Hotel at the Waldorf

You get what you pay for, sure it’s old, kinda shoddy, near the worst part of town but the front desk is very helpful, there is a market and Starbucks across the street. For only $ 48 USD it’s as cheap as a hostel and lots of character. Not the place to bring a lover but fine for a one night stand date. Close to public transportation, train station, ferry, cruise ports, and hip areas. Can be noisy as there is a band most weekends, but the hotel offers ear plugs lol.
And be sure to try Yolks restaurant close by for the best bfast ever!

I stayed one night for 7 Deadly Sins on Halloween. While I understand this isn’t the Ritz-​Carlton and the staff had to deal with drunk people until the early hours of the morning that weekend, the room wasn’t even cleaned well between occupants. (1) I called the front desk to ask for a bath mat and I was told that they don’t have them at their hotel. (2)There were remnants of someone else’s hair on the shower wall. (3) I also asked if there was a problem with their WiFi because it wouldn’t connect while I was in the room, only in the hallway. I was told that they had never had any complaints of this and that if I had a contract with Shaw, that the signal would be overridden by that company. I do not have a contract with Shaw. (3)When we opened the mini fridge, someone had left milk, ice cream and something else that smelled horrible, so I didn’t touch it. While I was grateful to stay there and not drink and drive, it was kinda gross.

Really you get what you pay for, so lower your expectations. I changed rooms twice because the A/​C was working — but there was a loud audible whine associated with it. Anyway, once in the new room, there was a fridge, kettle, microwave and TV, free local calls and the WIFI worked good too — so I was all set. Great value for money. I stayed 2 weeks at the Waldorf in Sept 2015, because I needed to be close to downtown Vancouver and Commercial Drive. Just the basics, but friendly staff, restaurant (try the Waldorf Pizza), Tiki bar and DJ nightclub on site. The niteclub has DJ’s on Saturdays in the Tiki Room and no matter where you are staying in the hotel — you will hear a low level bass thumping to 2 am in the morning. Also, if you you have a room on Mclean street (view of Post Office and Liquor store side), you’ll hear truck and car noise all nite. A Starbucks just opened kitty-​corner to the hotel, there’s a discount grocery store across the street and a bus stop right outside to downtown Vancouver in 10 minutes. This hotel is NOT in downtown Vancouver — it’s in East Vancouver… you’ll have to go through the poorest neighbourhood in Canada to get to the hotel, but they keep the junkies (walking dead) out of the hotel. Just be prepared and adjust your expectations and you’ll be fine. If you’re travelling on a budget — then this is the perfect hotel in Vancouver.

1. The bar/​club next door IS SO LOUD. My floor was literally shaking from the bass. The people staying in the room across from us even left around 1am because it was too loud. We know this because we weren’t able to sleep either, not until the music finally stopped at 2AM.
2. There were NO BLANKETS. there was only two sheets on the beds.
3. I stayed in a two bed room, and there was only ONE towel. Plus the tub was not all that clean.
Unless you plan on being drunk enough to not care about sleeping in a cold room without blankets after 2am, you’re definitely going to regret staying here.

We stayed here for a couple of days before getting on a cruise to Alaska. This place was nothing special really. If you are looking to travel on a budget (as we were) this place is affordable. The pictures of rooms on here do not reflect the room we stayed in. Our room was tiny, but clean, and served its purpose. My only complaint was that on the last day we took the sheets off the bed before leaving and the mattress was pretty stained. Gross. Also, they don’t have electric locks on the doors yet, so make sure you lock your room going in and out. The hallway lighting and carpeting could really use redoing too.
The front desk staff and nice and helpful. The location is within walking distance to multiple breweries, which is why I think my husband decided to book our room here.
Don’t waste your time at the restaurant. Though the service was good, the pizza we ordered was nothing more than bread and sauce with a few pieces of mozzarella that was barely cooked. It wasn’t worth what we paid for it. We basically paid for convenience that night.

I hadn’t been to the Waldorf for quite a while (years) and my lady wanted to go check out a 90s trivia night they were hosting in their bar.
I could go on at length about this evening, but instead I’ll keep it short. WORST experience I have had in a long time.
Our food never actually arrived, in despite us being some of the earliest patrons and ordering first (we were starving) only to eventually watch practically the entire rest of the place get their food served to them. When we questioned the waitress on staff she actually had the audacity to say to us «Well, who orders food at a bar anyway?».
Yes, this was her stance.
I won’t ever come back here. Gave it a shot, this was our experience. We walked out of there hungry and upset and needing to go eat somewhere else.
Oh, and the trivia night was absolutely pathetic. No organization, and was really lame.
Avoid.

This is (I think) the only venue we have left with multiple rooms you can access without going outside. Despite changes in management they’ve continued the Long Weekend tradition of multi-​room parties that the old Lotus used to run.
After so many disappointing events at other venues that way oversell their spaces, this is a breath of fresh air.
Keep up the great work!

The two women at reception were super nice and helpful, but that’s really all I can say that was good about the Waldorf. The area is not good. The first woman that helped us outright said not to walk around. There is off street parking in a lot next to the hotel and we were assured it was safe due to the big spotlights. The room was basic. Comfortable bed, shower was okay, television got almost no channels. The room was right on the street and it was noisy. Traffic, crossing signal noise, people fighting — we barely got any sleep. If you’re going to Vancouver to do the tourist thing then this is not the place to stay. Nothing around except a discount grocery store and a Tiki bar. Even the hallway décor was depressing with big stains all along the rugs as you walked along. Pay a bit more and stay closer to the downtown.

So I am coming in on what could be the tail end of this place. Buuuuut I sincerely hope not. What a fun time!
Tiki bar was closed and I was told that was a travesty. But the downstairs was wiiiiide open. Both rooms had different bands playing which made wandering around extra fun. The bartenders were pretty awesome if I let the terrible tequila they served slide. Super fun décor and crowd!
Please don’t close.

I came across the Waldorf Hotel when I was looking to see if any bands I knew of would be playing in town; coincidentally, Faust was to be playing at some point in October, I think it was, and Cult of Youth (one of my favorite bands) was performing the following week. Getting to Waldorf looked like it was going to be creepy (it just had a general air of danger to it), but once you actually talked to people, it was a little more comforting.
The drinks were pretty decent; cocktails were boozier than most other places I’d been to and were fairly priced (downstairs). Upstairs at the Tiki bar, the drinks were decent, but more expensive than downstairs. Probably due to the exotic theme.
The actual concert-​area is pretty small; if I recall correctly, it holds about 80 – 100 people if you’re really pushing it.
The first concert we went to (Faust), it was packed, and it honestly looked like I’d just stepped into an 80s horror movie. Most of the people were zombie-​like, and the lead singer actually waved a chainsaw in my face at one point.
I didn’t think anyone was going to show up to the second concert we went to as we were the only people there for the first hour or so. It did fill up eventually, but being the only two people there for so long, we were noticed by the band and hung out with them for most of the night.
I haven’t gone to any of their events (like the Ice Cream Social), but I’m planning on going to more of them – including the Halloween zombie thing they have going on in October.

On my first visit here, I was definitely impressed.
Had a great time dancing, affordable drinks and rooms for everyone’s liking.
The only advice I have — keep an eye on your stuff. And I know it applies to any place, but I was quite shocked when a security guard passed by our table (we were dancing 2 feet away and it was my mistake — I forgot my cell on the table), took my phone, TURNED IT OFF (he wouldn’t want anyone to be able to retrieve it obviously) and slipped in his pocket. Thankfully, my friend noticed and we quickly approached this security guard and asked for the phone back. He actually hesitated!
I 100% understand that I shouldn’t have left the phone — but things happen, you forget. I just did not expect such a blatant act of theft.

Kuddo’s to the Waldorf for revamping itself from a ghetto crack-​house into a pretty swanky hipster haven. The restaurant (Nuba) feels like a natural fit for the place, and turns out some pretty good food.
That being said, the people running Friday nights here need a lesson in hospitality. Was here for a large party (30+ people) that included dinner at Nuba, and after party in the downstairs bar. That was the plan anyways…
I have NEVER been to an establishment that expects you to re-​exit the establishment after dinner to pay for cover to get into the bar. That’s right, after spending in the region of $ 2000 – 2500 on dinner/​drinks all of us were told to go back outside, line up in the guest list line, and pay a $ 15 cover to get into the bar downstairs.
Nevermind the fact that when the reservations were originally made, we were told that if you had dinner at Nuba the bar cover would be comped. Now that makes perfectly good sense, and has been my experience at every other hotel restaurant/​bar I’ve ever been to IN THE WORLD.
Seriously, Waldorf… don’t you think you’re taking this whole «non-​conformist» thing a bit to far?

