Just in time for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, this great little boutique hotel underwent a renovation that saw it become a sleek, chic, modern place to stay. Certainly, its location is a good one—right on Granville Island, overlooking a marina and False Creek. It’s steps from shops, theaters, playgrounds, galleries, the public market, and several eateries, including the hotel’s own Dockside Restaurant. Plus it has one of the best patios in the city, with a fire pit, low-slung sofas, and a sort of dining cabana enclosed with dramatic black-and-white stripe draperies. The downside? It’s a bit of a distance from downtown, and will cost you C$10 to C$15 to take a taxi into the city. Still, guest rooms are spacious, and some have balconies and soaker tubs. Decor is elegantly simple, with cool white-and-black hotel bedding, cozy duvets, nautical art on the walls, and dark wood headboards. Penthouses have fireplaces and huge patios. And that view is pretty sweet.