The Sylvia Hotel is a grand old dame of an hotel in Vancouver. Located in English Bay and a stone's throw from Stanley Park, it's a great location if you don't want to be in downtown Vancouver (though there are trolley bus routes nearby which are pretty frequent). Originally an apartment block, when erected in 1913 it was tallest building in Vancouver and attracted affluent tenants. Converted to an hotel during the Great Depression, many of the apartments were reconfigured into rooms to provide accommodation for merchant seamen from ships anchored in English Bay. We had two visits there, each of two days, on a trip around Canada. On the plus side, the location is great, staff lovely (helpful, efficient and friendly), and everything was clean. Our room had lovely towels, and good power in the shower, and had a very comfortable bed. The restaurant (where we purchased breakfast) is surprisingly affordable for a hotel and good for evening meals as well as breakfast. The only downsides are that some of the rooms (ours included) are a little on the small side (especially compared with the North American average), and it was wwarmer than expected on our visit, and the lack of air conditioning meant the room was warm and little stuffy; we could not leave the window open as street noise from the bars and restaurants behind was a little too much. Overall, we liked the hotel but the lack of air-conditioning means that for another summer visit we would probably go elsewhere. But it would nice and cosy in winter. read more

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A venerable old hotel with much history dating back to 1912. Situated across the street from beach at Stanley Park, a lovely setting. The lobby is old school. It would benefit by lighter upholstery and carpets. Quite dark. Fortunately the rooms are brighter. We had a large room with king bed, sofa, fridge. Big windows allowed breeze and light in. There is no air conditioning. They warn you about this on all their communications. There is a ceiling fan and a movable fan if needed. There is a restaurant and bar. Did not eat there. But it looked busy. There was live music. You can also sit outside and the patio is dog friendly. Dogs are allowed in guest rooms too. Staff very friendly, particularly the cleaning folks. Our room was serviced daily even tho I didn't request it. Plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, bike rental nearby. Parking is $25 per night. read more

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Had a wonderful stay at the Sylvia. I am traveling with a small child and she received a cute children's book upon arrival which we read together to settle in for the night. Our room had so much light and fresh air, was very comfortable, and we were in a great location. The staff was very kind and helpful- my daughter didn't want to leave ! Also there is a playground a beautiful 10-15 minute walk north & very worth it (: read more

We stayed here two nights in a nice spacious room that had 3 queens, situated in the corner on the 8th floor. Staff were incredibly warm and welcoming in all of our interactions. Beds were very comfy so sleep quality was two thumbs up. Bathroom is small, water pressure okay in the sink but thankfully the shower was much better. Given we were in a triple it was a bummer they only provide 2 coffee mugs and coffee pods. There is a small fridge along with hair dryer, iron and ironing board. The location is great and very walkable to so much. The hotel is historic so it is older but not in a run down way. Would absolutely stay here again! read more

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The hotel was nice and had a comfortable feeling. The food in the restaurant was excellent! The rooms were fine, we had a corner room with a good view, the only thing I didn't like as the step up into the bathroom. Ok during the day, at night when you're unfamiliar with the room, it could be a big problem for falls. Overall we enjoyed our stay, the personnel and were friendly and helpful. Would recommend. (Oh, and the breeze at night through the windows is nice and replaces a/c much is not in any rooms. Just hope you don't have a group of teens whooping it up at 3am outside ) read more

See my review of the Sylvia Restaurant and Lounge because it's located on the English Bay side of the hotel. It's a very cozy space and they serve tasty drinks and great food. read more

