The Versante Hotel in Richmond, British Columbia, opened its doors in June 2021, and I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a staycation there.
As the first-of-its-kind luxury property in the city of Richmond, Versante is a refreshing addition to the city’s hotel scene, and I was excited to see firsthand what all the fuss was about.
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Versante Hotel – Booking
During peak times, guests can expect to pay around $450–550 (CAD) per night, while rates dip to $300–400 (CAD) during times of lower demand.
As an independent hotel, using a fixed-value points currency, such as Scene+, TD Rewards, or CIBC Aventura, can be helpful to offset the cost of your stay.
You’ll also want to keep an eye out for any promotions through Visit Richmond, as you’d be eligible to use a gift card to cover some of the cost of your hotel stay when one of their regular promotions come around.
For full disclosure, the Versante Hotel was generous enough to host me as their guest during this stay, with a view of learning about the property in the lead-up to our Prince of Travel Signature Event in May 2023.
Versante Hotel – Location
The Versante Hotel is nestled within the charming city of Richmond, British Columbia, just a short distance from Vancouver International Airport.
The immediate area is a mix of residential and commercial buildings, which means that there isn’t all too much happening in terms of a scene nearby.
The nearest attractions to the hotel include the Richmond Night Market, Richmond Olympic Oval, and Richmond Nature Park, all less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel. While the hotel is not within walking distance of Vancouver’s prime attractions, it’s still relatively easy to access Downtown Vancouver from the hotel, giving you access to all of the attractions in the Metro Vancouver area.
If you’re heading downtown, it’s about a 20-minute drive from the hotel, or you can take the Canada Line, which is a quick and easy way to get to the heart of Vancouver. Bridgeport Station is just a seven-minute ride away on the Canada Line, and from there, it takes about 20 minutes to reach Waterfront Station.
Once in Downtown Vancouver, you’ll be able to easily reach key attractions like Stanley Park, Granville Island, the Vancouver Aquarium, or Gastown.
Finally, if you’re flying in or out of Vancouver International Airport, the hotel offers a complimentary luxury shuttle service to and from the airport, making your trip even more convenient.
Versante Hotel – Check-in
The Versante Hotel is located on Bridgeport Road, and occupies 14 stories of Richmond’s new International Trade Centre. The main entrance is an understated design, with only the simple signage of “Versante Hotel” and a few small, intricate patterns adorning the entrance.
Stepping into the hotel is when the fun begins, and you’re transported into a vibrant lobby, inspired by a Chinese night market. Bold colours stand out among eccentric seating arrangements and funky lighting fixtures, and ample light floods into the space through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows.
Adding to its bold character are the various art pieces scattered throughout the lobby, such as the stunning chinoiserie rug by renowned Vancouver artist Andy Dixon and the captivating charcoal sculpture by Marie Khouri.
There’s a central seating area, complete with a full-length couch and two swanky armchairs. Tucked into the corner of the lounge is additional seating.
The public bathrooms, which are accessible via stairs, are suspended in an elegant millwork oval above the lobby and were among the finalists for the best restroom contest in Canada.
The unisex bathrooms feature Chinese night market-inspired lanterns on the ceiling, black and white marble accents, and brass lion head door knockers on each stall.
Finally, one can’t ignore the pink pod that serves as the hotel’s check-in desk, adding a quirky touch to the innovative design.
Approaching the check-in desk, we were offered two welcome drinks. The hotel associate then confirmed our stay at the Deluxe Corner King Room, and we completed the formalities. After a quick and easy check-in, we headed up to Room 1204.
Versante Hotel – Deluxe Corner King Room
In contrast to the lively interiors of the hotel, the hallways are starkly black, with an interplay between shadows and light. The rooms and suites at the Versante Hotel are divided into five unique themes that speak to the individual personalities within social media: the Creative, the Wanderer, the Active, the Social, and the Individual.
The Deluxe Corner King Room is located on the quieter, north-facing side of the hotel, and ranges from 500–520 square feet in size. On the left-hand wall, there is a bed flanked by two bedside tables that are adorned with funky mushroom shapes.
Here, you’ll find custom controls for the room’s window tint, allowing for fine-tuning of the natural light that flows inside the room.
A playful custom wall covering features an ethereal koi fish design and serves as a lovely backdrop to the king bed.
In the right-hand corner, you will find a contemporary full-length leather couch, while a lengthy light wooden desk is positioned adjacent to it. Above it is a wall-mounted flat-screen TV.
For a touch of comfort, two plush robes have been provided in the closet space. Adjoining the closet is a pantry equipped with a Nespresso coffee maker.
Moving on to the bathroom, I noted its striking black design. A stunning floating dual vanity features beautifully lit arched mirrors and vessel sinks that catch the eye.
