This legendary hotel in the heart of Victoria excels at classic tradition meets modern luxury
ABOUT
This iconic edifice of pure Canadiana glows in front of Victoria’s sparkling Inner Harbour. There are historical elements throughout the property– mail chutes in hallways, antique elevators with wood panels and luxurious classic rooms like the crystal ballroom and library room – all of which evoke the legacy of Fairmont Hotels. A renovation project is set to be completed in Spring 2017.
THE ROOM
The 464 guest room and suite hotel features updated, modern touches and views of the harbour, city and garden. The muted palate of silver, white and grey-blue is inspired by Vancouver Islands’ natural landscape, are understated and elegant and with 400 square feet of space and have a residential style.
DINING
Afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress is tradition, and a quintessentially Victoria experience. Choose from twenty one loose leafs teas (and a glass of champagne) to pair with your delicate scones, sandwiches, pastries and clotted cream. The hotel restaurant, Q at The Empress (one of the most storied rooms
in Victoria), with its regal hints of modern purple decor and portraits of Queen Victoria on the walls, offers Pacific Northwest cuisine based on regional ingredients. Seafood is a must. Order the chilled Dungeness crab legs, served with a mildly smoky sesame nori mayo, followed by the outstanding rosemary roasted lamb loin with creamy farro, olives, buttered baby turnips and carrots. Order the Q 1908 cocktail, a refreshing combination of empress tea, egg white,
lemon and vodka infused with butterfly pea flowers, imparting a shocking purple-blue hue.
721 Government St, Victoria, BC
Want more British Columbia? This original article first appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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