If you’re visiting Calgary and want to elevate your experience with a luxury hotel stay that will make you feel like a rock star from the moment you step into the lobby, the Fairmont Palliser Calgary is where you need to be.
Fairmont Palliser Calgary is a luxury hotel in Calgary with an approachable price tag, tons of luxe amenities, and a vibe that never stops reminding you that you’ve chosen the best and most elegant place to stay for your time in Calgary. This is the ideal hotel if you’re taking a train trip through the Canadian Rockies and flying in or out of Calgary. Also, Calgary is the gateway for most travelers headed to Banff and Lake Louise, which offers another opportunity to explore a little bit of this city in the province of Alberta.
Fairmont Palliser Calgary. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Getting to Calgary and the Fairmont Palliser
It’s easy to find a flight to Calgary, airport code YYC. Several airlines offer direct flights. The airport is about 11 miles from the city center, about a 25-minute drive or cab ride. If you’re planning a Calgary city break, getting around by walking or taxi is easy. If you don’t want to walk out in the elements during Calgary’s cold winters, the city has a network of indoor sidewalks known as the Plus 15 that make it easy to get from place to place without braving the outdoors.
About the Property
The Fairmont Palliser Calgary originally opened in 1915, and the exterior of the building is a beautiful and stately nod to that era. No modern art or contemporary design here. Walking into the lobby is a blast from the past with gleaming marble floors and accepts and crystal chandelier. There’s absolutely none of that “old hotel” feeling going on. The property has struck a balance between charm and modern comfort.
This 407-room property was named after Captain John Palliser, a geographer and explorer of the 1800s. For a time, the Fairmont Palliser was the tallest building in Calgary and is still an impressive landmark.
Spend some time soaking up the atmosphere in the lobby. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Go For the Gold
Staying at the Fairmont Palliser is a luxury experience no matter what, but kick your stay up several notches and book one of their Gold Club Rooms. The Gold Experience is for anyone wanting that next-level hotel experience. If you’re booking a romantic getaway or there’s a special occasion element to your travel, the extra space, amenities, and service will make you feel like visiting royalty, which is never a bad way to vacation.
I stayed in a Gold Club King Room, which had a spacious living area with a seating area, desk, and a full-size mirror. The floor plan was open-concept, so there was no separate area for the King-Sized bed, but there was a lot of floor space for anyone wanting to exercise, stretch, or have some extra room to move about.
Fully Stocked Bathroom with Tub, Turndown Service, and More
The plush King Bed had luxury linens, and the armoire had a large flat-screen television that could pivot so you could watch it from the bed or the living area. The bathroom was large and well-stocked with a tub/shower combo, heated floors, which are great if you visit Calgary during the winter, and lots of toiletries, including a vanity kit and a jar of bath salts, which you don’t often see as part of the included hotel toiletries.
I had a welcome snack with a cheese plate and a box of signature chocolates. I also received turndown service every night. The turndown service was simple—a pitcher of iced water and chocolate on my pillow—but it was a little touch I appreciated. I’m from hot, humid Texas, so the dryer mountain air had me constantly feeling dehydrated, so I loved having that ice water.
Other amenities included a safe, robe, slippers, and suit valet. I also had complimentary Wi-Fi and access to the dedicated concierge team, which I did not use.
The Gold level rooms are simple yet luxurious. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge
I love club-level access or the ability to go to a lounge that the general hotel population doesn’t have access to. I like the quieter, more intimate atmosphere, and like most travelers who appreciate luxury travel experiences, that bit of exclusivity and the feeling of getting something extra or a perk is just like icing on top of a cupcake, and who doesn’t love icing?
For whatever reason, I think most travelers like having special experiences that the average hotel guest might not get. It makes me feel special and pampered, which is how I want to feel when staying at a nice hotel.
Charcuterie is available in the Gold Lounge. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Benefits + Dedicated Concierge
Because I was staying in one of the Fairmont Gold Rooms, I had access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge, which served a deluxe continental breakfast and evening canapes. I didn’t take advantage of the breakfast during my stay, but I did go up for evening canapes one night and discovered charcuterie and various hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. There’s also alcohol available in the lounge during the evenings. However, the alcohol isn’t complimentary. Guests can fill out a self-service form if they help themselves to wine or another alcoholic beverage, and the charge will be added to the room bill.
The dedicated concierge team is on duty when the lounge is open, so if you need assistance with bookings or have a question about your stay, you’ve got an accessible team to help you. You’ll be able to forgo the lines downstairs and get quick help with anything you need to make your stay more pleasant.
The Gold Lounge is a quiet haven on the hotel’s top floor. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Spa it Up
I loved everything about the vibe of this hotel, but rnr Wellness was my favorite part of my stay. This luxury spa is located on the bottom floor of the Fairmont Palliser and is connected to the hotel’s gleaming indoor pool and fitness center.
The spa includes a hot tub, heated indoor pool, fitness center, men’s and women’s changing room with lockers and spa amenities, and access to the tranquility room with a selection of healthy snacks and signature teas.
Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
The spa menu includes face and body treatments, nail treatments, waxing, and more. Various packages, such as couples’ treatments and spa + afternoon tea combos, are also available.
