Eli Orzessek enjoys 'the king of rooms' at this hotel in a beautiful Canadian city.
Check-in experience: Canadians are very congenial people and if you've never visited before, this will be your first impression. The staff were lovely and helpful, but not too full on, which was perfect.
Room: I stayed in one of the BC Suites on the 6th floor, described as "the king of rooms" by the night concierge, who helped me out when my key card stopped working. It's a beautiful, large suite, with a collection of First Nations art to admire contained within the room and a large outdoor patio to chill out on. I had gorgeous views of the north shore of the city, with a pastel pink sunrise to the west when I arrived in my room.
What's in the neighbourhood? It's on West Robson St, which is the swankier side of Vancouver's main drag. There's plenty of interesting places around to eat and lots of good shopping. It's also not far from the beautiful Stanley Park.
Food and drink: The Listel has two eateries and both are excellent. Forage offers farm-to-plate cuisine, with a focus on local, fresh food. It's open for breakfast and dinner. Next door is Timber, a traditional Canadian pub. I particularly enjoyed the deep fried cheese curds, the selection of interesting beers and Joni Mitchell on the Canadian-themed playlist.
