The Sylvia Hotel is a boutique hotel in a beautiful heritage building. It’s in Vancouver’s West End about halfway between English Bay and Stanley Park.
TIP: The Sylvia Hotel is a beautiful place to stay. It’s also one of over three dozen hotels that you can book through the website StayVancouverHotels.com. If you book your stay through that website you can get competitive rates as well as bonus perks (like gift cards or tickets to local events and attractions). For details, see our article about StayVancouverHotels.com or visit the StayVancouverHotels.com website.
To learn about the Sylvia Hotel and its restaurant, continue reading below.
The Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver
The Sylvia Hotel is a three-star place to stay in Vancouver. It’s in a distinct heritage building that’s covered with ivy. The hotel is located in a terrific area just steps away from some of the city’s best attractions.
At the hotel there are a total of 120 rooms and suites. The layouts are simple. In addition to a bed, most regular rooms include a desk with at least one chair, a mini fridge, bathroom, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. Each room also has an alarm clock, television and more. Most suites include all of these amenities plus a kitchen with a stove. Wireless internet is complimentary for all guests. Pets are welcome to join free of charge. Paid parking is available and the main dining option on site is Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge.
The Sylvia Hotel isn’t a modern-looking building, but the old-fashioned design gives it a lot of character. It’s full of history and a wonderful place to stay.
Where is the Sylvia Hotel
The Sylvia Hotel is located at 1154 Gilford Street in Vancouver’s West End.
The hotel is directly across the street from the Stanley Park Seawall. English Bay is a short walk south and Stanley Park is a short walk north. Those are a couple of Vancouver’s Top Attractions. There’s a bus stop just a couple blocks away from the hotel as well.
About the Sylvia Hotel
The Sylvia Hotel’s building was constructed in 1912. However, it didn’t start out as a hotel. The place was originally an apartment building. It was the tallest structure in Vancouver and a renowned place to live for a number of years.
Shortly following World War II, a tenant planted Boston Ivy outside. Since then, the vines have grown to cover more than half of the exterior. In 1954 the building opened the medieval-themed Tilting Room which was the first cocktail bar in the city. Then in the 1960s the building fully transitioned into a hotel.
The Sylvia Hotel became a designated heritage building in 1975. To this day, it’s an interesting building that’s worth visiting.
Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge
Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge is the main dining option at the hotel. The restaurant offers a variety of appetizers, burgers, salads, seafood dishes, desserts and more. There’s also a pet-friendly patio with stunning views of the ocean. We’ve eaten at the restaurant and it was very good.
The restaurant has separate breakfast and all-day menus that are usually available until 10:00 pm. Some dishes are exclusively available for lunch, while others are only available after 4:00 pm for dinner. Brunch is served on weekends between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, or at least that was the case the last time we checked. The cocktail lounge, meanwhile, is open every day from 11:00 am until midnight. There are several cocktails and martinis to choose from in addition to shareable plates of food.
Furthermore, there’s live music on multiple days each week. As of early 2025, performances take place from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Parking is free for a couple of hours in the hotel’s underground parking when you dine at the restaurant. Just remember to tell the front desk your parking spot number, and don’t park on the top floor in the first nine spots.
For full menus and details about the dining area, click Sylvia’s Restaurant & Lounge.
Other Information
To learn more about the hotel, see the sylviahotel.com website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s West End
- English Bay Beach
- Downtown Vancouver Hotels
- StayVancouverHotels.com
- Vancouver Bars & Restaurants