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I have to give this place 2 stars: only 1 old key for the room for 2 friends staying that were doing their own thing at times, no air conditioning which was not stated at all till the night before and we were here this month and it was HOT, and an uncomfortable bed that slopped diagonally with pillow so flat, they basically weren't pillows. Charged almost $1k CAD for 2 nights and parking for this, and that was really disappointing. When we checked out, the clerk asked how our stay was and I responded, "Horrendous for the price." She stared at the floor, didn't ask any questions and didn't offer anything to make up for it so I told her what the main issues were. Still no response. Clicked on "book now" several times on their website to book a room and it wouldn't work, so had to call to make a reservation which I haven't done in decades. That should have been my first sign. My friend was adamant that we stay here due to the location. This is an old hotel. It has some charm. The location is excellent, being close to Stanley Park and across from the beach. It was originally built as an apartment building in 1913. The elevators are small and rickety. You can see where they have remodeled, cracks and such in the walls show age/wear. Even though we got the windows open, the little ceiling fan on the high ceiling and the portable fan from the 80's did not help at all with the heat. The room we were in had 2 queen beds and faced a street, but we could see the beach from the room. I had to throw a bucket of ice water on the bed both nights in order to sleep, it was so hot. Even then, since the portable fan turned itself off, I was fried. My friend was irritated about there only being one room key and the old fashioned kind at that. It was because she had planned on going on walks at the crack of dawn which I wasn't going to do and meeting others while I was elsewhere. When she asked the front desk why only one key, they told her that they have 2 keys total so if one is lost, they have a back-up, but that is it. There are no locksmiths in Vancouver, huh? I tried to watch the parade going on in Seattle while my friend was out with the key, but the ancient TV had a giant black border around the picture so it was about a 15" picture. The small bathroom didn't have enough counter space for 2 people's stuff, so mine stayed in my suitcase. No end tables for the beds except a small one between them. There was a round table and chairs which was used as a makeshift desk. The food at the restaurant was good. It is a good location for a bite to eat. read more

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We went for the iconic brunch to enjoy the ambience , English bay view and of course the brunch menu . Two of us ordered the English Bay breakfast with pancakes with blueberry , two eggs and sausage / bacon ... delicious... Service was friendly and efficient ... free parking underground . read more

THE SYLVIA HOTEL - The view from our inside table - Hotels Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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This historic hotel is amazing. The room we had was renovated though the hotel does not have AC. The location was amazing and you can walk along the water right outside the door. The restaurant was really good and they also have live music at night. I wish they had smart tv's though so we could use our streaming services. They also have parking available. I would definitely stay here agin. read more

The service was horrible. You could see that things were frantic. The waiter even said in front of us: "we are in the weeds! Tell the hostess to stop seating". The restaurant and bar combined were a quarter full (on a Friday night). The bartender's face was all scratched up staff were sweating and wiping their hands on their face and then touching everything else it was gross. The service is awful the hamburger was so so the view was 10 out of 10. read more

Traditional hotel with early to mid century charm right on the water! Sometimes you book a place in another country and think, "this will be fine," arrive and it is, you know, fine. Other times, you arrive and are so pleased you somehow made a reservation because how was it not booked solid? That was my experience with SH. I didn't realize that I'd be staying at such a charming hotel, right on the water, next to a joy-inducing art installation, and so near some of the best food in Vancouver when I booked my stay. I highly recommend the Sylvia Hotel. The ivy covering the hotel was just starting to turn shades of orange and red when I was there, but I can imagine how beautiful it must be when the season changes! That being said, it was warm when I visited in the summer (end of August) and my room did not have A/C. I was completely comfortable with the provided tall fan though, especially after putting it on top of the dresser/TV stand and faced it at the tall bed. I also want to mention that the shower was hot and the bathroom was sparkly. Another tip: Many tour providers also include transportation for their tour packages from the Sylvia Hotel. read more

THE SYLVIA HOTEL - Beautiful ivy, just changing colors at the end of August - Hotels Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I really enjoyed my stay at the Sylvia hotel! I had a lovely corner room so got nice airflow and never needed to close my curtains, as the ivy provided perfect privacy. The room was spacious and well appointed. The location was perfect, right across the street from the beach. The only thing that I could have been better is that the windows were difficult for me to open and close, but with such an old building that's likely impossible to change. Service was terrific; the front desk sent someone up to open my windows when I first arrived, and I managed by myself for the rest of my stay. Also, after 2 days I found that my car battery was dead from leaving an interior light on. Someone from the front desk brought a portable jump start box out to the garage with me and jump-started my car. Then he asked me how my car was doing when he saw me the next day. I would happily stay here every time I visit Vancouver! read more

I had a lovely stay in this hotel by the English Bay. Everything was comfortable and pleasant. There were many restaurants and bars nearby, just a short walk away. Walking by the beach at sunrise and at sunset was by far my favourite. The reception desk guy who greeted me was quick and direct with all the registration and payments, allowing me to enjoy the room and food services soon. I chose to stay here to celebrate my recent graduation from an intensive course at a local institution. The "Dine Out Vancouver Festival" offered some great discounts and gift cards. My room was around $150/night for 2 nights. Check them out every winter. You are required to put down an extra $200 as a room deposit on top of the booking prices. At the end of the bill, it came with Destination Mktg Fee: $4.00, PST Lodging tax-8%: $25.76, room tax-5.5%: $17.72, GST 5%: $18.28, depending on your room type. read more

