Sylvia Hotel

I spent 8 days at the Sylvia and was happy with my stay. I had to work, so being able to open the windows and look toward the beach was a real bonus. The hotel is right on the waterfront and within walking distance of Stanley Park. It’s an older place, but very clean, and the staff were very kind. The food is better elsewhere, though.

We ended up closing out the Sylvia, and the evening was perfect. My daughter and I took two dear friends there for their May birthdays and to send one of them off before she moves to Powell River. We love the Sylvia, and the ambience, decor, and view are spectacular. The service and food were wonderful, and the staff took great care of us. We had the perfect table by the window, plus the best crème brûlée with a candle. Staff even joined in to sing happy birthday.

Being just steps from Stanley park, with excellent restaurants and scooter and bike rentals close by, made this a great place to stay. We loved every minute, from check-in through checkout. The hotel is older, but our room was cozy, clean, and comfortable, even without a bay view. We could open the windows and listen to what was just outside the door. The staff at reception, housekeeping, and the restaurant were all gracious and welcoming. The building feels full of old stories, memories, and laughter. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else!

The service was nice, and I really appreciated the employees helping us load and unload all the Christmas gifts we had with us. It was an old but cozy place to spend the holidays, even with my list of gripes. The kitchen had a fridge and cupboards, and the room and bathroom were nice, but the beds and bedding weren’t great, and the towels were scratchy. The building has charm, though I’d have liked some modern updates in the rooms. Ours had Ikea wall art, while some rooms apparently have lovely framed photos of the area from decades ago. The TV wasn’t much to look at, but I was glad I could unplug the HDMI from the cable box and connect my laptop, or we’d have been stuck with Shaw’s free on-demand channels. Food was fine and the bar was good. New beds and TVs, plus more Irish whiskeys, would make this place pretty top tier.