Fairmont Waterfront

Rooms and decor

Picture a curved glass tower rising 23 storeys on Vancouver's harbour, directly across from Canada Place — that's Fairmont Waterfront, open since July 1991 and part of the city's waterfront skyline for more than three decades. The first thing everyone talks about is the view from the room. All 489 rooms are laid out so most of them face Coal Harbour; pull the curtains in the morning and you'll find a big cruise ship at the dock, a little seaplane skimming down onto the water, and the green-and-snow North Shore mountains in the distance. The decor is warm Fairmont classic — soft, easy tones, wood furniture, and beds that several reviews call a great sleep. The big windows are the star of the room, and many have a sofa nook by the glass where you can sip a coffee and watch the boats come and go. Get a higher floor facing the harbour and the wide panorama makes the early wake-up worth it.

Food and amenities

The heart of this place is up on the roof and in the green story the hotel is so proud of. Start with the heated outdoor pool, about 50 feet long, on the roof deck and open all year even in winter — people floating in warm water in the cold air, with the Marine Building and the mountains behind them, is one of this hotel's signature images. Next to it sits a fitness room open 24 hours with views out to Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains, plus Willow Stream Spa to unwind in after a day of walking. The most distinctive part, and the one guests remember, is the rooftop herb garden — about 2,100 square feet, planted back in 1996 as one of the early green roofs in downtown, paired with rooftop beehives that keep more than 250,000 bees each summer and produce hundreds of pounds of honey a year. The herbs, vegetables, edible flowers and honey go straight into the kitchen at ARC, which serves seasonal West Coast food with local ingredients and a wall of glass framing the harbour and mountains. ARC Bar is a good spot for an evening cocktail too. That farm-to-plate story gives dinner here more to talk about than just the flavours.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card for Fairmont Waterfront. The hotel sits on the harbour on Canada Place Way and has a walkway tunnel straight into the Vancouver Convention Centre and the Canada Place cruise terminal — meaning if you're here for a conference or boarding an Alaska cruise, you can roll your bags across without facing sun, rain or a taxi. Waterfront SkyTrain station, a major hub with the Expo Line, the Canada Line (running straight to YVR airport) and the SeaBus across to North Vancouver, is only about a 5-minute walk, so getting around the city is easy without a car. The area around the hotel is great for a wander too — the Coal Harbour waterfront path runs all the way to Stanley Park, and the old Gastown district with its steam clock and quirky shops is just a few blocks on. If you want a harbour-side base with both a great view and easy transit, this delivers.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing that comes up often is the room view — most rooms face the harbour, but there are city-view rooms that look out at buildings and a parking lot, a completely different feel. The price gap isn't large but the impression is, so ask specifically for a harbour view when you book. Second, parts of the building and some rooms are still in the classic style from when it opened in 1991 and are being renovated in stages, so some reviews find the room design more restrained and traditional than the city's newer luxury hotels; if you love bold modern design you may have to make peace with that, and you might land a room still waiting its turn. Last is the hidden cost — miscellaneous fees, and especially the nightly valet parking, run high by the standard of a downtown waterfront luxury hotel. If you're driving in, check that total carefully before you confirm so the checkout bill doesn't blow past your budget.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, Fairmont Waterfront pulls together a harbour view, a walk-everywhere link to the convention centre and cruise terminal, a heated rooftop pool open all year, and that rooftop herb-garden-and-beehives story you won't find elsewhere. If the trip in your head is opening the curtains to mountains and cruise ships, soaking in the warm pool over a city view, then strolling through the tunnel to board a ship or join a conference, this is a very good choice — best for couples, families and business travellers who value the view and the convenience. If you're after sharp, modern boutique design, the classic style still being renovated here may not be your thing. Overall we give it 9.0/10 — a waterfront hotel with the view, the location, and plenty of good stories to take home.