Though it’s true that art is in the eye of the beholder, there’s no denying that The Listel Hotel is one of Vancouver’s artiest properties, from any point of view. From the sculptural pieces awaiting your arrival outside the Robson Street entrance, to the art-filled lobby and through the colorful halls to your comfortable room, art is everywhere.
And, because art is personal, you have a choice. Guests can choose to stay on the Museum Floors, where each room showcases contemporary Northwest Coast Art through a partnership with the world renowned University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology. Or select a suite on the Gallery Floors, featuring modern and contemporary works by some of the world’s most esteemed artists courtesy of the lauded Buschlen Mowatt Art Gallery. The hotel’s commitment to the city’s art and culture scene is unrivaled. Be sure to save time during your stay to visit the neighboring Stewart Stephenson Modern Art Gallery, an innovative space to participate in art, interactive and social. Original, high-end artwork is produced on-site, and custom commissions can be envisioned, created and installed. Talk about a vacation souvenir!
My souvenirs of choice, however, are sensory, and have to do with the food and drink of a place. Befitting the Northwest theme, the hotel’s restaurant, Forage, is widely regarded as one of the top places to celebrate locavore dining, thanks to popular and well known chef Chris Whittaker. Whittaker excels in, well, foraging the local markets, farms and waters for the freshest seasonal ingredients, and presenting them in an unpretentious, familiar and delicious way. We enjoyed a sun-lit and cheery winter breakfast of fresh squeezed juice, tender free range eggs, Two Rivers turkey sausage hash and well-made coffee—details were spot on. And after a full day of wandering downtown (the hotel is situated in the heart of Robson Street shopping district), we enjoyed a lively room, an equally satisfying cocktail, or few, and small plates, my preference leaning towards the Northern Belle (Forty Creek whisky, egg white, mint, house-made citrus syrup) and popcorn & cracklins (self explanatory salty piggy goodness). Next time I’ll try dinner, and a taste travel through their Pacific Coastal wine list, with selections stretching from BC down through California.
Forage’s credo of local sustainability reflects the property. Their Environment Matters eco-initiative governs all operations of the hotel, and earned them a Zero Waste certification in 2011. This means that the hotel turns all organic waste into compost, they reuse all recyclables and convert all non-recyclables into electricity. The Listel Hotel was the first hotel in Vancouver to install a cutting-edge renewable energy system, reducing its carbon footprint and annual energy expenses by installing solar panels and a highly efficient heat recovery system, reducing the hotel’s natural gas use by one third.
A satisfying stay surrounded by art, local sustenance, sustainability and downtown Vancouver makes The Listel Hotel a cultural feast for all the senses.
The Listel Hotel || 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver || thelistelhotel.com
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