Eleven Revelstoke Lodge — Hotel Review

Condé Nast Traveler

01-07-2025

Why book?
Among the constellation of stunning ski destinations that string across Canada, Revelstoke in interior British Columbia is a rising star of a mountain town that promises so much more than just its pristinely snowy slopes.
Set the scene
While the lodge's website serves in part as an interactive sizzle reel of frontiersman adventure—envision skiers zipping through cumulonimbus clouds of powder, rafters burping out of whitewater fangs, the whip snap of a fly-fisher's reel—Revelstoke is the kind of place that can swing along to most tempos of life. The town itself has the idyllic and quaint charm of a lego set, the streets skirted with two- to three-story townhouses where moms and pops have set up shops. Situated on a central corner just off the side of Mackenzie Avenue, Eleven Revelstoke Lodge is a charming red brick building accented by sharp black trim.
The lobby is a modest space where the front desk is the focal point. The real hub lies behind the adjoining door at the Quartermaster Eatery, the on-site restaurant and regular watering hole of the surrounding town. As an intimate 12-key property, the lodge itself doesn't see much traffic, but you'll find plenty of the town's visitors and residents milling through the Quartermaster for upscale bites and a glass or two of local BC wine. Everyone you come across tends to have a certain vacation glow about them, whether it's the C-suite execs who've swapped their button-downs for waders, the honeymooners pairing their Hokas with newly purchased Revy merch, or even the lodge's winsome, laid-back staff who feel like they're genuinely invested in tales from your morning hike.
The backstory
Originally constructed in 1911 by architect Hector McKinnon (who's also the building's namesake), the lodge lays claim to a lengthy resume. Once serving as a haberdashery, pool hall, apartment building to name just a few of its past lives, the hotel feels made of Revelstoke history. Just prior to Eleven's ownership of the property, it lived as The Explorers Society Hotel with a more modern, raw material aesthetic. In its current iteration, the lodge embodies the full Eleven treatment with cozy, texturally satisfying interiors that feel lifted from an aspirational Pinterest board for whimsical winter cabins.
The rooms
Whether it's one of the property's smaller standard rooms or spacious Captain's suites, stepping into your lodgings feels like stepping into the canvas of a Helen Frankenthaler painting. It's all warm mustards, deep sage greens, and the occasional pop of a bright blue or red on the walls or bedding. The decor is a masterclass in color, and it doesn't hurt that almost everything is fuzzy, plush, and velvety to the touch. The two-story Captain's suites are where Eleven pulls out all the stops. The lower story reads as a low-key entertainment space with an impressive flatscreen, classy mini-bar, and sprawling couch with room for a few to sink into. Heading upstairs, there are those small, key details that prove that the team has truly thought of everything—whether it's the portmanteau of travel reading up in the bedroom comprised of a healthy mix of guidebooks, deep cut travelogues, and memoirs or the ultra-techy Japanese bidets. From the threshold to the bathroom, gold pieces thread through the decor and lend a subtle yet artful flourish to the design. Aesop soaps and bath products fill the bathroom with a floral ambient aroma and after a warm shower, you're met with radiant heat floors rather than jarring cold tiles—a real creature comfort for the winter.
Food and drink
The Quartermaster Eatery currently operates three days of week with plans to ramp up to daily service. While guests can join for breakfast daily where well-executed staples are available, you really want to come here for lunch and dinner. The menu plays with fresh, local ingredients, and while each dish's twists are certainly inventive, rest assured that there are no cheap plays for novelty here. To start, don't skip out on the sablefish wings with a tangy, gochujang sauce with a sweet heat reminiscent of kissing the glass of a tajin-rimmed margarita. Entree offerings run the gamut from the flaky, light-as-air cod to the rich, comforting schnitzel. Top off with the deconstructed cheesecake that mixes in sugary graham cracker crumbs and fresh blueberries in the whorls of thick cream.
The spa
Though small in quantity, the four treatment rooms here do the trick and finish with a curtsy with full body massages, facials, aromatherapy, and more on offer to work out any knots or sore spots you might have from the day's adventures. If you're more inclined to me time, head up to the rooftop for a steam, sauna, or soak in the hot tub overlooking the mountains, and should you feel so inclined, the staff can even fill up the cold plunge for you.
The service
The amiable staff encapsulate an unfailingly friendly, utterly Canadian attitude. They'll help tailor your itinerary, handily provide recommendations, and guide you through your itinerary in Revelstoke. Queries about local hiking trails, the building's history, or the best spot to pull up a stool and get a pint of the best local IPA are answered with the same casual expertise. Eleven's staff will be the first to ease you into the town's casual sense of mountain time.
For families
While some standard and king rooms can be joined together as a makeshift two-suite set-up and there is a kids' bunk room, Revelstoke is best enjoyed as an outdoor destination. Families with younger kids who may not be ready to raft, hike, or take to the slopes, might want to save their stay for another year or two.
Eco effort
All Eleven properties abide by the brand's commitment to sustainability which includes the opportunity for guests to invest in carbon offsetting initiatives, partnership with local community organizations, a 'leave no trace' ethos to their outdoor excursions and furniture sourcing, and an approach to renovation that emphasizes historical preservation of the existing build site.
Anything left to mention?
The rooftop lounge is arguably the crown jewel of the entire hotel fit with a vibey record player, cinematically large flatscreen, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The whole space feels like a penthouse perching above the valley. For longer stays, you might even want to dedicate an evening to indulging in a little R&R while you wait for the sunset.