Lovely Hotel Georgia a true hidden gem
They say the best way to stay hidden is to do so in plain sight.
That’s certainly the case with the Rosewood Hotel Georgia (rosewoodhotels.com/en/ hotel-georgia-vancouver), which sits snugly on the corner of Howe and Georgia in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
For 14 years now, I’ve seen and walked past this historic Canadian hotel.
I’ve seen it in its previous incarnation, and during its massive 2011 renovation that saw it rebuilt from the ground up.
Today, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia manages to pay homage to its grand past while looking forward to the future — and as I discovered during a stay last month, it could very well be one of Vancouver’s best-kept secrets.
Think of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia as offering a contemporary take on the 1920s, and you’ll get the feel of this cool property.
With 156 rooms and suites, eight event spaces and four restaurants and bars, it’s the big hotel that feels like a boutique hotel.
The renovation is so convincing that it’s hard to tell where the original fixtures end and the new reconstruction begins — the lobby has been redone almost exactly as it would have appeared when the hotel opened in 1927.
One of the hotel’s greatest advantages is that there is no such thing as a bad room.
In fact, all guest rooms and suites are based around the same design philosophy, with a sumptuous and inviting sleeping area situated adjacent to one of the largest and most well-designed bathrooms you’ll ever see. Nespresso machines are in every room. Every bed is adorned with Rivolta Carmignani linens, which wrap you like a baby in a blanket.
It’s also innovative. Last month, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia opened its highly anticipated underground cocktail bar — Prohibition.
One of the coolest ideas you’re likely to see in any modern hotel, Prohibition takes its cue from the secluded speakeasies that popped up during the Roaring ’20s.
Featuring a 3,000-square-foot bar accessed from a nondescript location outside the hotel, or via the hotel’s basement, Prohibition was designed by Toronto-based firm Munge Leung (which oversaw the hotel’s 2011 refit) and features a menu of bespoke cocktails hand-crafted by head bartender Brad Stanton, who has earned a deserved reputation as one of Canada’s foremost bartenders.
Speaking of cocktails, 1927 Lobby Lounge is arguably my favourite hotel lounge — and not just because it mixes a mean Moscow Mule that’s actually served in a chilled copper cup.
No, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From the hand-crafted and original cocktail menus to the delicious appetizers and snack bites like freshly baked, warm salted pretzels and massive charcuterie plates, this is one hotel lounge you’ll come back to even if you’re not a guest.
The Alaska cruise season is just around the corner, and those looking for a great pre- or post-cruise home will find plenty to like about the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
It’s within walking distance of some of Vancouver’s most popular attractions, but it’s so close to the Canada Place cruise terminal that you could walk to it. If you wanted to, that is: the hotel offers a courtesy Bentley car service that will whisk guests anywhere they’d like in a five-kilometre radius of the hotel.
The hard part is convincing yourself to leave!