones were fresh and fluffy."
(in 13 reviews)
"...are attached/within the hotel (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Omega."
(in 5 reviews)
"...was originally one of the Canadian Pacific hotels and is in..."
(in 3 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Old school hotel that's had its day, even if I'd give bonus points to the concierge. They were extremely helpful when my phone died, although I'd be cautious about getting food recommendations from here. 4.5 for them. If someone is looking for Thai food in Vancouver, there are so many other options you could give them, especially if that person lived a lot closer to Thailand than we did. But that was just my observation.
The beds were a 5+
Everything else was a 3.5. I had black hair left in the tub on a daily basis, (and nope, have no semblance of black hair) even if the rest of the room was quite clean. The shower did not get hot until after 20 minutes, usually about the time that I was getting out--and that was after a LONG shower.
Also, if you sign up for the "club", you get free internet, but not until your next stay. I was a bit frustrated with that, as this was my second stay here in the last six months, and it still didn't work until a) I complained and b) at least 24 hours. Also, the last time I stayed at a Fairmont, they told me to go to the coffee shop across the way instead. There was no mention of their exclusive club or the free internet. I had to do my own research for that one.
A bonus was petting the beautiful dog on the way out. His fur was so soft.
Since I was here for a conference, I can't really complain, but if I was visiting from out of town, I'm not sure if I'd have been as happy, overall, given the whole internet/water issue. -
Review from Margaret L.
1/2/2012
The pluses:
- the location is perfect (a block off robson)
- the bed is comfortable to sleep in
- the staff is super friendly
- I was able to get a good deal on the rooms
The minuses:
- no free wifi
- an expensive business center -
Review from Jennifer W.
11/2/2011 13 photos
One of the ways to get your culture on in Vancouver, BC is to have afternoon tea (at high noon). And what better place to have high tea than The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver?
I made a reservation a month in advance, but upon arrival at the scheduled time my name was not on the calendar. Not a problem, since we got there at 2PM (when afternoon tea starts) they were able to seat my party.
For 36 Canadian dollars, you get a variety of petite sandwiches, scones, desserts, and your choice of tea. Yes the cost of afternoon tea is expensive, but I think it's worth spluring on if you're on vacation. You can probably find some online deals (I saw some couples with print outs of promotions). **plus this meal is SUPER filling**
The only reason the Fairmont isn't getting a 4 star rating is because the service was slow (that and they lost my reservation).
outside http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
menu http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
tea selection http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
table setting http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
seating http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
petite sandwiches http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
scones (the best I've ever had, so soft and fluffy and nothing like the ones in the US) http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
desserts (each one of them were amazing!) http://www.yelp.ca/biz...Listed in: Vancouver, BC - must try!
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Review from Rick P.
Lethbridge, AB
Not new and trendy or overlooking the harbor, this hotel is what makes their properties great. Like you favorite chair or sweater once there you feel at home in your comfort zone. Smack dab where the best of Vancouver is located food shopping sightseeing it's all around you to enjoy
Don't forget to spend time with Mavis's and beau. -
Review from patricia l.
Vancouver, BC
10/1/2011
I come here often for treat comforts and excellent tea. In fact, I just came back from organizing a Wedding Shower event here for my bestie. Everything was great and they even have Bubblegum Tea service for kids.
The finger sandwiches and sweets are all very good. But it's really the scones...OMG the SCONES that keep me coming back here again and again. They come with real Devonshire cream and little jars of strawberry jam. That tip here is to spread an even thick layer of Devonshire cream first then smear on as much jam as you want!
There are High Tea places that come and go, but the High Tea here is a staple that I've come to rely on and has remained a constant favorite over the years.Listed in: I HEART Food!
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Review from Jenna L.
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review is for the Afternoon Tea Service--
Strolling into the backroom of the cafe on Saturday for an Afternoon Tea with family is what I call "family time". Greeted by a friendly hostess, we were seated promptly and the tea sets arrived swiftly. The warm raisin scones with clotted cream and starwberry jam is lovely when it is so warm and buttery... Curry flavored tuna was interesting, I've never had that combination for an afternoon tea set before! I like traditional items for such occasion and the Fairmont delivers that. I am not overtly amazed by the flavours, the lemon tarts and pumpkin cheesecakes taste store bought and either too sweet or too buttery. Overall the food quality is only so-so. The ambiance is lovely, a cozy place to chit chat with girlfriends on the weekend. The service is warm and friendly, no hoity toity-ness. I may return on a whim but probably will not frequent. -
Review from Nick L.
9/29/2011
This review is for the lunch buffet only in the restaurant.
Not had the pleasure of staying at this hotel.
It's superb - has a wonderful selection of land and sea foods. Desserts are also special and top drawer.
The service here is also excellent, fast, quiet and professional. Can't ask for more than that.
Eat here for lunch and you won't regret it. Well maybe your stomach and your wallet.... -
Review from Sarah G.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2011
I typically get the prime rib burger and everything to go with when I come to this restaurant. The burger is aiways amazing and the service is always professional. I usually eat here every few months and it is definately one of the better and more reliable spots in the city to eat and have good service every time without fail.
...ps for you coffee lovers, it is always great! -
Review from Stephanie L.
6/23/2011 4 photos
This is a really EXCELLENT hotel to stay in if you're ever going to travel to Vancouver. Boyfriend works at Microsoft, so he was able to get a discount with the room adding up to a total of about $150 for the night. I had never been to Vancouver and had no idea what to expect. I am so happy he chose here.
Only bad part was the parking (which may be standard for Vancouver hotels I dont know) which was across from the hotel, underground, and I think $20 a day. Apparently Vancouver is infamous for petty theft, so theres signs everywhere saying "lock your car! Keep all valuables hidden!" Which is kind of sketchy but who cares. I wasn't sleeping in the car.
The hotel is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. A myriad of international flags welcome you as you walk past the welcoming lobby. As Richard checked in, I felt like a poor young woman among hundreds of high class adults eating (and I'm not kidding) tea and scones. VERY british columbia, very snobby looking, very cliche. I don't care...It was great. Quick easy check in and we were off. The coloring of the hotel was incredibly English, bright emerald green, obnoxious patterns, but all incredibly regal and decadent. As we got to our room, we knew it was going to be small, but it was totally fine. We knew we weren't coming to the hotel to sit in the room the whole time.
The lobby is lined with very high end stores, I think there was a Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and several other bougie rich stores that I wouldn't even be comfortable walking into. There was also a gym (which was decently big actually) and an indoor pool. I wish we could have stayed longer to really soak in the entities of this majestic hotel.
I felt like a prissy entitled snob walking into and out of the Fairmont and was incredibly happy with our stay here. I would stay here every time I came to Vancouver if I had to chance. HIGHLY recommended. One of the best hotels I've ever been in. -
Review from Annie W.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2011 3 photos
So far this place offers the best high tea experience.
My friend's favorite part was the scones.The scones were fresh and fluffy. My favorite part was the sandwiches. So yummy! The desserts were very well done as well, but I was pretty full by the time we got to the desserts. So far, Fairmont offers the most amount of food for high tea, so its worth it since most places charge the same amount and ofthen they provide fewer varities and lower amount of food.The service is great They also server the tea in traditional victorian tea ware. The china was pretty and has a delicate feeling to it. Sorta makes one feel like its worth every penny. The place was decorated in a manner in which it makes the customer feel as if they are experiencing a more traditional afternoon tea event (at least i did).
Just a note for people who are new to the area: parking is going to be expensive downtown...so try to use public transportation. This place is a block from Burrard Skytrain station. -
Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
4/22/2011 3 photos
This review is for High Tea:
Before my son's b-day dinner @ Chambar, the only day I could take my friend out for her belated birthday celebration was the same day. So on 4/20 we were to meet downtown at 1:45 for the 2pm tea seating.
When I left work and got off the Canada Line at Vancouver City Centre stop the first thing I saw ascending the stairs was the La Brassierie - Brass chicken sandwich food cart. Then... PEOPLE. It was wall to wall people, I could barely move. I was perplexed. Then the smell - not chicken sandwiches, but marijuana, followed by the people chanting, "Smoke weed, smoke weed....." Ah, 4/20 day...
I crossed the street, crossed back and made my way to the Fairmont. The tea setting is lovely! It's in the back of the lounge. I had a 2 for 1 groupon type coupon and paid $36 for it. I'll post some pictures but they're not great, as my friend just giggled at me like I was a food nerd while I tried to snap some shots. CTV news was there interviewing people too, asked us, but I politely declined before they told us what they were asking about.. I think they were talking about either the wedding or my friend said it's British something or other month...while they were filming, the hostess with the news crew asked us how we liked the scones. We said they were great. She told us the chef will not ever give out his recipe but did once to a member of the Royal family who asked...add this to your useless trivia knowledge if you like.
Anyway, tax on the full price of $72 was charged. 15% gratuity was added and our cheap bottle of champagne was $65. It was $100 or $136 really, but it was a pleasant afternoon. The scones and clotted cream were wonderful. Both our favourites were the curry chicken sandwiches. I could have eaten a plate of these! My friend said the smoked salmon sandwiches were too awkward to eat delicately because they had too much salmon on them, but I did not have a problem! I also loved the lemon tarts. They were were really tart and lemony. We didn't finish our tray, but I took the goodies for my son since it was his birthday.
