The Grand Old Lady by the Sea: The Sylvia Hotel

…As the old song goes. There’s a number of small hotels in Vancouver and one of my favourites is the Sylvia Hotel one of Vancouver’s landmarks, right by English Bay in Vancouver’s West End.

Built in 1912, as an apartment building the Sylvia was named after the owner’s daughter.  The Sylvia Court Apartments, as it was originally named, fell on hard times during the depression and was converted into a hotel in 1936.  During WWII many of the rooms used a private residences for merchant marine crews.

The Sylvia is right by beautiful English Bay and walking distance from Stanley Park, Second Beach and the Aquatic Center. You can take the little ferry from the Aquatic Centre across to Granville Market, the Martime Museum and the Planetarium.  It’s near the bustle of Denman Street and the shopping area of Robson St. as well as the colourful scene of Davie St., Vancouver’s popular gay area.

Rooms at the hotel (with a bayside view) are from $115, suites from $175.  The rooms fit the 1912 character of the hotel.

Enjoy a meal at the Sylvia dining room or a cocktail at the bar.   It was the very first cocktail bar in Vancouver, opened in 1954.

I love sitting in the Sylvia pub on a sunny afternoon or just before sunset enjoying the view of the Bay.  It’s a great place to meet friends.  The Sylvia prides itself with its friendly staff.  There’s even a resident cat, Mr Got to Go  which is the subject of two popular children’s books which you can buy in the lobby.
The Sylvia Hotel
1154 Gifford St. on English Bay,
Vancouver V6G 2P6
Call 604-681-9321 for reservations or book on-line  info@sylviahotel.com

More information on PlanetEye: Stanley Park, English Bay, Second Beach