Fairmont Empress

The Fairmont Empres s in Victoria, British Columbia is a true gem of luxury and history. As soon as you arrive, you’re greeted by the imposing grandeur of this historic building, which majestically overlooks Victoria’s harbor. Often affectionately called “The Empress,” this hotel has an almost magical allure, combining old-world elegance with modern luxury.

Arrival

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the porter, who took the car keys and retrieved our luggage from the car. We headed to the reception, where check-in was efficient. As part of our membership, we received a voucher for a complimentary drink at the bar. This made for a great start to our stay. We booked through Virtuoso, but unfortunately, a room upgrade wasn’t available.

Room (#534)

Our room had a beautiful view of the harbor. The room was lovely, with a kind of bay window and high ceiling. In the bay window area, two chairs are placed for enjoying the view (though you might want to turn the chairs to face the window). The room includes a bed, two dressers, and a closet for clothes. It’s functionally furnished. The bed was so comfortable that it was almost hard to get out of it in the morning!

The bathroom, however, is extremely small. It’s barely big enough for one person. The sink is very low, and the toilet is situated right next to it—be careful not to drop anything from the sink into the toilet. The shower is in the bathtub, making it somewhat challenging to navigate.

Restaurants & Bar

The Q-bar is excellent. The service is impeccable. We used the voucher and were informed of the extensive selection of drinks included. The bar itself is impressive, with a large variety of drinks available. This is one of the best bars in Victoria.

The restaurant is okay. We had a meal here but didn’t feel it warranted a detailed review. The food was good but not exceptional.

Spa & Gym

The gym is large. The restaurant is okay. We had a meal here but didn’t feel it warranted a detailed review. The food was good but not exceptional.

The sauna is located in the changing room. It’s small, fitting about four people, and has no relaxation area. It’s an electric sauna with ample supervision.

Location

The location of the Fairmont Empress is ideal for exploring Victoria. The hotel is right on the Inner Harbour, giving you quick access to scenic walking trails, charming shops, art galleries, and the famous Butchart Gardens. It’s a perfect base to explore the city and nearby nature.

Breakfast

Breakfast is very good and served a la carte, with a variety of dishes on the menu to suit everyone. Service varied; one day we received top-notch service, while the next day we felt ignored, and it took a long time for anyone to attend to us. Each staff member has their own section, and those who are attentive don’t seem to cover for others. This is a bit unfortunate.

Overall

We had a pleasant stay; it’s an ideal place to stay if you’re visiting Victoria. It’s a large, old hotel, but it isn’t outdated—it was renovated a few years ago. If we return to Victoria, we’ll stay here again.

You get the best of both worlds: the charm of the past combined with modern luxury.