Hotel Europe
Hotel Europe
3.5
About
Once billed as the best hotel in the city, this 1908 flatiron building is one of the world's best examples of this style of triangular architecture. Now used for government-subsidized housing and not open to the public, the hotel still has its original Italian tile work and lead-glass windows. The glass tiles in the sidewalk on Alexander Street once provided light for an underground saloon.
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Gastown
A visit to Gastown is like turning back the clock and stepping into a bygone era. With the distinction of being Vancouver's oldest neighborhood, the many plaques that stud the cobbled streets of Gastown tell the story of its colorful past, giving Vancouver's history a more lively presence here than anywhere else. Having been originally founded around a popular worker's saloon, it's no wonder that today some of Vancouver's best micro-breweries, creative cocktail joints, and corner bars can be found in this area. Classical charm suffuses its many vintage boutiques and the brick-built structures that an army of creative professionals call home.
How to get there
- Stadium–Chinatown • 8 min walk
- Waterfront • 9 min walk
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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2,937 within 3 miles
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669 within 6 miles
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3.5
29 reviews
Excellent
2
Very good
16
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
0
springbank
Greve, Denmark3,900 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The building features a typical Edwardian design, with a blonde brick façade, bold cornice, Classical-style columns, and elegant glasswork visible just above the main floor.
Situated on a triangular lot, the building is designed in the flatiron style.
The building was constructed in 1908-1909. Situated on a triangular area formed by Powell Street and Alexander Street, beside the Maple Tree Square in Gastown, And becoming the first reinforced concrete structure in Canada and the earliest fireproof hotel in Western Canada.
Situated on a triangular lot, the building is designed in the flatiron style.
The building was constructed in 1908-1909. Situated on a triangular area formed by Powell Street and Alexander Street, beside the Maple Tree Square in Gastown, And becoming the first reinforced concrete structure in Canada and the earliest fireproof hotel in Western Canada.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Copl12
72 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
This building is a true beauty, it would be great if the city of Vancouver used it for something other than low cost housing. It sits at the end of gas town and should be the show place of the entire area. Extreamly pore planning on the part of Vancouver. A boutique hotel would be a much better use of this grand lady.
Written 9 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,721 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This flatiron-style 6-story building stands out in Gastown's Maple Tree Square because of its unusual architecture for the area. The brick-faced structure went up in 1908-09 as the first reinforced-concrete building in Vancouver and borrowed some elements from New York City's famous flatiron building, which opened in 1902. Though I think the architects did an excellent job in placement of the building on a narrow triangular lot, I especially appreciate how this lovely Canadian heritage building contrasts with the sea of tall glass high-rise condos that have come to symbolize Vancouver.
Hotel Europe no longer serves as a hotel. It was renovated in 1983 for use by low-income residents as lodging. The Affordable Housing Society manages the 84 units.
I do not recommend making a special trip to see this building unless you have a great interest in architecture. But most tourists come to Gastown when in Vancouver, so it is worth a quick stop for a look when there. A good place to capture a photo is by the statue of Gassy Jack in the square.
Hotel Europe no longer serves as a hotel. It was renovated in 1983 for use by low-income residents as lodging. The Affordable Housing Society manages the 84 units.
I do not recommend making a special trip to see this building unless you have a great interest in architecture. But most tourists come to Gastown when in Vancouver, so it is worth a quick stop for a look when there. A good place to capture a photo is by the statue of Gassy Jack in the square.
Written 15 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hermes_NL 🇳🇱
Amsterdam, The Netherlands21,534 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
Hotel Europe is the Flatiron building of Vancouver Gastown. It was built in the years 1908 and 1909 by Parr and Fee architects and converted to Affordable Housing in 1983. It is a quite iconic building close to Gassy Jack in Gastown.
Written 21 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
New Westminster, Canada3,330 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
As is the case with many older (100+- years) buildings, they are still functional, so have not been made into museums or are tours of the interior permitted. Such is the case here. So, enjoy the exterior, since you are in this interesting part of town anyway.
Written 3 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
finglaspete
Dublin, Ireland2,518 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
Quite surprisingly, from other Canadian cities I have been to, Vancouver is quite blessed with a diversity of varied architectural gems, this being one of the more memorable ones.
I suppose I would be sounding rather parrot fashion if I was to say like nearly every other reviewer that it looks similar to a certain building in New York, it doesn't really, number one this is 6 floors high, the other one is a skyscraper of 23 floors, the other thing is the New York building is triangular, shaped like a flat Iron, as the name suggests, this building is not the same shape. In fact it would if anything remind me of something you would see in the city centre in most mid European Capital cities, maybe hence the name of the building gives a clue away?
Anyway, what a fine looking building, really like it!
I suppose I would be sounding rather parrot fashion if I was to say like nearly every other reviewer that it looks similar to a certain building in New York, it doesn't really, number one this is 6 floors high, the other one is a skyscraper of 23 floors, the other thing is the New York building is triangular, shaped like a flat Iron, as the name suggests, this building is not the same shape. In fact it would if anything remind me of something you would see in the city centre in most mid European Capital cities, maybe hence the name of the building gives a clue away?
Anyway, what a fine looking building, really like it!
Written 6 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W U
Bc78 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
This has to be the one of the most photographed buildings in Gastown Vancouver. I adore its majestic presence.
Written 13 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IAN D
Wigan, UK26,149 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
Looks like a much smaller version of new York flatiron building. It used to be a hotel but those days have gone.
Written 11 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bl0ndie72
Ko Samui, Thailand3,469 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Back in it’s hey day, Hotel Europe was probably quite special. However these days it has been converted into flats.
Wouldn’t bother going out of my way for this ‘attraction’.
Wouldn’t bother going out of my way for this ‘attraction’.
Written 24 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sashakeena
Vancouver, Canada11,837 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Suggest to everyone that you need to come down to this part of Gastown and get a selfie with this iconic building! Easy to locate well worth your time!
Written 26 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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