Seaside apartments at the Steveston Waterfront Hotel
The village of Steveston, on the waterfront south of Vancouver International Airport, is a historic fishing port, where boats still dock to sell their salmon, halibut, and other seafood caught in British Columbia’s waters. Now, with the recently opened Steveston Waterfront Hotel, a seaside apartment lodging, this fishing community in Richmond, BC also makes a great getaway on Canada’s west coast.
Here’s the scoop:
At the Steveston Waterfront Hotel, living areas range from compact to grand.
Steveston Waterfront Hotel
Opened in late 2023, the Steveston Waterfront Hotel has two buildings, each with vacation apartments ranging from small studios to expansive three-bedroom units. The Port Building directly faces the water. In the Starboard Building, some rooms have partial water views, while others face the adjacent woods.
In both structures, the hotel rooms and suites are located on the first floor, with residential apartments above.
The hotel is designed as a limited service property. Guests check themselves in with a code that provides access to their unit. Customer service staff is available via phone or text and respond promptly to guest inquiries.
All units at the Steveston Waterfront Hotel have kitchens.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
The 32 guest rooms come in several different configurations. All are outfitted with either a kitchenette or full kitchen, including a Nespresso machine, tea kettle, and toaster.
Similar in size to a standard hotel room at 330 square feet, the studios are compact, with the main bed set very close to the entry door. While these units have a sleep sofa and nominally accommodate four, they’d be most comfortable for a couple.
Steveston Waterfront Hotel has several bedroom configurations.
The one-bedroom and larger units have full kitchens with dishes, pots and pans, and other equipment for meal preparation. They also have an in-suite washer and dryer, as well as a queen-sized sleep sofa in the living room.
All the units have loft-like ceilings and large windows that make them feel more spacious, letting in lots of light.
The bathrooms are modern, with robes provided. And since the weather along the Pacific Coast can be damp in the winter, the hotel provides umbrellas as well.
These apartment suites are proving to be popular for long-term stays, whether for well-heeled digital nomads looking for a seaside escape or for couples and families exploring the region.
Steveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf is a short stroll from the hotel.
What’s Nearby
The Steveston Waterfront Hotel is set on a seafront walkway that leads to the heart of Steveston Village. While the hotel has no food service or fitness facilities, it’s a few minutes’ walk to Fisherman’s Wharf and to the community’s many restaurants and cafes, where you might breakfast on Korean-influenced rice bowls and benedicts at Toast to Coast Brunch Bar, stop for a fish and chips lunch at old-favorite Pajo’s, or snack on Taiwanese-style shaved ice at Something Sweet.
The region’s top Thai restaurant is located next door to the hotel. Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine serves elaborate (and excellent) multi-course dinners, inspired by the principles of Royal Thai cuisine, and also offers a unique Thai afternoon tea.
Rent a bicycle or e-bike at Village Bikes and pedal the West Dyke Trail along the waterfront, where you can watch for seabirds and take in views toward the mountains.
Or visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a national historic site that shares stories of the region’s fishing heritage and the diverse people who helped build this industry.
Steveston is also a starting point for whale-watching trips with several operators, including Vancouver Whale Watch, offering excursions that depart from Fisherman’s Wharf.
And if you’re staying at a modern apartment hotel by the sea, you might as well get out on the water.
Rates
Double room rates at the Steveston Waterfront Hotel start at approximately CAD$250 (~US$180) per night, varying with availability and with the seasons. Parking in the outdoor lots adjacent to the buildings costs CAD$20/night.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Tourism Richmond, in partnership with the Steveston Waterfront Hotel, arranged my stay for review purposes.
