Concierge.com's insider take:

Located in the quiet residential neighborhood of Coal Harbour, the 14-story, 77-room property is just blocks from Stanley Park, Robson Street shopping, and the financial district. Design-wise, the Loden is all about serenity and discretion—blink and you'll drive right past the hotel's understated signage—which may be why celebs like Hugh Jackman and Catherine Zeta-Jones have stayed here. The extensive use of glass on the facade mimics the nearby ocean; massive wooden front doors lead to a lobby centered on a double-sided zebra onyx fireplace. The guest rooms are compact at just over 400 square feet, but floor-to-ceiling windows flood them with natural light, and a sliding wall separates the bathroom from the sleeping area. The look is modern but not minimalist: Coral velvet chaises and blond-wood cabinets stand out against boldly patterned carpeting and, in the bathrooms, chocolate-brown marble. Ask for a high room to get a sliver of a mountain or ocean view, or a garden room for a step-out patio; rooms on lower floors look onto buildings. Voya, the former '40s-style dining room, has been renovated to half its size and replaced by Tableau, a no-attitude French bistro where chef Marc-André Choquette serves flavorful, moderately priced dishes with an affordable wine list.—Kasey Wilson