Abigail’s Hotel

The Abigail’s Hotel property started life in the 1930’s as an imposing Tudor style luxury apartment building. In 1985 it was completely renovated, restored, and re-purposed as an upscale hotel with a cozy “bread and breakfast” vibe. The hotel is located on the edge of downtown, nestled between the heritage homes and apartments of the Cook Street Village neighbourhood and the new upscale high-rise condos of the “Humboldt Valley”. In fact it may be perfectly situated; at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac but only 3 blocks walk to the bustling inner harbour and the tourist shops of Government Street.

Within moments we felt like this was our home and had no trouble relaxing and immersing ourselves in our surroundings.

As soon as you enter the building you’ll feel enveloped by its charm and the warmth of the staff. The service at Abigail’s is friendly and attentive, but never intrusive or overbearing. Staff seem genuinely interested in your comfort and their pride is obvious as they tour you through the common areas and the features of your room. To be honest, we’ve always been a little shy about staying in bed & breakfasts. We don’t want to feel as though we’ve intruded into someone else’s space, or lose our privacy to an overly familiar host, but the situation at Abigail’s is quite the opposite. Within moments we felt like this was our home and had no trouble relaxing and immersing ourselves in our surroundings. Casual chats with fellow guests revealed a similar comfort and affection for the place whether they were first time visitors or one of Abigail’s many repeat customers.

The main building houses 17 guest rooms with an additional 6 added in 1998 with the construction of a second building, the “Coach House”. The rooms and common areas are beautifully decorated with cozy old school European charm but modern luxuries have not been overlooked. Your room may feature a four poster bed and wood burning fireplace but you’ll also find high definition cable and DVD players, WiFi, iPod docking stations and air conditioning.

Although Abigail’s is certainly not an inexpensive place to stay, it may actually represent Victoria’s best overall value in high end accommodation.

There are a variety of rooms to choose from, each unique in its layout and furnishings. Prices for a “basic” room range from $159 in the off-season to $279 on a peak-of-summer weekend, while the premiere “Sapphire” rooms range in cost from $259 in the off-season to $389 on a peak-of-summer weekend. Before deciding that the costs may be more than you can afford, please read on to understand why they actually compare quite favourably to many other local accommodations. Also keep in mind that a “basic” room at Abigail’s is among the finest rooms in the city and the Sapphire Rooms are stunning; suitable for unforgettable wedding nights, royal visits, or lengthy stays by reclusive billionaires who wish to live out their final years channeling the spirit of King Henry the VIII.

Abigail’s Hotel is the quintessentially Victorian experience. Charming, classic, relaxed and cozy.

Although Abigail’s is certainly not an inexpensive place to stay, it may actually represent Victoria’s best overall value in high end accommodation. Frankly we’re a little tired of hoteliers (particularly in “luxury” accommodations) who nickel and dime their guests at every possible opportunity. Parking – EXTRA. WiFi – EXTRA. Phone calls – EXTRA. And what penurious porker came up with the concept of resort fees? “Thank you for booking with us sir, your $300 per night room fee has been processed, however if you’d like to enter the property to access your room there’ll be an extra charge of $40 a day for our resort fee. I’ll just add that to your bill”.

You’ll have the opposite experience at Abigail’s. Parking and WiFi are free, as are coffee, tea and the little treats like scones or cookies you’ll find in your room, or in the kitchen and library areas. The stunning library features a collection of books and DVDs that you can enjoy on the spot or take to your room, free of charge (the library also features a big screen entertainment system). But the highlight, and the greatest value comes with the meals provided by their wonderful in-house chef. From 5pm to 7pm appetizers are served in the lobby and you are welcomed to enjoy them in the dining room or library. Now the first thing that pops into this gourmand’s mind when a spread of delectable treats is laid out before me is “how much can I have”, and “are seconds permitted?” (there’s a reason for the expression “eat like a horse”), but as usual the staff were there to accommodate. Before I could even finish my thought they spurred us on saying “have as much as you like, there’s always plenty”. For me this was a rare and rapturous moment, though I suppose I must have looked a little odd with a bead of drool running down the left side of my chin while a teardrop of gratitude caressed my right cheek.

