- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee |
- All
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
7 reviews for The Fairmont Palliser
All Reviews
This is more a review of the lounge, The Oak Room!
The Oak Room is one of my favourite places downtown to go for a drink, snack, or meal. The atmosphere is very relaxed making it a great place to chat with friends, or enjoy some quiet time reading a book.
Good quality food for reasonable prices, and always good service from the staff. I have had some mix-ups with my food orders, but they have always fixed it at no extra cost! (one time they brought me a seafood tower, when I asked for seafood chowder, they gave me both and the only thing on my bill afterwards was my cappuccino!)
There is free wi-fi available (for Fairmont President Club members- but that's also free to sign up for) - great for bringing my iPad in and surfing the web!
Overall a great experience- I will definitely keep coming back!
I have to confess that this is my least favourite Fairmont Hotel. It's well located, next to the Calgary Tower, a block from the Glenbow Museum, two blocks from the Jack Singer Music Hall, the Stephen Avenue Mall and maybe five blocks to Chinatown with a little further to Eau Claire. They also have a really good kitchen producing excellent food. Levels of service are excellent.
However, I find the rooms really dimly lit which makes the traditionally decorated rooms seem more old than charming. The plumbing is also the least updated across the entire chain. It also lacks the views that many of its Fairmont sisters enjoy, nor does it have the really dramatic entry and lobby areas which makes these grand old hotels special. I stay at Fairmont Hotels quite a bit, but I really don't think of the Palliser in the same class as the others. I'm sure that some if that feeling comes from downtown Calgary itself which makes the streets around the hotel rather bleak and sketchy at night.
The fairmont palliser is a great place to stay if you're looking to soak in some historic architecture and Canadian Pacific heritage. They've gone through some renovations, I've stayed here a few times over the course of the last few years and I'm impressed at how diligent they are in keeping the overall 1914s theme. Very elegant set up, the rooms are always very clean and the bedroom fashions are still the original handcarve-detailed solid wood peices. They've kept the exposed radiators and I think it's a nice touch inline with all victorian wallpaper and linens.
Dedicated floor to executive stays, with full bar, breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres lounge. Sunday brunch is always a treat, full fruit and salad bar, hot plates, and huuuuge dessert section. Custom omlette station, and sometimes there's the chocolate fountain is a special bonus.
I could go on forever. The only things I advise other travellers to be wary of is parking and room upgrades. The room upgrade is a no go, they put you in a bigger room by sq ft, but charge you $$$. Second, there isn't alot of parking lots left in downtown and you might be forced to valet your car. But if you are willingto walk, there are 2 lots still within the 3-4 block range if you want to save yourself $37 CAD/night. (Lot parking is around $5 in the evenings till 9am).
Taken from site:
The above rates are applicable ONLY if guest charges parking to their room folio. If guest chooses to pay separately, the following will apply:
*$2.50 per half hour up to maximum $20.00 until 6pm. After 6pm another $5.00 is charged until 6am. Nights and weekends are both $6.00.
*No in and out privileges.
The Palliser Hotel was built in 1914 was named after Captain John Palliser, who was an explorer in the region during the 1850s. It's architecturally distinct as are many of the other former Canadian Pacific Railroad hotels. And like the Hotel Mac in Edmonton, my experience is limited to exploring the public areas and having a drink in the lounge so I can soak it all in.
The hotel is still close to the railroad tracks, although with all the hustle and bustle of downtown Calgary, you'd hardy notice. The VIA Canadian train now travels through Edmonton, but if you want a historical and scenic railroad experience that links to Banff and Lake Louise, the Rocky Mountaineer has a nice package that can include the Palliser.
This hotel was very nice. I was upgraded to a suite which was unexpected! The room was very comfortable. The only very strange thing was how the toilet was placed. Literally up against the counter sink. Very uncomfortable. The rest was nice though. Service at concierge was average...but everyone else like the front desk went out of their way and were great. The facilities for a meeting were very well done as well (I was a presenter at an event so this was appreciated). Very nice hotel and well located.
Uh oh... this isn't going to be very nice....
So last night, I had some friends from a prominent TV show in Toronto arrive in town. It was their very first time in Calgary and the show booked their stay at The Palliser Hotel.
First of all, they got bumped to a smoking room because the hotel was sold out. Let me clarify; They booked their suites when the hotel WAS NOT sold out, but somewhere along the way, THEIR ROOMS GOT BUMPED. It's not like the rooms are wallet-friendly... We're not talking about your local Motel 8. The rooms are PRI-CEY, so the LEAST they should be able to do at a hotel as pretigious as the FAIRMONT Palliser is get the room right. That's not too much to ask for...is it???
I understand that It's a big weekend in town (The Dalai Lama is here, as is Jack Canfield), but these Toronto peeps are ALSO important people. No, they aren't here to bless you or feed you chicken soup for the soul, but they ARE important nonetheless.
So after finally deciding that they could no longer breathe in their suites, they went down to the concierge who apologized and...wait for it.... offered them an air purifier. You're joking right? REALLY?!?!??!
Being their friend & their local tour guide, I was MORTIFIED. This is NOT the impression I wanted my colleagues and friends to have of our city on their very first visit to Calgary.
I expected a lot more from The Palliser... but i'm understating the fact when I say that I'm disappointed to the core. Fairmont chain or not, The Palliser Hotel is now officially off my map.
The Palliser Hotel offers a real sense of history in a city that doesn't have an abundance of it.
A friend who came to town insisted we go to the lounge here and have a scotch. I had never been, so we did. There's a touch of elegance to the whole place and it was a good drink. I've never spent a night there, but their facilities appear to be well kept and in top shape.
A cool place full of history right in the middle of the city.....
