"The Fairmont Empress remains a cornerstone of Victoria’s elegance, but our 2026 stay revealed a mix of historic grandeur and modern frustrations. The "Castle on the Coast" vibe is undeniable, with its grand design and historic charm. However, the floor plan is a confusing puzzle. Navigating between the reception and the guest rooms often feels like a maze, making it surprisingly difficult to find your way to exits or back to the lobby. We stayed in a standard room overlooking the Inner Harbour. While the oversized windows and scenic views are stunning, the room felt much smaller than expected for a luxury property. At a rate of CAD500+ per night, the outdated bathroom fixtures and lack of a proper shower head and bathtub were disappointing. Housekeeping and staff are the hotel's saving grace. The service is deeply personal and warm. A special shout-out to Kiera, Rachel, and Cecilia at The Bengal for their exceptional hospitality. Breakfast is currently served as a set menu rather than a buffet. While the food is high quality, those preferring a traditional spread may find the options more limited than in previous years. Secure underground self-parking is available, though it requires navigating several lower levels. It is convenient but pricey at CAD37 per day. Overall, the Fairmont Empress offers a luxurious feel and a prime location, but the aging room facilities and confusing layout struggle to fully justify the premium cost."

"Our family is just wrapping up our third annual stay at the iconic Fairmont Empress, and once again, the Fairmont Gold experience has completely captured our hearts. There’s something special about the Gold Floor. From the moment we arrive, we’re welcomed as valued guests. Nori and Karan, along with the entire Gold team, are the heart of that magic. Their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care are the epitome of hospitality. I hope they know how much their service, and this place, means to us. Of all the vacations we’ve taken over the years, this is the one our daughters ask for again and again. There’s no higher praise than that. For three years straight, they’ve chosen the Empress, especially the Gold Floor, as their favourite place in the world for a family getaway. The Gold lounge is extraordinary. The breakfast and afternoon appy spread is incredible: beautifully presented, thoughtfully curated, always fresh and delicious. We inevitably linger longer than planned, sampling everything, playing a few card games (there’s actually space for it), and soaking in the atmosphere. The large patio is stunning - such a perfect place to sit and take it all in (the harbour view = perfection). What truly sets this place apart are the moments that reflect the character of the staff. One year, our youngest daughter misplaced her very special marble (not a huge deal to us, but apparently everything to her at the time). The team found it, kept it safely at the desk, and returned it with genuine excitement (we’ll never forget the gasp when we stepped off the elevator and came face to face with the staff member who had been keeping it safe). Another time, our other daughter’s beloved pineapple earrings were left behind. Once again, they were found and carefully held until we could return. Small gestures that make an experience very memorable. Even during a slight delay in room readiness this stay, the team didn’t hesitate. Without us asking, they offered some complimentary beverages while we waited. That level of service is rare. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the rooms are beautiful. This whole property is iconic and elegant. We’ll continue coming back every year for as long as our girls ask, and likely long after that, because we love it just as much as they do. The Fairmont Empress is woven into our family story now, and we’re deeply grateful. To the entire Gold team: thank you for taking such extraordinary care of us these last few years. Thank you for safeguarding tiny treasures, for creating space to slow down and connect as a family, for the incredible food, the stunning views, and for making us feel at home every time. If you’re considering a stay, you won’t be disappointed. The Fairmont Gold experience at the Fairmont Empress truly stands apart and you’ll love it, I’m certain. We can’t wait to return! Thank you again!"

"We had an amazing time at the Fairmont Empress. We stayed for 3 nights. Our flight got in super early the Saturday morning, so we went straight to the hotel to drop our bags off and from the 2nd we stepped out of the vehicle we were greeted with kindness, I am terrible with names but the gentleman (he had a small iconic handlebar moustache that curled up) took our bags and gave us a slip and told us to go in and inquire about an early check in, we were then greeted by someone else who checked and told us to head up to the gold floor and again wish I could remember names because she was the absolute sweetest soul, she got us checked in and said they could txt us when a room was ready, we got a txt around 1pm we could go to our room (we were not expecting this early but so thankful as it was pouring rain and we were wanting a little break from the rain etc so it worked out perfectly), we were shown the rest of the gold floor, etc by the same lady that morning. She noticed we had a note that it was our anniversary the day we checked in and my birthday on day of departure. When we got to our room our luggage was already there waiting, we hung out in the room for a bit and we had a knock with the sweetest macaron treat and then later a bottle of prosecco. They also left us a card in the room wishing us a happy anniversary. We also had an amazing view of part of the harbour. The room itself was so beautiful, and was very clean, we were usually back in the room for turn down service but they always knocked and offered. The hotels location was perfect, we walked everywhere and it was pretty centralized to everywhere we went. We’ve stayed at the fairmont in Banff but this was the first time staying in a gold room and the extra cost was sooo worth it, the food was incredible, lots of selection of non alcoholic beverages too. At departure the gentleman at the front door helped us into our uber and we had a great conversation with him while waiting. All the staff we encountered really went above and beyond and we can’t wait to come back. Thank you for going above and beyond making our trip so memorable ♥️"

"Our room is not cleaned even though it was already 6 pm and when finally they came, with such nonchalant attitude, truly unlike any Fairmont hotel I have experienced before"

"The Best! Six Stars for Alexander, Michelle, Nicola and the Gold Lounge service staff headed by the ever smiling, Irwin!"