The hotel houses 120 sleek and spacious rooms and suites with in-room dining and a 24-hour front desk. The Sylvia’s Restaurant and Bistro boasts a modern interior and serves meals all day, and the Cocktail Lounge looks out on the picturesque English Bay. The lounge, which was the first cocktail bar to open in Vancouver in 1954, serves dignified cocktails and seafood including Crispy Calamari and Crab Cakes, along with live music nightly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Gather in their private Pendrell Room, which can accommodate up to 25 guests for sit-down occasions and 35 guests for reception-style events. The open Dining Room and Restaurant, which offers added views of the bay and Burrard Inlet, has the capacity to hold 85 guests, and can be reserved to seat up to 65 if the buffet option is chosen. The hotel’s culinary team will also work with you to curate a catering menu that will complement your event.
“We host a range of events including meetings, corporate retreats, family get-together, celebrations of life, and weddings,” says Cara Ball, food and beverage manager at the hotel.
One of the Sylvia Hotel’s most recognizable features is the Boston ivy that covers over half of the property. The plant was first lovingly cultivated by one of the hotel’s first residents, Mrs. Kenvyn, after World War II when the property was originally a block of apartments. When it first opened in 1913, it was the tallest building in Vancouver—and its charm has stood the test of time, warranting it the prestigious historic heritage building title.
The hotel sits conveniently near the beloved Stanley Park, and attendees are free to rent a bike and ride down the Seawall. Only five minutes from downtown Vancouver, guests can explore a number of the city’s most popular attractions, from concerts and sporting events at Rogers Arena, to a brisk workout at the Vancouver Aquatic Center.
If you’ve got your sea legs and some free time to fill post-meeting, take a ferry ride from Granville Island after a show in the arts and cultural district. If you’d prefer to stay on land, visit the Vancouver Aquarium or the historic Gastown, a popular spot to shop and dine. Ski down Whistler Mountain only two hours away or play a game at one of Vancouver’s many golf courses.
With a past full of intriguing stories and myriad opportunities to gather under the Boston Ivy, The Sylvia Hotel will provide a historic backdrop to any event.