Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver

Although dwarfed by surrounding high-rises, the Met exudes classiness from the moment guests step through its small, illuminated canopy entrance. Although the reception desk is narrow, the fresh flowers on the shiny ebony table, gold art installation, and large spiral staircase give the room a big presence -- there is no real seating area in the lobby, however. Diva restaurant and bar -- with its vaulted ceiling, delicate hanging lights, three dimensional wheel walls, and oversized oil paintings -- is artistic and elegant all at once.

The Met sits on a block with other luxury hotels, across the street from the Pacific Center Mall (Vancouver’s largest), and within a few minutes' walk of the financial district. There are restaurants within walking distance, as well as culture nearby: Vancouver Art Gallery is just around the block, and Queen Elizabeth Theatre is up the street. The lovely Stanley Park is about a 15 minutes' walk away, and the hotel is a five-minute walk from the waterfront. From the bus station, two minutes down the street, Vancouver International Airport is about 30 minutes away.

The Met has nearly 200 guest rooms, including 16 large suites. Features include down duvets and Italian linens, oak furniture, and state-of-the-art flat-screen TVs. Each room has an enormous window that opens for fresh air (and sometimes noise from busy Howe St.). Suites are huge, with spacious living rooms; some with kitchenettes. The Tai Pai Suite is a two-floor apartment with spiral staircase, grand piano, dining room with glass table, and huge patio with barbecue. All rooms have spacious bathrooms with marble floor-to-ceiling tile, dual sinks, luxury toiletries, and separate tubs and showers (with powerful jet spray). There is free Wi-Fi, and turndown service.

The Jaguar rides -- free in the morning to downtown locations -- definitely set the Met apart from nearby luxury hotels, as does its on-site squash court and putting green. Diva at the Met was once among the city’s most famous haunts, and is being revived under a new chef -- offering creative international cuisine, from rib-eye to beetroot salad. A second restaurant, Luckee by Sensur Lee, serves upscale Chinese cuisine. There is a fitness area with views, a lovely indoor pool with lots of windows, and a whirlpool. For business travelers, there are conference and meeting rooms, a business center, and free Wi-Fi everywhere. Same-day laundry services, along with 24-hour concierge and room service, are convenient. There is a paid parking garage under the hotel.