Rosewood Hotel Georgia

The film business in Vancouver is booming. Which is why it’s surprising, and a delight, to realize that a landmark hotel like the Rosewood Hotel Georgia — then simply the Hotel Georgia — hosted the likes of Laurence Olivier and John Wayne. Marlene Dietrich showed up at reception with an entourage and forty suitcases. Bing Crosby slept here, as did Elvis, and Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra, and the Rolling Stones. Katharine Hepburn, who dined in the privacy of her room and, of course, only wore pants, reportedly introduced the very concept of “room service” to the hotel, and singlehandedly modified the ladies’ dress code.

Since the roaring twenties, the Georgia, with its in-house jazz radio station and innovative design and technology, was indeed a symbol of old Hollywood glamour on Canada’s west coast. The Rosewood chain purchased and renovated the property, reopening the hotel in 2011. The hotel’s original elegance has been particularly well-preserved in the polished dark-wood lobby and in the 1927 Lobby Lounge, the retro-inspired cocktail bar that pays homage to the Georgia’s opening year.

156 guest rooms and suites, redone in a crisp color palette of pale blue, cream, and chocolate brown, are thoroughly modern, but with the sort of lavish amenities that remind you that movie stars slept here. Those are Italian linens by Rivolta Carmignani, yes, and bath products by Ancient Secrets/Beauty Through Balance; even the most standard rooms feature huge picture windows, Bose stereo systems, Nespresso machines, and bathrooms with walk-in rain showers and heated floors. At the top of the line, the Lord Stanley Suite and Rosewood Suite come with private rooftop terraces that feature plunge pools and outdoor fireplaces. Fit for royalty, indeed. (Did we mention that some of the hotel’s very first guests were Edward, Prince of Wales, and his brother George, the Duke of Kent?)

It’s safe to say, however, that the indoor saltwater infinity pool — and adjacent Reflections restaurant — were not yet in place when the British royals first passed through. Nor the Sense spa or state-of-the-art fitness center. On the ground level, the sleek Hawksworth Restaurant is something of a hot destination on Vancouver’s culinary scene, with nearby Bel Café offering exquisite macarons and artisanal teas. Should you wish to explore the surrounding neighborhood, forget concierges and consult the Rosewood curators. Sarah McLachlan is one. The multiple Grammy award-winner — this hotel clearly still has a way with superstars — suggests visiting India Town and the Granville Island Market.