I wish I took some pictures of the setting because it really was fabulous and the chairs you sit in were perfect for relaxing. We went to the lounge after for a drink and when we left it was about 4:30. I wish I would have took a picture of that. There was just a HAZE of SMOKE in the air and a sea of stoners! It was quite something to see and smell! ;-)
The high tea menu is here if you're interested: http://www.fairmont.co...... Looking at the menu just now, I see we did not get the egg salad sandwiches on french baguette included on our tray and there wasn't a substitution. -
Review from Kailyn C.
Coquitlam, BC
7/20/2011
I really enjoy afternoon tea here and have brought nearly all my girlfriends for tea and biscuits here.
The room is richly decorated with thick red carpets and has an old world feel as expected for such a landmark hotel. The tea is lovely, my favorite is the Maple Maple with a little bit of honey and milk! The pastries are also delightful. The scones always taste freshly baked and warm, which goes great with strawberry jam.
My only minor complaint is that they never seem to change their set menu or introduce something new. More varieties would be great because I normally go 3 or 4 times a year and for me personally, it seems to be the same sandwiches and desserts year after year.
The service friendly and quick. A great place to relax, unwind and gossip with the girls!
PS: They have two really cute mascot, two well behaved golden Labradors that can be occasionally found in the lobby! -
Review from Stef M.
5/12/2011 2 photos
Wow, this was one of the best hotel rooms I've ever stayed at. And I like to stay at nice hotels!
I was in town for the Vancouver marathon, and stayed 2 nights. As a Fairmont President's Club premier member, I had asked to have our room upgraded so I could use one of my upgrade certificates. Well, all I can say about the room we got upgraded to: W-O-W.
When we checked in, it was still quite early. But hey, it can't hurt to try! So we stop by even though it's only about noon, and the nice man at the front desk says that we have a very nice room, but it's not quite ready yet. I say "no problem!" because it really isn't. The guy offers us a different room if we don't want to wait, but assures us that the room that isn't quite ready yet is SUUUUUPER nice. I don't question the guy, and they hold our bags and we get some lunch. We return about an hour later and our room is ready.
Funny story: I 'm talking to a concierge to figure out where to get dinner. My husband wants to go put his stuff in our room, so I give him a key card. Our room number starts with a '1', so he gets in the elevator, jabs the 1st floor button, and wanders around looking for this room. About 5 minutes later I've got my dinner reservation and I head toward the elevators. My husband walks out of the elevator looking confused, and is like "What the heck!? I can't find our room anywhere. I think it might be on the 14th floor, because our room number is 14something, but my card won't work when I try to push that button!"
So I try my card, press the button for 14, press the button and try my card, try both things at once, one person holding the button and another doing the card. I STILL don't know which of these permutations got the 14 button to work, but whatever! We didn't have a problem after that; it worked fine.
So we glide up in the elevator and the doors open to reveal the super posh 14th floor. Woooow, nice - there's a little plaque on the wall pointing toward the "presidential suite" and other fancy named suites. We get to our room, which seems to be the only non-suite on the floor, open the door, and are WOWED! This room is crazy awesome! Huge king-size bed, sitting area (in the same room, but that's pretty much the only thing that would distinguish it from a suite), super nice marble bathroom... it was great. The bathroom even had a TV in it! And an amazing soaking tub that was about 4 feet high - let me tell you that thing MADE my weekend. Nothing better than a nice soak after running 13 miles.
Geez, this review is LONG but one more thing: I know it sounds crazy in retrospect, but some Canucks fans moved into the room next to us and were being suuuuuper noisy. I was envisioning a sleepless night before my half marathon, so I called down to the front desk and asked if anything could be done, and was told that we could change rooms to another "Deluxe Room". I figured it was unlikely that we'd be next to ANOTHER room full of Canuck's fans, so I agreed. Welllllll, the room we were moved to? I don't understand how that could possibly be in the same class of rooms. It was on the 3rd floor (street noise!), was small, dark, had a smaller bed, a tiny bathroom with no marble! Tragic, right? Yeah, not really - if we'd gotten this room first, we would have been fine. This would probably be a 3 or 4 star review, though. After the first room, you could understand what a letdown it would be.
I was like "hell no!" and called back the front desk immediately. They kind of laughed and were like "yeah, you can go back to that other room, I will call right back in a minute." The poor guy they sent to take our bags looked a little bit annoyed (big surprise) so we gave him a big tip and apologized. The Canucks fans got a warning about being loud and we didn't hear a peep for the rest of the stay. And everyone lived happily every after.Listed in: The Best Places That Have…
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Review from Rich E.
Vancouver, BC
5/31/2011
I came to to take a leak.
