Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites

An Apartment on the Inner Harbour, With a Hotel Behind It

Victoria is a city best understood from the water, and few hotels sit closer to it than the Victoria Regent. The building rises directly above the Inner Harbour on Wharf Street, at the edge of the old town, with floor-to-ceiling windows turned toward the marina, the floatplanes and the little harbour ferries. It is an all-suite property rather than a classic hotel: most of its accommodation comes as one and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and living rooms, designed for travellers who want to settle in rather than simply sleep. The service layer, with a concierge and a front desk that never closes, remains that of a hotel.

Why It Works

We selected the Regent because it puts genuine apartment-sized space directly on the harbour, in the heart of the walking city. One-bedroom suites measure around 950 square feet and two-bedroom suites around 1,250, each with a fully equipped kitchen, a proper living room and a balcony. At the top, four penthouse suites spread across 1,800 square feet with two king beds and waterfront balconies. For a family, two couples travelling together or anyone staying a week, that changes the whole shape of the trip.

Why This Location

Wharf Street runs between the old town and the water, which puts the Regent within a few minutes’ walk of Bastion Square, the lanes of Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley, and the shops and restaurants of Lower Johnson Street. Follow the harbour walkway south and you reach the Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress, the postcard centre of the city. The Harbour Air seaplane terminal is on the same waterfront, handy for a flight to Vancouver or a scenic loop over the Gulf Islands. Parking is complimentary, with EV charging, useful if you plan to drive up the island.

Fast Facts

• Price: Premium

• Vibe: harbourside, residential, relaxed, spacious

• Rooms: standard king rooms, one and two-bedroom suites, executive suites and four top-floor penthouses

• Best For: families, groups of friends, longer stays, travellers who like to cook

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: floor-to-ceiling windows framing the seaplanes as they land on the Inner Harbour

• Dining: full kitchens in the suites and complimentary coffee, with the harbourfront restaurants of the old town a short walk away

• Amenities: fully equipped kitchens, private balconies, complimentary parking with EV charging, concierge

• Attractions: Inner Harbour walkway, Bastion Square, Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley, Parliament Buildings, Fairmont Empress

Choosing the Right Suite

The standard king rooms are compact, at around 260 square feet, but still come with a private balcony. The one and two-bedroom suites are the real reason to book, offered with partial harbour, marina or full waterfront views, and the waterfront category is worth the difference on a first visit. The two-bedroom executive suites and the penthouses reach 1,800 square feet, and one of the executive suites carries a balcony of around 950 square feet. Ask for the view category explicitly when you reserve, and mention if you need two king beds.

Living Like a Local in the Old Town

With a kitchen in most suites, the Regent works best if you use Victoria the way a resident would. Pick up bread and produce in the old town, cook a quiet dinner with the harbour lights below, and save restaurant nights for the waterfront and Chinatown. Mornings start well with a walk along the water toward the Legislature, and the seaplanes and whale watching boats leave from the Inner Harbour itself. Families appreciate the separate bedrooms; couples on a long weekend appreciate the view.

Before You Book

Summer is peak season on the Inner Harbour and the waterfront suites go first, so plan ahead for July and August. Victoria’s mild climate also makes spring and autumn ideal for a longer stay, when a full kitchen and a living room matter most. Arrival is simple by ferry from the mainland, by seaplane straight into the harbour, or by road from elsewhere on Vancouver Island.