 

The appetizers on offer became our dinner, filling and delicious as they were (fine cheese and crackers, fresh seared tuna, a wonderful guacamole and more). Once sated we headed out for a nightcap in a cozy local lounge (many of Victoria’s best can be found within a few blocks of the hotel). In the morning we were treated to a marvelous full service breakfast prepared by chef Matt who chatted with guests through a large opening between the dining room and kitchen. The food was wonderful and plentiful with several courses and sweet and savoury choices. It would be hard to find a better morning repast and it was all included with the room.

This is why we encourage you to do the math before choosing another of Victoria’s classic accommodation in the mid to high price range. Look at the competing hotel’s room rate; do they charge for parking, Wi-Fi, or resort fees? Are any meals included? You could check into Abigail’s and not spend a dime on food during your stay or perhaps just treat yourself to a light lunch out. This alone could easily save you $100 a day between two people. The innkeepers at Abigail’s encourage you to enjoy every possible benefit while staying with them. In fact the only thing we could find to spend extra on were the bottles of wine available in our room, and an offer by staff to fix us a drink as we relaxed in the library (not pushed mind you, just offered). By the time we left we almost felt like we were cheating them, though they are well rewarded by constant bookings and Victoria’s #1 ranking on TripAdvisor.com.

You won’t find a more romantic spot than an Abigail’s Sapphire room whether to re-ignite the fire with a beloved long-time partner, or to pour fuel on the inferno of a newly kindled love. 

Okay, true confession time… we spent the night in the Sapphire Canterbury Room and it was incredible! After enjoying our fabulous appy dinner and a nightcap we couldn’t wait to get back to the sumptuous surroundings of our top floor room. We ran a steamy bath and glided into the massive two “person” jetted tub (which comfortably accommodated two statuesque equines). With romantic music playing on the ipod docking station we floated in our marble lined sanctuary, wishing we had brought bubble bath and candles to enhance the experience (next time we will). Warmed and refreshed we slipped into the cozy plush bathrobes provided by our hosts, then lay by the fire as the slowly burning log cast its orange flicker about the room. Of course the night ended with a steeplechase-worthy leap into our massive four poster king sized bed…but this is where the story ends (hey, this ain’t Fifty Shades of Grey you know), but let’s just say that you won’t find a more romantic spot than an Abigail’s Sapphire room whether to re-ignite the fire with a beloved long-time partner, or pour fuel on the inferno of a newly kindled love. (And by the way, if you’re feeling extra naughty Abigail’s offers a Sexy Sleepover Package which they describe as a “novel approach to help adventurous adults have the intimate escape of their fantasies”. It includes a mysterious “Sexy Amenity Tray with a tantalizing toy”…oh my, oh my).

Abigail’s Hotel is the quintessentially Victorian experience. Charming, classic, relaxed and cozy. Wonderful food, beautiful surroundings and within walking distance to many of Victoria’s best attractions, parks, restaurants and shops. And we can’t say enough about the staff, charming, courteous and obviously hard working (we didn’t yet mention that the place is impeccably clean – no easy task with period furnishings, elaborate light fixtures, real fireplaces and massive tubs). If you’re visiting Victoria we sincerely hope you can fit in a stay at Abigail’s, even if it’s in the least expensive room for a single night; you won’t forget the experience. There’s is no place in the city that better embodies the spirit, or is more deserving of our Magic Unicorn Award. We love you Abigail’s!

 

 

Please Note

• Those with mobility issues should take note that Abigail’s has plenty of stairs and no elevators, something we didn’t mind at all as it removed the constant elevator noise we’ve experienced in many hotels. The Ruby Queen Room located on the main floor will lessen your climb but it is not possible to entirely avoid stairs at the hotel.
• Abigail’s is a pet free (no pets) building and adult oriented property (age 13 minimum).
• In the off-season you may be able to obtain a 20% discount for stays of 3 or more nights if you book directly with the hotel.

 

Location: 906 McClure Street, Victoria. View in Google Maps.

 

 Click here to visit the Abigail’s Hotel website.

 

Recommended Listening: “These Foolish Things” by Bryan Ferry