Saw a hooker and her pimp, an idiotic hotel guest complaining about being charged for internet and some nice pics on the walls. Go get your LV bags and have high tea. -
Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2011
We went to the restaurant of the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel for afternoon tea. The tea was exceptional, the service was great and the food was ok.
I guess afternoon tea isn't really my thing, but I thought I'd try it at least once. Me and my sister had bought a coupon on deal find which made the experience more than half off for two, so we each bought a coupon and brought my other sister and mom out for an early mother's day celebration. I don't think I would ever pay their regular price for the afternoon tea, it seems a little steep for what you get: small sandwiches, croissants and mini desserts and pastries. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a man and I need a man's meal, big and hearty LOL.
St3Fin -
Review from Christopher L.
Vancouver, BC
3/30/2011 46 Check-ins Here
The Great Dame of Vancouver hotels; wait was that the Empress? No that's in Victoria. Anyway, even though its a Fairmont, I will always remember this as part of the great chain of CP Hotels (Canadian Pacific). For those of you to reminisce; wouldn't it be a trip to start at the Chateau Frontenac, then to the Royal York, then to the Palliser, then Banff Springs, then Chateau Lake Louise, and to finally this place? Ok, maybe finish at the Empress...but I digress..
The service is excellent as you would expect, no issues there, and the spa is relaxing, but I wouldn't say the view or ambience matches say, the Willow Springs in another resort. Having my work close by, I visit here often for parking, drinking, and staying in from the rain.
The central location makes it a convenient meeting point, but I do miss the sitting area that is now the Omega outlet...sigh...and now the lobby is a bustle of people rushing to the LV megamall. I do wonder how the dogs feel about all that activity...(for those guests who miss their own pet can take one of the two for a stroll - located next to the Concierge desk)
All in all, it definitely could use better lighting in the common tea room but the live piano is great. I always find 900 West a little dark and dingy. However who can beat the buffet at Griffins? I applaud anyone who can get a two or three generations of mothers and the family in there on Mother's Day to enjoy brunch. But that is another review...
The Law returns as he must, I wonder someday I will be able to name all the countries of the flags on display in the hallway to the parkade.. -
Review from Kris I.
11/30/2010
This place is an absolute DREAM.
Very Victorian, very British. And the doggy! Such a cute mascot.
Stayed on the 9th floor with my family, and I guess that floor and up are for business people? Especially enjoyed the breakfast and mid-day hor d'oeuvres. SUCH good food, and loved the intimate setting.
Slightly creeped out that a hotel staff member was in our room when we arrived, but let's just categorize that as "overly eager to serve us," shall we? -
Review from jazmine s.
9/24/2011
Way too expensive, for the room quality. I would not recommend you stay here unless the price is under $150 and that's even pushing it. Of course the hotel has their usual luxurious classic decor, but this place was old and run down. We had wall paper pealing off the wall in the bathroom, and everything seemed grimy and musty. The bed was comfortable at least. I just hope it wasn't as old as everything else seemed to be. Eww. Oh and waaaaay to much chlorine in the pool and hottub. Or bad ventilation? Pool room seemed old and very grimy also. This entire place is in need of a serious remodel!
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Review from Anna L.
9/18/2011
First off I would like to say that this was my first "fancy hotel" stay as well as conference hotel stay. I've got to say that I'm quite a fan of this place, despite my silly stories:
OVERALL
The hotel is nicely decorated and the staff was very nice in helping me during the duration of my stay. It is also in the central downtown Vancouver and everything seems to only be blocks away. Prime location and perfect while we explored downtown Vancouver on our off time. One thing though is that the elevators are card-key activated, so it did get a little annoying fishing out the card key from my purse to operate it, as we'd often forget to do so. Many people spending their first nights at the hotel are seen pushing elevator buttons to no avail because they've forgotten to put the card key in first. After a while, and many embarrassing moments, you'll get the hang of it.
THE ROOMS
A few of us had signed up for the Fairmont President's Club so that we could get free wifi in our rooms, but luckily the conference was paying for that already as well, so it didn't matter. However, there is one small detail that the front desk forgot to mention to me, but did however mention it to my roommate: TOUCH SENSITIVE ITEMS. Apparently if you touch anything in the small fridge, you'd get charged (which makes sense). But it also seemed like the water and a small Fairmont Hotel Plush on top of the dresser was (timed?) touch sensitive items as well. When I first entered the room and saw the cute stuffed animal, I picked it up to inspect it's cuteness and put it back after seeing how much it really was. Later when my roommate came in I was going to pick it up again until she said "DON'T TOUCH IT!" I was scared out of my mind because (a) I had ALREADY TOUCHED IT earlier, (b) I just wanted to tell her that it was so cute, (c) didn't notice that the stand it was on was PLUGGED in, until then and there, (d) I didn't want to pay $16 for a small stuffed animal I didn't want. Later, I find that I had not been the only one who had inspected their own stuffed animals and we all were NOT charged for having lifted it from it's stand and put it back. THANK GOODNESS. That was my silly freak-out moment during my stay.
