When I arrived at the Oswego Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, I exhaled that sigh of relief you only get when your hotel lands you exactly where you need to be.
The Oswego is in James Bay, one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Western Canada, and just a five-minute walk from Victoria’s Inner Harbour. If you’re arriving via ferry from Seattle or Vancouver, you can roll your suitcase to the hotel.
The neighborhood is peaceful without feeling remote, and with the Royal BC Museum, the Legislature, and Fisherman’s Wharf all within easy walking distance, you’re in the thick of it without the clamor of the tourist core.
Public Spaces
First impressions matter, and Oswego’s lobby immediately lets you know this isn’t a chain hotel doing the minimum. The front desk staff greeted me with a genuine smile.
The small reception area leads into a cozy lounge space with soft seating and shelves lined with local books and art. It’s contemporary but warm, with natural wood tones and understated West Coast elegance. There’s no oversized chandelier or gratuitous fireplace—just a confident, modern design that feels intentional. The lobby overflows to an outdoor patio.
More surprising is the chessboard and a collection of modern board games that, while theirs does not rival my personal game collection, certainly made me wish I were not on this trip solo. Who would I play Balderdash, Settlers of Catan, or Ticket to Ride with?
Room Features
The Oswego markets itself as a boutique all-suite hotel. I’ve stayed in plenty of hotel rooms where space is at a premium, so stepping into my standard one-bedroom suite at the Oswego felt indulgent. At nearly 600 square feet, the suite was more of a temporary home than a simple overnight stop.
A full kitchen (with stainless steel appliances), a desk, a living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a separate bedroom offered all the room I needed to breathe and then some. Both the living room and the small bedroom had flat-screen TVs, and there was fast wi-fi throughout the property. The latter is critical to a travel journalist like me.
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The design throughout is modern and restrained — earth tones, clean lines, and quality materials. The bedroom had a private balcony that offered views of the neighborhood. I appreciated the thoughtful touches like blackout curtains. The bed itself was firm without being stiff, with quality linens and full pillows.
The bathroom was clean and well-appointed with a full shower, separate bathtub, and eco-friendly bath products.
It did take me a minute to realize that the suite had heat but no air conditioning. This is Victoria. The air conditioning is outside. Just open the windows and the room cools right down. Ceiling fans are provided, but A/C is unavailable because it is less eco-conscious.
Food and Dining
The hotel has an independent on-site restaurant, Aegir. You can’t charge your meal to your room, but the restaurant still has the convenience of an in-house restaurant. I had breakfast there twice for an enjoyable breakfast of waffles with a side of bacon and a cup of English Breakfast tea. The restaurant also has grab-and-go breakfast items from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The menu skews toward West Coast cuisine, with an emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The dinner menu includes fresh fish, rice bowls, burgers, ravioli, and pho.
Special Features
The Oswego has partnered with two local hospitals, Royal Jubilee and Victoria General, to offer special short-term medical rates for patients traveling to Victoria for medical treatment.
Facilities and Amenities
This is where the Oswego keeps things minimal but effective. There’s no pool or spa, but there is a small, well-equipped fitness room that covers the basics: cardio machines, free weights, and yoga mats. It was never crowded during my stay, which I appreciated. It had windows looking out at a garden area.
The hotel also offers underground parking, which is a plus in this part of Victoria, where street parking is limited.
The hotel has a self-service laundry area on the 4th floor. Each wash and dry cycle costs $3. Can I just say how much more I appreciate self-service laundry than the expensive laundry service that most hotels offer? I was tempted to do laundry, even though I had enough clean clothes for the rest of my stay.
While it may lack the bells and whistles of larger resort hotels, the Oswego focuses on getting the essentials right. For travelers who prioritize space, quiet, and comfort, that’s often more valuable than a sauna or a rooftop bar.
Things Nearby
One of the best parts of staying at the Oswego is the walkability. Within minutes, you can stroll to the Inner Harbour and watch seaplanes take off or board a whale-watching tour. The Royal BC Museum is less than 10 minutes away, and I highly recommend spending time in the popular Old Town exhibit. If you’re a fan of architecture, take a slow loop around the BC Legislature building, especially when it’s lit up at night.
Fisherman’s Wharf is also close by — a quirky floating village of food kiosks, houseboats, and hungry harbor seals. It’s an easy spot to grab fish and chips and watch the world go by. Numerous restaurants nearby are worth exploring, including Fathom and 10 Acres Bistro.
If you want to explore further afield, bike rentals are available nearby, and you can easily ride to places like Cook Street Village or even the Dallas Road waterfront. Learn more about the Best Things to Do in Victoria, BC.
Destination Greater Victoria sponsored my stay at the Oswego Hotel as part of a week-long trip to Victoria. The views expressed are my own.
