A Stay-cation Steeped in Local Flavor, Luxury, and Sustainability

✨ Win your own two-night stay in Fairmont Gold at the Fairmont Waterfront! Details are at the end of this post, but trust me, you’ll want to read every word before you enter.

A Seamless Start to a Gold-Level Escape

Check-in on the Fairmont Gold floor was a breeze. There’s a private check-in desk exclusively for Gold guests, making arrival feel personal and effortless. From that first moment, everything felt calm, curated, and truly special.

Our stay began with bottomless brunch at ARC Restaurant, and what a start it was. ARC’s signature brunch offers unlimited small plates, each a perfect bite of seasonal, locally inspired flavor, alongside a mimosa flight that deserves its own spotlight.

My favorite was the rose and lychee mimosa, delicately floral with dried rose petals on the glass. The others, including citrus, tropical, and berry-inspired flavors, were equally refreshing and artfully presented.

Among the standout dishes:

• The Smoked Salmon Rösti, layered with creamy perfection

• Chicken & Waffles, crisp and decadent

• The Pulled Pork Benedict, rich and satisfying

• And those warm biscuits with honey-infused butter topped with sea salt, easily one of the best flavor combinations I’ve ever had

Even better, the honey used in both the drinks and dishes comes straight from the Fairmont Waterfront’s rooftop apiary, where over a quarter million honeybees live and thrive.

Fairmont Gold: Elevated Luxury Above the Harbour

After brunch, we settled into our Fairmont Gold room, where the windows framed sweeping views of the waterfront, Canada Place, and the constant rhythm of ferries, helicopters, and cruise ships gliding across the harbor.

A bottle of Fairmont honey gin awaited us, crafted with honey from the rooftop hives and distilled right here in BC. It was the perfect welcome, tying together the story of sustainability and luxury that defines this property.

The Gold Lounge felt like a sanctuary above the city. Throughout the day, it offers snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments. In the morning, there’s a deluxe continental breakfast featuring smoked salmon and freshly baked pastries, and in the evening, chef-inspired canapés paired with an honor bar stocked with premium wine, beer, and spirits.

I fell in love with the Nespresso machine that poured lattes on demand. I think I had four before noon. And the lounge’s outdoor terrace? It’s spectacular, with panoramic views of Coal Harbour and the Convention Centre, perfect for sipping tea as the sun dips behind the mountains.

Province-to-Plate Dining at ARC Restaurant

That evening, we returned to ARC Restaurant for their signature Province-to-Plate dinner, a three-course experience celebrating the very best of BC’s seasonal bounty.

Each dish featured local, sustainably sourced ingredients, many grown right on the hotel’s rooftop pollinator potager garden, paired beautifully with BC wines that enhanced the flavors of each course.

I began with an apiary cocktail, made with rosemary from the rooftop garden and infused with their house-made honey gin. Every sip and bite reflected Fairmont’s commitment to place, quality, and sustainability.

A Perfectly Vancouver Day

The next morning, after breakfast in the Gold Lounge, I took a leisurely walk to Gastown, stopping to watch the steam clock and browse the local shops. I picked up a few gifts at Shop Makers, then returned for afternoon canapés and desserts in the Gold Lounge.

As an All Accor member, I took advantage of their complimentary gym-wear program, which provides workout clothing in your size at no extra cost. The fitness centre in the hotel is well equipped and open 24/7. After a quick workout, I slipped into the rooftop pool, which is heated year-round and maintained at the perfect temperature. I stayed in for ages and never once felt chilled.

From there, I strolled to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s green roof, where I watched Canada geese foraging among the native plants, before returning to the hotel to borrow one of the complimentary bikes for Accor members, a quick and easy sign-up online.

My favorite part of the afternoon was a self-guided visit to the rooftop pollinator potager garden, an extraordinary space that grows herbs, vegetables, and edible flowers for the hotel’s kitchen and serves as a sanctuary for bees and native pollinators. You can feel the hum of life here, with lavender, kale, rosemary, and flowering thyme thriving side by side. It’s a powerful symbol of how luxury and sustainability can coexist beautifully.

Why Fairmont Waterfront Stands Out

From start to finish, my stay felt intentional, immersive, and deeply connected to place. Highlights included:

• Fairmont Gold with private check-in, exceptional lounge service, terrace views, and daily culinary experiences that redefine hotel luxury

• ARC Restaurant’s Bottomless Brunch, an indulgent, relaxed, and flavor-forward must-try

• Province-to-Plate Dinner, a showcase of BC’s finest ingredients and local wines

• Rooftop Apiary and Garden, a living example of urban sustainability in action

• Heated Rooftop Pool and breathtaking views that make you forget you’re in the heart of downtown Vancouver

If you’re looking for a hotel that balances refined hospitality with genuine sustainability, Fairmont Waterfront delivers in every detail.

Enter to Win a Two-Night Stay in Fairmont Gold

Here’s the best part: you can experience this yourself.

Fairmont Waterfront is currently running a Fall in Love with Fairmont Waterfront Contest, where one lucky winner will receive a two-night stay in a Fairmont Gold room with access to the private Gold Lounge, daily deluxe breakfast, evening canapés, and all the little luxuries that make this hotel unforgettable.

👉 Enter the contest here for your chance to fall in love with Fairmont Waterfront just like I did.

Disclaimer

This stay was hosted by Fairmont Waterfront, but all opinions, impressions, and experiences shared in this post are entirely my own.