Hotel
Fairmont Pacific Rim
A Forbes Five-Star hotel on the Coal Harbour waterfront with 367 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, a fifth-floor spa and the Botanist restaurant and bar.
Skwachàys Lodge
An Indigenous social enterprise hotel on West Pender Street with 18 rooms each designed with an Indigenous artist, a gallery and a rooftop longhouse and story pole.
At a glance
- Type
- Indigenous arts boutique hotel
- Area
- Downtown Eastside, Vancouver, Canada
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- skwachays.com
Good to know
- Artist-designed rooms
- Indigenous art gallery
- Rooftop longhouse
- Social enterprise
Why we recommend it
Skwachàys Lodge is a small boutique hotel with a purpose. It is an Indigenous social enterprise that combines a hotel with affordable housing and studio space for Indigenous artists, and money from the hotel supports that work. The lodge opened in June 2012 in a building on West Pender Street that dates from 1913, when it opened as the Palmer Rooms. It later became the Wingate Hotel, in 1946, and then the Pender Hotel, before the City of Vancouver bought it in 2008. It is managed by the British Columbia Indigenous Housing Society.
There are just 18 rooms and suites, and no two are alike. Each was created by one of six Vancouver hotel designers working with one of six Indigenous artists, with its own theme, custom artwork and furniture. Staying here is a chance to sleep inside a work of art, and it suits travellers who want their hotel to be part of their experience of the city's Indigenous culture.
The building is also home to 24 Indigenous artists, who live in affordable apartments as part of the lodge's healing lodge programme, and artist residencies run in six-month terms for up to three years, with housing, workshops and gallery work. The on-site gallery shows and sells work by Indigenous artists and is funded by hotel revenue, so buying a piece supports the programme directly.
On the roof are a traditional longhouse and a 12.3-metre story pole. Rooftop rooms are used for smudge ceremonies and sweats, which are offered free to guests and led by a staff medicine man. Ask about these when you book or check in.
The lodge suits couples, solo travellers and anyone interested in Indigenous art, and it combines well with visits to the Bill Reid Gallery downtown and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Book directly by phone on the toll-free number or by email.
The lodge is at 31 West Pender Street in the Downtown Eastside. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at 578 Carrall Street, Kissa Tanto at 263 East Pender Street and Phnom Penh at 244 East Georgia Street are all nearby in Chinatown, and Purebread's Gastown bakery at 159 West Hastings Street is a short walk away.
Skwachàys Lodge FAQs
What is Skwachàys Lodge?
An Indigenous social enterprise hotel that combines 18 artist-designed rooms with housing and studio space for Indigenous artists.
When did it open?
In June 2012, in a building first opened in 1913 as the Palmer Rooms.
How many rooms are there?
18 rooms and suites, each designed by a hotel designer working with an Indigenous artist.
Is there a gallery?
Yes. The gallery shows work by Indigenous artists and is funded by hotel revenue.
What is on the roof?
A traditional longhouse and a 12.3-metre story pole, used for smudge ceremonies and sweats.
Are ceremonies open to guests?
Yes, smudge ceremonies and sweats are offered free to guests.
Where is it?
At 31 West Pender Street in the Downtown Eastside.
How do you book?
By phone on the toll-free number or by email to [email protected].