Man, this place definitely deserves more than five stars.
Just to be up front, I popped two hits of mdma right before I left the house.
It was a Monday night and I wanted to get my party on so a friend referred me to the Waldorf for something called Icecream Social. The vibe there was super different. I’ve been to many dj nights in my time — trust me — from Andy Tokyo to Erlend Oye. What’s new about this place is these guys spin vinyl but play the music that my parents listened to. I can just imagine people thrifting for the newest retro find to play at this night. They dug up some amazing oldies but goodies, that one Rolling Stone song is awesome.
The dancefloor was jam packed with pretty girls, a couple not as pretty ones, but their dancing really sparked up their appeal too. Everyone was dancing and looked just as happy as I felt, was everyone else here high too? I’m not sure if there’s a dress code but some of the bartenders were wearing those old-​fashioned caps which I felt added to the whole retro ambience.
As far as the drinks go, I got two delicious whiskey colas but I set both them down at different times and couldn’t find them when I went back for them later. Fair enough. My one complaint was that the bar had a really long line so it took a while of waiting to get my glass of water refilled. That and some dude was kind of a dick when he walked into me getting loose and spilled some of his coconut thing. Everything else was definitely amazing though.
I felt like I had been time-​warped back to the 60s. Especially because my wind phone didn’t have service in there. I guess the tiki’s threw off the signal, haha!
I will definitely be coming back here on mdma not that I’m easing into this whole swing thing!

I find the Waldorf hot and cold. It’s best avoided during their big multi-​room parties, like Hallowe’en and New Years, which tend to have overpriced cover, and get so crowded that it takes 10 minutes to move to the next room. The food is only so-​so, and the staff are inconsistent — some are cool, some are clueless, and some (especially during those multi-​room parties) are horribly rude. I bought a four-​day pass to their Hallowe’en «weekend» last year, and the first night I went, the staff at the door snapped «NO IN-​OUTS ALLOWED» when I dared to open the front door for a second. Um, yeah, it’s a four-​day pass, so unless you’re giving me a free hotel room for the weekend, I’m gonna come and go as I please.
On the other hand, the Waldorf is wonderfully supportive of the arts in Vancouver, which is something of a rarity in this culture-​phobic city. They host some pretty good dance parties in their downstairs rooms, they screen art house movies occasionally, and one of their hotel rooms has been converted into a cool art gallery space. When the Waldorf is great, it’s really great. I just wish it were more consistent.

I went to the Waldorf a few Fridays ago and the highlights included:
1) Seapony, with special guest Rose Melberg! Squee!
2) Feminist bathroom hour — aka, 200 sq ft bathroom with five girls telling another girl she’s worth more than that playa out thurr.
3) Drinkin’ cider like a local.
4) The huuuuge couch along the wall, which was perfect for my hungover, tired state who just wanted maintenance cider + music.
5) Some girl yoga dancing all the way to the front and kissing all the guys aside, and also punching walls.
6) Free parking out back!
I liked how there were different floors and rooms with different events going on all at the same time — I don’t think I’ve seen that in Seattle. I would go back, but next time I want one of those rum coconuts!

This review is for the hotel, because guess what, this is a hotel! But I guess everyone wants to go to the party and not actually spend the night.
Anyhow, I chose to book a night here after reading about it in a Bön Appetit article (
). I’m not sure if any of the hipsters who frequent the Waldorf for their nightlife ever read Bön Appetit, but there might be a foodie or two in the mix, as the hotel restaurant was quite busy.
So, this place is like one-​stop shopping for the party enthusiast. (Maybe it’s a Walmart spinoff. Get it? Wal-​dorf. Wal-​mart. Eh? Eh? Never mind.)
There are 2 restaurants and a Tiki-​themed bar, as well as a music space downstairs. The hotel rooms are clean and simple, with a fun retro vibe. Bathrooms are tiled pink and go with that retro vibe. Bed was comfy, I was in a standard queen at the end of the hall. You can hear the crowds outside and a bit of the music, but it was not overly loud. Unfortunately, I was awakened at 5 in the morning to the incredibly loud garbage truck. That was far worse than the music and crowds. Plus my room was missing the bottled water and the mixed tape, plus the old stereo was not working, and I was told it was not just for show. The girl up front was sweet but not very helpful at all.
If you’re coming in sort of late, this hotel is a good spot, since you can check in, grab a drink and not worry about getting around anywhere. The area itself seems a bit sketchy at night, but the parking lot is well lit. The price is affordable, would not recommend at all for families, but instead for a group of friends or the solo traveler.

