The lobby at the Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria, British Columbia
Most of the tourist action in Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, is centered around the Inner Harbour. And not surprisingly, there are plenty of places to stay within walking distance of the waterfront. One of the best lodging choices – for a combination of stylish rooms, good service, and a great location – is the Magnolia Hotel and Spa, a 64-room downtown boutique hotel just two blocks from the Inner Harbour.
Here’s the scoop:
Curated Experiences at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa
The seven-story Magnolia Hotel and Spa feels like it’s been around for decades – in a good way. The staff are seasoned and helpful, and the property feels like it’s an established part of the neighborhood (although built in the 1990s, it’s a youngster by Victoria standards).
The Magnolia helps guests get the most out of their time in Victoria with a series of complimentary curated maps and trails, highlighting things to do and ways to experience the city.
There are shopping trails and cycling trails, running routes, cocktail and craft beer tours, and maps of the Victoria’s historic sites. There are walking maps with suggested routes for exploring, and even a “rainy day trail” with ideas for things to do when the sun takes a hiatus.
Ask at the front desk for information about these curated experiences and for other suggestions of things to see and do.
Magnolia Hotel guest rooms mix traditional and modern elements.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
In the guest rooms, furnishings are traditional, as befits Victoria’s persona, decorated in soothing greys, creams, and taupes. All the rooms have mini-fridges, Nespresso machines, and tea kettles.
The best rooms (and also the most expensive) are on the sixth and seventh floors. They have slightly higher ceilings and fireplaces, and they’re high enough to have peek-a-boo views of the harbor.
Views of British Columbia‘s Parliament Building from the Magnolia Hotel
Tip: Rooms 606 and 706 are the best of the best – corner units with views of the Parliament Building illuminated at night with twinkling lights.
The Courtney Room at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa
Dining at the Magnolia Hotel
The Courtney Room, the hotel’s lobby level restaurant, is open throughout the day, for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner, as well as weekend brunch.
For hotel guests, rates include a Continental breakfast with your choice of yogurt with housemade granola and fruit, oatmeal with nuts and seeds, or a “protein breakfast” with smoked salmon, aged cheddar, and a hard-boiled egg. A pastry and coffee, tea, or juice is also part of the meal.
If you prefer something other than the Continental options, you can apply a $15 credit to other dishes on the breakfast menu.
“Protein breakfast” at the Courtney Room
In the evening, the Courtney Room’s modern Pacific Northwest plates might range from B.C. side stripe shrimp on sourdough toast with tomato jam and fermented soybean salsa, Hokkaido scallops with black garlic velouté, and pasta with Dungeness crab, to grass-fed beef tenderloin with your choice of side dishes.
The bar crafts both inventive cocktails and non-alcoholic options, like “Spruce Juice,” a sparkling drink sweetened with syrup made from locally foraged spruce tips.
Other Services
The Magnolia provides an evening turndown service, laying out robes, filling the ice bucket, and leaving chocolates by the bed.
The Magnolia’s fitness room has the basics, including several cardio machines, and Spa Magnolia offers massages, facials, and other relaxing treatments.
Valet parking is available for a nightly charge of $40. But at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa, with its convenient location near Victoria’s Inner Harbour, you might consider leaving the car at home—especially if you follow one of the hotel’s curated trails for local food, adventure, or seeing the city’s sights.
Rates
High-season double room rates at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa start at about CAD$391/night (US$275).
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
You can also compare the Magnolia Hotel to nearby Victoria lodgings, including the Fairmont Empress and the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA.
Hotel review by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. The Magnolia Hotel hosted my stay for review purposes. This review was originally posted in 2013 and updated in 2025.
