Wedgewood Hotel & Spa

The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is a small luxury hotel on Hornby Street, across from Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery. It has been family owned and operated for 40 years, and today its co-owner and managing director is Elpie Marinakis. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux and holds a Michelin Key, and it has also been recognised in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice awards.

With 83 rooms and suites, all recently refurbished, the Wedgewood is far smaller than the big chain hotels nearby, and that is its appeal. It suits couples, travellers marking a special occasion and anyone who prefers a quiet base in the middle of downtown.

Bacchus Restaurant and Bacchus Lounge are the centre of hotel life. The hotel describes Bacchus as award-winning, and as well as lunch and dinner it serves afternoon tea and hosts live music. In-room dining is available if you would rather stay in, and the lounge is a comfortable spot for a drink before heading out to dinner elsewhere downtown.

The spa is a strong point for a hotel of this size. It has a relaxation lounge, a eucalyptus steam room, private treatment rooms and suites for couples' massages. There is also a fitness centre, and yoga is offered, which is useful on a longer stay.

The hotel's position also makes it easy to fit in culture between meals. The Vancouver Art Gallery across the street opens every day except Tuesday and stays open until 8pm on Fridays, with free entry on the first Friday evening of each month, while the Bill Reid Gallery, a short walk along Hornby Street, focuses on Northwest Coast art.

Book directly with the hotel by phone, on its toll-free number (+1 800 663 0666) or by email, and ask the concierge team for help with restaurant reservations and tours. With only 83 rooms, it is sensible to book ahead for peak dates.

The location is one of the most central in the city. The Vancouver Art Gallery, at 750 Hornby Street, is opposite, the Bill Reid Gallery at 639 Hornby is on the same street and the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver are a short walk away on West Georgia Street. Robson Street's shops and Japadog's Robson Street branch are close by, and Canada Place and the waterfront can be reached on foot.