THE IDEA BEHIND this chic, stone-and-cedar edifice looming above the largely residential swath of James Bay was to adorn the foundation of a traditional West Coast lodge with contemporary aesthetics and amenities. This stimulating marriage is palpable from the first steps into the lobby and lounge, where floor-to-ceiling windows, plush cream drapes and limestone pillars stretch between chocolatey hardwood and minimalist chandeliers. The main floor also contains the hotel’s small, stylish restaurant, O Bistro, which fuses local ingredients and high-concept experimentation. The adjacent state-of-the-art bar boasts a giant flat-screen TV, sculptural stainless steel vases and delicious Phillips Blue Buck Ale on tap.

The 80 rooms on nine storeys achieve the same understated poise by way of simple designer furnishings and fully equipped gourmet kitchens, quality consumables (such as Acca Kappa toiletries and Milano coffee) and Alana Crouch’s vivid photos of West Coast foliage and terrain. Perhaps the most compelling feature is the most innate: more floor-to-ceiling windows with majestic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Washington State’s Olympic mountain range.

Prices start at $139 in the off-season, and $260 otherwise.

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