Information
Landmark: Fairmont Empress HotelCity: Victoria
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, Canada, North America
Overview
The Fairmont Empress Hotel stands as one of Victoria, British Columbia’s most celebrated landmarks, its ivy-covered walls watching over the harbor for more than a century.The Empress, with its soaring arches, polished wood, and storied past, has come to embody luxury, warmth, and quiet sophistication.The hotel sits high above the Inner Harbour, drawing tourists in and giving locals a place they love to linger over coffee with a view of the water.The Empress Hotel, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1908, opened its doors to lure wealthy travelers to Victoria, where its grand lobby once smelled faintly of polished oak.CPR built the hotel as part of its bold vision for a chain of lavish Canadian properties, giving weary train or steamship passengers a warm bed and a view worth the stop.Design and architecture: Architect Francis Rattenbury, who also created the British Columbia Legislature’s grand stone façade, designed the hotel.The Empress rises in Beaux-Arts splendor, weaving classic European grace with Canadian character; its grand stone arches frame the entrance, turrets crown the corners, and the green copper roof gleams under the afternoon sun.Royal Connections: The Empress Hotel’s ties to royalty stretch back to its earliest days, when visiting dignitaries strolled through its grand, chandelier-lit lobby.Over the years, it’s welcomed a long list of distinguished guests-among them, members of the British royal family, once seen stepping out onto its marble steps.The hotel was actually named Empress in honor of Queen Victoria-the same monarch who gave her name to the city-much like a crown glinting in the afternoon sun.Over the years, it’s kept its royal charm, each visit from a monarch-like the day a queen stepped through its marble foyer-adding to its standing as a prestigious hotel.The Fairmont Empress Hotel ranks among Victoria’s most photographed landmarks, and with its ivy-draped walls and grand, castle-like façade, it’s not hard to see why.The Beaux-Arts style shows off a grand façade, its stonework carved in delicate patterns, a tall central tower rising above, and a front garden trimmed with neat rows of bright flowers.You can’t miss the hotel’s bright green copper roof-it catches the sunlight like a patinaed crown and remains one of its unmistakable trademarks.Lush Gardens: Tall roses and neatly trimmed hedges frame the hotel, giving it an air of quiet elegance and timeless charm.Bright blooms often scatter across the front lawn, while the garden offers a perfect place for photos, especially with the Inner Harbour glinting softly in the background.At the Empress Hotel, afternoon tea is a beloved tradition, drawing guests and locals for decades with steaming pots and delicate china.In the hotel’s Tea Lobby, sunlight spills across the high ceilings as guests settle in for an elegant service of fine teas, warm scones, delicate finger sandwiches, and flaky pastries.It’s a nod to classic British tradition, the kind where you linger over fine china and fragrant tea, and an invitation to spend a lavish, unhurried afternoon.At The Empress, the Royal Afternoon Tea has been a beloved tradition since the hotel’s earliest days, with porcelain cups clinking softly as servers present tiered trays of delicate pastries.Widely hailed as one of the finest afternoon teas anywhere, it’s a must for hotel guests-imagine delicate china cups, warm scones, and the scent of fresh Earl Grey drifting across the table.It’s best to book ahead, especially when the tourist season hits and cafés spill over with chatter.Inside, the Empress blends timeless elegance with modern comforts, like soft velvet chairs beside sleek glass fixtures.Over the years, the hotel’s been refreshed more than once, keeping its old-world elegance while adding modern touches like soft leather chairs and sleek lighting for guests’ comfort.The Tea Lobby stands out as one of the hotel’s most memorable spaces, with its warm light spilling across polished marble floors.The lobby’s high vaulted ceilings, cool marble underfoot, and sweeping grand staircase create a feeling of luxury touched with old-world charm.It’s a place where guests linger over lunch, sip a crisp gin and tonic, or savor the famous afternoon tea served on warm, delicate china.The hotel offers a variety of elegant rooms and suites, some with windows that frame the sparkling Inner Harbour, others overlooking lush, quiet gardens.Each room pairs centuries-old charm with sleek modern touches, creating a warm, welcoming space where visitors feel at ease.Some suites come with charming touches-like a crackling fireplace, stained-glass windows that catch the afternoon light, and graceful antique furniture.At the Empress, you can choose from elegant fine dining, relaxed bites, or the famous afternoon tea served on gleaming silver trays.At the Empress, Q Restaurant ranks among Victoria’s top dining spots, serving dishes crafted from fresh local and regional ingredients, like wild Pacific salmon pulled from nearby waters.The restaurant serves up West Coast flavors, shining a spotlight on just-caught seafood, tender cuts of meat, and crisp, seasonal produce.Guests can savor their meal while watching gulls wheel over the harbor and sunlight spill across the lush gardens.The Bengal Lounge blends Indian-inspired patterns with the polished charm of a colonial club, creating a relaxed yet refined spot where you might sip chai beneath warm amber light.The lounge draws a lively crowd for cocktails and small plates, all while you soak in the warm glow of its old-world charm.The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Empress offers a full array of indulgent treatments and wellness services, from soothing massages to revitalizing facials, all in a setting that smells faintly of lavender and warm cedar.Guests can unwind with massages, facials, and body treatments, plus signature spa rituals inspired by the calm rhythm of the nearby waves.After a long day of sightseeing, the spa’s calm, eucalyptus-scented air invites you to sink into a chair and let everything go.The Empress Hotel hosts everything from elegant weddings to lively conferences and intimate celebrations, all under its high, chandelier-lit ceilings.The hotel’s ballrooms and meeting rooms create a stunning backdrop for any event, framed by shimmering waterfront views and lush, green gardens.The Empress draws countless couples for their wedding day, its soaring chandeliers and elegant halls setting a scene that feels both grand and deeply romantic.Heritage Rooms: These spaces wrap guests in rich history, making them ideal for weddings or big celebrations, with polished wood floors that catch the afternoon light.Ornate chandeliers glint overhead, polished wood warms the floor underfoot, and wide windows frame stunning views-together, they create an elegant setting for any event.The Empress Hotel has deep ties to the British royal family, a relationship that’s been woven through decades of visits and formal receptions.Over the years, the hotel has opened its doors to kings, presidents, and other distinguished guests-even the kind who arrive with a motorcade waiting outside.The place even hosted major official events and royal visits, among them Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who once arrived to the sound of a brass band playing in the courtyard.This hotel’s reputation for luxury is rooted in its past as a proud emblem of British influence in Canada, and today it still stands at the heart of Victoria’s culture and skyline, its stone façade catching the late afternoon light.You’ll find the Fairmont Empress Hotel at 721 Government Street in Victoria, BC, with its front steps just a few paces from the shimmering waters of the Inner Harbour.Thanks to its prime spot, you can step outside and be at the Royal BC Museum, the BC Legislature, or the Inner Harbour in minutes-perfect for kicking off your city adventure.Accommodation: The Empress, a true luxury hotel, provides elegant rooms with crisp linen and warm lighting-ideal for travelers seeking a stay that feels both special and unforgettable.Rates change with the seasons, and prices climb highest in summer and around the holidays-think sunny July afternoons or bustling December crowds.
