The Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver

The Sylvia Hotel - A heritage landmark on English Bay with Boston ivy-covered walls and beachfront dining

Standing beside Stanley Park since 1912, this historic Vancouver hotel features 120 rooms and suites across eight floors. The Sylvia's exterior walls showcase the distinctive Boston ivy, planted after World War II, which changes colors with the seasons and covers more than half of the building. Guest accommodations include apartment-style suites with fully equipped kitchens, family rooms with multiple bed configurations, and rooms featuring English Bay views. The 8th-floor corner suite provides panoramic ocean vistas and a master bedroom with a king bed. Sylvia's Restaurant & Lounge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM in its bistro, dog-friendly patio, and cocktail lounge, with happy hour specials offered weekdays from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Pendrell Room accommodates up to 25 guests for sit-down events and 35 for receptions. Located on Beach Avenue, The Sylvia Hotel sits 5 minutes from downtown and steps from English Bay Beach's seawall path.

Pros

First cocktail bar in Vancouver, offering historic cocktails and sunset views

Live music performances in the cocktail lounge

Dog-friendly establishment with dedicated patio dining

Seasonal foliage changes create distinctive exterior appearances

Cons

Some rooms offer only partial ocean views through trees

2 miles distance to Vancouver Aquarium