The Sylvia Hotel is certainly no stranger to the affections of heritage lovers. After all, it’s one of the most recognizable and accessible historic buildings in the West End. Given its proximity to the always-popular English Bay, thousands stroll by the hotel each season on their way to the beach or through to Stanley Park. They are greeted with a beautiful brick exterior, a familiar neon sign, and a wall of ivy that’s been the subject of more photos than one can imagine. Like any heritage building, however, there’s plenty of history inside, too.

One of the unique characteristics of the Sylvia is that since its construction in 1912, the site hasn’t undergone any significant structural changes. Owner Abraham Goldstein, who famously named the site for his daughter, initially wished to build a hotel at the site, but was denied a permit. Not one to let this gorgeous seaside spot go to waste, he instead opened the Sylvia Court Apartments in May, 1913.

William P. White, a Seattle-based architect, designed the building in a style typical of the time, featuring 8-storeys of brick and terracotta, with decorative entablature along the top and above the second floor. Inside, original granite and marble mined from Alaska quarries adorn the entrance and the suite hallways. Intricate Art Deco handrails and rich wooden details add a unique touch to a space that offers guests (and their pets!) a home away from home.

The exterior brick recently had to be restored when the grout began to settle. Decades worth of paint was removed, the original bricks were re-pinned, and the Sylvia now boats a fresh new finish. The Virginia Creeper vine, planted by the apartment building’s first tenant, Mrs. Kenvyn, also acts as natural shield against harsh weather.

By the mid-1930s, The Great Depression necessitated the apartment’s conversion into an apartment/hotel, with individuals relying on short-term stays. During WWII it was again repurposed from suites to single rooms as lodging for English Bay’s Merchant Marine crews. The property has been bought and sold many times over the years; the current owners took possession in 1960 and began to operate it as a full-service hotel.

The Sylvia is full of stories, including this interesting tie to dining and cocktail culture: in 1949 the top floor became the “Dine In the Sky” restaurant, advertised by a huge sign atop the roof. And the first place in the city to be awarded a liquor license, the Tilting Room, opened here in 1954 (where the Sylvia Restaurant and Lounge now sits). In keeping with the hotel’s popularity with pet owners, the beloved children’s book series, Mr. Got to Go, is based on a famously friendly cat that once called The Sylvia home.

The hotel management’s commitment to preserving the building’s historical appeal is evident in the little details. These include key-locked doors, the delightfully steep fire escape stairway, original windows and stained glass, and the front desk key rack. It’s charming nods to the past like these that seem to have guests returning year after year, and have kept the Sylvia a celebrated city landmark for over a century.

Special thanks to Ross Dyck at the Sylvia Hotel.