Vancouver Island, BC : Fairmont Empress Hotel

Fairmont Empress Hotel

Capital Area

Victoria

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Address http://www.fairmont.com 721 Government St. Victoria, BC V8W 1N8 (250) 384-8111

Directions
The Empress is in the heart of downtown Victoria, right on the Inner Harbour.

Description:

The Empress Hotel is one of Victoria’s most distinctive and beautiful landmarks. Built in 1908 at the height of British influence in Canada, the Empress is a fine example of late Victorian colonial architecture, and has been carefully restored to its full grandeur. Walk through the lobbies and main halls to admire the lofty and intricately carved mahogany ceilings. Many of the hotel’s original fixtures are still present, including 12 massive and ornate chandeliers.

Dine by firelight in the lush, tapestried Empress Room, which features seasonal menus of British Columbia cuisine, and a 400-bottle wine list. Visit the Bengal lounge with its colonial India theme. It’s easy to feel transported back in time as you relax beneath the slow turning wooden ceiling fans, admiring a wall-mounted Bengal tiger skin (a gift from the king of Siam), all in very elegant surroundings. Enjoy a view over the Hotel gardens from the 12-foot-high windows, or take in some live jazz on Friday and Saturday evenings.

For many visitors the Empress is synonymous with afternoon tea. The chef has taken the British tradition of tea time and raised it to an art form that is enjoyed by over 100,000 people each year. Tea includes small sandwiches of smoked salmon and cream cheese, carrot and ginger, egg salad and cucumber; then on to fresh scones, homemade preserves and thick jersey cream. A selection of fresh pastries rounds out the meal. All are of course accompanied by Empress blend tea, served in Royal Doultan china. Past diners have included Queen Elizabeth II, Harrison Ford, Barbara Striesand, and John Travolta, to name just a few. Dress is "smart casual" with no torn jeans, short shorts, or jogging suits.

The Empress has 476 guest rooms in 90 different configurations, all elegantly furnished and steeped in tradition. Conveniently located on the Inner Harbour in the heart of downtown Victoria, the Empress is within easy walking distance of many attractions, restaurants, and entertainment venues. There is a health club, pool, and full spa on site, as well as convention facilities for up to 1,500 people. The hotel is connected to the Victoria Conference Center by an indoor walkway.

In 1999, the Empress was voted the number 3 hotel in North America and number 35 in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine.

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