Stay nowhere else in Vancouver!
Though this may not be the most elegant hotel, the overall quality, service, location and quirky charm makes it the only place I can imagine staying in Vancouver. I think the hotel has a new and an old wing. Ask to be placed in the North wing, and definitely ask for a water view (I had a view of only a grassy knoll). I was initially disappointed on entering our room (in the other wing)... small and kind of upscale-motel feeling. But, nice and fully equipped and quite comfortable. Enough for any traveler. What sets this hotel apart is the location on the artsy, edgy "island" of Granville Island (really not fully surrounded by water). The Granville Street bridge over False Creek (a wide and bustling waterway) looms large over the island... and I mean way-high up in the sky! It really dominates the feel of the entire island, which is actually quite large itself. And the former industrial and marine buildings converted to galleries, theaters, shops and restaurants make this a destination within a destination. You never need to leave the island! And I haven't even mentioned the Public Market! The best in produce, flowers and ethnic foods... awesome! If I lived here, this would be the only place I shopped for fresh food, sausages, seafood, cheese and sides. Finally, the Dockside Restaurant in the hotel, though not inexpensive, served up three fantastic meals and the waterfront patio served up beautiful panoramas of the city. There's a separate pub and a beer brewery built right into the middle of the hotel as well. This is a stop for many tours and tourists, and I was thrilled to call it my temporary home.