Calgary, CanadaDowntown
Fairmont Palliser
Edwardian railway hotel
Downtown Calgary, Canada
Opened
1914
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Classic LuxeOutside the door
The house
AccorEdwardian railway hotel
This is Calgary's original grand dame, retaining the formal manners and high-ceilinged ceremony of the passenger-rail era.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The grand old Fairmont Palliser recently celebrated its hundredth birthday, which means it’s got a century of experience as the grandest, most lavish hotel in Calgary.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Calgary Tower stands right next door, and the brick storefronts of Stephen Avenue sit one block north.
The rooms
Renovated bedrooms blend traditional wood furnishings and quiet neutral palettes, keeping the generous ceiling heights and proportions of the original 1914 floor plans.
The indoor pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A heated indoor swimming pool and whirlpool sit among classical white columns and blue-lit deck seating.
Gym and steam room
Precor cardio and strength machines fill the mirrored fitness centre, steps from a co-ed eucalyptus steam room.
Restaurant
Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar
Restored vaulted ceilings arch over curved leather booths, where the kitchen prepares Alberta prairie fare beside the original fireplace.
It's all elegance at the Fairmont Palliser, a butterscotch-brick Edwardian. Past a red-carpet entrance lie the mahogany beds and plush carpets you'd expect in a hotel that earned the British Crown's Heraldic Badge.
At the table
Breakfast tables are set with fruit and pancakes, and afternoon tea arrives on tiered pastry stands.
How it began
The hotel takes its name from Captain John Palliser, the 1850s explorer who surveyed western Canada for the British government.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.