Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni

Rooms and decor

Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni sits at 1128 West Georgia Street in the heart of downtown, right next to Robson Street. It opened as the Shangri-La Hotel in 2009 inside Living Shangri-La, a 62-storey building that is the tallest in Vancouver, designed by James KM Cheng. On 1 July 2025 it rebranded to Hyatt, so you can now earn World of Hyatt points. The hotel occupies the top 15 floors (floors 5-19) with 113 rooms — boutique next to the Pacific Rim. Rooms start at the 39-sqm Premier and run up to the 200-sqm Specialty Suite, with an Asian-influenced look in brown, gold and red tones that mixes Canadian and Chinese artwork. Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows framing downtown, Coal Harbour or the North Shore mountains, plus Frette bedding. The marble bathroom comes with a rain shower, a separate tub, a heated floor and L'Occitane products, and there's a Nespresso machine in the room. Real reviews on Trip.com (9.1/10) and Booking (9.0) mostly praise the view and the fact that the service still feels like the old Shangri-La.

Food and amenities

The heart of the hotel is the year-round heated outdoor pool on floor 5, open 06:00-23:00 daily — heated to 28°C so you can swim even when it's snowing, with a jacuzzi and poolside cabanas. The Asian-inspired spa still runs at the old Shangri-La level, with a hammam, a vichy shower and a couple's treatment room; a 90-minute signature treatment is about $205-330. Carlino Italian is the new main restaurant that opened in 2025, serving Italian food, wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta from chef Filippo Vetere — the Sunday Brunch is around $47 a head and the pasta tasting menu is the highlight. Xi Shi Lounge is the lobby bar for classic cocktails and afternoon tea at about $40 a person. There's a 24-hour fitness centre too, with a Pilates studio and a sauna. The overall score lands at 9.0/10.

Location and getting there

Hyatt Downtown Alberni sits at 1128 West Georgia Street, about as well placed as it gets for walking to everything. Robson Street is right at the building, a 1-minute walk. BC Place is a 5-minute walk — the closest of any 5-star to the stadium. Coal Harbour is 7 minutes on foot, the Vancouver Art Gallery 8 minutes, and Gastown 12 minutes. The Burrard SkyTrain station is a 3-minute walk, and the Canada Line runs straight in from YVR Airport in 28 minutes for about $7. Stanley Park is 10 minutes by bus. YVR International Airport is 13 km away, a 30-minute drive — figure $37-47 for an Uber, though the Canada Line is the easiest option.

Things to know before booking

A few honest notes to help you decide. First, the dynamic pricing after the move to Hyatt — some days run higher than the old Shangri-La rates, and on peak days World of Hyatt points work out better than cash. Second, the room design is starting to feel dated because the tower opened in 2009 and hasn't had a big renovation, so the 2010s Asian-luxury style strikes some guests as a little behind a Pacific Rim that refreshes periodically. Third, rates during big events or concerts at BC Place can jump from around $380-475 to $660-950 a night, so you'll want to book several months ahead. Fourth, the lower floors (5-10) look onto neighbouring buildings, so ask for floor 15 or above when you book to get the full Coal Harbour and mountain view.

Our take

Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni is the most complete pick for luxury in an iconic tower when you want to walk to BC Place — the top 15 floors of a 62-storey building, the tallest in the city, a year-round heated outdoor pool, fine-dining Italian at Carlino, and an address right on Robson Street, 5 minutes on foot from BC Place. If your trip is built around being a business traveller who wants a high-floor view, catching a game or concert at BC Place in style, or spending World of Hyatt points, this is the most fitting answer. But if you're set on a waterfront view or heritage charm, the Pacific Rim or Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will suit you better. Overall we give it 9.0/10 — best for business travellers, high-floor view lovers, and anyone who wants a luxury stay in one of Vancouver's iconic towers.