When you first take a glance at the Vancouver skyline, The Pan Pacific Vancouver’s white sails stand out almost immediately. Situated inside Vancouver’s original Convention Centre, The Pan Pacific Vancouver is a luxury property on the water’s edge that commands gorgeous views of Coal Harbour. Funky Gastown, trendy Yaletown and the shops on Robson Street are all within walking distance from the Pan Pacific Vancouver, making it quite the desirable location for your vacation.
Go up to Pan Pacific’s rooftop, and you will spot a heated saltwater pool that overlooks the harbour, mountains and Stanley Park. It felt great to finally be able to soak up sunshine and fill my lungs with fresh air from the harbour. The pool area is a great place to relax, unwind, and replenish as they offer food and beverage service.
Pro Tip: Be sure to hit up the pool earlier than later as it is a hot spot on the property.
Being a premium property, the staff at Pan Pacific Vancouver were friendly and attentive. The guest rooms are quite spacious and comfortable with the draw being able to wake up with million dollar views. I’m a huge sucker for breakfast in bed when travelling and the Pan Pacific Vancouver did not disappoint. The breakfast service is worth the splurge and is highly recommended.
Premium hospitality brands such as the Pan Pacific do come with extra touches of charm that really make life easy for you. For instance, hailing a cab was a breeze as the Pan Pacific provides a taxi hailing service to ensure all guests hop into a taxi within seconds. You can also book many tours and attractions without leaving the property.
An Artistic Adventure Nearby
In the building over from The Pan Pacific Vancouver, is the Immersive Imagine Van Gogh Exhibit. The exhibition is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Massive walls flank the space on which Van Gogh’s life’s work is projected onto to the tune of classical music. A glance down at the floor and you realize that even the floor is part of the art installation as it too changes patterns and textures to pair with the artwork dancing across the walls. It is a sensorial experience that is worth making the short walk over from the Pan Pacific. The exhibit has been extended until September 7, 2021, so there is still time to reserve tickets.
Pro tip: Purchase your tickets in advance. You will need to book a time and be on time for this exhibit.
Dinner with a View at Dockside
For dinner, I made my way over to Granville Island, an oasis of creatives, food and artisans. A large part of Granville Island consists of local studios sharing their craft and passion.
We dined at Dockside on their relaxing terrace. The striped tents gave me total cabana vibes and made me feel like I had escaped to a beachside resort. The team at Dockside did not disappoint with their elevated menu that highlights fresh local ingredients.
Our table started with the Niçoise, a rare-seared and confit tuna garnished with gem tomatoes, niçoise olive, green bean, egg and mustard vinaigrette. We also shared a gorgeous pickled and smoked beet salad that came dressed with a sherry vinaigrette, chèvre and pistachios.
For mains, we indulged ourselves in carbs. The Amatriciana was a comforting red sauce pasta that got its depth from the guanciale, pancetta and dried chillies. It is hard to go wrong with a risotto and the Pea Risotto was no exception. Fresh green peas were folded into a creamy Padano cheese sauce with pancetta, basil and sorrel. I could not leave Vancouver without sampling some fresh seafood, especially since I was dining and staying by the water. The Halibut was so fresh that I could still taste the sea in every bite I took of the flakey fish.
Vancouver is a wonderful locale for your next vacation due to the endless options the city has to offer. Whether you wish to reconnect with nature, dazzle your tastebuds, indulge in retail therapy, or endeavour into art and culture. The food scene is spectacular as there is a real focus on locally sourced fresh ingredients and seafood. Our stay at the Pan Pacific Vancouver was the perfect escape with a location that made it seamless to explore, shop, dine, and appreciate art.