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LOVE This Place ! My Bestie and I had lunch here - My Dear Moms old stomping grounds. I have to say from the minute we arrived (asking about parking) having lunch then drinks in the gorgeous lounge - The staff here is AMAZING !!! We had a lovely lunch with a terrific server. She had pasta I had the fish and chips OMG talk about FRESH and delicious on all points. !! Our server was professional, attentive and we both wanted for nothing. We went to the lounge and had the most gorgeous gin drinks made with lavender syrup. Our bartender was very kind to my friend and shared the ingredients for this absolutely succulent drink. I will ABSOLUTELY be staying in this beautiful hotel in the future. Thank you again to the absolutely wonderful staff here !!! Good Vibes + Good People = MAKE the difference here !! read more

This is a great Hotel in a great location. The hotel is old in age but very nostalgic. The service of the front desk was outstanding and were very helpful in answering all questions about the city. The parking was fantastic. It was close to all restaurants and shopping. In front of the hotel had an excellent park running paths to Stanley Park and more. read more

We stayed at the Sylvia for two nights while transiting from Seattle to Whistler. To start off, the location is perfect. It's located in the west end on the border of Stanley Park, and on the water. Everything is easily accessible by foot, and we spent a lot of our time walking the beautiful seawall. Although the hotel is a bit older, it had a lot of historic charm. We enjoyed the historic and romantic ambience. When we checked in, we were greeted by the very friendly and attentive staff. We were so excited to find out that they had upgraded our room to a suite. Our sweet was large, clean, and have everything we needed in it! It was so cozy, and we had such a fantastic stay. We would come back every time we visit Vancouver! read more

Stayed there often (every few months) for years as it was my go-to place in Vancouver for a room, dinner, and drinks with family and friends in the West End. Last year I called to cancel a reservation as my ferry was cancelled. But they charged me anyway. I phoned and was told they had no record of me cancelling. Did I get an email? No, guess not, but I did not think to check. Not good enough I was told. Anyway, I was out close to $200, but they lost my business, for good. read more

Location is everything! This hotel is within walking distance of restaurants. It is right across from the bay. What a view! The hotel is dated but clean. It has lots of history. Don't expect much from the room and you will be surprised. We stayed the night before our cruise. We braved paying for a taxi and took the city bus. The Canadians were kind enough to help us find the right bus. Once we got on and off it was easy. I would recommend the place for the price and location. Service was pretty good too read more

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So beautiful and charming. The only downside was no AC which we already were aware of and they provided fans which helped. It took us a bit to figure out where to get ice but other than that, it was great! Couldn't ask for a better setting! read more

The food here was great! they also had live music which was very enjoyable and it had a great ambiance. read more

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This is a fabulous little secret just off of Denman and Davie in downtown Vancouver. It is a vintage hundred plus year old hotel and the restaurant was renovated years and years ago. It's light and airy and contemporary and the service is a spectacular and have the Stanley Park eggs Benedict. You won't be disappointed and every seat has a view of English bay and the ocean. read more

