Spark Winter Romance at these 10 Luxurious Vancouver Spots

Looking to take a new love interest somewhere special this winter? Continue a tradition of romantic getaways with a long-term partner? Or maybe even find the perfect spot to propose?

A weekend in Vancouver makes a romantic trip for couples in any season. But there’s something about the rain-washed streets, warm lights glowing through misty skies and crisp forest-fresh air that make winter an especially atmospheric time to visit.

Shake out your umbrellas and step into these top-of-the-line hotels, spas and restaurants for a cozy couples’ escape from the chaos of the season.

Hotels for Romantic Getaways

JW Marriott Parq Vancouver

Start with dinner and drinks at one of JW Marriott Parq Vancouver’s eight on-site restaurants and lounges, all overseen by James Beard–nominated restaurateur Elizabeth Blau and her husband Kim Canteenwalla. Next, try your luck at the 72,000 square-foot casino (private salons available). Then, stargaze from the swirling foam of the rooftop hot tub. End your night in one of their five-star suites, with clean, modern styling and panoramic views over False Creek from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Fairmont Pacific Rim

Whether you’re planning a vacation or a staycation, Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Grand Romance Getaway package offers a luxurious way to spend quality time together. A complimentary bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne, chocolates, breakfast in bed and a late checkout time all set you up for a memorable winter weekend… even if you decide not to leave your room.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Take a date to a classy winter wonderland at “The Castle in the City” in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown core. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver always pulls out all the stops during the holidays. Even if you aren’t staying here overnight, it’s worth stopping in for a seasonal cocktail at Kringle’s pop-up lobby bar or a Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea at Notch8, all surrounded by glittering lights, Christmas trees and festive greenery.

Best Vancouver Spas for Couples

Fairmont Spa - Downtown

Consistently ranked one of the top spas in Vancouver, Fairmont Spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim offers a world class spa experience with city and harbour views. Enjoy the Jacuzzi, mineral bath, dry cedar sauna and steam room in the 8,500 sq ft fifth floor spa, or head up to the sixth floor for a Nordic hydrotherapy circuit.

Incorporating the four elements and the sights, sounds and scents of the local geography, the two-hour Rainforest Ritual package will soothe and energize your bodies. A Pacific sea salt scrub, soak, full-body massage and a purifying glacial clay mask for face and feet are followed by a healthy lunch and a celebratory glass of Moët & Chandon.

Miraj Hammam - South Granville

Arriving at Miraj Hammam, you may think you’ve somehow stumbled through a portal from rainy South Granville into Morocco. Canada’s first hammam (traditional Middle Eastern spa) has been delighting guests since 2001, and has been voted one of the top 50 spas in Canada. Enjoy a steam, scrub and romantic couple’s massage followed by a cup of mint tea in the tranquil lounge.

Circle Wellness - Granville Island

Complete privacy and serenity await at the self-guided spa circuits of Circle Wellness on Granville Island. Discover deep relaxation in each other’s company with an open-air shower, natural cedar soaking tub, Himalayan pink salt “wellpod,” cold plunge and heated riverbed stones.

Restaurants for Cozy Winter Dining

Ama Bar - East Vancouver

Moody, minimalist, modern. Ama Bar, a cocktail lounge and raw bar on East Vancouver’s up-and-coming Fraser Street, is named for Japan’s legendary female pearl divers. The immersive space features a glowing orange bar, bioluminescence-inspired light installation and a lightbox display of a blue-washed diver.

Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge - Downtown

Cozy up together in classic old-world glamour at Bacchus in the Wedgewood Hotel, where the fires are roaring, the decorations are festive and pastry chef Samson Iva-Fellows is crafting towers (or tiered trays, to be precise) of delicacies. The Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, served on weekends only until January 11, features a set menu of sandwiches, cakes, pastries and sweets. If you like, enhance your meal with the addition of caviar, oysters and champagne. Book online in advance—this popular event is likely to sell out.

Elisa - Yaletown

At Michelin-recommended Elisa, start with oysters or organic caviar from the raw bar before moving onto thoughtfully sourced steaks, perfectly grilled over local BC birch, apple and alder woods. A bottle from the extensive, multi-award-winning wine program is a must. Linger over a slice of warm Valrhona chocolate cake or a platter of artisan cheeses, or stroll through the light-strung streets and historic brick buildings of Yaletown, a commercial warehouse and railyard district turned boutique shopping district.

Glowbal - Downtown

During the winter, the covered patio at Glowbal transforms into a romantic bubble of greenery, trees and fairy lights, warmed by atmospheric towers of live fire. The wide-ranging menu has something for everyone. Snack on steak tartare, burrata or crab cakes or go big for a special occasion with a whole Canadian lobster, a chilled seafood tower or Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef.