Walk into the lobby of the Wedgewood Hotel and Spa Vancouver BC and the first thing you notice isn't a sleek, glass-and-chrome minimalist desk. It’s the flowers. Massive, exploding arrangements that smell like a real garden, not a "signature scent" pumped through an HVAC system.
Honestly, in a city where every new hotel tries to look like a high-tech spaceship or a Nordic furniture catalog, the Wedgewood feels like a rebel. It’s old-school. It’s family-run. It’s the kind of place where the staff actually remembers your name without checking a tablet.
The Greek Visionary Behind 845 Hornby Street
Most people don't know that this place started with one woman's refusal to do things the "corporate way." Eleni Skalbania, a legendary figure in Canadian hospitality, bought what was then a non-descript apartment-hotel in 1984. She didn't want a 500-room behemoth. She wanted 83 rooms that felt like a private European estate.
She nailed it.
Eleni passed away in 2013, but her daughters, Elpie and Marousa, still run the show. You can feel that family DNA everywhere. It’s in the hand-picked antiques and the way the Bacchus Restaurant feels like a secret club for people who appreciate a real fireplace. While the massive Fairmonts and the Rosewood Hotel Georgia are stunning in their own right, they lack that specific, slightly eccentric "home" feeling that Eleni baked into the walls here.
What it’s Actually Like to Stay Here
Let’s talk rooms. You won’t find many "cookie-cutter" layouts. Because the building has a history, the footprints vary.
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If you’re booking, try to snag a room with a balcony. In downtown Vancouver, a private outdoor space is basically gold. Sitting out there with a Nespresso (standard in the rooms) looking over Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery is a vibe you can't get at the Marriott.
- The Beds: They use Stearns & Foster mattresses with Frette linens. You will oversleep.
- The Bathrooms: Marble everywhere. L’Occitane amenities that you’ll definitely want to take home.
- The Tech: They’ve updated. You get the fast Wi-Fi and Bluetooth iHomes, but they’re tucked away so they don't ruin the 18th-century French aesthetic.
One thing that surprises people? The size of the suites. The "Wedgewood Suite" is about 625 square feet of equestrian-themed luxury. It sounds weird on paper—brown leather and horse motifs—but in person, it’s cozy and incredibly masculine-chic.
Bacchus: More Than Just a Hotel Bar
You haven't really experienced the Wedgewood Hotel and Spa Vancouver BC until you’ve spent three hours at Bacchus. This is the hotel’s crown jewel. It’s been a Michelin-recommended spot for years, and for good reason.
Executive Chef Stefan Hartmann is doing something interesting there. It’s classic French technique but with West Coast ingredients. Last fall, they brought back the Bison Tenderloin with black garlic jus, and the locals basically threw a parade.
And then there’s the Sticky Toffee Pudding.
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They tried to take it off the menu once. Huge mistake. The hotel got so many emails from angry regulars that Elpie Marinakis had to bring it back. It’s served with a rich toffee sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. It is, without exaggeration, the best thing you will eat in British Columbia.
If you aren’t staying at the hotel, just go for a cocktail. Live piano music every night. Dark wood. Deep velvet chairs. It’s the ultimate "I’m an international person of mystery" setting.
The Spa: A Relais & Châteaux Secret
The Wedgewood has been a member of Relais & Châteaux since 2008. If you know that brand, you know they don't let just anyone in. You have to prove "soul" and "character."
The spa downstairs isn't huge, but it's high-end. They use Epicuren and have these wild 3-in-1 LED customized facials that make you look like you’ve slept for a month.
But the real MVP is the Eucalyptus Steam Room. It’s small, intimate, and perfectly maintained. Most big hotel spas feel like a factory line. Here, you're one of maybe three people in the relaxation lounge, sipping herbal tea and eating those dark chocolate-covered strawberries they bring out.
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Is it Worth the Price Tag?
Let’s be real. It’s not cheap. You’re paying for the location—right across from the Law Courts and Robson Square—and the service.
But here’s the thing: at the big chains, you're Guest #402. At the Wedgewood, you’re the person who likes extra sparkling water and hates synthetic pillows. They keep track of that stuff.
It’s the only hotel in Vancouver where I’ve seen the General Manager personally helping a guest find a specific type of local tea. You just don't get that at a 40-story tower owned by a hedge fund.
Practical Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to the Wedgewood Hotel and Spa Vancouver BC, don't just book the first rate you see on a travel site.
- Call the hotel directly. Sometimes they have "unlisted" packages, like the "Stay and Get Rewarded" deals that include $250 Mastercard gift cards for multi-night stays.
- Book Bacchus for dinner weeks in advance. Even on a Tuesday, that room fills up with the city’s power brokers and couples on anniversaries.
- Request a Robson Square view. The "Laneway" views are fine, but the garden view of the Art Gallery is what you’re really after.
- Walk to the Seawall. You’re about a 15-minute stroll from Coal Harbour. Walk down Hornby, turn left on W Hastings, and hit the water. It's the best way to see the city.
This isn't just a place to sleep. It’s a piece of Vancouver history that refuses to get boring. Whether you're there for the spa, the bison, or just a quiet balcony above the Robson Street chaos, it’s an experience that actually feels human.