One of several colorful room designs at Versante Hotel in Richmond, BC
If you’re going to launch a new hotel during a global pandemic, it had better be a distinctive one.
Versante Hotel, which opened its doors in summer 2021 near Vancouver International Airport, is certainly one of a kind.
Here’s the scoop:
About Versante Hotel
There’s nothing beige about the Versante lobby.
From its window-lined lobby with a vibrant area rug, to the brightly-hued guest rooms, Versante pops with color.
This luxury boutique lodging, in Richmond, BC, just south of the city of Vancouver, is located in a complex of three newly constructed buildings; two are office towers, and the third houses the 14-story hotel.
Versante guest room
Guest Rooms and Amenities
The 100-room Versante — with 85 guest rooms and 15 suites — has five different decor schemes, all with vividly patterned wallpaper, colorful area rugs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and prints by Canadian artists Kathy Slade and Andy Dixon.
Versante’s larger guest rooms have sitting areas.
The windows in the guest rooms are made from tinted “View Smart” glass, which is designed to adjust to the light levels outside and filter out direct sunlight.
Mini-fridges, safes, Nespresso machines, and tea kettle are standard amenities. All the rooms have quirky design details, too, like lamps with a poodle for the base.
Bathtub with a view at Versante Hotel
Although not all the guest rooms have city and mountain views from the bath, the majority of the bathrooms do feature deep soaker tubs and walk-in rain showers, as well as heated floors.
Versante’s rooftop pool
Facilities and Services
Versante’s outdoor heated pool and hot tub have views toward the city and the North Shore mountains beyond. The fitness center, on the 6th floor, is lined with windows and includes Peloton bikes along with the other expected workout equipment.
The hotel offers both valet and self-parking in the indoor parking garage. If you’ve arrived in an electric vehicle, you can recharge using one of the hotel’s EV chargers.
The lobby-level bar at Versante
Versante currently has a bar on the lobby level, with a second lounge, dubbed Alaia, on the 12th floor with a spacious balcony, slated to open later in 2021.
The dining room at Versante’s Bruno Restaurant
Dining
Bruno Restaurant, on Versante’s lobby level, is aiming to make as much of a splash with its inventive food as the hotel is with its creative design.
For breakfast, your avocado toast might be topped with prawns, a soft-boiled egg, and ikura (salmon roe), while the “crab & eggs” pairs crab croquettes and poached eggs layered with prosciutto and a bottarga hollandaise.
The decadent French toast starts with a brioche that’s stuffed with passion fruit coconut cream, then sauced with a berry compote and sprinkled with candied walnuts. For something slightly lighter, try the peanut butter mocha smoothie or the housemade granola with cocoa nibs served over Greek yogurt.
Oysters at Bruno Restaurant
In the evening, Bruno offers a raw bar, with oysters and other fresh shellfish. You can share dishes like rich Kurobuta pork belly glazed with balsamic vinegar and black garlic or a summery salad of peaches, berries, tomatoes, and greens crowned with a dollop of burrata. The kitchen also turns out showstopping platters, like the 52-ounce ribeye steak with gorgonzola horseradish butter.
If you can’t decide, or just want to try it all, order the multi-course “Bruno Tasting Board Experience,” which lets you sample many of the menu’s highlights for CAD$125 per person.
What’s Nearby
Versante Hotel is a ten-minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. Hotel staff provide complimentary airport transfers.
The hotel is about a ten-minute walk from the Bridgeport Skytrain station, where you can zip into downtown Vancouver on the Canada Line in 20 minutes. Richmond itself has some of the best Chinese restaurants outside China, and the Richmond Night Market — a lively Asian-style festival of food stalls, which operates from May into October — is just a few minute’s walk from Versante.
Rates
Double room rates at Versante Hotel start between CAD$229 and $359 per night, depending on the season. Check the hotel website for special promotions. You can also compare rates and book your stay at Hotels.com.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Versante Hotel arranged my stay for review purposes.