CONFERENCE FOOD
The hotel catered the food for the duration of conference talks as well as breakfast and coffee breaks. After a while it did seem like the same appetizers and olive oil-covered vegetables among various breads, meats, crackers, and cheese. The desserts were good and people are often seen sneaking cookies off and away as soon as they came out. Although the food was decent and very filling, we jumped at any chance for free nights to explore the town and see what else Vancouver would offer in terms of food and culture.
TEA SELECTION
Caffeine-wise I only drink tea now, and with all the breakfasts, coffee breaks, and networking sessions, I think I've tried all the Fairmont Hotel Teas. I'd have to say there is a small selection and no one tea stuck out to me as being particularly amazing, but it's just tea, I guess. There was one, however, that did stick in my mind. One of their fruity flavors (I forget which one) smells like Jell-O (I KID YOU NOT)! I don't know why, and there is no relevance to this, but I just felt like I should share. -
Review from Ian G.
7/20/2011
A classy place to go for afternoon tea. One of the finest experiences I've had from this perspective, second only to venues in London. The afternoon tea menu was delicious with all sorts of exquisite, well-crafted mini sandwiches and scones. The selection of teas is fantastic and the taste surpasses expectations. Some of the nicest tea in North America - you don't need any more of an excuse to visit!
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Review from Kat S.
11/16/2010
This review is for the Afternoon Tea Service.
I felt like such a fancy lady dining at The Fairmont and having tea and biscuits. I was so glad I got the Groupon deal, as it's a bit pricey otherwise, but they totally don't skimp on what you get. There was so much food I wish I had skipped lunch, because my skirt was feeling way too tight upon leaving. Wear your classiest stretchy pants.
I had the lemon rooibos tea which was a nice compliment to the foods I was eating. The silverware is all embossed with an 'F' and the table layout is so posh, you feel like high society. The room is beautiful, and it was so nice listening to the pianist in the adjacent room. With our Groupon we also got a free glass of sparkling wine since we dined on a weekday, so we felt extra fancy.
The food was plentiful and divine. The cream for the scones was thick, amazing, and full fat as it should be. The desserts were varied and I did my best to consume them all.
The service was wonderful, and we were checked on many times throughout our tea, except when we wanted to pay the bill... That was the only time were left for quite a while. In their defense, they were setting up the room for the evening and we were the last seating time for tea, but we shouldn't have been ignored once it was time to go. So they lose half a star for that. Otherwise it was a truly lovely way to spend an afternoon with a good friend. It would be a great place to take a mom, aunt or grandma for a treat.Listed in: Best Bathrooms, Treat Yourself
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Review from M T.
3/30/2011
Our favorite Vancouver Hotel. Great water pressure, excellent staff, PERFECT location. Looking for an obscure protest? Look no further. The art museum across the street hosts a great collection of wackos of every stripe daily. That and a hot dog vendor cart makes for a perfect day.
On some visits, we've gotten to walk the hotel's dog named Beau. The pool and gym are great and there are many restaurants nearby if you don't want to pay the prices at the in-house restaurant (the name escapes me at the moment). -
Review from Stephanie S.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2010
I was recently taken to Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Vancouver. I ordered the Maple Maple tea which turned out a bit too sweet for my tastebuds. The food they served was amazing and I gorged myself on sandwiches and pastries that were lush and delicious. After eating two scones slathered in jam and cream, an apple tart, amazing pumpkin cheesecake, and mango mousse, I felt so full I thought I'd have to roll myself home. Do yourself a favor and ask to have some of the pastries wrapped up to take home. The only unfortunate thing that happened was that they made us wait almost 20 minutes to pay our bill. By that time I was bursting with tea and wanted to get out of there asap.
In was an interesting experience and I'm thinking of taking my mother for her next birthday. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Vancouver, BC
8/20/2010
This review is for the afternoon tea only.
I bought the Groupon for the "two-for-one" afternoon tea at the Fairmont. My friend and I had never been inside the hotel before, so after much searching for where the tea was served (pro tip: find the front desk, walk straight ahead, go around the first lounge you see), we received helpful directions from the staff.
The tea menu was long and varied. I chose the lavender earl grey and was not disappointed. The two-tier tray of goodies were fantastic. Nice variety of finger sandwiches (the mini-croissant with ham and brie was especially delicious), scones (oh strawberry jam & clotted cream, you are evil), and desserts.
