Bengal Lounge at Victoria's Fairmont Empress closing in April

Dec 20 2017, 3:40 am

It’s the end of a magnificent era at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, as their elegant Bengal Lounge is set to close at the end of April of this year.

The venue has enjoyed a longstanding role in Victoria’s evolving cocktail scene–it was one of our must-try spots on the Victoria Cocktail Trail–but the hotel has been evolving its dining options already.

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A new restaurant and bar is coming to the hotel. The Empress Dining Room will undergo renovation to bring in a more contemporary vibe while retaining its iconic architectural integrity. The 88-seat dining room will also feature a 65-seat bar, and a 58-seat seasonal patio, according to the Fairmont.

Additionally, “the new restaurant and lounge will embrace the celebrated local products from Vancouver Island and leverage the hotel’s expanded rooftop herb and vegetable garden,” adds the luxury hotelier.

Rendering of new restaurant and bar space (Fairmont Empress/Facebook)

Rendering of new restaurant and bar space (Fairmont Empress/Facebook)


In order for the Dining Room upgrade to come about, the Bengal Lounge will closed down April 30, 2016. Spirits lovers will need to flock to the new bar in order to find craft cocktails.

The area known now as the “Tea Lobby,” will return to its former function as a Lobby Lounge, where you’ll find pastries and “Tea at the Empress” by day, and cocktails, wine, small bites, and a spot to socialize.

The Fairmont says they do not have plans to reveal about what is to become of the space that is the Bengal Lounge, though they promise it will “certainly continue to be an integral space within the hotel.”

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