Part of the Neighbourhood: Keefer House Hotel, Vancouver

Building a hotel outside the regular hotel zone might be a bit of a gamble, but the brand new Keefer House is betting on a win.

In a market in desperate need of more hotel rooms such as Vancouver, building a boutique hotel — even in a neighborhood not traditionally known for its accommodation options — makes it a safer bet. The brand-new Keefer House is the only hotel in Vancouver's Chinatown. Rather than being a spot to pop in and out of, it is working to integrate itself and its guests into the neighbourhood with some innovative ideas. 

Helping to stack the odds in favour of Keefer House is the growing trend for travellers to seek a closer connection with a place they are visiting, rather than the old style "parachute tourism" where travellers simply drop in for a peek, or to check a place off their destination checklist. To capitalize on that drive for a deeper experience, Keefer House has developed some interesting opportunities for guests, including partnering with a local tour company.

For many tourists, the largest Chinatown in Canada is a place to spend a few hours shopping and eating, possibly touring the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden before retiring to their hotel, likely in another area of downtown. Worse, visitors might avoid the neighbourhood that abuts the notoriously economically depressed Downtown East Side all together. 

Admittedly, the neighbourhood, which I had not visited in at least 20 years, (despite being in Vancouver countless times in the intervening years,) gave me a little pause. I wasn't sure how confident I would feel on my own there. To be fair, I wasn't walking around late at night, and I stuck to streets rather than cutting through alleys, but I felt just as comfortable as I do in other parts of Vancouver, which is comparable to how I feel at home in downtown Edmonton, where I also don't walk around late at night or hang out in alleys. 

Taking a tour with Judy Lam Maxwell, who runs Historical Chinatown Tours is the ideal way for guests to familiarize themselves with the neighbourhood. With stays of five days or longer, the hotel includes two passes for the tour. I would recommend visitors take the tour near the beginning of their stay, so they have a foundation for exploring on their own. 

Some of the apprehension one might feel in unfamiliar surroundings is abated by visiting social clubs with Maxwell, meeting smiling seniors clicking mah jong tiles. Despite the grins and welcoming nods, Maxwell assures us the elders are not trifling. The game is serious business in these halls. Historical Chinatown Tours gets exclusive access to some of these private clubs and heritage buildings thanks to Maxwell's frequent gifts of handmade dumplings.  (She also hosts dumpling-making workshops if you'd like to learn the craft.)

Over the course of the roughly two-hour tour, our group learned about the racist immigration policies that kept Chinese people anchored to the five by eight block neighbourhood and that it wasn't until 1947 that Chinese people were eligible to become Canadian citizens and move out of Chinatown. Maxwell doesn't just focus on the injustices though, rather mentions them for historical context. To her it is more meaningful to focus on the stories of the people, "stories of struggles, sure, but stories of hope for the future and success stories," she says. 

Seniors play Mah Joh daily at social clubs in Chinatown. (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)

In addition to the tour offer, guests can refer to the Keefer House website for a library of resources, with points of interest and restaurants mapped out that make it easier to find the best of the area. While there is 24 hour security and staff on-site during the day, Keefer House is a low-touch property; there's no front desk or concierge to chat with in the way you can at a traditional hotel. 

The set up isn't new. People who have stayed at no-contact or low-contact hotels, such as the ill-fated Sonder hotels or at vacation rentals will already be familiar with checking in online and using a code or digital key to access the property and their room. Just be forewarned that it is not a traditional hotel in that sense. People who are less tech-savvy or don't carry a mobile phone will have to figure out workarounds to avoid frustration.

Kitchen of the terrace apartment at Keefer House (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)

The 58-room boutique hotel has a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom options. There are also high-end rooftop suites and a terraced suite just begging for an elegant get-together on the wraparound patio. Each of the apartments has  in suite laundry and a fully-equipped kitchen. I was impressed (ok, a little intimidated) by the "coffee program," which includes the gear to grind your beans (sourced from local Pallet roasters) and make pour-over or French press coffee.  There is also a bunch of coffee shops within about a three minute walk from the hotel. 

The comfortable rooms are quiet and well equipped, and the hotel is a nice base for Vancouver adventures. Short-term bookings are welcome, but it is also nicely set up for long-term stays. The focus on local partnerships and the effort to help guests make themselves comfortable in the neighbourhood is a commendable idea, and something I hope more hotels will incorporate.

At the time of writing, nightly rates at Keefer House were listed at $180-550 per night (plus taxes). The rate on the hotel site was significantly less expensive than on booking sites. 

Topics From This Article to Explore