From the Vancouver city guide in OutCity’s Winter/Spring 2013 issue.
HOTELS
Blue Horizon Hotel: In the heart of Robson Street’s famous shopping and entertainment strip, this 31-story tower offers a lot considering its reasonable rates. See the full listing here.
The Burrard: Savvy proprietors Andrew and Lee Rennison snatched up an old motor inn and gave it a $3 million face-lift before relaunching it in 2011 as the Burrard. See the full listing here.
Delta Vancouver Suites: Poised as it is between the city’s financial district and the convention center, this solid bet for longer-range business travelers contains 225 rooms spread over 23 floors. See the full listing here.
Fairmont Pacific Rim: Occupying the lower 22 floors of a shiny 48-story tower completed just before the Olympic Winter Games, the Fairmont Pacific Rim ranks among city’s most desirable addresses. See the full listing here.
Sandman Suites: You really can’t get closer to Vancouver’s gay clubbing scene than this all-suites tower in Davie Village. See the full listing here.
Sunset Inn & Suites: Sure, it has an excellent location just a block from Davie Street (easy stumbling distance home after a big night on the town), but this gay-popular hotel has a lot more going for it: cavernous 500-square-foot (and up) suites with hardwood floors, designer rugs, full kitchens, and plush pillow-top king-size beds; a small fitness room; free Wi-Fi and Continental breakfast; and self-serve laundry (even the soap is free). See the full listing here.
DINING
Salt Tasting Room: A slice of country French sophistication tucked down a Gastown alleyway, Salt is a natty loved-by-locals spot that lets you sample superb artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and fantastic wines. See the full listing here.
NIGHTLIFE
The Cobalt: Straddling southeast downtown and southwest Strathcona, the Cobalt is a former den of punk-rock abandon that’s been spruced up of late just enough to make it nice, but (thankfully) not to the point of obliterating its former dive ambience. See the full listing here.
1181: In a perfect world, all trendy gay lounges would resemble this one. See the full listing here.
Five Sixty: One of Vancouver’s largest dance venues, downtown’s Five Sixty is always LGBT-friendly. See the full listing here.