Within a single wet room is a free-standing bathtub and rain shower that are beautifully tucked into the corner, with an exterior window. Lastly, the toilet is positioned towards the front of the bathroom and housed behind its own glass chamber, providing an added layer of privacy.
For an elevated touch, the rooms and suites at the Versante Hotel are equipped with Red Flower bathtub amenities and Dyson hair dryers. Overall, I thought that the Versante Hotel’s bold design was reminiscent of the style of W Hotels, complete with similarly snazzy colours and décor.
As a corner room, the Deluxe Corner King Room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls, providing ample natural light. However, the surrounding area is currently quite bare, offering limited views for the time being until more development is complete.
Versante Hotel – Breakfast
In the morning, I enjoyed breakfast at Bruno, the hotel’s all-day dining venue, located on the hotel’s ground level. Breakfast is served à la carte from 6:30–10am Monday to Friday, and 7–10am on Saturday and Sunday.
Bruno can be accessed through a revolving door at the front of the hotel or from the entrance inside the main hotel. The restaurant has a modern ambiance that’s chic yet intimate, with contemporary design elements and playful and colourful accents.
The restaurant focuses on West Coast-inspired communal dishes. Notably, Bruno is a sustainability-focused restaurant that offers a farm-to-table dining experience, using locally sourced ingredients from nearby British Columbia farmers and artisans.
In addition to the à la carte menu, there was a selection of pastries available for purchase.
I indulged in the eggs Benedict dish, served with mashed fried potatoes, and washed it down with a frothy cappuccino.
Versante Hotel – Dining
In addition to Bruno, the hotel also boasts a very strong range of additional dining venues.
Alaïa is the penthouse lounge and event space on the 12th floor. This is Vancouver’s first caviar-focused lounge, so you can indulge in world-class caviar flights and bites paired with Champagne, sake, or vodka.
The restaurant is adorned with a dark monochromatic look that’s quite photo-worthy, featuring a pin-striped feature wall, lofty ceiling, and plush décor. Additionally, there’s a wrap-around patio that offers views of Richmond and would be a great spot for a drink or two.
During our stay, we tried the seafood platter with Champagne at Alaïa. The platter was beautifully presented with an assortment of fresh seafood, including succulent shrimp, juicy oysters, and salty caviar to top it off.
Just around the block in the Club Versante building, you’ll find two great spots to eat and drink: Cask Whisky Vault and Acre Through the Seasons.
Cask Whisky Vault is a fancy whisky lounge that boasts an impressive collection of single malts, bourbons, and blended whiskies. They’ve also got some Japanese-inspired dishes on the menu, like truffle potato okonomiyaki, jumbo prawn tempura, and dry-aged beef tartare. While I didn’t visit Cask on this stay, I’ve enjoyed a very nice whisky tasting flight here in the past.
Then there’s Acre Through the Seasons, a brand-new fine-dining restaurant that just launched in April 2023. This venue focuses on contemporary cuisine with a farm-to-table twist.
Versante Hotel – Other Facilities
The fitness centre is accessible 24 hours and is a spacious, clean, with a bright and airy space thanks to its large windows. There’s ample workout equipment, including cardio Peloton bikes, Life Fitness cardio machines, and weight training equipment.
My partner Jessy came down for a workout during our stay, and she mentioned she enjoyed using the facilities.
A standout feature of the hotel is its remarkable 25-metre indoor pool and whirlpool located on the rooftop, which is open year-round and maintained at a comfortable temperature of 31˚C.
On a clear day, the rooftop pool offers views of Mount Baker to the south and the River Rock Casino and Capstan Village to the northwest and northeast, respectively.
Additionally, the Versante Medi Spa is a full-service on-site spa that offers a range of treatments and services, such as massages, facials, and body treatments.
Lastly, if you wish to explore the surrounding area on two wheels, the hotel provides complimentary bike rentals for guests’ enjoyment.
Conclusion
The Versante Hotel stands out as a premier new hotel option in the vicinity of Richmond and Vancouver International Airport, complete with vibrant colours, natural light, iconic furnishings, and intricate design.
Moreover, the hotel offers a quartet of impressive food and drink options – Bruno, Cask, Acre Through the Seasons, and Alaïa – which are popular among the local clientele and well worth a visit even if you aren’t staying at the hotel.
It’s exciting to have a new high-end hotel available for quick stays before or after a flight out of YVR, or indeed for passengers who are transiting through the airport on an overnight stay.
The only downside is that the surrounding area lacks any real action as there’s not too much going on; however, the property is poised to evolve into a vibrant hub in Richmond with the emergence of new developments in the coming years.
