Wedgewood Hotel & Spa - Relais & Chateaux

A European Country House on Robson Square

Some hotels are designed by committees; the Wedgewood was designed by one woman. Eleni Skalbania, born on Santorini and settled in Vancouver, bought the former Mayfair Apartment Hotel on Hornby Street and reopened it as the Wedgewood in 1984, acting as her own designer. She filled it with her personal collection of art and antiques, commissioned furniture from craftsmen, and set out to create the feeling of a European country house in the middle of a young West Coast city. Her daughters, Elpie Marinakis and Marousa Dumaresq, now run the hotel, which still feels like a private home more than a brand.

Why It Works

We chose the Wedgewood because it proves that a downtown hotel can be intimate. With 83 rooms and suites, it is small enough for the staff to know guests by name, and its membership of Relais & Châteaux speaks to the standard. The rooms are furnished with antiques and original artworks, and most open onto a balcony or terrace, a rare pleasure in a city centre. Bacchus gives the hotel a restaurant and a lounge that Vancouver itself uses for dinner and afternoon tea, and the spa covers the essentials with care. It is the address for travellers who dislike large lobbies.

Why This Location

The Wedgewood faces Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery, in the heart of downtown. Robson Street's shops begin at the corner, the law courts designed by Arthur Erickson are part of the same square, and the theatres and restaurants of the entertainment district are within a few blocks. Coal Harbour and the seawall are an easy walk north, and from there Stanley Park is a pleasant stroll or a short bike ride along the water. Guests who prefer two wheels can borrow from the hotel's bicycle programme, and the concierge and valet parking take care of the rest.

Fast Facts

• Price: Luxury (€€€€)

• Vibe: intimate, European, romantic, family-run

• Rooms: 83 rooms and suites, most with balconies or terraces, plus penthouse suites with fireplaces

• Best For: couples, romantic occasions, discerning repeat visitors to Vancouver

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the owner's own collection of art and antiques, displayed in the rooms and public spaces

• Dining: Bacchus Restaurant for refined, inventive cuisine; Bacchus Lounge with fireplaces and Venetian light fixtures; afternoon tea; in-room dining

• Amenities: spa with eucalyptus steam room, relaxation lounge and couples' suites; fitness room with sauna; bicycles for guests; pets welcome; valet parking

• Attractions: Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery across the street, Robson Street, the entertainment district, Coal Harbour and the seawall, Stanley Park

Balconies, Antiques and Penthouse Fireplaces

The rooms are where the Wedgewood's personality shows most clearly. Classic furniture and original artworks sit alongside modern comforts, and the rooms, suites and penthouses have all been refurbished without losing the house style. Most accommodations open onto a balcony or a terrace, ideal for a morning coffee above Hornby Street. The penthouse suites, at the top of the building, add a fireplace and a larger terrace, and they are the natural choice for an anniversary or a proposal.

Bacchus, From Afternoon Tea to Late Dinner

Bacchus is the heart of the hotel. The lounge, with its rich fabrics, old-fashioned fireplaces and Venetian light fixtures personally chosen by the founder, is one of the most atmospheric rooms in downtown Vancouver, and it hosts afternoon tea as well as evening cocktails. The restaurant serves an inventive, epicurean menu in a classic setting, and in-room dining carries the same kitchen upstairs for guests who would rather not leave the balcony.

The Spa, Small and Serious

The spa is intimate and thoughtfully designed: private treatment rooms, couples' massage suites, a relaxation lounge and a eucalyptus steam room, with yoga on the programme. A fitness room with a sauna completes it. On a rainy Vancouver day, a treatment followed by tea at Bacchus is the most civilised way to spend an afternoon.