We had really great service at the beginning, with at least 2 different people stopping by to ask if we wanted more hot water, but the quality dwindled towards the end. We ended up waiting 20 minutes after receiving the bill for someone to come by and give us change.
Although we had a good time, I honestly don't know if I would go back if I had to pay full price. $50+ for afternoon tea and finger sandwiches seems too rich for me, but it was definitely a fun experience and worth doing if you can afford it. -
Review from Joanne K.
Vancouver, BC
6/5/2011 1 photo
My friend got the 2 for 1 deal from Groupon and took me here for their signature afternoon tea on my birthday! I have to say the food is better than most afternoon tea places I have been to around Vancouver. The pasteries are unique and nothing too sweet (no sweet bombs this time!). Their scones are to die for! Imagine warm buttery scones with devonshire cream and jam, melting in your mouth! Of course this is paired with one of their fine teas. I chose Earl Grey. I know this is pretty common, but this place does it right! I've been to other places that steep tea using water that is just not hot enough to extract the tea flavors.
My only complaint I have is their service. I felt a little rushed at the beginning. Perhaps this is due to their large volume of people using the coupon. The food was premade and was sitting on the counter waiting for us. We basically got the tray within 5 minutes of being seated. Also, when dinning in an upscale hotel, I expected to have one server throughout. The same server who will ask what kind of tea you wanted should also be the one who will bring the tea out for us. In our case, another server walks by and asks what was the tea we order and then brings out the tea. I've been to other less well known places for afternoon tea, but have received far better service. The reason for this? Since we were using a coupon from Groupon, there was already a service charge placed on the bill along with the tax. They didn't have to work for their tip! -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2011
Nevermind Milestone's. This place has the best Bellini in town. Relaxed, smart casual atmosphere and lots of menu items to choose from. Great service and the live piano jazz is fantastic. A great place to hang out and have a nibble.
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Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
12/8/2008
While I haven't had the unique pleasure of staying at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, I did have the opportunity to attend a fantastic Christmas Party in one of its historic and beautiful conference rooms.
Easily recognizable as one of Vancouver's premier hotels, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver revels in a vibe from era's past and does it wonderfully with a grandiose design and luxurious interior. Dinner and dancing for the evening's festivities were to take place in the Columbia Ball Room. The massive space holds upwards of five hundred people, large enough for a wedding or other special function. Ornately decorated with gilded details and a gorgeous interior, the Columbia ballroom is the perfect space for a festive party.
Now that I've gone on about the visuals, the next thing on my list to wax poetic about the incredible buffet! Usually, the first few tables of 'first course' dishes are worth skipping, but this was different. Our plates were full by the time we made our way to the meat and mains of salmon and shrimp in a light cream sauce, three cheese potato gratin, rack of lamb with mint jelly and a number of other fabulous entrees. Amazing! Needless to say we saved ourselves (just barely) for some delicious desserts including bread and butter pudding with custard, various Christmas cookies, whipped chocolate rolls, cheesecakes and fruit tarts, amongst other such delectable goodies. By far one of the better venues and buffets I have had the distinct pleasure of attending, I would absolutely recommend it! -
Review from BB H.
Burnaby, BC
11/29/2010
This is a review for the jazz lounge on the main floor. Great place to relax. Decent finger food and nice drinks (although they lose a star for not having loose tea...tea bags are not what I expect at the Hotel Vancouver).
Service is slow but wait staff are friendly and not irritating (i.e., never a "how's your meal?" every 12 seconds...they leave you in peace). Jazz is pleasant and they even have live singers at times. Two decent-sized TVs you can see from anywhere you're seated to watch the game (no one really goes there to watch the game though).
Lastly, the desserts are fantastic and I highly recommend their cheese plate for a munchies. Pricey, yes, but at least it's incredibly edible and relaxing. -
Review from Eric B.
9/4/2008
OK, I've not yet stayed here, although I usually stop by the Lobby area to admire the elegant beauty of it all when I'm in town.
But the real reason I'm Yelping this fine old Canadian Pacific Hotel is that in front was the first and so far only time that I was solicited. I'm sure, I have walked past several situations before, but in these matters, quite frankly I'm clueless. Plus I have never felt that I had to go for hamburger, when there was steak at home.
So I'm standing there and this really ugly woman walks up to me and asks me if I want a back rub up at her hotel room. I think I said "Yuck" in a loud voice and quickly walked away.Listed in: Unique Places to Stay
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Review from Katie F.
9/8/2009
I have mixed feelings on the Fairmont chain overall and I think it's a personal style that determines how much you like them at the end of the day.
I've stayed at this hotel several times over the years and had their afternoon tea service in the lounge a few times as well. The tea service is fun and I love the little sandwiches/biscuits that come on the tiered tray - that being said, it's incredibly overpriced, especially if you have the misfortune of coming when there's live music on, then you get hit with (about) a $50 pp tab instead of the $30 it is normally... ouch!
