Pros

  • Large furnished suites with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and some city views
  • Central downtown location within walking distance to many popular attractions
  • Fitness center with cardio equipment
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Meeting room with a catering kitchen
  • Secure bike storage and parking available (extra fees apply for parking)
  • Coin-operated laundry facility
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Cons

  • No dining, breakfast, or bar
  • Kitchens aren't as contemporary as the rest of the apartments' style
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Bottom Line

The Carmana Plaza offers 96 apartment-style rooms in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The upscale suites come with fully equipped kitchens, multiple bedrooms, tastefully furnished rooms, and free Wi-Fi. In many cases, they have stunning views of the mountains or the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. There is no on-site dining or bar, but the hotel's central downtown location means that there are lots of nearby options. Other features include a laundry room, larger meeting room with a small catering kitchen, and a fitness center. Secure parking is available for an additional charge. A downtown alternative with a more traditional hotel experience and full gourmet restaurant is the Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver -- though rates are higher.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet

Oyster Hotel Review

Carmana Plaza

Scene

Apartment-style hotel that caters to business travelers and families

The entrance of the Carmana Plaza mimics the rows of office towers and high-end fashion stores along the same fashioable street. The lobby has an executive vibe with brown leather chairs and sofas set beneath enormous black drum lights. Copper urns filled with white lilies and a gas fireplace warm the space up. The business-like hallways are clean and minimal, with a muted color palette limited to gray and white. Guests tend to be business travelers or families who appreciate the upscale apartment-style accommodations and walkable downtown location.  

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Location

Right in the heart of downtown Vancouver, surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and office towers

The Carmana Plaza is located in the heart of downtown on Alberni Street, which is known for its high-end fashion shops and exclusive restaurants. However, the area does feel a bit dead on evenings and weekends once the office workers have gone home. Guests can walk to several of Vancouver's best known attractions such as the Vancouver Art Gallery (seven minutes away), Vancouver Convention Center (eight minutes away) or the shops on Robson Street (two minutes away). The seawall and Stanley Park are also close and accessible either by foot (15 minutes) or by public transit (11 minutes). Access to YVR airport is also convenient via a rapid transit line, only an eight-minute walk away. 

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Rooms

Spacious apartment-style suites with fully equipped kitchens and some dramatic views

Rooms at the Carmana Plaza are all apartment-style with furnished living rooms, multiple bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. They're available as either one or two bed suites. All are spacious and have a contemporary look with wood flooring, large floor-to-ceiling windows (some with lovely mountain or city views), flat-screen televisions in each bedroom, and splashes of bold geometric patterned wallpaper. Unfortunately, the contemporary look doesn't carry through to the kitchens which, although well equipped with a full fridge, stove, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, look tired with laminate cabinetry and white appliances. There is a desk and a chair in each room which, paired with the free Wi-Fi and city views, makes for a nice place to do some work. The corner units have the added bonus of outdoor balconies. The bathrooms are a little plain, but feature modern countertop basins, toiletries, shower/tub combos or stand-up showers, and hairdryers. 

See More Rooms

Features

A short list of features include a gym, meeting room, and laundry room

The Carmana Plaza specializes in self-contained apartments in a central location, and therefore doesn't offer many additional amenities for guests. There are a few exceptions however, such as the fitness area that has a variety of cardio machines and weights for use among several wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. The Carmana Plaza also has a meeting room that can host 20 to 30 people. The meeting room is equipped with a large dry erase board and a projector that can connect to laptops. There's also a small catering kitchen in the room. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There is a coin-operated laundry facility for guest use. Parking is available for a fee. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Carmana Plaza

Scene

Apartment-style hotel that caters to business travelers and families

The entrance of the Carmana Plaza mimics the rows of office towers and high-end fashion stores along the same fashioable street. The lobby has an executive vibe with brown leather chairs and sofas set beneath enormous black drum lights. Copper urns filled with white lilies and a gas fireplace warm the space up. The business-like hallways are clean and minimal, with a muted color palette limited to gray and white. Guests tend to be business travelers or families who appreciate the upscale apartment-style accommodations and walkable downtown location.  

See More Scene

Location

Right in the heart of downtown Vancouver, surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and office towers

The Carmana Plaza is located in the heart of downtown on Alberni Street, which is known for its high-end fashion shops and exclusive restaurants. However, the area does feel a bit dead on evenings and weekends once the office workers have gone home. Guests can walk to several of Vancouver's best known attractions such as the Vancouver Art Gallery (seven minutes away), Vancouver Convention Center (eight minutes away) or the shops on Robson Street (two minutes away). The seawall and Stanley Park are also close and accessible either by foot (15 minutes) or by public transit (11 minutes). Access to YVR airport is also convenient via a rapid transit line, only an eight-minute walk away. 

See More Location

Rooms

Spacious apartment-style suites with fully equipped kitchens and some dramatic views

Rooms at the Carmana Plaza are all apartment-style with furnished living rooms, multiple bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. They're available as either one or two bed suites. All are spacious and have a contemporary look with wood flooring, large floor-to-ceiling windows (some with lovely mountain or city views), flat-screen televisions in each bedroom, and splashes of bold geometric patterned wallpaper. Unfortunately, the contemporary look doesn't carry through to the kitchens which, although well equipped with a full fridge, stove, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, look tired with laminate cabinetry and white appliances. There is a desk and a chair in each room which, paired with the free Wi-Fi and city views, makes for a nice place to do some work. The corner units have the added bonus of outdoor balconies. The bathrooms are a little plain, but feature modern countertop basins, toiletries, shower/tub combos or stand-up showers, and hairdryers. 

See More Rooms

Features

A short list of features include a gym, meeting room, and laundry room

The Carmana Plaza specializes in self-contained apartments in a central location, and therefore doesn't offer many additional amenities for guests. There are a few exceptions however, such as the fitness area that has a variety of cardio machines and weights for use among several wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. The Carmana Plaza also has a meeting room that can host 20 to 30 people. The meeting room is equipped with a large dry erase board and a projector that can connect to laptops. There's also a small catering kitchen in the room. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There is a coin-operated laundry facility for guest use. Parking is available for a fee. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Smoking Rooms Available

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.