We have reviewed the best luxury and boutique hotels in and around Victoria, British Columbia, to help you decide where to stay on your next vacation to this magnificent destination.
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located on the southern end of Vancouver Island. With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities. Named for Queen Victoria, this garden city is situated in the south of Vancouver Island and is the capital of British Columbia. The city is compact and perfect to discover on foot.
Adorned with colonial architecture such as the Parliament Buildings this is an attractive city. The nearby Butchart Gardens are world-renowned, as is the Royal British Columbia Museum while other attractions in the area include Craigdarroch Castle, the home of artist Emily Carr, and orca whales which visit the waters off the island in the summer.
British Columbia’s varied climate is influenced by its proximity to the ocean. Winters are mild in Vancouver and Victoria, with only brief snowfalls, whereas the mountains enjoy snow throughout the winter. Spring and fall are often warm and pleasant but risk rainfall. Summers are mostly dry.
1. The Pendray Inn & Teahouse
Pendray Inn and Teahouse is set in a magnificent Victorian-era manor, which now serves as a boutique hotel for those in search of old-time romance. This is definitely one of the best boutique hotels in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Mansion is over 100 years old with old-world charm, rich elegance, and impeccable service, that will make you feel like you have stepped back in time to an earlier, more romantic era.
Pendray Inn and Teahouse is located in downtown Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the tourism hub of British Columbia’s capital city. The hotel sits in the heart of Victoria’s history, in the harbor hotel zone, steps from the BC Legislature, Royal BC Museum, US ferry terminals, Robert Bateman Museum, and the scenic David Foster Waterfront Walkway.
Stroll to nearby Fisherman’s Wharf, or take in a live busker’s show on the causeway. Try whale watching, take a tour on a harbor ferry, or head up Government Street to check out the shopping and dining in Victoria’s vibrant downtown core.
The interior of this Mansion is breathtaking. The design features from that early era are perfectly preserved. Beautiful woodwork, frescoes, and stained glass windows almost sparkle under the light of the crystal chandeliers.
Outside you can relax in the charming gardens, wander the meandering cobbled pathways past pretty fountains, or read a book under the shade of a tree.
All rooms have old-English décor and no two rooms are alike. Each room has its own personality and color-theme based on a precious gem. Some rooms, or “suites” have a panoramic ocean view, others feature the Mansion’s original Victorian fireplaces.
The Belleville Suite, located on the harbourside of the Mansion, is adorned with the original ceiling frescoes of 1906, painted by German artists, Herr Sterns and Herr Muller. All rooms have a flat-screen television, tea and coffeemaker, and a separate bathroom with a tub, and most have a shower.
A complimentary premium tiered breakfast is provided for guests. This unique but delicious breakfast experience is served every morning in the hotel’s Pendray Teahouse.
You can also enjoy a delicious traditional Victorian afternoon tea in the dark wood-paneled tea rooms which feature original stained glass windows. Afternoon teas are always home-made and locally sourced with high-quality ingredients. We recommend the crab bisque and the marvelous scones, perfect to satisfy your stomach while you watch the ships come and go from Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
To top it off, The Pendray Inn & Teahouse was recently certified highest “Green” level by Vancouver Island Green Certification for their green initiatives and won 2019 Ecostar Awards for Greenest lodging.
Spend your evenings immersed in history and during the day, stroll along Victoria’s inner harbor and watch the boats go by. We think the Pendray Inn and Teahouse is an utterly charming place to stay.
2. Abigail’s Hotel
Abigail’s Hotel combines old-world charm and romance. Situated in the heart of downtown Victoria, BC, this unique boutique accommodation blurs the lines between a small luxury hotel and a heritage bed-and-breakfast inn.
Abigail’s is an adult-only, intimate 23-room boutique hotel that is housed in a 1930’s Tudor mansion. Its atmosphere blends the romance and charm of the past with the comfort and convenience of modern accommodation.
Located in romantic Victoria, Abigail’s is quietly situated on the edge of the bustling downtown core and is three short blocks from Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It is also within walking distance of all the major downtown attractions and restaurants.
3. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa
The Magnolia Hotel and Spa is an independently owned hotel with just 64 rooms and it gets good reviews. The hotel is centrally located in Victoria, steps from Government Street and within a 5-minute walk of Victoria Conference Centre. There are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel as well as the Harbour Air Seaplanes dock, just a five-minute walk away.
64 air-conditioned and elegant rooms offer a turndown service. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill these bright spacious rooms with natural light and many rooms feature postcard-perfect views of beautiful Victoria. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature deep soaking bathtubs and designer toiletries.
Grab a bite to eat at The Courtney Room, which is a modern dining space with elegant elements of Art Nouveau. The Courtney Room is a space where locals and visitors alike can enjoy genuine hospitality and a menu that honors both land and sea. Chefs de Cuisine, Chris Klassen, and Brian Tesolin’s menu celebrate Canada’s local and seasonal products showcasing Modern Pacific Northwest Cuisine.
Gather at the bar for fresh-shucked oysters, unwind with friends over sharing plates in the lower brasserie, or savor an elevated experience in the upstairs dining room with impeccably prepared local seafood, steak, and fine wine.
The Spa Magnolia offers a tranquil escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Adjacent to Magnolia Hotel & Spa’s lobby, this oasis of calm offers a holistic approach to health, with seven treatment rooms and a spacious relaxation lounge.
Other Amenities include a business center, limo/town car service, and express check-in.
4. The Inn at Laurel Point
The Inn at Laurel Point offers views of Victoria harbour and features an indoor pool and a restaurant. The Royal BC Museum is 0.6 miles away. The hotel rooms are decorated with modern furnishings and many offer large patios and spacious bathrooms.
Aura Waterfront Restaurant at the Inn at Laurel Point serves meals created with local products. Guests can enjoy a glass of vintage wine from a nearby winery while enjoying views of the harbor.
A well-equipped fitness center is available to guests of Inn at Laurel Point. After a day of exploring Victoria, guests can relax with a luxurious in-room spa service.
5. The Oswego Hotel
The Oswego Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel walking distance from Victoria’s harbour, museums and center. All the rooms are suites split into studios, two and three-bedroom suites perfect for couples families looking to explore the city. Choose a boutique suite and enjoy your own private balcony with magnificent ocean, mountain, and city views.
A highlight of this Canadian hotel is the live Jazz every Wednesday evening and the wonderful views of the ocean, city, and mountains.
The Oswego has a warm and inviting interior with an intimate cocktail lounge and fine West coast dining at O Bistro, which warms up with a roaring fire in the winter and cools down with an alfresco dining option in the summer.
The hotel has a fitness center and also offers in-suite massage services, ideal after a day exploring this charming colorful city on foot.
6. Fairmont Empress
Fairmont Empress is recognized as one of Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler magazine, honored with Travel + Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Award for Top 10 City Hotels in Canada, and regarded as a Condé Nast Readers’ Choice and Gold List hotel.
The Fairmont Empress is located in Victoria, BC overlooking the city’s sparkling Inner Harbour. While it is not a boutique hotel as such, it is worth a mention as it is such an iconic hotel in the city of Victoria.
Fairmont Empress features 464 well-appointed, air-conditioned guest rooms and suites. Many of the rooms offer magnificent views of the harbor, city, and gardens. With a wide selection of unique guestrooms featuring classic details and modern touches, the Empress is sure to make your stay in Victoria unforgettable.
The intimate Fairmont Gold rooms are their best rooms and the ones to pick. Elegant and rich decor inspired by the natural beauty of Vancouver Island compliment sleek furnishings and modern marble bathrooms, each with a rainfall shower. When you book these rooms, you get access to exclusive Fairmont Gold amenities which includes the Gold Executive Club Lounge.
7. Oak Bay Beach Hotel
Nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean near Victoria, BC and on the edge of the Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a luxury boutique resort overlooking the Juan de Fuca Strait. It offers breathtaking ocean views of snow-capped Mount Baker in the distance and looks out at the migration route of local Orca whales.
This five-star boutique resort and spa looks like an English Manor House and offers fine dining in The Dining Room, pub fare in The Snug, or a relaxing soak in one of the three heated seaside mineral pools (exclusive to guests 16 years and older) while watching whales breach offshore.
The nearby Oak Bay has houses with pretty Tudor-style timbering and contains lots of arts and crafts stores, as well as a family-friendly beach with many seaside walks.
8. Hastings House
Hastings House Country House Hotel is Salt Spring Island’s luxury hotel, restaurant, and spa. It is a magical property just 15 miles from Victoria International Airport. The hotel can be found up a long driveway. It offers Cape Cod-style architecture and spectacular views of the harbor.
Spanning 22 acres on the waterfront of Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Hastings House offers a retreat where you can relax and enjoy luxury lodging, fine dining, wellness, and relaxation in a casually elegant atmosphere.
Explore British Columbia’s natural beauty in Salt Spring’s mild climate. Take a stroll to the local village for a wander around eclectic shops, boutiques, and art galleries. Go rock pooling at the beach or meander through the flower-filled gardens and wooded paths.
Hastings House Dining Room features three prix fixe menus that are created daily using the freshest ingredients from our gardens and island farmers. The views from the patio are stunning, offering the perfect place to enjoy a drink and a nibble. In the Fall, enjoy afternoon tea served with warm gingerbread cookies and chocolate squares next to the roaring fireplace.
There is a little boutique Spa on-site, nestled among cedar trees and lovingly tended gardens. Wellspring Spa is housed in a cozy, cedar-clad barn reconstructed when the farm became a hotel. Expert massage and spa treatments are performed by professional, licensed, and exceptionally trained spa therapists.
Rooms at Hastings House are well-appointed with fluffy white robes and towels, Molton Brown amenities, turndown service, and for a rainy day, two jumbo umbrellas in the closet. Their cozy feel is enhanced by a gas or wood fireplace and stunning views with glorious sunrises that you can enjoy on your balcony. In the morning a little basket of freshly baked muffins and coffee arrive will at your door.
9. Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke
Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke is a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation. This full service resort features luxurious guest rooms, exceptional dining experiences and a world-class spa.
Rising above the Pacific Ocean, this waterfront resort offers breathtaking views of Sooke Harbour, Sooke Basin, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains. Conveniently located near unique local attractions, including the Sooke Pot Holes, French Beach, and the West Coast Trail, the resort is perfectly situated to inspire a truly West Coast experience.
With activities ranging from sight-seeing, scuba diving, hiking, cycling, fishing, kayaking, whale watching, zip-lining, and much more, Sooke is a scenic destination that you will find to be Greater Victoria’s best-kept secret. Guests are also encouraged to borrow complimentary bikes, sporting equipment, board games, and beach toys for added enjoyment.
10. The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa
Set along lush golf greens and framed by Vancouver Island’s rugged mountains, The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa, Victoria offers stunning natural beauty and laid-back comforts.
While this is not a boutique hotel it is a very good choice in the area, particularly if you collect or spend Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points. The charming harbor city of Victoria is just 25 minutes away.
Test your skills at Canada’s only resort to feature 36 holes of Nicklaus Design golf. Indulge in a beauty or wellness treatment at the accredited on-site Spa. Other options include a gym or outdoor heated pool. With natural slate flooring, warm wood accents, and balconies for enjoying the scenery.
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