The 10 Best City Hotels in Canada in 2017

By Stirling Kelso
July 11, 2017
Credit: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Montreal
Canada, 150 looks good on you. This year, our northern neighbor is celebrating a milestone birthday — along with the fact that it has a youthful, energetic new Prime Minister. Americans are celebrating the fact that there's never been a better time to visit, thanks to the favorable exchange rate and chic places to stay, like these top 10 urban winners.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as City or Resort based on their locations and amenities.

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa jumped from the No. 7 slot last year to No. 1, giving charm-filled Victoria some much-deserved attention. Steps from the city's Inner Harbour, the 64-room property earned rave reviews from T+L readers for its boutique feel and rooms with water views. "I have been traveling for business and pleasure for more than 50 years, and this was truly a highlight," wrote one T+L voter. "The staff are friendly and accommodating, and everything from the amenities to the location was perfect."

Across the Salish Sea, Vancouver racked up the awards with five of the top 10 hotel winners, including runner-up the Loden Hotel, a 77-room property designed with natural materials — copper, stone, and sustainable wood — and wellness-inspired beds, linens, and bath products. Amenities like complimentary local car service (in a London cab) and cruiser bikes also attract repeat guests. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia (No. 4), ideally located downtown across from the Vancouver Art Gallery, is also home to one of the city's best restaurants, Hawksworth.

In Montreal, the Ritz-Carlton, which originally opened in 1912 and cocoons guests in rooms with original furnishings and fireplaces, made the list, as did the Hotel Le Crystal, a downtown build with a 12th-floor spa, indoor saltwater pool, and outdoor hot tub with unbeatable city views.

For more on winners throughout Canada, scroll down.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

10. Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver

Credit: Courtesy of Shangri-La

Score: 89.23

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

9. Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City

Credit: Courtesy of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Score: 89.39

3 of 10

8. Fairmont Pacific Rim

Credit: Courtesy of Fairmont Pacific Rim

Score: 90.05

Advertisement

4 of 10

7. Ritz-Carlton, Montreal

Credit: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Montreal

Score: 90.12

5 of 10

6. Hôtel Le Crystal, Montreal

Credit: Courtesy of Hotel Le Crystal

Score: 91.58

6 of 10

5. Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver

Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Score: 91.91

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

4. Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver

Credit: Courtesy of Wedgewood Hotel & Spa

Score: 92.07

8 of 10

3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City

Credit: Courtesy of Auberge Saint-Antoine

Score: 92.32

9 of 10

2. Loden Hotel, Vancouver

Credit: Courtesy of Loden Hotel

Score: 92.33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

1. Magnolia Hotel & Spa, Victoria

Credit: Courtesy of Magnolia Hotel & Spa

Score: 93.69

Minutes from the waterfront, this 64-room property taps into the elegance you'd expect from a European-style hotel but displays the warm, friendly service Canadians are known for. Every stay feels personalized thanks to complimentary amenities (breakfast bites in the lobby; cruiser bikes and detailed neighborhood maps to explore town) and a staff that's happy to fulfill special requests ranging from fresh flower deliveries to decadent bubble baths. Repeat guests also love the property's seven-room spa — one of the city's best — and its central location. "The bay, dining, and shopping all are within walking distance," noted one T+L reader. Hand-wrapped chocolates from Victoria's Dutch Bakery, delivered at turndown, are a sweet souvenir.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Stirling Kelso