Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver Hotel Review: It’s Worth a Stay

The Fairmont Pacific Rim was one of many glass skyscrapers lining the Coal Harbour waterfront in downtown Vancouver. But it was the only one with strips of text lining several stories of the 22-floor facade.

In 2-foot-tall, spaceless, lowercase Helvetica Bold lettering, each line read, “lying on top of a building…the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street.”

The installation by UK artist Liam Gillick was the first of many indicators that the Fairmont Pacific Rim celebrates art and design.

The second was the vibrant BMW coupe in front of the entrance, which looked like a page from a comic book. According to the hotel’s Instagram page, pop artist Jeff Koons hand-painted the fancy car.

From fashion and music to sculptures and paintings, the Lobby Lounge showcased all types of art.

High-end fashion was displayed on mannequins in glass boxes and hanging bird cages. Nestled in a corner was a stage with a piano and drum kit, played by a range of musicians on the rise. Spinning figures of children stood over 6 feet tall on top of a marble fireplace.

The Lobby Lounge also has a raw bar serving sushi and cocktails.

“It’s commonly known as Vancouver’s living room because it’s so popular for locals,” the hotel representative told BI.

I wish I’d had more time to hang out in the lobby and listen to live music while munching on sushi.

You can think of Fairmont Gold as a first-class experience. It’s an elevated section of the hotel on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd floors with premium rooms and its own mini lobby lounge with complimentary snacks throughout the day.

“Essentially, the Fairmont Gold product is like a club floor,” the hotel rep told BI. “It is a brand-new product for us, which we’re super excited about.”

Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Gold experience launched in March 2025.

The rep said the design of the lounge and rooms was inspired by Vancouver’s natural beauty. Floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the lounge, offering views of the harbor, skyline, and mountains.

I was surprised to learn that breakfast was made to order rather than served buffet-style.

I ordered scrambled eggs and chicken sausage and paired them with toast, fruit, and fresh orange juice.

The eggs were soft and fluffy, just like I like them. All the ingredients tasted fresh and filled me up without spending a dime.

If I had stayed longer, I would have liked to try more of the complimentary breakfast dishes, like the brioche French toast or the avocado toast.

With custom furniture and unique decor, this was one of the most beautiful hotel rooms I’d ever stayed in.

I was immediately taken by the handblown glass Bocci chandelier, which had air plants peeking out from the bulbs. I sank into the custom velvet couch in front of the windows, and warm accent lighting made the space feel even more luxurious.

Out on the balcony, I marveled at the grand views of the harbor, spotting seaplanes, yachts, and skyscrapers sitting beneath mountains.

My bedside table had an oil diffuser, a smart tablet with room controls, spa booking capabilities, and in-room dining services.

The framed TV across from the bed was a whopping 75 inches with a Bose sound bar. I appreciated the small details, too, like the leather box that held the TV remote and lifestyle magazines with elegant spreads highlighting architecture, photography, design, travel, and more.

In the evening, an attendant came by for turndown service, where I selected premium pillows and oil scents from a menu.

Each Fairmont Gold room has an oversize bathroom coated in black marble, with two sinks, a lit mirror, a glass shower with two showerheads, and a deep bathtub topped with a resin tray.

A separate toilet room with a sliding door was at the back of the bathroom. The toilet was luxurious, with a light beaming inside the bowl and an upscale bidet with options to heat the seat, change the water temperature, and a dryer mode.

The bathroom had luxury amenities from Le Labo toiletries to a Dyson hair dryer that I fell in love with. After five minutes of use, my damp hair, which drapes past my waistline, looked like it had just gotten a blowout.

The five-star Fairmont Spa set a calming mood upon entering. Warm lighting beamed through thin wood panels with a soothing water feature against a wall.

In addition to massage, facial, and meditation treatments, the spa has several amenities, including a mineral bath, fitness center, Jacuzzi, and infrared sauna, among others.

There’s also an outdoor relaxation lounge with gravity chairs and views of the surrounding city.

During my stay, I didn’t have time to book a spa treatment, but I’ll be sure to do so next time.

From November through April, a portion of the pool deck transforms into the Nordic Spa, which moves guests through a range of temperatures with a cedar plank sauna and cold plunge pools.

“It’s very popular for sports teams and muscle recovery,” the hotel rep told BI.

Botanist looked like a restaurant inside a greenhouse. Dining tables were surrounded by living plants, lit by floor-to-ceiling windows.

“The menu is inspired by the Pacific Northwest, so everything is hyper-local,” the hotel rep told BI.

The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner.

The menu features sustainably sourced proteins like wagyu beef, grilled octopus, and black pepper-crusted salmon. It also includes hand-cut pasta, locally sourced produce, and lobster Benedict.

“This hotel is a platform for creativity,” the hotel rep told BI. “We blend influences of art, music, and fashion.”

The art in the Pacific Gallery rotates every three months.

During my visit, the exhibit was Angela Teng’s Colourwork, a series where crocheted acrylic paint acts as yarn. The vibrant art popped in an otherwise white room.

I’ve stayed in so many luxury hotels that they sometimes blend together in my mind. However, the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s art-forward aesthetic made this a booking I’ll be thinking about for years to come.

Next time I’m in Vancouver, I’ll spend my whole trip at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.