I WOULD NOT BOOK HERE EVER AGAIN. AND I MEAN IT. I stayed here from April 19th 2024 for two nights. So as of the time of this review, I am still a guest here. I feel compelled to write this review due to the customer experience I received from the front desk person on the night of April 19th, 2024 around 11:50pm. One star overall for the excellent location right on the beach. Took off the rest of the stars due to the hostile treatment I got as a guest staying here. Staff seemed to treat me with contempt as if I was an inconvenient to them whenever I asked for something. My husband went down to the front desk to ask if they could microwave a glass container for us, it contained cooked turkey meat and sweet potato. We were told earlier by a front desk staff that the hotel cannot provide in-room microwaves for guests. Fine. We were told by the same staff member if we brought the food to the front desk, the staff can microwave for us. So therefore, my husband went downstair to take the glass container with the closed air-tight lid and asked for the food to microwave. The front desk person, now a new person told us their one and ONLY microwave is broken. Surely, this is very believable for a functioning historical hotel right in the heart of Stanley Park. What a joke! Now I am not new to customer service as I have worked in retail before. If you wanted to help you would. And this front desk person DID NOT. And she was just so dismissive she gave off the vibe I am sorry I cannot help sort of attitude. She first told my husband no their only microwave is broken. My husband then went to ask the restaurant. And the person there was not helpful either, saying "I don't have access to the kitchen after certain hours". My husband came back upstairs and told me they didn't want to help. I went downstairs with him because I just couldn't believe A FULL FREAKIN FUNCTIONING HOTEL CHARGING ALMOST 400 DOLLARS PER NIGHT CANNOT PROVIDE NOR HELP ME WITH MICROWAVING SOME FREAKING COOKED FOOD IN A CLOSED GLASS CONTAINER!!!!!!! This made me so livid. My heart is still racing as I type this review. We went back downstairs to ask the front desk person again and she kept repeating, " I cannot help you, I cannot help you". "And the restaurant cannot help you because they don't want to contaminate the food". Now how did she know that when in the same breath she asked my husband "You said you were going to the restaurant, what did they say?" But I thought you already knew the answer? They don't want to contaminate their food...right? Then she calls security to ask if they can help. One staff person came out and he was totally nonchalant about the request. He said, "Yea, I can do it". NOW WHY WAS THAT SO FREAKIN HARD????????????????????????????????????????????????? IT WAS A SIMPLE REQUEST AND IT TOOK SO MUCH TIME. AND WHY DID THE FRONT DESK STAFF TREATED ME AND MY HUSBAND WITH SO MUCH CONTEMPT? Was it because we were Southeast Asian and she was White? Why did she have to dismiss us, be so unhelpful, not put the customer first, and try to help us solve our problem? It was a simple request. If a White couple came and asked, would they have gotten the same response? Did she see us and food and discriminate against us? Why was it such a difficult request with so many bureaucracies attached? Was all of that animosity towards us as guests in your property necessary? I will tell you one thing, you have lost a customer and I will be sure to tell others not to stay here. read more

The old Gal is testing on her Laurels now. Needs a serious upgrade. Bedding is always an issue for me when I travel. And Sylvia missed the mark once again. The pillows are filled with what seems like a thousand cotton balls. No fitted sheets. Bunched up mattress cover. Food at the Hotel.. ok now I know there is a staff shortage.. but a 46 min wait for a burger at lunch with half a dozen other guests in the restaurant. The Breakfast Parfait was a joke at 14 bucks. Frozen mini muffins...?? The standard practice of charging guests a hundred dollars a day for ( incidentals) is standard extortion in my opinion. In my case that was 700 dollars...just in case I had a meal or a drink and charged it to my room. Something that did not happen last year when I stayed. Ok yes it's refunded when you check out.. but still an expense some can't endure and an unfair gouge.. Coming back late to the hotel one night to find a dozen guests waiting for the two extremely small elevators...as the stairs are blocked after a time at night..was irritating on its face as there is no need to block entry to the second floor at all. The location on the Sylvia can be an issue if you don't like the smell of pot or cigarettes.. Don't book a room on lower floors or at the (back) of the Hotel..just saying. No.. will not be staying at the old Sylvia again.. read more

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Great relaxed bar-style atmosphere with views of the water. Service was exceptional. The food menu was large enough to have options to choose from for everyone. Highly recommend the Korean chicken bites from the appetizer menu. During our time staying at the hotel we ate here about three times, mostly for dinner, but the breakfast menu was good too. read more

We stayed here one night. What a nice little hotel really enjoyed our time here ! They are remolding and the halls were lined in plastic and the elevators were a little scary and small but it's expected for such a historic building. Room was perfect for my mom and I we had lunch and snacks later in the restaurant. For a Sunday night it was packed especially with live music. The nachos were yummy and a okay Bloody Mary. I would totally stay here again at location right between Stanley Park and the city. Nice restaurants and bars up the street as well I really liked it here for a quiet stay! Parking $18 a day you can come and go and $100 will be added to your card for incidentals. read more

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Our five day stay was wonderful, except our last night. A family with their dog was staying next door and my husband almost called reception to complain about the dog barking around 10 in the evening. Everything else was top notch. We'll worth the money. read more

THE SYLVIA HOTEL - The Sylvia Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Historic meets the beach: That's how I would describe The Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver. I was here on business but wished I was on holiday. This older hotel is located near lots of activity and the coast which makes for great sunsets and views. The food here isn't bad either as I had breakfast with a friend of mine and it was fabulous! Better still, I was grateful for a large room with many windows. While I wish there were more elevators and greater parking, bottom line is that this fine establishment. Can't wait to come back! read more

Recently we had a wonderful time at the Sylvia on English Bay in Vancouver. Right across the street, we could mosey over to see the crowds on a warm day, walk a few blocks over, find a restaurant or a bar for an inexpensive meal or snack. The rooms at this older hotel are ample and spotless, the plumbing is newly renovated, while the restaurant and bar downstairs offer terrific fare and on Thursday night live music. Parking the car below the hotel eliminated the need to drive in traffic to see the city, so we used taxis and walked whenever possible. The staff was terrific and made our stay exceptional. Do I sound like I love this place? You bet. I have taken friends and relatives here for almost twenty years and will certainly continue to do so. read more

The history and location of this place are both super cool. Im a little let down with my room however as it is in a later addition to the building that is really just a parkade and it lacks some of the charm I was hoping for. The bathroom especially the tiled floor are in serious need of an upgrade, and the hallway is kinda shabby with lots of scuff marks to the walls. The thing that bothers me the most in not really the hotels fault. One of the first things you are asked to do when checking is is sign a damage waver including initialing to acknowledge this is a non-smoking room, Im guessing they all are, and when I enter my room the very first thing that smacks me in the face is that someone has smoked in here, maybe not the previous guest but it has the smell of many previous cigarettes enjoyed. I know it is hard to get that smell out, especially in a carpeted room, but it irritates my throat and eyes and really takes away from the enjoyment of the room. Otherwise not a bad spot, will update possibly after my week in this room. read more

I think the place has potential, but for the price I am simply not satisfied. From research I gather Vancouver hotels raise prices during tourist season, and I will be honest in saying I have no idea what business is like in the off-season. First the pros: -The staff are super friendly and eager to be helpful. -The hotel is in a great location. -There is convenient on-site parking. - The room has good blackout curtains. -Shower has plenty of pressure and hot water. Now the cons. -If this were not in Vancouver we would've gotten a much better room for the same price. At $250 US plus tax, you get a decent room in most places. - The bathroom door was missing when we checked in, but at some point in the afternoon someone must've come and replaced it. -Skylights in hall are nice, but need repair. - There are paint chips missing from the window sill. This seems to be a tiny thing, but bear with me. Everything is scratched and chipped and old. - There are few common hotel comforts. For instance there is no mini-fridge, no microwave and the only ice machine is in the lobby. -Being Vancouver, there is no AC. This would be fine as it is probably not needed all that often, but leaving the windows open means no privacy. This could be fixed with curtains covering the lower pane of each window, as the windows open at the top. I guess my biggest gripe is price for what you get. But I suppose supply is low enough they can charge what they want. read more

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We are so pleased with our stay at the Sylvia. We enjoyed dinner and breakfast in house. The staff are wonderfully friendly and accommodating. We now have found our favourite stay when we visit Vancouver. By the way the location is majestic read more

Accommodating and friendly customer service. We arrived before 10 in the morning and they let us check-in right away even though their checkout time is noon. The view from our room overlooking English Bay Beach is fantastic. This is a historic hotel with vines on its vintage brick exterior. The rooms are clean, spacious, and well cared for, but don't expect state of art accommodation in some modern hotels. read more

THE SYLVIA HOTEL - Hotels Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Well... here we are again! We're regular visitors here and although the service is sometimes erratic, some of the staff are great, and this is why we have continued to support the hotel. It's a very special place for us. Sat 14th August we arrived at 7:30pm and was turned away by Diane the new Manager, at the main restaurant entrance. There was a free table on the patio and we were told in an abrupt manner " we're closing early and we're at capacity"... no apology, just a rude woman ( not knowing this was the new manager at that time) I pointed out that there was an available seat on the patio and asked if it was possible to sit there. "No, I just told you, we're at capacity" she replied. We left and went elsewhere. Friday 20th - we arrived early evening at the main restaurant. I continued into the bar and was met with a stern, abrupt voice " you can't just walk in there, you have to wait over here! ". I said "excuse me"? and she ( Dianne the manager) Pointed at the Wait To Be Seated sign saying " there, as it says!" - which has always related to the dining area ONLY to the right of the entrance lobby. She was, again, very rude and arrogant. We have supported The Sylvia restaurant for many years and especially through the pandemic to help it survive. I only wish that a new manager would show respect to many of us who are regulars. While other regulars have all had different experiences with her, we have all found her to be rude. I can only imagine how she treats her staff if this is how she treats her regular customers. read more