I had the 90-minute Face to Feet Treatment, a massage-facial combo that relaxed and refreshed me. I could have this treatment every day of my vacation and not be mad about it, but if I had a more extended stay at the Fairmont Palliser, I’d probably branch out and try a few different treatments.
The indoor pool seamlessly caries the elegant vibe of the rest of the hotel. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Onsite Dining at the Fairmont Palliser
Calgary has a fantastic food scene, but you don’t have to leave the hotel for great food and drinks. The Hawthorn Dining Room and Bar is a casually elegant space to enjoy a meal or a drink. The Hawthorn serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they have a dedicated brunch menu on the weekends.
The Hawthorn’s breakfast menu includes a variety of egg dishes as well as lighter fare, such as smoothie bowls and fresh-squeezed juices. The lunch menu has sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes, and more. The dinner menu is small but includes steaks, seafood, poultry, and vegetarian items.
I enjoyed room service for breakfast but otherwise ate my meals outside the Fairmont Palliser. I went to the bar and enjoyed the famous Caesar drink, which you must do when in Calgary. A Caesar is similar to a Bloody Mary but uses Clamato instead of tomato juice. The bartender at the Hawthorn made hers with a splash of balsamic vinegar. It’s a hearty, flavorful drink with lots of zip, and anyone who enjoys a good Bloody Mary will probably like the Caesar, too.
On my list to try for my next stay: afternoon tea. The Hawthorn serves afternoon tea on Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll need reservations to enjoy the indulgent pastries, pretty finger sandwiches, fresh scones, and a tea curated especially for the hotel.
Breakfast, dinner, or afternoon tea. You’ll find it all at the Palliser’s Hawthorn Dining Room. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Making Reservations/How to Book
Book directly with the hotel, and you’ll be shown available rates and special packages when you enter your dates. You can snag a standard room for around $350 per night based on double occupancy using sales, specials, and posted discounts.
Gold Rooms and special packages with inclusions like breakfast will increase your price. While everyone loves a good deal on a hotel room, everything about this property screams splurge, so if you’ve been saving up or holding out for a special occasion, consider going big when you book this hotel. The feeling of opulence will elevate an ordinary city break and put the finishing touches on a special celebration.
Lobby view of Hawthorn Dining Room. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Palliser
Things to Do in Downtown Calgary
For me, the Fairmont Palliser is somewhere I want to come and stay and not leave the hotel. I find the prices to be in the “reasonable splurge” range, and as a traveler, I have the mindset that I want to luxuriate in all of the amenities and enjoy the property. Hello spa and afternoon tea, I’m looking at you. Those are some excellent perks, and I’d be happy not to set foot outside until it was time to leave for the airport.
That said, if you want to get out and explore, there are several things to do in downtown Calgary that are within walking distance or a quick cab ride from the hotel. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
Calgary Tower
The Calgary Tower is a freestanding observation tower in downtown Calgary and a distinct part of the city’s skyline. A trip to the top will treat visitors to 360-degree views of the city and the Canadian Rockies. There’s also a rotating restaurant, Sky360. The tower is lit at night. The colors rotate and usually mean something. A schedule online will tell you what the colors mean or signify.
See Calgary’s Central Library
If you love books, you’ll want to put Calgary’s Central Library high on your list of places to see in Calgary, but even if you’re not super into books, this unique space is worth a stop. The external hexagon patterned architecture is unique. The inside area has the things you’d expect a library to have, with a few design elements and additions that pleasantly surprise you. The bookscalator is also fun to watch – it’s probably the most novel way to return library books currently in practice. Think escalator meets book drop, and you’ve got the idea.
Photo Courtesy of Tourism Calgary.
Need Another Spa Day?
If you loved your spa day at the Fairmont and need another day, here’s a fun off-site option.
One of the city’s newly opened downtown wellness escapes, SKA Thermal Spa, is a more budget-friendly option than booking a treatment at rnr Wellness. SKA, an acronym for Self Kindness Amplified, offers two-hour hydrotherapy packages that start at about 48 CAD. This includes access to a whirlpool, plunge pool, various steam and sauna areas, and relaxation chairs.
If you’re really into pampering during your trip to Calgary, I recommend you splurge on a treatment at rnr Wellness and then schedule a second spa outing at SKA Thermal Spa. SKA Thermal Spa is about a mile from the Fairmont Palliser, so if you want to exercise or take in the fresh air before or after your experience, it’s very walkable.
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Is the Fairmont Palliser Calgary For You?
I recommend this property to any traveler who wants an elevated experience and doesn’t mind paying a premium. The hotel’s common areas and rooms are classically elegant, and staying here feels like taking a step back while having the best modern technology and comforts.
If fully loaded amenities are essential and getting precisely what you need by picking up a phone or speaking to someone in Fairmont’s Gold Lounge, this hotel is absolutely for you. If you’re looking for clean, comfortable budget accommodations and don’t plan to spend much time soaking in what the property offers, your wallet might thank you for choosing something different. Other comfortable accommodations in Calgary focus more on value.
While the Fairmont Palliser isn’t outrageously expensive, it does price out of the budget hotel category. If you’re up for a bit of a splurge, the perks of staying here won’t disappoint you.
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