We stayed for three wonderful nights at Barclay House. Its location in the heart of charming downtown Vancouver is excellent. The house is a short walk away from many shops and restaurants. Public transportation for the farther destinations are also walking distance away.

The house itself is beautifully renovated, with invitingly comfortable common areas. We stayed in the "Forest" room, which was very well decorated and furnished. If there weren't so much to do in Vancouver already, we can easily imagine spending more time in the house and garden themselves.

Unfortunately some of the windows in our room are just meters away from the windows of a nearby apartment complex. Even though the window levels of the two buildings are offset, we felt the need to keep the curtains of those windows closed most of the time. One of the evenings we were there, our neighbors in the apartment complex had a noisy, late party. Luckily closing our windows, which were well-insulated, allowed us to continue sleeping soundly.

But it is the service level at Barclay House that made our stay particularly special. We enjoyed the half-bottle welcoming champagne, the convenient bottles of water we can take for our walks, the nightly cookies, the ever-changing breakfast menu. (And had we been back early enough, I'm sure we would have also enjoyed the evening sherry as well.)

The staff was friendly and helpful, notably Dennis, who offered us advice on where to buy shoes, where to find a good Thai restaurant late in the evening, where to get good oysters, etc.. Even though we arrived so late at night, he cheerfully checked us in and made us feel immediately welcome. He was very good to us, and if you ever meet Dennis, ask him to sing you a song!

P.S. To the management: Perhaps moving the computer out of the dining area would improve both the computer usage and dining experience. And Dennis deserves a raise!

My son, Alex, and I just spent a wonderful 3 days at Barclay House in Vancouver. The hospitality and accommodations were outstanding -- and the very central, but lovely and safe location on Barclay Street, cannot be beat. Most everything is just a walk away. The house itself is a mesmerizing blend of old and new. This 3-story Victorian has been beautifully restored and carefully appointed to enhance its historical charm. However, beyond being very comfortable, the furnishings reflect discriminating taste and refreshing modernity within the historical surrounds. The result is bright and bold rooms filled with light and appeal. The full breakfasts were scrumptious, with great service from the staff (so much more enjoyable than the "breakfast bar" B&B's we sometimes find). What most impressed us about Barclay House was the gracious hospitality from our host, John-Jay, and his staff. John-Jay gave us a personal orientation to this wonderful city and was most generous with his time in helping us plan our days to get the most out of our visit. His cheer and hospitality were an unexpected and wonderful addition to our stay. As a frequent B&B traveler, I can assure that guests will enjoy a great BC getaway by making Barclay House their home-away-from-home in Vancouver.

PS - If you can, try to stay in "The Peak" room....very spacious and just wonderful !

We have just returned from a five day stay in Barclay House and cannot speak highly enough of the hospitality we received from Mette (on behalf of JJ) and the rest of the staff. From the initial welcome to the final farewell the team did everyting they could to make our stay as pleaseant as possible. The public rooms were comfortable and very well decorated. We stayed in the Beach Room which was large, bright and extremely comfortable. I have already recommended BH to my brother who is travelling to Vancouver in November, hopefully his itinerary will allow him to experience the BH hospitality.

Our first five days in Vancouver were spent in the Sutton Place Hotel - luxurious, comfortable but big and soulless. Small privately run B&B's like Barclay house leave the big boys standing in terms of delivering the personal touch. We called up to leave a bag in Barclay House whilst we flew to Vancouver Island, not a problem - like everything else with the BH Team.

It was a pleasure to have experienced the Barclay House hospitality.

Val & Dave Kidd
Aberdeen

My husband and I recently traveled to Vancouver along with another couple, and stayed at Barclay House in the West End. The hotel boasts a terrific location (just steps away from shopping, restaurants, etc) and is close to Vancouver's "hustle bustle" yet is still on a quiet tree-lined street. The decor is hip yet classic - those looking for either a cozy B&B experience or a hip experience will find something to like here. We stayed in the Mountain Room, which was tastefully furnished, although a bit small for two people to maneuver about with luggage. The breakfasts were excellent, and served by our charming hosts Mette and Dennis - both of whom were very friendly and eager to assist. They provided nice recommendations for things to see and do, and went out of their way to ensure our needs were met. Each evening a basket of warm cookies awaited us, and the inviting front porch served as a great gathering place to sit for a few minutes before heading out to explore the city. We did not have a rental car (we spent most of our time walking about the city) and so parking on this residential street was not a concern for us.

If you are looking for a hip hotel within walking distance to many Vancouver sites, and like the personalized attention of a small Inn, I would recommend this B&B.