The Waldorf Hotel is one of those of those Vancouver legends. Slightly scuzzy, very surreal and absolutely legendary.
Home to Vancouver’s only Tiki room, the Waldorf has been a Vancouver icon for 63 years. I know it well, the early 2000′s saw it as a burgeoning cultural hub that I was lucky to DJ at at least once, I think.
Come 2010, and it’s been re-imagined as the kind of focal point that East Van has really needed. Legendary local rocker Tom Anselmi and Nuba’s Ernesto have taken it over and made it something really unique
I can fondly recall seeing SF’s Lazer Sword shaking the main room a few months back and I need to make plans to finally come for dinner. Home to some smashingly good looking takes on Spanish dining, a legit Mexican brunch and yet another Nuba location all within its confines, it’s kind of hard to not want to show up a few times a week. Even local salon, Barberella has picked up and moved in.
Did we mention it’s a hotel too? This brings the concept of a boutique hotel to a new high for Vancouver, I’m already directing here when they tell me they’re coming through town. East Van, already a home to art and music, now has a home for all the out of town guests that come to see said art and music to crash at that doesn’t involve having to stink of weed and cat hair in the morning.
Welcome back, Waldorf, we’ve missed you.