Like other Fairmonts, the location is central and fabulous for sightseeing. Shopping within the hotel is great - aah, Gucci and LV just a few floors below my room - perfect! Pretty much only Las Vegas hotels beat that for convenient access to luxury shopping!
Downside is that the rooms are a bit dated. I suppose it's part of its charm, but I'm partial to a more modern interior and I like a plusher bed. Toiletries have improved since they switched brands a couple of years ago.
Service is generally good although their concierce doesn't always have the best recommendations (now that I've gone from tourist to local, some of the recommendations were totally off the mark!)
I had their catering for meetings and it's good food. (That being said, I've also booked their catering for a meeting here and it's pricey!)
There are other hotels I prefer in downtown Vancouver but this one has an amazing location and the Fairmont history. If you like something a little more traditional, then this is your place. -
Review from karen b.
3/7/2011
wow -- i didn't eat at the hotel restaurant or hang at the bar, but after reading other reviews, i kinda wish i did.
anyway ... a very comfortable long weekend experience. friendly reception, cozy rooms, nice location, clean fitness center with sturdy equipment. the lovely indoor pool on the second floor looked so inviting (and uncrowded) that i was tempted to run out and buy a bathing suit (which it hadn't occurred to me to pack for a trip to vancouver in early march)!
i felt a bit out of place staying a hotel whose lobby included louis vuitton, st. john and gucci stores, but i'm thinking a lot of people might consider those pros rather than cons. the hotel itself is not modern or trendy, but it's spotless and has solid service -- and is just a short walking distance from the water, where you can sit with your tea and watch sea planes take off and land (pretty exciting for a philadelphian).
all in all, the various perks here are sufficiently impressive to outweigh the fact that the upstairs hallways look just like the bloody one from the shining ... -
Review from Jason L.
Edmonton, AB
5/31/2010
This is the grand old dame of downtown Vancouver. Sitting regally at Burrard and Georgia, it is literally next to everything and moments from the Waterfront, Coal Harbour, Robson, Alberni, Granville, Gastown and Yaletown.
The hotel has bikes to borrow, umbrellas if it's raining and even a couple of Golden Retrievers if you'd like to take them for a walk. The rooms are well appointed and decorated in a traditional manner. There is a comfortable bed, bedding and a least one really comfortable chair for sitting and reading. If you're a President's club member (it's free), WiFi, Adidas workout gear, gym access, bikes, daily newspaper shoeshine are all free. The hotel does have suites and a concierge level. It also has one of the best hotel bars anywhere, 900 West. Though, I find that Griffins restaurant can be hit or miss for lack of a true identity, many swear by it. I'm just never sure if I'm in a café or a fine dining restaurant.
There are a variety of ways to get special rates and I often stay under $150 a night ... You simply can't beat it at that price. -
Review from Kathleen M.
8/7/2008
At the time, this was the fanciest hotel I had ever been in. The lobby is over-the-top gorgeous and you'll find yourself feeling very under-dressed if you show up as we did, in short and tees straight from hiking at Whistler.
The first night our rooms were messed up and my brother ended up sleeping on a roll-away bed. The second night the problem was rectified but it was a pain to have to move rooms again. The location was great to see all that Vancouver has to offer. I would definitely recommend. -
Review from .Nette T.
8/24/2008
A couple years ago, I went to visit some friends in Vancouver and who were also in town at the Fairmont. I went to visit them at the Fairmont but apparently they stayed on a floor where you need the room key to get the lift up to their floor so I had to go back to the lovely lobby to wait for them. Eventually I got up to their rooms and found them spacious and comfortable. Decor was elegant and certainly lives up to their "Castle in the City" reputation.
However the real star (besides the fact that the Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores were attached to the lobby) was their Labrador-Retriever Mavis who is on the Guest Service Team! The newest memeber of the team is Bo, who is also a Lab.
They greet the guests and hours for walking are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with weekends and official holidays off. Just phone Guest Services to book walk Mavis and they even give you a puppy pack water, healthy snacks and a plastic bag for stooping and scooping. The only rule is that you can't give them treats.
I think it's a nice touch to have dogs at the hotel, Vancouver is a dog friendly city and walking Mavis or Bo would be great for exploring the area around the Fairmont.Listed in: Vancouver
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Review from Kenny T.
6/7/2011
I stayed at this hotel back in Dec of 2009 and again on Feb 2010 for 2 nights only, this hotel location is great, this is really located in the central of Vancouver, you walk outside, you're in the central, 2 blocks from Robson street and many other attraction, if you stayed at this hotel, you must try their great breakfast at the Griffins, I think is approx $20 to $30, but hey...hotel prices.
