Everybody knows about Victoria’s historic side—and, if you ever forget, the flanking classical beacons of the Empress and the Legislature (both the handiwork of Samuel Maclure) are always there to remind you. But with a little exploring, the creative visitor can find lodging to suit any architectural style.

The Classicist

Ok, there’s the Empress—that’s a given. And it’s great (and frequently priced for greatness). But if the Grand Old Dame is not in the cards, might we suggest The Inn at the Union Club, the kitty-corner lodging that has arguably more history—the attached club saw powerbrokers guiding B.C. policy for decades—and also a quirky patina and charm (the billiards room, for example) that you don’t get in a big chain. unionclub.com

The Mid-Centuryist

This is the architectural style of the people, and it doesn’t get more open-to-all than the motor hotel. Luckily the team at Hotel Zed know how to jazz the expected into unexpected moments: bold colours, free bikes, ping pong! hotelzed.com

The Modernist

The legendary Arthur Erickson only designed one hotel in his illustrious career, and that’s The Inn at Laurel Point—a perfectly situated masterpiece gazing out at the Pacific. Make sure you request a room in the Erickson wing… that way you’ll be rewarded with the Japanese-inflected rooms and huge hallways studded with art displays, just as Erickson meticulously planned. laurelpoint.com

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Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan