Location

Squarely placed in the heart of the downtown action opposite the Vancouver Art Gallery, close to the high-end Nordstrom department store and a minute away from the Canada Line train; the latter connects in 25-minutes to YVR airport.

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia, which opened originally in 1927, is as a heritage building. Its Art Deco beauty was painstakingly restored from top to bottom in 2010, and a combination of its glamorous history hosting celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Nat King Cole and grand architecture lend an exciting sense of occasion to check-in. We were recognized as returning guests which is always a sign of good service.

Rooms

Pure understated elegance is the theme with a soothing palette of unobtrusive vanilla and cocoa accented by marigold and violet cushions. The Art Deco vibe continues with Twenties-style lamps and wooden furniture with beautiful grain detail. Even standard rooms come with an oversized marble bathroom complete with underfloor heating, double soaker tub and separate rainfall shower. Crisp high thread count linens and cream leather headboards complete the refined picture.

The Spa

SENCE may not have the usual hot tubs, steam rooms and sauna space, but it provides a deluxe experience nonetheless. Try the Vancouver Signature Sensation for a skin smoothing treatment complete with Vichy shower and essential oils. The spacious day-lit fitness centre boasts the very latest Technogym equipment along with a separate yoga space, and plenty of fresh fruit and water.

The saltwater pool has a fun illuminated floor which softly glows different colours. A Bentley and Mercedes car service offer downtown transfers on demand, and each room comes with a comprehensive guide to local dining and activities. The Clef d’Or concierges can organise everything from after-hours private shopping to tickets to the latest shows. Staff are meticulously trained and offer a genuine warm welcome and have a ‘can’t do enough’ attitude to making each stay something special.

Food and Drink

The hotel is home to one of Canada’s most celebrated restaurants, Hawksworth, where chef David Hawksworth and team whip up beautifully plated fresh, seasonal and local food with a twist of Asian flavours and innovative techniques. Splurge and get the tasting menu to enjoy treats such as local halibut with sea buckthorn. The Hawksworth cocktail bar with its Damien Hirst art and expert bartenders is a must; try the Hotel Georgia cocktail based on an original recipe from the Twenties.

For a more casual option, the lobby’s Bel Café offers up patisserie, salads and piled-high sandwiches, head there for locally roasted 49th Parallel coffee and cranberry-orange scones. The gin-focused 1927 bar is the perfect spot for day-drinking and casual meetings over a decadent ‘The King’ fried chicken sandwich.

Downstairs in the basement, Prohibition offers up live music from Thursday to Saturday. As of March 2022, Prohibition was closed due to COVID restrictions, but the Reflections rooftop bar is the place for summer-patio dining and drinking; from November it’s transformed into a winter wonderland space, and reservations for this Insta-worthy hotspot are hard to come by.

TLW tip: Book the staycation package if available, as it includes daily valet parking worth around C$40 a day and breakfast which can be as high as $30 each.