This building actually have a lots of history in it built over 100 years ago, well if you look it up, actually was thorn down during the WWII and they rebuilt, if you there on the first floor, you will be able to see some of the pictures for this building/hotel, Queen Elizabeth stayed there during her visited and many other famous people, at night they have someone played great piano at the bar, good for a nice drink and relaxing, also many people talked business or just enjoying a good conversation with friends. The room is huge and very spaces, I staying at the Deluxe King Room, which is very nice, but this hotel is one of those classic traditional, nothing modern about it, their room is the traditional wooden coffee table, office table, bed and night stay, everything is great about this hotel and the only down side of it, because this is an old building, so they do not have the wireless internet, you have to plug your laptop into the wire on the office desk, which is kinda suck, because I like to do my internet surfing laying on the bed, and one major down side about this hotel, their carpet really need to be change and update, because whenever I stay there, in the morning my eyes turned really red due to the dust of the carpet, but other then that, great hotel, great location, and you should check it out if you're travel to Vancouver -
Review from Kira T.
5/26/2009
Delightful! A real old school historic hotel, classy as all get-out, with super service and the BEST hotel lobby bar EVER.
The rooms are spacious and very clean. The beds feature want-to-loll-all-day linens and heavenly mattresses. They lay out all that 5-star hotel schwag - menus, coasters, a guide to the hotel, etc. Weirdly, the mini-bar isn't more expensive than any other mini-bar we've experienced in a Vancouver hotel. Which is to say - pricey, but no more than elsewhere. We had a city view, which was just fine, since we booked during an OUTRAGEOUS sale, and got our rather huge room for something like 60% off.
If I were to be absolutely picky, I'd note that some of the furniture is a little worn... but I really don't think that detracts, since after all, the place is historic!
And the lobby bar is wonderful. Lots and lots of comfy armchairs and sofas, crazy cocktails (I recently had a golf-themed one with gin, rosemary, and juniper spray!), and live music! Sometimes a piano player, sometimes a piano player who sings, or brings a singer - sometimes an actual band! It's GREAT. I always feel rich and pampered here. They don't rush you along to turn tables, either, so you can nurse your $19 buck cocktail, relax, chat, and do some serious people-watching in comfort. -
Review from Charles Z.
8/25/2010
Stayed here with a friend over some vacation time visiting family in the Richmond area. The location is fantastic, very central, and just a block from Robson street, and 10 minutes walking to Canada Place.
The hotel is quite historic looking, and many of the furnishings in the lobby area and room are antiqued. Considering Vancouver is striving to be a "green" modern city, this hotel concept is quite dated. The carpets need to be replaced the bathroom could need some updating. For $280 a night plus taxes, you would be better off staying at the Westin Grand Vancouver or Fairmont Waterfront. For me it was free, so I guess I can't complain. -
Review from JJ L.
Vancouver, BC
10/11/2011
I went to have high tea at the Fairmont Hotel with my husband and friends and OMG it was to die for. The tea selection is huge so I had a hard time deciding. The tea pots and cups are very beautiful and classy. The tiers are so pretty and the food was truly the best high tea I have had in a long time. It is a bit pricey but the ambiance is very British feeling. I wish I took pictures. When the food comes, it does not seem like a lot. There are 3 tiers and is for 2 people. There were scones, sandwiches, lemon tart, and more plus cute mini packages of jam and honey. It did't look like a lot of food for 2, but by the end of it, we were all very full and this was just an afternoon snack! I have been to a few other high tea places since but nothing compares to the Fairmont!
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Review from Amanda A.
2/28/2009 3 photos
The hotel was beautiful...I agree with the other reviews though, they could definitely use some new furniture. The rooms are nice, clean, and I had a decent view of downtown. Although I was supposed to over look the Art Gallery which would have been a thousand times better!!
The lounge...the service was ok. I had a pretty good 900 West Lounge version of the Manhattan. It had liquor which seemed to be pretty scarce in my other drinks in Vancouver...let's just say most places add too much water and soda. The drink was great I just with I could remember the name but it was expensive. I think we spent $150 (Canadian) on three cocktails and four beers. The bar was beautiful and the lighting was nice. The crowd: besides my friends consisted of business men staring at TSN (Canadian version of ESPN). -
Review from Felix W.
9/25/2010
The Hotel Vancouver has such history and tradition in the City of Vancouver. The Fairmont name brings modern day prestige and first-class service.
The rooms and style seemed dated, though, beyond its history and tradition. Unfortunately, it was not nostalgia but worn and tired.
Because of the location, price, and fantastic staff, we would stay here again, but we hope they find a better way to blend the tradition and history of the hotel with modern day amenities and technology.
