Reviews The Sylvia Hotel by English Bay

Editor's Review

The Sylvia was built back in 1912, Lots of folks love the Sylvia, mostly for its fabulous location, and many are eager to recommend it, but pretty as the old girl is from the outside, inside she's is an updated older hotel. Still, you're not going to find waterfront accommodations anywhere else at Sylvia's prices. If you do stay, the best rooms are located on the higher floors facing English Bay. The suites have fully equipped kitchens and are large enough for families.

Guest Review of the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver
Sep 22, 2008
We had a very pleasant stay at the Sylvia. Rooms are small and a bit utilitarian but ours had a great beach view and the lobby of the hotel is very inviting. The location is great, lots to do, see and eat around. Staff was friendly. Room was very clean if old-fashioned.

Guest Review of the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver
Sep 11, 2008
I visited the Sylvia for the first time back in the early 80's and loved then and love it still. I guess the best part is because it hasn't change all that much (this could be also be considered a bad thing); it hasn't become a trendy "boutique" hotel, nor is it a generic chain. It's a class of its own. You aren't going to find luxury nor a fantastic decor, but you will find charm and the best location in Vancouver. It feels like you are a part of the city, instead of a deadzone in the downtown area.

Guest Review of the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver
Sep 10, 2008
We are a family of three that stayed in one of the 2 bedroom suites (one queen and one single).

*Room: Good size, decor is pretty spartan, but nice and tidy. Our room seemed nicer in real life than it looks on the website. It was very nice to have the separate bedroom. Keep in mind that this is an older building so the rooms have quirks. The ceiling had a very odd texture on it (not a big deal, but it did stand out). The bathroom was more notable. When you sit on the toilet your knees literally touch the vanity. Beds were comfortable.

*Location: Couldn't be much better in my mind. I suppose some could say that the distance from 'downtown' is a detractor, but we were easily entertained for 3 full days in this part of town. This part of town is very quiet and laid back. Stanley Park is a MUST do and a very short walk to the park entrance. A free shuttle runs around the perimeter of the park through the summer. It's a short (15 min) walk to water taxis for Granville Island. And if you are inclined to head downtown it's a pretty reasonable taxi ride. And if you're lucky enough to have nice weather English Bay beach is lovely!

*The food: there is a restaurant/bar in the hotel which is always nice and convenient. The restaurant is pretty decent, but a little overpriced. The cocktails from the bar are nice and well priced. But you shouldn't limit yourself to the hotel. This area is a treasure trove of great local eateries. The sushi can't be beat - ask the front desk for any recommendations. They recommended Tanpopo. It looked a little shady to us, but it was so excellent and affordable that we went 2 nights in a row. This can be an expensive city so it's always nice to find a bargain. Or just stroll up and down Denman (don't miss the gelato and cupcakes!)

*The service: always excellent. It seemed like most of the front desk staff were young college age kids (probably interns), but they were always extremely helpful, polite and professional. There is a laptop with free internet access in the lobby, but it was almost always in use and excruciatingly slow - not a huge problem for us since we were there to unplug.

I highly recommend the Sylvia for anyone looking for a charming quite hotel and a great bargain in Vancouver.

Guest Review of the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver
Aug 19, 2008
We didn't expect much, and therefore got more than we expected. Two queen-sized beds allowed us to keep our luggage on one; and sleep on the other. The location was the best, with walks to Robson and Denmore a snap. The food choices on Denmore could have kept us entertained for weeks. Best bonus? Your own fully equipped kitchen. The towels dried; the soap cleansed; the room was clean; the halls didn't smell. The rack rate acknowledges that this isn't the Biltmore, but we found the place charming. I'd skip breakfast at the hotel, though. Denmore offers a lot more and better choices. All in all, a great stay.

Guest Review Jul 1, 2008
The Sylvia is either to your taste or not. Glitzy it's not. The decor is distinctly anti-modern and rooms and hallways exude a well worn comfort. But the rooms are also large and bright, the housekeeping just fine, the views can be excellent, and the location, on the fringe of downtown but nestled up against English Bay, fabulous. The lobby is a friendly circus. The breakfasts are very good, provided you avoid the continental one. We would go again, and again.