Skwachàys Lodge

Canada's first Indigenous arts hotel

★★★★★📍 Gastown$$

Skwachàys Lodge (pronounced roughly "skwatch-eyes") is unlike any other hotel in Vancouver — Canada's first Indigenous arts hotel, and a social enterprise with a mission woven into the experience of staying there. Located on the edge of Gastown and Chinatown in the downtown core, it's a boutique property where art and culture are central, not decorative.

Its rooms are its signature: each is individually designed around a distinct theme conceived by Indigenous artists and designers, blending contemporary comfort with Northwest Coast and other Indigenous artistic traditions, so that staying in one is an immersive, personal encounter with the art. The building also houses a fair-trade Indigenous art gallery and an artists' studio, and the lodge operates as a social enterprise: its revenues support Indigenous artists-in-residence and fund subsidized housing for Indigenous people, meaning a stay directly contributes to the community.

The location, on the edge of Gastown near Chinatown, places you in Vancouver's historic core, within walking distance of Gastown's restaurants and shops, Canada Place and the waterfront, and the downtown sights — though, as with Gastown generally, the surrounding area borders the Downtown Eastside, so be mindful of your surroundings, especially at night. Skwachàys Lodge suits travelers who want a distinctive, culturally rich, and ethically grounded stay with real meaning and beauty, over a standard hotel — and who appreciate supporting Indigenous art and community in the process.