I always like to start with the Tiki Bar. It’s almost too hip and trendy for its own good. It’s such a cool place to sit back and enjoy a cocktail.
I had to grab another fresh coconut and rum drink. It’s a struggle to describe how tasty the coconut milk is with your choice of rum or tequila.
I had a blast hopping from room to room, mingling about and soaking in the retro classic yet timeless vibe of the hotel.
The sangrias were dynamite. I absolutely adore the Waldorf Hotel and its new incarnation. It’s definitely worth the trek out deep into East Van on Hastings Street.
Because of the cool vibe, offbeat locale, and blast from the past feel, the Waldorf attracts a special kind of hipster. These ones are particularly trendy and beyond irony. The Leeteg Room is a great spacious lounge-​type dining room providing an excellent atmosphere.
The food was so delicious. The Spanish eats were delightful and tasty with a special portion of sauces and cheeses. The Waldorf is a great, cultural and entertainment hub in strong contrast to the hub downtown. The great food only add to its appeal and unique cultural atmosphere.

Whoa, beneath a starry painted sky the blue tiki room enchants, with an impressive all-​vinyl DJ and salubrious Nuba eats.
Najib’s Special (Nuba’s signature cauliflower dish) is a favourite (surprise, surprise) but if you like Lebanese food, their other items will treat you well. I warn you though, their cocktails are MIGHTY strong. If you’re a fan of girly drinks, these may be too intense for you, but you can appreciate that the staff are generous with their liquor at least!
If you’re lucky, you’ll see an all ages crowd at around 9pm. It’s a real highlight to see older couples taking the dance floor to bust a move to old classics. Totally rad. I love seeing older folks having a good time

Mixing the old and new, this place has a certain unique atmosphere that I really like.
We came here for their Halloween Party, the line ups were long, but we braved the rain, and finally got in.
Enter the place. To the left, a funky Tiki room, with a royal blue light tint, with faux palm trees throughout. It’s one cool space.
We also got to tour some of the hotel’s 30 newly renovated rooms, each with a different scene, and a ‘live’ show was going on in each one. They all had a ‘tiki’ theme in the rooms. I was impressed by some of them, with flat screen tvs, clean white duvets, and the washrooms– a bit of the classic, vintage décor.
There’s also a larger café/​lounge on the main floor (run by Nuba’s Ernesto Gomez and chef Ned Bell of Le Crocodile & Lumiere), and a small hair salon (run by Barbarella Hair).
Downstairs is where all the action happens. 2 rooms, one with a large circular dance floor and tables and seats around, and the other-​a long room, with a rectangular dance floor. In between the 2 spaces-​one large bar, all decorated with the Tiki theme. There are only 2 bathrooms on this floor, teeny tiny sized though.
Very cool makeover indeed. Great to see old spaces mixing with new design to create a one of a kind space. Can’t wait to try out the restaurant here!

I was recently lucky enough to attend an event held in the fabulous Tiki Room in the Waldorf Hotel. This has got to be the best room in the city to throw a swank party. They’ve got a restored ceiling painted blue and studded with twinkly lights, vintage Hawaiian paintings, giant fake palm trees, and the piece de resistance, the coolest semicircular tiki bar. Behind the stage (or DJ booth if that’s how it’s set up) there’s a fake waterfall mirage.
The bathroom doors are hidden in the walls, and are not so swank, but they do the job.
The only thing that could make this place better was if they carried the retro/​Hawaii theme right into the drinks with some paper umbrellas or some fruit on those little plastic swords of yore. I’m picturing maraschino cherries, cubes of pineapple… Better yet, a pretty coconut for a glass. And crazy straws! C’mon, presentation!
They did make a decent mai tai, and then an eyecatching Blue Hawaiian. Unfortunately, they seemed to forget the alcohol. If I, a pretty cheap date, can still feel sober after four drinks, then the barkeep needs to tip the bottle a couple seconds longer.