Vancouver's Versante Hotel Sets a New Luxury Benchmark for Airport Accommodation

The Versante Hotel is a 14-storey boutique luxury hotel situated in the city of Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver where the international airport is located. The hotel is less than 10 minutes by car from YVR, and 30 minutes from Downtown Vancouver by car or Skytrain. (The nearest Skytrain station, Bridgeport, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel.) If you prefer to get around the city on two wheels, the Versante Hotel also offers complimentary bike rentals, as well as e-bike rentals for an additional charge.

While the Versante Hotel opened in July 2021, in the space of three years, there has not been a single airport hotel in Vancouver that managed to match the level of service, comfort, and modern luxury that it offers. Even the well-established Fairmont Vancouver Airport, widely purported as the best airport hotel in North America because of its unmatched location inside the airport, could learn a thing or two from the Versante Hotel — especially when it comes to decor.

I’ve stayed multiple times at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport and while there’s no denying that it’s extremely comfortable and full of great amenities, it needs a refresh. The reception is dark and sleep-inducing, and the guest rooms are beige in every sense of the term: they lack color, dynamism, and originality. The rooms’ patterned carpets are sad and tired, and the bathrooms and their bizarre saloon doors have an outdated look.

Compared to it, the Versante Hotel is a breath of fresh air.

The rooms at the Versante Hotel are not only bright, fun, and creative, with colorful walls and patterned wallpapers, funky furniture, and unconventional touches like poodle-shaped lamps, but they also have modern, fully equipped bathrooms that offer natural light and great views. Most importantly, they have laminate flooring instead of the dreaded carpet, displaying a cleaner, more contemporary look.

Photo: Morgane Croissant

Photo: Morgane Croissant

Photo: Morgane Croissant

Photos: Morgane Croissant

The room I was staying at offered lots of space and was furnished with a king-size bed, a desk, and a stylish couch, all of which I made use of during the one night I was there. There was also a much-appreciated wireless phone charger on each the bedside tables and a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer in the bathroom — telltale signs that this hotel is very much keeping up with the times. As expected, the decor was fun and uplifting. My room was located on the 11th floor, providing views of the surrounding skyscrapers and the two parallel runways at YVR. Even the shower had a floor-to-ceiling window, and because the windows are especially tinted, you can soap up in privacy. Using the freestanding tub is another way to make the most of this very cool bathroom.

Of course, the Versante Hotel would not be a luxury hotel if it didn’t have a gym and a pool, and it delivers on both accounts.

Photo: Versante Hotel

On the sixth floor, there’s a 24-hour fitness studio decked out with all sorts of torturous-looking devices, including the ever-so-chic-and-trendy Peloton bikes. Needless to say that after a full day of transatlantic and transcontinental travels I didn’t try out any of the equipments, but it’s there for the travelers who have that kind of motivation.

Photo: Versante Hotel

On the same floor, just outside of the gym, is a rooftop terrace where there’s a heated saltwater pool, a jacuzzi, and loungers and umbrellas so you can fully relax. (note that the pool is open year-round.) That’s the kind of amenities I’m more on board with but by the time I had settled in my room, it was time for my dinner reservation at Bruno, one of the on-site restaurants.

Photos: Versante Hotel

Photo: Versante Hotel

Bruno is located on the ground floor of the hotel, on the left before reaching reception. It’s a good-size dining venue that attracts locals, as well as hotel guests, which in my book is always a good sign. While there were a few tables available when I was there in early August, I would strongly recommend to make a reservation beforehand so you’re sure not to miss out on the delights on offer.

When a restaurant’s cocktail list includes five non-alcoholic options, it’s hard for me not to do a little dance — especially after having spent nine hours sucking on boxed tomato juice and falvorless tea — but I resisted for the sake of the other patrons and my reputation as a civilized guest. I opted for the delicious Bruno Punch, a refreshing mix of passionfruit, orange, grapefruit, lemon, and pineapple that was perfect for a hot summer’s night.

Photo: Morgane Croissant

Photos: Morgane Croissant

I had made sure to let Chef Will Lew know that I was a vegetarian when I made my booking earlier in the summer, and he crafted an entire exquisite meat-free meal for me. There was a mozzarella and tomato salad accompanied by a croissant bun to start, followed by green risotto, parmesan broccolini, and gnocchi in cheesy tomato sauce. The desert, a dainty and delicious strawberry tart, was the best way to finish this lovely meal. Every dish was beautifully presented, but I was especially fond of the edible flowers. The menu at Bruno is seasonal and changes with what the local farmers and artisans with whom the chef works can produce.

While Bruno serves dinner from 5 PM to 10:30 PM, it is also opened for breakfast and brunch.

Cask is a whisky-focused venue. Photo: Versante Hotel

But Bruno is not the only food and drinks venue at the Versante Hotel, there’s Alaïa the trendy penthouse bar opened from Thursday to Saturday from 9 PM to 2 AM; Cask, an intimate and classy whisky-focused venue that also serves elaborate snacks in the style of a Japanese Izakaya, opened from Wednesday to Sunday from 6 PM to 2 AM; and Yandoux Patisserie, an elegant high tea room opened daily from 10 AM to 6 PM.