No porter service, carry your bags from the curb, up the steps into the front lobby and go back in time, front desk staff friendly and informative. Amazing that this hotel/building was originally built in 1912, only 2 small elevators, enough to squeeze in 6 people at the most, fortunately only 8 floors to travel. No in room safes, all valuables can be left at front desk which has a bank security vault box system just like hotels in the old days. No a/c in the rooms so beware if you visit during the summer months. I stayed due to a recommendation from a friend, so I fully knew what I was getting in to. No bells and whistles, just pure enjoyment and living for the moment knowing you're staying in a building over 100 years old! 5 stars for the location, across the street is the English Bay Beach Park and further up the road is Stanley Park. Hungry, walk to Denman street and pick your choice of the many restaurant and bars. One of the most unique and memorable hotels I've ever stayed in, do it and you won't regret it read more

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This review is for the restaurant on 10 July. We arrived and my husband got upset that the chargers in the underground parking weren't available for restaurant patrons, only guests of the hotel. Seems kinda stupid to not want our money for that. We got to the hostess and we were asking her about if it was ok to leave our car after we ate so that we could take a walk on the beach. By this point the F&B manager showed up and was telling the hostess that someone was complaining at the front desk about not being able to plug in their car. I commented that that was us, and she said that she knew that. Why would you say someone then? Seems pretty passive aggressive to me. It was my husband's 70th birthday and the Sylvia was one of his favourite places. Despite the fact that we had made a reservation, we were taken to a tiny table in the lounge area. Things got progressively worse from there. We both ordered prime rib, medium rare. I asked for the jus on the side because they render it down and thicken it, which I don't like. No big deal in itself, just disappointing. I also ordered a glass of wine. Sometime before our meal arrived, we noticed Miss F&B was talking to our server behind the bar and pointing to us. Nice, eh? Our dinners arrived and the prime rib was medium well! I sent mine back immediately and my husband was done with the drama by that point and started to eat his. About 10 minutes later, a guy from the kitchen plopped my plate on the table and high tailed it out of there. My prime rib was medium at this point. Not only that, it was piping hot so that by placing it in the Salamander to warm, it was over done again. By this time, I had had enough and just decided to eat my dinner. On a side note, the serving of mashed potato on the plate may have been 1 cup, but likely not even that. By the time the waiter came back to check on things, he did a really quick fly by, not really interested in hearing the answer, nor was he interested in offering me another glass of wine which was almost empty. I told the waiter this as I was paying the bill. Having worked in restaurants for over 10 years, I tipped him enough to cover the tip out, but not much more. Whatever Miss F&B had said to him, I can only assume led him to believe that we were just troublemakers. My husband had said we should probably leave after the beef was served medium well. I stuck to it. I really wished now that I hadn't. We were failed by the whole experience, and had to pay for the privilege. . Our difficulty about the parking situation should not have affected the way that we were treated afterwards. It wasn't hospitality, it was hostility. Goodbye Sylvia. read more

Older hotel so expect all that comes with that... for example no AC. But overall loved this hotel. Great staff, charm, and couldn't be a better location. read more

The Sylvia Hotel is a charming hotel with a spectacular location. Our whole family was able to stay in the large suite. The beds and sheets were very comfortable. We loved the stories of the hotel cat Mr. Got to Go that are available for reading in the lobby. Yes there is not air conditioning but the rooms had fans which kept us comfortable. We would definitely stay here again. read more

Quaint* comfortable hotel full of character in a historic ivy-covered building conveniently located downtown. Walking distance to everything, good restaurants and shopping close by. Friendly, helpful staff. Pets allowed. Reasonable WiFi. Kitchenette rooms have stove, oven, full fridge, cutlery, pots and pans, and you can wash and dry dishes. *We've been coming here every year for decades. This hotel isn't for everyone. If you need fast WiFi, modern heating and plumbing, fast spacious elevators, this won't be for you. Part of it's charm is it's old and quirky with tiny elevators that only hold 3 people, and tiny bathrooms that wouldn't meet current building codes, and so on. read more

Loved our stay in this beautiful hotel. Great views, wonderful service, delicious food and drinks. Perfect location.

We spent 5 nights at the Sylvia and thoroughly enjoyed it, Our family size room was quite spacious. It felt like a condo. Windows wrapped around and let in plenty of fresh air. There is no A/C. The room was furnished well, My only complaint about the room was the bathroom sink faucet - the water pressure was terribly low. The shower was fine. And a small complaint about the two elevators. They are clearly old, which fits the historic hotel, but one broke down for a day while we were there. The restaurant, bar was wonderful. The view of the beach was perfect. The food was great and the live entertainment made for an unforgettable visit. The staff was also quite friendly. read more